Antimony determination

Antimony (Sb, CAS 7440-36-0) is a semi-metallic metal present in trace amounts in many industrial, environmental, and consumer matrices. Used notably as a catalyst in the manufacture of plastics (PET), as a component of alloys, or as an impurity in certain natural ingredients, it constitutes a critical regulatory parameter when it comes to ensuring the safety of finished products.

Antimony testing is essential to control the absence of contamination, verify compliance with international regulations on heavy metals and ensure quality control in sensitive sectors such as food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, the environment or animal nutrition.

Why measure antimony?

Antimony analysis helps address several industrial and regulatory challenges:

• Verification of compliance with regulatory limits (EC Regulation 1881/2006, pharmacopoeias, drinking water directives, REACH).
• Control of metal migration from plastic materials, particularly PET packaging.
• Assessment of environmental contamination risks in water, soil, and effluents.
• Securing plant-based raw materials, natural extracts and food supplements.
• Quality monitoring in cosmetic formulations, where the presence of heavy metals is strictly regulated.

Analytical techniques

Determining the concentration of antimony requires highly sensitive methods to detect very low levels:

• ICP-MS : reference for ultra-trace detection with excellent specificity, suitable for complex matrices.
• ICP-OES / ICP-AES : robust method for higher concentrations.
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) : a reliable alternative for simple matrices.

These techniques allow for precise quantification of antimony even at very low levels, in accordance with the requirements of health and industrial authorities.

Analyzed matrices

The assay can be performed on numerous matrices, including:

• Water (drinking water, wastewater, process water)
• Soils, sediments, muds
• Plant extracts, food supplements, powders and capsules
• Raw foods and ingredients
• Plastic packaging (PET and other polymers)
• Cosmetic products and raw materials
• Animal matrices (food, additives, minerals)

Industrial applications

This analysis is particularly useful for:

• Agri-food : control of raw materials, packaging and finished products.
• Nutraceuticals / plants : securing natural extracts that may contain heavy metals.
• Cosmetics : control of unintentional metallic impurities.
• Environment : monitoring of water resources, soils and industrial discharges.
• Animal nutrition : control of mineral inputs, additives and raw materials.
• Materials industry : verification of the absence of release in polymers.

Further analyses recommended

For a complete safety and quality assessment, YesWeLab recommends combining the antimony assay with the following analyses:

• Total heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As)
• Multi-element profile by ICP-MS
• Packaging migration tests
• Analysis of mineral contaminants in plants
• Dosage of nickel, chromium, aluminum
• Analysis of inorganic compounds (anions/cations)
• Measurement of trace elements (TEMs) in supplements
• Microbiological controls according to the matrix

Why use YesWeLab?

YesWeLab gives you access to a network of rigorously selected, specialized laboratories for reliable, fast analyses that meet international standards. Our scientific team supports you in:

• Choosing the method best suited to your matrix
• Technical management of sampling constraints
• The interpretation of the results and their regulatory compliance
• Centralizing and monitoring your analyses via our digital platform

Since 2020, hundreds of manufacturers, distributors and design offices have relied on YesWeLab to secure their analyses and save time in managing their projects.