Coulometric determination of lead(II) and lead(IV) in high-T c superconductors containing copper and bismuth

The behavior of Pb(II) and Pb(IV) was studied by voltammetry in supporting electrolytes containing 0.1 M NaOH or 0.1 M NaOH + 0.1 M Na₃Cit at a graphite and a mercury thin-film electrodes. The best conditions were found for the coulometric determination of Pb by the oxidation of Pb(0) to Pb(II) in the presence of 5- to 20-fold amounts of Bi(III) and Cu(II) within the range 0.2–2 mg Pb(II) with an error and a relative standard deviation of less than 0.5%. Along with the procedure proposed previously for the determination of Pb(II) and Pb(IV) present simultaneously using a platinum gauze electrode, this procedure was applied to the determination of Pb(II) and Pb(IV) in samples of high-T_c. Cu-Bi superconductors. For samples of high-T_c. Bi-Pb-A-Cu-0 superconductors (A = Ba or Sr-Ca) containing from 2 to 12% Pb(II), the relative standard deviation was less than 0.5%; for 0.6–7% Pb(IV), it was 1-0.2%.