The influence of storage time and temperature on Sb migration from PET bottles into mineral water was studied in short-term tests lasting up to 15 days and long-term studies lasting up to 220 days. Samples purchased were stored in three different coloured bottles: clear (CL), light blue (LB) and dark blue (DB). Sb migration was assayed by HG-AFS for total determination and HPLC-ICP-MS for speciation analysis. Migration studies showed that waters stored at 4 and 20ºC were not subject to Sb migration. At 40ºC there was a significant increase in Sb concentration, although the maximum limit established by the European Union (5.0 µg L -1 ) was not exceeded, whereas at 60ºC samples were subject to considerable Sb migration after 30 days of storage. In this case, the maximum limit established by the European Union was exceeded and both Sb (V) and Sb (III) were detected.

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This paper reports a method developed for the simultaneous determination of methylmercury (MeHg + ) and mercury(II) (Hg 2+ ) species in water by liquid chromatography coupled to online UV irradiation and cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-UV-CV-AFS) after online short-column preconcentration. . The quantification limits (LQs) were 50 ng L À1 for both species. The established analytical online preconcentration method is suitable for the quantification of mercury species in a wide range of environmental waters.

Speciation analysis by LC-ICP-MS detected an unknown Sb complex in raki samples. Its structure was investigated by using LC with high resolution mass spectrometry. The analysis gave evidence for an acetaldehyde–bisulphite pyruvate Sb complex with the formula: C7H14O12S2Sb.