Electrochemical Investigation of Heavy Metal Ion Transfer Across the Water/1,2‐Dichloroethane Interface Assisted by 9‐Ethyl‐3‐Carbazolecarboxaldehyde‐Thiosemicarbazone

The transfer of heavy metal ions across the polarized water/1,2‐dichloroethane (1,2‐DCE) interface assisted by 9‐ethyl‐3‐carbazolecarboxaldehyde‐thiosemicarbazone (ECCAT) in the 1,2‐DCE phase has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Voltammetric waves of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions were reversible and quasi‐reversible, respectively, whereas that of Hg(II) and Zn(II) ion were irreversible. The voltammogram of Cu(II) ion showed a two‐step wave, however the nature of the transfer could not be satisfactorily evaluated by analyzing the cyclic voltammetric data. When Ni(II) and Co(II) was used no peak was visible under the experimental conditions used in this study. The dependence of the half‐wave potentials of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions on the ligand concentration reveals that their ion‐transfer is assisted by the formation of 1:3 metal‐ECCAT complex in 1,2‐DCE. The over‐all association constants of [Pb(ECCAT)₃]²⁺ and [Cd(ECCAT)₃]²⁺ complexes in DCE‐phase have been determined to be log β =14.03 and log β =15.44, respectively.