Determination of the Stabilizers Antimony, Bismuth, and Iodate in Electroless Nickel Baths

This application poster describes simple and fast, but sensitive and robust methods for the determination of the stabilizers antimony, bismuth, and iodate in electroless nickel baths. These stabilizers are being used as replacements for lead. Voltammetric analysis, with its capacity to quantify the electrochemical active species, is an excellent tool for controlling the concentrations of these additives. Antimony(III) and bismuth are determined in parallel by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) in 0.6 mol/L KCl electrolyte at pH < 2. The determination of iodate is carried out by polarography in 0.1 mol/L sodium citrate electrolyte at a pH value between 2.8 and 3.5.