Carbon fibre electrodes in flow potentiometric stripping analysis

The construction of carbon fibre flow electrodes suitable for use in connection with potentiometric and constant-current stripping is described, and the fibre electrodes are compared with a glassy carbon disc thin layer cell. The signal-to-background ratio is approximately 1.6 times higher for an 8–10 μm carbon fibre compared to the glassy carbon disc electrode. If an Ag/AgCl tube is used as both counter and reference electrode, the signal-to-noise ratio of the fibre electrode is approximately five times better than for a glassy carbon disc electrode with a calomel reference; the latter electrode design, however, gives slightly better precision. The dead volume and internal potential drop of the fibre electrodes are more than one order of magnitude smaller than for the glassy carbon disc electrode. Because of the simplicity of the manufacturing process and low material cost, the fibre cells can be used as disposable electrodes and the polishing process necessary in connection with glassy carbon disc electrodes can be omitted.