TM98-12 Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry(GFAAS) to replace Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (HGAAS) for the Determination of Antimony in Filtered and Whole Water Recoverable Water Samples

The National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) has been determining antimony (dissolved I-2055, whole-water-recoverable I-4055) using the automated-hydride generation atomic absorption (HGAAS) spectrophotometric methods since the mid-1970's. A widely used alternative technique, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS), is now available and provides a more efficient and reliable method than the hydride AAS, and chemical waste is minimized.