Determination of antimony in pet containers by direct analysis of solid samples using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and leaching studies

The main goal of this work was to determine antimony in different PET samples and evaluate its leaching from PET containers to beverages and simulant solutions. For this purpose, an analytical method was developed for the determination of Sb in PET samples using direct analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). The concentration of Sb in PET samples ranged between 194 and 323 mg kg− 1 and the relative standard deviations were lower than 10%. Leaching tests have been carried out with 3% acetic acid solution, red wine and soft drink. These liquids were kept into the PET containers for 10 days, under heating at 40 °C. Antimony was determined in these solutions by GF AAS using an optimized analytical method for liquid samples; the LOD and LOQ for this method were, respectively, 1.0 and 3.7 μg L− 1, which are below the maximum limit of Sb established by international legislations. The Sb content in all solutions, after 10 days of storage, was below the LOD, indicating that there was no significant leaching of the Sb from the PET containers to the different liquids.