A suitable protocol for measuring trace concentration levels of Hg(II) using anodic stripping voltammetry at the in situ prepared antimony film electrode (SbFE) exploiting the presence of Cu(II) is presented. Several key operational parameters influencing stripping voltammetric response of Hg(II) were examined and optimized, e.g. deposition potential, deposition time and composition of the measurement solution containing Sb(III) and Cu(II). The SbFE revealed a good linear operation in the examined concentration range of 2.5-80 mu g L-1 Hg(II) with R-2 of 0.998, an estimated limit of detection (3 sigma) of 0.39 mu g L-1 obtained after a 300 s accumulation step, and a favourable reproducibility with RSD of 2.3% (30 mu g L-1, n = 10). The interferences of selected heavy metal ions, i.e. Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), were investigated, and finally, the method was successfully tested via measuring Hg(II) in a real water sample. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.