Optimizing the Microwave-Assisted Digestion Parameters using Box-Behnken Design for Determination of Antimony in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

Antimony, a toxic heavy metal, is widely used as a catalyst in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) due to its high catalytic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, its potential to leach into consumables raises significant health and environmental concerns, highlighting the need for accurate quantification methods. This study aimed to optimize microwave-assisted digestion parameters for the determination of antimony in PET using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The optimization process employed the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to systematically evaluate and refine three critical factors: digestion temperature, digestion time, and sample weight.