Voltammetric study of the copper-1,10-phenanthroline complex

The behaviour of the complex of copper with 1,10-phenanthroline at a mercury electrode was investigated in acidic chloride media. Adsorption phenomena were observed by both differential-pulse and normal-pulse polarography. These properties were used in developing a sensitive stripping voltammetric procedurefor the determination of traces of copper. The effects of various operational parameters (pH, ligand concentration, potential and accumulation time) on the reduction current of the adsorbed chelate are discussed. Interferences by other trace metals and organic matter were investigated. A linear current-concentration relationship was observed up to about 1.5 × 10^?7 M. The detection limit is 1.2 × 10^?10 M copper after a 10-min accumulation time with a stirred solution.