Simultaneous square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Cr, Pb, Sn, Sb, Cu, Zn in presence of reciprocal interference: application to meal matrices

An analytical procedure for simultaneously determining chromium(VI), lead(II), tin(II), antimony(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ acidic attack mixture. Dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution pH 6.5 was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using, as working electrode, a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a platinum electrode and an AgAgClKCl_sat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%. The accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%, while the detection limits were lower than 0.123 μg/g.In the presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market for sale. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Analytical procedure for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of toxic metals in dialysis fluids

A new analytical voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous determination of copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II), chromium(VI), and manganese(II) in two kinds of dialysis fluid (peritoneal and haemodialysis fluids) is described. The voltammetric measurements were performed using, as working electrode, a stationary mercury electrode, and a platinum electrode and a Agmid R:AgClmid R:KCl ((sat.)) electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively, employing 0.1 mol L(-1) dibasic ammonium citrate solution pH 6.9 as supporting electrolyte. For all the elements, the accuracy, expressed as relative recovery R%, was very satisfactory being in the range 94-105%, the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation s(r)%, was lower than 6%, while the limits of detection were of the order of a few units of microg L(-1). The analytical voltammetric procedure has been validated by comparison with spectroscopic (graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, GFAAS) measurements.     

Determination of chromium(VI) in dialysis fluids by alternating current and differential pulse voltammetry

Alternating current (ACV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are employed for the determination of Cr(VI) in dialysis fluids, using 0.1 mol/1 dibasic ammonium citrate as supporting electrolyte (pH 5.9). A three-electrode cell was used: The working electrode was a long-lasting sessile-drop mercury electrode (LLSDME) with a drop time of 240 to 300 s. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (s _r%), and accuracy, expressed as relative recovery (R%) are also reported.     

Sequential voltammetric determination of trace metals in meals

An analytical procedure for the sequential determination of Zn(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Sb(III), Sn(II), Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and Fe(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI) by square wave voltammetry (SWV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ attack mixture, employing dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution (pH 6.9 and 8.7) as supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%; the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%.In presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Finally, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market.A critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Overlapping voltammetric peaks—an analytical procedure for simultaneous determination of trace metals. Application to food and environmental matrices

Voltammetric methods are very suitable, versatile and rapid techniques for simultaneous determination of metals in complex matrices. The present work, determination of Cu(II), Sn(II), Sb(III), Tl(I), and Pb(II) by square-wave anodic-stripping voltammetry and Cr(VI) by square-wave adsorptive-stripping voltammetry, is an interesting example of the possibility of simultaneous determination of each single element in food and environmental samples, even in the presence of reciprocal interference. Dibasic ammonium citrate, pH 6.3 or 8.2, was employed as supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode as working electrode and a platinum electrode and an Ag|AgCl|KCl_sat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by analysis of standard reference materials—wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, wheat flour NIST-SRM 1567a, rice flour NIST-SRM 1568a, estuarine sediment BCR-CRM 277, river sediment BCR-CRM 320, and Montana soil with moderately elevated traces NIST-SRM 2711. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error, respectively, were generally below 6% whereas limits of detection for each element were below 0.069 g g^–1. In the presence of reciprocal interference the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique, even for very high element concentration ratios. After being set up on the standard reference materials the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial samples of meal and soil samples taken from sites devoted to agricultural practice. A critical comparison with graphite furnace atomic-absorption spectroscopy is also discussed. Work partially presented at Euroanalysis XIII, Salamanca, Spain, 5–10 September 2004     

Heavy Metals in Matrices of Food Interest: Sequential Voltammetric Determination at Trace and Ultratrace Level of Copper,Lead, Cadmium,Zinc, Arsenic,Selenium, Manganese and Iron in Meals

The voltammetric methods are very suitable and versatile techniques for the simultaneous metal determination in complex matrices. The present work, regarding the sequential determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) by square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), As(III), Se(IV) by square‐wave cathodic stripping voltammetry (SWCSV) and Mn(II), Fe(III) by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal, are an interesting example of the possibility to sequentially determine each single element in real samples. Besides the set up of the analytical method, particular attention is aimed either at the problem of possible signal interference or to show that, using the peak area A_p as instrumental datum, it is possible to achieve lower limits of detection. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Wholemeal BCR‐CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST‐SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST‐SRM 1568a. Precision, as repeatability, and accuracy, expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error, respectively, were lower than 6% in all cases. In the presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market for sale. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic and Voltammetric Studies of a Novel Dioxovanadate(V) 8-Hydroxyquinoline Complex

A novel solid oxovanadium(V) complex, monoaqua(8-hydroxyquinolinato)dioxovanadium(V), VO₂(H₂O)(Q) (Q = 8-hydroxyquinolinate ion) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, voltammetric measurements and Hartree-Fock ab initio calculations on the models of the ligand Q and the respective phenol QH. Electrochemical measurements in solution clearly showed complex formation between NH₄VO₃ and 8-hydroxyquinoline, revealing an electrode reaction of the intermediate NH₄[VO₂(Q)OH] species on the mercury electrode in 0.1M NH₃/NH₄Cl buffer (pH 9.85) as a reversible process at -0.700V (vs. Ag | AgCl | KCl_sat reference electrode). The square-wave voltammogram of an aqueous solution of the VO₂(H₂O)(Q) complex obtained with thermal deamination of NH₄[VO₂(Q)OH] presented a new reversible peak at -0.720 V.     

Disposable Gold Electrodes with Reproducible Area Using Recordable CDs and Toner Masks

The fabrication and characterization of very cheap disposable gold disk electrodes with reproducible area is reported. The innovation of the proposed procedure is the use of toner masks to define reproducible areas on uniform gold surfaces obtained from recordable compact disks (CD‐R). Toner masks are drawn in a laser printer and heat transferred to gold surfaces, defining exactly the electrodes area. The electrochemical behavior of these disposable electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in Fe(CN)₆^4? solutions. The relative standard deviation for signals obtained from 10 different gold electrodes was below 1 %. The size of the disk electrodes can be easily controlled, as attested by voltammetric responses recorded by using electrodes with radii varying from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. The advantages of using this kind of electrode for analytical measurements of substances that strongly adsorb on the electrode surface such as cysteine are also addressed.     

Sensitive Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Methodologies for the Determination of Melatonin in Biological Fluids

The reversible redox process that melatonin presented on carbon paste electrodes was the basis of a sensitive methodology for the determination of this hormone. From all the processes presented by this hormone, this was never used before as the basis of voltammetric measurements for melatonin determination. Therefore, parameters that affected the cyclic voltammetric signal were studied. A limit of detection as low as 9×10^?11 M was obtained when optimized alternating current voltammetry was employed. The reproducibility was excellent due to an adequate pretreatment of the solid electrode (RSD=2.7%, n=10). A comparison with methodologies that employ different electrochemical techniques from the point of view of their analytical characteristics was made. This methodology has proved to be suitable for the determination of melatonin in biological fluids.     

Analytical procedure for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of trace metals in food and environmental matrices. Critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements

An analytical procedure fit for the simultaneous determination of copper (II), chromium(VI), thallium(I), lead(II), tin(II), antimony(III), and zinc(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in three interdependent environmental matrices involved in foods and food chain as meals, cereal plants and soils is described. The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl-HNO3-H2SO4 (meals and cereal plants) and HCl-HNO3 (soils) acidic attack mixtures. 0.1 mol/L dibasic ammonium citrate pH 8.5 was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using, as working electrode, a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a platinum electrode and an Ag/AgCl/KClsat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by the analyses of the standard reference materials: Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Tomato Leaves NIST-SRM 1573a and Montana Soil Moderately Elevated Traces NIST-SRM 2711. For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (Sr %) was lower than 5%. The accuracy, expressed as percentage relative error (e %) was of the order of 3-7%, while the detection limits were in the range 0.015-0.103 microg/g. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meal samples, cereal plants and soils samples drawn in sites devoted to agricultural practice. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

A Highly Sensitive Method for Determination of Monobutyltin in Aqueous Media by Stripping Voltammetry at a Renewable Silver Amalgam Annular Band Electrode

An adsorptive stripping voltammetric (AdSV) procedure for the determination of monobutyltin in aqueous media at a silver liquid amalgam film‐modified silver solid amalgam annular band electrode (AgLAF? AgSAE) is described. Determination of monobutyltin proceeds in two steps. At the beginning monobutyltin ions (BuSn³⁺) are accumulated from 0.1 M NH₄NO₃ and 10 % ethanol solution at a potential of ?0.2 V, than the BuSn⁰ film is preconcentrated at the working electrode surface at a potential of ?0.7 V. After this step the DP AdSV voltammogram is recorded. The analytical parameters and the procedure of the electrode regeneration and activation were optimized. The calibration curve of monobutyltin in the range 0.02–0.30 mg L^?1 is linear (r=0.9973). The detection limit for 5 s of preconcentration, calculated as 3σ of the blank was equal to 0.004 mg L^?1, repeatability of the peak current was 1.8 % (n=5). Repeatability and sensitivity of monobutyltin determination depends strongly on the analyzed solution properties, measurement conditions and the working electrode quality. The proposed procedure was tested by means of monobutyltin determination in tap waters.     

Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Dopamine in Presence of High Concentration of Ascorbic Acid Using a Fullerene‐C60 Coated Gold Electrode

A fullerene‐C₆₀‐modified gold electrode is employed for the determination of dopamine in the excess of ascorbic acid using square‐wave voltammetry. Based on its strong catalytic function towards the oxidation of dopamine and ascorbic acid, the overlapping voltammetric response of both the biomolecules at the bare electrode is resolved into two well‐defined voltammetric peaks with lowered oxidation potential and enhanced oxidation currents. Linear calibration curves for dopamine are obtained using square‐wave voltammetry over the concentration range 1 nM–5.0 μM in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.2 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9931 and the detection limit (3σ) is estimated to be 0.26×10^?9 M. The interference studies showed that the presence of physiologically common interferents (i.e. uric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, glucose and sodium chloride) negligibly affects the response of dopamine. The practical analytical utility of the method is illustrated by quantitative determination of dopamine in commercially available pharmaceutical formulation and human body fluids, viz. urine and blood plasma, without any preliminary treatment.     

Square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of an antihistamine drug astemizole

The square-wave voltammetric technique was used to explore the adsorption properties of the astemizole drug. The analytical methodology used was based on the adsorptive preconcentration of the drug on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by the electrochemical reduction process which yielded a well-defined cathodic peak at −1.184 V (vs. the Ag/AgCl electrode). To achieve high sensitivity, various experimental and instrumental variables were investigated such as the supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation time and potential, drug concentration, scan rate, SW frequency, pulse amplitude, convection rate, and the working electrode area. Under the optimized conditions, the AdSV peak current was proportional over the analyte concentration range of 5 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.998) with the detection limit of 1.4 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (6.4 ng mL⁻¹). The precision of the proposed method in terms of RSD was 2.4 %, whereas the method accuracy was indicated by the mean recovery of 100.1 %. Possible interferences of several substances usually present in the pharmaceutical tablets and formulations were also evaluated. The applicability of this electroanalytic approach was illustrated by the determination of astemizole in tablets and biological fluids.     

Determination of Trace Amounts of Lorazepam by Adsorptive Cathodic Differential Pulse Stripping Method in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Biological Fluids

Abstract

A new adsorptive cathodic differential pulse stripping voltammetry method for the direct determination of lorazepam at trace levels in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids is proposed. The procedure involves an adsorptive accumulation of lorazepam on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by reduction of adsorbed lorazepam by voltammetric scan using differential pulse modulation. The optimum conditions for the analysis of lorazepam are pH=2 using Britton‐Robinson (B‐R) buffer, accumulation potential of ?0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and accumulation time of 40 sec. The peak current is proportional to the concentration of lorazepam, and a linear calibration graph is obtained at 0.05–1.15 µg mL^?1. A relative standard deviation of 2.41% (n=3) was obtained, and the limit of detection was 0.019 µg mL^?1. The capability of the method for the analysis of real samples was evaluated by determination of lorazepam in pharmaceutical preparations and biological (urine and plasma) fluids with satisfactory results.     

Determination of heavy metals in environmental bio-indicators by voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques

The determination of copper, lead, cadmium and zinc in matrices involved in the food chain as algae, species Ulva rigida, and clams, species Tapes philippinarum by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was carried out. For the mercury determination in these matrices, a new accurate and precise method was developed employing a mixture of concentrated acids H₂SO₄-K₂Cr₂O₇ for digestion and subsequent cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) by reduction with SnCl₂. The analytical procedures were verified for four reference standard materials: Ulva lactuca BCR-CRM 279, Lagarosiphon major BCR-CRM 060, Oyster tissue NBS-SRM 1566, Mussel tissue BCR-CRM 278. For all the elements the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r), and the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e), were in the order of 3 to 5%, while the detection limits were in the range 0.010–0.100 μg/g. The standard addition technique improved the resolution of the voltammetric method even in the case of very high element concentration ratios. The analytical procedure was used for real matrices sampled in the Adriatic Sea south to Po river mouth, in the zone “Goro bay”, and at open sea north to the Ravenna shore. Received: 7 June 1998 / Revised: 2 November 1998 / Accepted: 5 November 1998     

Determination of Se, As, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn by anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry in marine environmental matrices in the presence of reciprocal interference. Proposal of a new analytical procedure

Arsenic(III), selenium(IV), copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II) and manganese(II) have been determined in environmental matrices by differential pulse cathodic (DPCSV) and anodic (DPASV) stripping voltammetry. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using a conventional three-electrode cell and the ammonia–ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.4) as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR-CRM 403; Lagarosiphon Major BCR-CRM 060; and Cod Muscle BCR-CRM 422. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, and the accuracy, expressed as relative error, were, in all cases, lower than 5%; the detection limits, for each element in the experimental conditions employed, was approximately 10⁻⁹ M. The standard addition technique significantly improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high metal concentration ratios.     

Voltammetric determination of herbicide molinate in river water and rice samples using solid silver amalgam electrode fabricated with nanoparticles

The evaluation of the voltammetric behaviour and the determination of herbicide molinate were performed for the first time over the surface of solid amalgam electrode fabricated with silver nanoparticles using cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry techniques. The experimental and instrumental parameters were evaluated to reach the maximum analytical response for molinate. It was achieved when a medium composed of 0.04 mol L^?1 Britton–Robinson buffer at the pH value of 4.0 was used. Under these conditions, molinate showed one pronounced reduction peak at E_p = ?0.37 V (vs. Ag/AgCl 3 mol L^?1) that was characterised as an irreversible system. An analytical curve was constructed at the concentration range from 9.36 to 243.49 µg L^?1 and a limit of detection of 2.34 µg L^?1 was obtained. The amalgam electrode presented good stability during the measurements with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 2.9% for the repeatability and 5.4% for the reproducibility. The voltammetric method developed here could be conveniently applied for the determination of molinate in river water and rice spiked samples at levels below those established on the legislations of European Union and Brazil with good accuracy (RSD of less than 5% for all samples). Comparison with HPLC technique was carried out and the results indicated satisfactory concordance. According to the results depicted here, the silver nanoparticles solid amalgam electrode showed itself highly sensitive and an interesting alternative for the routine analysis of molinate in water and food samples. Furthermore, it introduces an environmentally acceptable alternative to the mercury electrodes, most commonly used for determination of reducible pesticides.     

Ultratrace Osmium,Ruthenium and Lead in Airborne Particulate Matter: Peak Area as Instrumental Datum to Improve Their Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination

Peak area as instrumental datum for determining the concentration of metals in solution instead of peak height is proposed for the simultaneous voltammetric determination in particulate matter of ultratrace Os(VIII), Ru(III) and Pb(II), species linked to vehicle emissions. In the case of species present at ultratrace concentration level or having low reversibility degree of the electrodic processes, the employment of peak area, instead of peak current, permits to achieve limits of detection lower even more of one order of magnitude. The method is based on the catalytic current of the Os(VIII)‐, Ru(III)‐ and Pb(II)‐bromate system by differential pulse voltammetry. 0.3 mol L^?1 acetate buffer pH 4.5+6.9×10^?2 mol L^?1 NaBrO₃+2.3×10^?4 mol L^?1 EDTA‐Na₂ was employed as the supporting electrolyte. For all the elements, the accuracy, expressed as relative error e%, and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation s_r%, were satisfactory being lower than 6 %. To better validate the analytical procedure, a comparison with spectroscopic (electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy, ET‐AAS) is also reported.     

Voltammetric Determination of Cocaine Using Carbon Screen Printed Electrodes Chemically Modified with Uranyl Schiff Base Films

Chemically modified screen printed electrodes (CM‐SPE) using [UO₂(4‐MeOSalen)(H₂O)] ? H₂O films were employed in the voltammetric determination of cocaine. The chemical modification was performed by dip coating electrode surfaces (carbon, gold, and platinum) with methanolic solution containing the Schiff base complex with subsequent drying step at room temperature. The optimized amount of the chemical modifier over the working electrode was found to be 2.39 µg mm^?2 (geometric area). The voltammetric measurements were carried out in 50 : 50 v/v methanol:water solution containing 0.05 mol L^?1 KCl and 0.1 mol L^?1 LiCl as a supporting electrolyte without oxygen elimination by inert gas flow. The best results were obtained with carbon electrodes. Cocaine exhibits a well defined irreversible anodic peak current (i_pa) at a potential (E_pa) of 0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl. The current is directly proportional to the drug concentration. An optimal accumulation potential (E_prec), and time (t_prec) of ?0.80 V (vs Ag/AgCl), and 120 s, respectively, were determined. The linear dependence of i_pa with square root of scan rate (υ) indicates that the mass transport at the electrode surface is controlled by diffusion. An optimized scan rate of 100 mV s^?1 was obtained for analytical purposes. A limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) in 110 and 390 µmol L^?1, respectively, with intra and inter‐day repeatability of 2.61 % and 3.77 %, respectively, were obtained. In interference studies the proposed method demonstrated high specificity for cocaine in the presence of morphine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethanphetamine. The above results demonstrate that this method provides a fast and low cost procedure for determination of cocaine in trace levels.     

Measurement of voltammetric peak area and resolution of overlapping peaks in the simultaneous determination of copper, lead, cadmium, and nickel in environmental matrixes

Peak area was used for the simultaneous determination of copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), and nickel(II) in environmental matrixes by differential pulse voltammetry. The voltammetric measurements were performed with a conventional 3-electrode cell and an ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer, pH 9.1, as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified first in aqueous reference solutions and later by analysis of the standard reference materials Estuarine Sediment BCR-CRM 277 and River Sediment BCR-CRM 320. The precision and accuracy of the method, expressed as the relative standard deviation and the relative error, respectively, were <5% in all cases; the detection limit for each element under the experimental conditions used was in the range 1-5 microg/L. In the case of mutual interference between neighboring elements, an analytical procedure is proposed that is based on the standard additions technique, which allows the resolution of the overlapping voltammetric peaks.