Automated chromatographic separation coupled on-line to ICP-MS measurements for the quantification of actinides and radiostrontium in soil samples

The uranium (III) ions behaviour in fused 3LiCl–2KCl eutectic versus the Cl^?/Cl₂ reference electrode in the temperature range of 723–823 K on the liquid cadmium electrode by transient electrochemical techniques on the tungsten or molybdenum electrodes was studied. The mechanism of electrochemical reduction on cadmium cathode and the influence of temperature, cathode current density and the duration of electrolysis were studied. The activity coefficients and the base thermodynamic properties of uranium in fused U–Cd/3LiCl–2KCl system were calculated.     

Characterization of graphite–polyurethane composite electrodes modified with organofunctionalized SBA-15 nanostructured silica in the presence of heavy metal ions. Application to anodic stripping voltammetry

A graphite–polyurethane composite electrode with Santa Barbara Amorphous 15, SBA-15, mesoporous silica organofunctionalized with 2-benzothiazolethiol (BTSBA) as bulk modifier has been characterized electrochemically by voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the presence of cadmium ions, as an example of a toxic trace heavy metal, as well as by solid-state ¹³C-NMR and by scanning electron microscopy. EIS measurements performed on the modified composite electrodes to investigate the influence of BTSBA on the deposition of cadmium during square wave anodic stripping voltammetry showed that organofunctionalization of the SBA-15 bulk modifier in the composite electrode facilitates heavy metal deposition. Experiments were also carried out with a mixture of submicromolar cadmium, lead, copper and mercury ions and led to similar conclusions.     

Asymmetric logistic peak as a suitable function for the resolution of highly asymmetric voltammograms in non-bilinear systems

The asymmetric logistic peak is tested as a new function for the parametric signal fitting (PSF) of highly asymmetric electrochemical signals in non-bilinear datasets, such as those obtained in linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) or in the presence of irreversible electrochemical processes. This new multivariate curve resolution strategy (PSF-ALPA) is successfully applied to LS voltammograms measured for the Cd(II)-glutathione system with a hanging mercury drop electrode, where Cd(II) is reversibly reduced, and to differential pulse voltammograms (DPV) measured at a glassy carbon electrode, where Cd(II) reduction becomes irreversible. Matrix augmentation by using LS voltammograms measured at different scan rates provides good results and encourages the development of ALPA methodology for third order data.     

Study of Bare and Mercury‐Coated Vibrated Carbon,Gold and Silver Microwire Electrodes for the Determination of Lead and Cadmium in Seawater by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Carbon, gold and silver microwires are revisited under vibrated conditions for detection of trace lead and cadmium in seawater. The Pb and Cd peaks fully overlapped on the bare gold and carbon electrodes and partially on the silver electrode. The sensitivity of all three was insufficient for detection in uncontaminated waters. Peak separation was obtained after coating with mercury (Hg). Only the Hg‐coated silver electrode is suitable when preplated. Limits of detection for Pb using the Hg/C and Hg/Ag electrodes (20–40 pM), and Cd (70 pM), are sufficiently low for Pb and Cd detection in seawater.     

Cadmium determination in phosphate fertiliser using a PAN-Nafion® modified glassy carbon electrode by stripping voltammetry

A simple method for the determination of trace cadmium (Cd) (II), using a disposable 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol [PAN]-Nafion®-coated glassy carbon electrode, has been developed. The modified electrode exhibited a significant improvement on both sensitivity and selectivity for Cd (II) determination, compared with a bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE), a PAN-coated GCE (PAN-GCE), and a Nafion®-coated GCE (Nafion® GCE). Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was performed, in 0.05?M potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) buffer medium, after Cd (II) ion accumulation. The Cd(II) ion accumulated on the PAN-Nafion® surface of the glassy carbon working electrode through the formation of a chemical complex at an open circuit. The modified GCE with Cd (II) complex was then transferred to a 0.1?M KI solution and subjected to an electrochemical stripping procedure. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was employed to confirm the successful stepwise assembly procedure for the modified electrode. The structure of PAN-Nafion® on the surface-modified electrode was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). System variables were optimised to yield the most suitable conditions, including the pH and concentration of the accumulation medium, deposition potential, deposition time, and amount of coated PAN-Nafion®. The quantitative analysis of contaminated cadmium in phosphate fertiliser samples was performed. The results obtained from the proposed method agree well with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES).     

Determination of Cadmium by Differential Pulse Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry in the Present of Captopril

A new method is presented for determination of cadmium based on cathodic adsorptive stripping of the complex of cadmium with captopril,1‐[(2S)‐3‐mercapto‐2‐methylpropionyl]‐L ‐praline (CPL) at a hanging mercury drop electrode(HMDE). The most suitable operating conditions and parameters, such as pH, deposition potential, deposition time, ligand concentration, and others were selected and the determination of cadmium from aqueous solutions using the standard additions method was possible. Under the optimum conditions and for an accumulation time of 60 s, the measured peak current is proportional to the concentration of cadmium over the range of 1–300 nM. The limit of detection at S/N ratio of 3 was 0.3 nM and a relative standard deviation of 2.5% at 0.1 μM was achieved. The interference of other cations and anions was studied. The method was designed in order to determination of Cd in four analytical grade salts, with satisfactory results.     

Electrochemistry at carbon fibers : Part 1. Characteristics of the Mercury Film Carbon Fiber Electrode in Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Carbon fibers are proposed as a support electrode for a mercury film electrode. The response of these electrodes is evaluated for use in differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The mercury film is deposited in situ in aqueous solution and used to quantify cadmium in solutions of cadmium salts and organo cadmium compounds in the 1–10 μg l^-1 (ppb) concentration range. The good resolution and extremely low background current obtained allow a limit of detection at 0.04 μg Cd l^-1.     

Characterization and Applications of a Bismuth Bulk Electrode

A bismuth bulk electrode (BiBE), a new solid‐state electrode, is presented. The polycrystalline metal bismuth disk‐shaped electrode was examined for its anodic stripping voltammetry performance, which was found to be well comparable to that achieved with the bismuth or mercury film electrodes. Useful potential windows of the BiBE in aqueous solutions of pH 1 to 13 were found to range from approximately ?1.7 to ?0.1 V, depending on pH, where either hydrogen evolution or anodic dissolution of metallic bismuth limit the electrochemical inertness of the BiBE. Employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), the cathodic behavior of the BiBE was examined by testing inorganic (cadmium(II) ions) and organic (2‐nitrophenol) model compounds; a CV quasi‐reversible behavior was recorded in the case of the Cd(II)‐Cd(0) couple. The characteristics of the BiBE under anodic conditions, i.e., at bismuth surface coated with a thin conductive Bi₂O₃ film, was examined by testing two well‐established redox systems, potassium hexacyanoferate(III) and ruthenium(III) hexaaminechloride; a nearly reversible behavior was recorded in the latter case. Based on the presented preliminary results, BiBE can be considered as an interesting alternative to common solid and (toxic) mercury electrodes for possible use in electrochemical studies and electroanalytical applications.     

Determination of electrochemical kinetic parameters from the measurement of faradaic impedance during the growth of the dropping mercury electrode

The electrochemical kinetic parameters of the V(II)/V(III) couple in HBr solutions of different concentrations were determined from the measurement of faradaic impedance as a function of time during the growth of the dropping mercury electrode. The same method of analysis was applied to the study of the effect of uncharged surfactants on the electrode reaction of Cd(II) in 1 M NaNO₃ solutions. The rate constant of the vanadium system decreased with increasing concentration of HBr; this change of the rate constant was discussed in terms of the Frumkin double-layer effect. The relationship between the rate constant of Cd(II) and coverage of the surfactants was not linear, and followed the equation based upon Parsons' model of the blocking effect. The conditional rate constant of Cd(II) in the absence of surfactants was determined to be 0.6–1.1 cm s^?1 from the dependence of the rate constant on the coverage.     

Determination of the cadmium and copper content inherent to metallothionein

The reliability of the voltammetric determination of the cadmium and copper content (at pH 1.0), inherent to metallothionein (MT) isolated from the digestive gland of Mytilus galloprovincialis, was investigated. An artifact signal enhancement of copper, caused by the cupric-thionein complex adsorption at the mercury electrode, was established. This artifact was removed by UV-digestion of the sample for 15–20 h prior to analysis. A similar artifact was not detected for cadmium, because at this pH the cadmium-thionein complex has dissociated, and cadmium exists in the ionic form. Therefore, the voltammetric analysis of the cadmium content can be performed directly at pH 1.0, without prior UV-digestion of the sample.     

An Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Ultratrace Cd,Cu and Hg in Water Samples by Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Base on a New Schiff Base Ligand

This paper describes the preparation and electrochemical application of a new chemically modified electrode for simple and highly sensitive simultaneous determination of copper, mercury and cadmium using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Firstly, a new bis‐Schiff base ligand, 2,2′‐((pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis (azanylylidene)) bis (methanylylidene))bis(4‐bromophenol) (ligand L ) has been synthesized by reaction of the 2,6‐diamino pyridine with 5‐bromo salicylaldehyde or salicylaldehyde at ethanol under refluxing. The structure of the synthesized compound resulted from the IR, ¹HNMR, MS, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis data. Afterwards, a novel, simple and effective chemically modified carbon paste electrode with ligand L was prepared. The electrochemical properties and applications of the modified electrode, including the pH, percentage of modifier, the electron transfer, optimized conditions, linear response and detection limit were investigated. High sensitivity and reproducibility, together with the ease of preparation and regeneration of the electrode surface by simple polishing, make the electrode very suitable for the voltammetric determination of copper, mercury and cadmium in several Merck samples and water samples.     

Studies on voltammetric determination of cadmium in samples containing native and digested proteins

This work focuses on determination of cadmium ions using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) on thin film mercury electrode in conditions corresponding to those obtained after digestion of cadmium-based quantum dots and their conjugates. It presents the impact of selected proteins, including potential receptors and surface blocking agents on the voltammetric determination of cadmium. Experiments regarding elimination of interferences related to proteins presence using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are also shown. Effect of SDS on selected analytical parameters and simplicity of analyses carried out was investigated in the framework of current studies. The significant differences of influence among tested proteins on ASV cadmium determination, as well as the variability in SDS effectiveness as the antifouling agent were observed and explained. This work is especially important for those, who design new bioassays and biosensors with a use of quantum dots as electrochemical labels, as it shows what problems may arise from presence of native and digested proteins in tested samples.     

Voltammetric analysis using a self-renewable non-mercury electrode

Galinstan is a new kind of electrode material and the galinstan electrode is a promising alternative to the commonly used mercury electrodes. The eutectic mixture of gallium, indium and tin is liquid at room temperature (m.p. −19°C) and its voltammetric behaviour is similar to that of mercury. The potential windows of use were determined for different pH values and are similar to those obtained with conventional mercury electrodes. Furthermore, the high hydrogen overpotential, which is characteristic for mercury, can be observed when galinstan is used as electrode material. Galinstan can be employed as a liquid electrode in the voltammetric analysis of different metal ions, such as lead and cadmium, in different supporting electrolytes. Our results indicate that the non-toxic liquid alloy galinstan could therefore become immensely important in electrochemical research as a potential surrogate material for mercury.     

Copper Complexation with Soluble and Surface Freshwaters Ligands

Speciation of copper has been done using samples collected at different times of the year (December 92 and October 93) and in three sites of a polluted river (Este River, Northern Portugal). Filtered samples and the suspended particulate matter were titrated with metal ion and the labile metal concentrations measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). An extra peak in the Cu voltammograms has been noticed when titrating filtered samples and its origin was investigated. Results have suggested that the extra peak is due to copper(I) stabilized by ligands adsorbed on the mercury electrode and a model for the electrochemical mechanism is proposed. From titrations of the same samples with zinc, cadmium and lead it has been concluded that there are two types of organics in the river water: macromolecules and small molecules with D_ML≈D_M with higher affinity for soft cations such as Cd(II) and Cu(I), that can be adsorbed on mercury electrode as anions.     

Redox kinetic measurements of glutathione at the mercury electrode by means of square-wave voltammetry. The role of copper, cadmium and zinc ions

The electrode reaction of glutathione (GSH) at the hanging mercury drop electrode is studied by means of square-wave voltammetry (SWV). At potentials more positive than -0.350 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3 mol/l KCl)) the oxidation of the mercury electrode in the presence of GSH leads to creation of a sparingly soluble mercury-GSH complex that deposits onto the electrode surface. Under cathodic potential scan, the deposited complex acts as a reducible reactant, giving raise to a well-defined cathodic stripping reversible SW voltammetric response. The electrode reaction can be described by the scheme: Hg(SG)(2(s))+e(-)+2H((aq))(+) = Hg((l))+2GSH((aq)). Thus, the electrode reaction provides information on both thermodynamics and kinetics of the chemical interactions of GSH with mercury. An experimental methodology for measuring the kinetics of the electrode reactions, based on the property known as "quasireversible maximum", is developed. The standard redox rate constant is 5.09, 5.75 and 5.22 cm s(-1) in a phosphate buffer at pH 5.6, 7.0 and 8.5, respectively, with a precision of +/-10%. The high rate of the electrode reaction reflects the strong affinity of GSH towards chemical interaction with mercury. The electrode reaction is particularly sensitive to the presence of heavy metal ions such as Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Zn(2+.) The rate of the electrode reaction decreases significantly in the presence of these ions due to simultaneous interactions of GSH with the respective ion and mercury.     

Electroanalytical Determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in Bivalve Mollusks using Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide‐based Electrode

An electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in bivalve mollusks using a glassy carbon electrode modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide has been developed. The modified surface was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR‐SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The optimum conditions were optimized and a linear range was observed from 15–105 μg L^?1 with a limits of detection of 15 μg L^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II). The methodology was validated and applied in different samples of commercial bivalve mollusks with satisfactory results. The high conductivity and greater surface area of the modifying agent improves the preconcentration capacity of the electrochemical sensor, allowing to develop a simple, rapid and sensitive analysis in the detection of lead and cadmium in marine resources.     

An Experimental Investigation of Quasireversible Maximum of Azobenzene on Mercury Electrode by Fourier Transformed Square‐Wave Voltammetry

An experimental investigation of quasireversible maximum (QRM) of azobenzene on mercury electrode by two methods, i.e., traditional square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and fast Fourier transformed square‐wave voltammetry (FT‐SWV), was presented, and the influence factors on QRM of FT‐SWV were discussed. The results show that the rate constants derived from FT‐SWV agree with that of derived from traditional SWV with acceptable differences, showing a sound verification that the rate constants derived from FT‐SWV were reliable. In addition, some theoretical predictions on FT‐SWV were experimentally confirmed through the characterization of strongly adsorbed azobenzene on mercury film electrode. As a result, FT‐SWV is further proved to be a powerful technique in kinetic studies of the surface adsorbed processes.     

Adsorptive Square‐Wave Voltammetry for the Analysis and Speciation of Complexes of Cd(II)‐Ferron

The theory of adsorptive stripping square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) for relatively low ligand concentrations is employed to determine the reduction mechanism of Cd(II)‐ferron complexes accumulated on a static mercury drop electrode at different pH values. The electrochemical behavior of ferron molecules indicated that the adsorptive concentration of Cd(II) is possible in solutions with 3.5<pH<11, providing a wide pH range where the interference of other ligands present in real samples would be not so critical. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were also performed for the purpose of comparison. Fitting between experimental and theoretical square‐wave voltammograms shows that the prevailing species at the reaction layer coincide with the equilibrium bulk distribution. The simulation procedure indicated that the electrochemical rate constants of Cd(II)‐ferron complexes varied from (6±1) s^?1 to (0.17±0.01) s^?1 for solutions analyzed at pH 3.9 and 10.8, respectively. Changes at the surface concentrations are discussed considering the ligand to complex ratios at the electrode surface and at the solution bulk. From this analysis it is possible to infer that the oxidized metal species are produced in the electrolytic solution instead of on the electrode surface.     

Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Trace Heavy Metals in Real Water Using Multi‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes/Nafion Composite Film Electrode

Multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Nafion composite film (MWCNTs/Nafion) were used for fabricating electrochemical sensors for the voltammetric detection of trace lead(II) and cadmium(II) in several water samples. The morphology and structure of MWCNTs/Nafion film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectrum (IR). The electron transfer of MWCNTs/Nafion composite film was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). Various experimental parameters, which influenced the response of MWCNTs/Nafion/GC to target metals, were optimized. The results showed that the synergistic effect was obtained on the MWCNTs/Nafion/GC whose sensitivity and stability were better than those of Nafion‐coated electrode (Nafion/GC) or CNTs/GC. Stability of the Pb(II) and Cd(II) stripping signals was excellent with relative standard deviations (RSD) within 5% (n=10) from one electrode preparation to another, and RSD of 30 µg·L^?1 Pb(II) and Cd(II) were 2.8% and 3.2% for 20 repeated analysis on one single CNTs/Nafion/GC. Over 50 runs, the stability of Pb and Cd detection at the MWCNTs/Nafion conposites electrode was still satisfactory with RSD lower than 6.0%. The determination limits (S/N=3) of the proposed method were determined to be 100 ng·L^?1 for Pb and 150 ng·L^?1 for Cd. Finally, the MWCNTs/Nafion/GC was successfully applied to determine Pb(II) and Cd(II) in different water samples with recoveries of 97%–103% for Pb and 96%–104% for Cd.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry at a nickel-based mercury film electrode

The electrochemical properties of the nickel-based mercury film electrode (Ni-MFE) were investigated with respect to application of the electrode in the anodic stripping voltammetry (a.s.v.) of heavy metal ions. The hydrogen overpotential at the Ni-MFE is higher than those at MFEs based on other metals, and high enough to get quantitative a.s.v. peaks of lead and cadmium. The mercury film of the Ni-MFE is stable both mechanically and chemically; a.s.v. peaks at a Ni-MFE which had been used fifty times within 300 h after its preparation were identical with those at the freshly prepared electrode. With the Ni-MFE, 5 × 10^?10–10^?7 M lead(II) and 2 × 10^?10–10^?7 M cadmium(II) in the solution can be determined with relative standard deviations of 11 and 12%, respectively. These results are comparable to those obtained by a.s.v. at an in situ mercury-plated g]assy carbon electrode.