Speciation analysis of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in antileishmaniotic drug using Dowex 1 × 4 resin from hydrochloric acid solution

A new and simple method for the direct and simultaneous determination of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in meglumine antimoniate, the first-choice drug for leishmaniasis treatment, was developed. Speciation analysis was carried out using the quantitative separation of inorganic trivalent and pentavalent antimony on Dowex 1 × 4 resin from 1.5 mol l−1 hydrochloric acid solution. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for determination of antimony. The interfering effects of As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn were examined and only Bi was found to be a significant interferent. The liberation of Sb(V) and Sb(III) from organoantimonial compounds without changing of oxidation state was carried out by means of 1.5 mol l−1 hydrochloric acid solution. The spike recovery values obtained for Sb(III) in pharmaceutical sample varied from 92 to 100%. The method was successfully applied for the direct determination of antimony(III) and of antimony(V) in meglumine antimoniate.