Catalytic dynamic spectrofluorimetry determination of trace antimony using new type arsenoxylphenylazo rhodanine

A precise, simple, new spectrofluorimetry method is proposed for determination of trace antimony which is based on the reaction between potassium periodate and the new type fluorescent reagent 3-o-chlorophenyl-5-(2′- arsenoxylphenylazo) rhodanine (2ClRAAP). The possible mechanism is proposed. The fluorescence intensity is investigated to be sharply enhanced by the oxidation of 3-o-chlorophenyl-5-(2′-arsenoxylphenylazo) rhodanine by potassium periodate with antimony as catalyst in the buffer medium of potassium hydrogen phthalate–sodium hydroxide (pH 5.2). Under the optimum conditions the great increase of fluorescence intensity has a linear relationship against the concentration of antimony in the range of 0.2–10 μg L−1 with a detection limit of 1.65 × 10−10 g mL−1. This proposed method led to the satisfied determination of antimony in environment water.