A study of Nafion-coated bismuth-film electrodes for the determination of trace metals by anodic stripping voltammetry

This work reports on the fabrication, characterization and applications of Nafion-coated bismuth-film electrodes (NCBFE's) for the determination of trace metals by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). A NCBFE was typically prepared by first applying a 5 microl drop of a 1% Nafion solution onto the surface of a glassy-carbon rotating-disk electrode. After evaporation of the solvent, the Bi film was plated on the electrode in situ(i.e. by spiking the sample with 1000 microg l(-1) of Bi(iii) and simultaneous electrolytic deposition of the metal ions and bismuth film on the electrode surface at -1.4 V) or ex-situ(i.e. by electrolytic deposition of the bismuth film in a separate solution containing 1000 microg l(-1) of Bi(iii), followed by the ASV measurement step in the sample solution). Various fabrication and operational parameters were thoroughly investigated and discussed in terms of their effect on the ASV signals. It was found that this voltammetric sensor was suitable for the determination of metals at trace levels by square-wave ASV (SWASV) due to its multi-element detection potential, improved analytical sensitivity, high resistance to surfactants, low cost, ease of fabrication, robustness, speed of analysis and low toxicity (as compared to traditional mercury electrodes). In the presence of 4 mg l(-1) of Triton X-100, the NCBFE afforded a 10-fold peak height enhancement for the Pb peak and a 14-fold enhancement for the Cd peak over a bare BFE while the determination of Zn was feasible only on the NCBFE. The limits of detection (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were 0.1 microg l(-1) for Cd and Pb and 0.4 microg l(-1) for Zn for a deposition time of 10 min. Finally, the electrode was applied to different real samples (tap-water, urine and wine) for the analysis of trace metals with satisfactory results.     

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.     

The analytical application of square-wave voltammetry

The effects of changing certain parameters of the applied potential waveform at a dropping mercury electrode (DME) in square-wave voltammetry (s.w.v.) were investigated and compared with theory. Optimum parameters of the waveform are determined for a reversible system, lead(II) in 0.10 M perchloric acid. Current sensitivities for Pb(II) at a static mercury drop electrode by both the integrating and instantaneous current-measurement schemes available in a laboratory computer-based system are compared to those obtained from a commercial instrument suitable for s.w.v. An irreversible system, Ni(II) in 0.10 M HCl, was investigated at the static mercury drop electrode and optimum parameters determined as for Pb(II).     

Carbon-fiber micro-electrodes as substrates for mercury films

Conditions for mercury deposition at a cylindrical carbon-fiber micro-electrode are examined. A better construction of electrode body with a means of holding the fiber is described. Data obtained in thiocyanate and acetate buffer solutions suggest that in order to obtain linear dependence of the square-wave stripping peak on the mercury concentration, the deposit should not exceed a few monolayers. The surface inhomegeneity of the carbon fibers was confirmded by electron microscopy. The codeposition of lead(II) with mercury(II)_is described; the square-wave stripping peak increased linearly with lead concentration up to 4 μM. Cyclic staircase voltammograms showed enhanced response to lead(II) at a mercury-coated fiber.     

基于MoS2/氮掺杂石墨烯纳米复合材料灵敏电化学传感器检测镉(II)

基于S-Cd和N-Cd的亲和作用,利用一锅法制备了MoS2-掺氮石墨烯(NG)新型纳米复合材料。采用方波溶出伏安法实现了Cd²⁺的灵敏测定。在最优实验条件下,Cd²⁺的溶出峰电流与Cd²⁺的浓度在0.01~20μmol/L范围内呈线性关系(R²=0.996),检出限为2.50 nmol/L。该传感器可用于监测实际样品中Cd²⁺。     

Cathodic adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetry of the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam

The adsorptive behavior of the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam was studied by cyclic, differentia-pulse and square-wave voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The drug was accumulated at HMDE and a well-defined stripping peak current was obtained at -1.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl) electrode in acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0). A voltammetric procedure was developed for the determination of meloxicam using square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SW-CASV). The optimum working conditions for the determination of the drug were established. The analysis of meloxicam in human plasma was carried out satisfactorily.     

The punctured droplet electrode – A new three-phase electrode with well defined geometry

A new three-phase electrode allows detailed studies on well-defined three-phase junctions. It consists of a nitrobenzene drop of well controlled size. The drop is dispensed from a capillary and is punctured with a microcylinder electrode. The organic liquid contains an electroactive compound (decamethylferrocene) and, importantly, no supporting electrolyte. The aqueous phase may contain various salts. Well-defined and reproducible linear-scan and square-wave voltammograms and chronoamperograms of oxidation of decamethylferrocene were obtained. The dependence of the formal potential determined from the square-wave voltammograms of decamethylferrocene versus the standard potential of transfer of anions present in the aqueous phase was almost perfectly linear. The developed approach allows the formation of two or more three-phase boundaries within one small drop. Since the drop is well exposed, this electrode geometry also gives a potential possibility of optical/spectrophotometric inspection of the reaction products in the organic phase and of examination of the reaction-layer growth.     

Determination of lead and cadmium in seawater using a vibrating silver amalgam microwire electrode

Silver amalgamated electrodes are a good substrate to determine lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in seawater because they have properties similar to mercury but without the free mercury (Hg). Here a silver amalgamated microwire (SAM) electrode is optimised for the determination of Pb and Cd in coastal waters and uncontaminated ocean waters. The SAM was vibrated during the deposition step to increase the sensitivity, and electroanalytical parameters were optimised. The Hg coating required plating from a relatively concentrated (millimolar) solution, much greater (500×) than used for instance to coat glassy carbon electrodes. However, the coating on the ex situ amalgamated electrode was found to be stable and could be used for up to a week to determine trace levels of Pb in seawater of natural pH. The limit of detection square-wave ASV (50 Hz) using the pre-plated SAM electrode was 8 pM Pb using a 1-min plating time at pH 4.5. The limit of detection in pH 2 seawater was 4 pM using a 5-min plating time, and it was 12 pM using a 10-min plating time at natural pH in the presence of air, using a square-wave frequency of 700 Hz. The vibrating SAM electrode was tested on the determination of Pb in reference seawater samples from the open Atlantic (at the 20 pM level), Pacific, and used for a study of Pb in samples collected over 24 h in Liverpool Bay (Irish Sea).     

Adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetric behavior of rofecoxib

Adsorption and reduction of rofecoxib were investigated by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode in electrolytes of various pH values. The reduction process on hanging mercury drop electrodes gave rise to a single peak within the entire pH range (2.0-11.5). In alkaline solutions, rofecoxib gave a sensitive adsorptive reductive peak; approximately 10 times larger than those obtained by applying a square-wave scan without prior accumulation. Application of the method to the determination of rofecoxib in two pharmaceutical products (Vioxx 12.5 and 25 mg), without sample pretreatment, resulted in acceptable deviation from the stated concentrations.     

The electrochemical reduction and determination of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in acidic media

The apparent reduction of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in acidic media at a static mercury drop electrode was investigated. A simple, quick pretreatment procedure was developed to convert the NADH to its acid-hydrated form. This adsorbs on the mercury surface during a film deposition time and the film is then reduced. The adsorption is diffusion-controlled and hence the peak currents for square-wave and linear-scan voltammetry are proportional to Ct^1/2_pAf and Ct^1/2_pAv, respectively, where t_p is the effective film deposition time, C the concentration of NADH, A the electrode area, f the square-wave frequency, and ν the linear scan rate. Several electrochemical techniques were compared for the determination of NADH; the method of choice is square-wave voltammetry, although staircase or linear scan voltammetry can also be used. The detection limit is less than 7 nM, and the range of linear response covers 2–3 orders of magnitude of NADH concentration.     

Programmable analyzer for voltammetric and chronopotentiometric experiments

A computerized system for voltammetric and chronopotentiometric analysis is described. The system consists of a microcomputerized electrochemical unit and a personal computer (PC) with peripherals. The eletrochemical unit is programmed and activated via a command list entered from the PC keyboard, and then operates independently. Meanwhile, the PC is available for data processing. The system can execute user-defined operations, e.g., voltage steps, measurement of relaxation current, at a frequency of 50 kHz in real time. Thus it affords a flexible means for implementation of standard as well as non-standard voltammetric techniques. The system facilitates a rapid comparison of voltammetric and chronopotentiometric techniques under analogous experimental conditions. Because electrode potentials can be sampled at a frequency as high as 660 kHz, the system is well suited for potentiometric stripping analysis of solutions with a high content of oxidants. The analytical possibilities of the instrument are demonstrated by two examples. In one, square-wave voltammetric and potentiometric stripping approaches are compared for the determination of traces of lead (II) in non-deaerated media. In the other, constant-current chronopotentiometry and square-wave voltammetry are compared for the quantitation of nickel (II) deposited by chemical interaction with a chemically modified electrode.     

Construction and evaluation of a flow-through cell adapted to a commercial static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) to study the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on vermiculite

This paper describes the construction and application of a robust flow-through cell for use with the capillary of a commercial static mercury drop electrode. Linearity of peak current was observed up to 0.50 mumol l(-1) for Cd(II) or Pb(II) in anodic stripping voltammetry experiments performed under continuous flow during the deposition step, using 120 s of deposition time and flow rate of 4.0 ml min(-1). Under these conditions the limits of detection for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 13 and 17 nmol l(-1), respectively. An analytical throughput of 20 analyses per h was possible using 10 s for cleaning the cell between two samples and including the time needed for the potential scan, which was performed with the flow stopped, using the differential pulse mode for current sampling. The linear dynamic range can be extended up to 5 mumol l(-1) for both cations if the deposition time is decreased to 30 s, a condition in which the sampling throughput is 35 analyses per h. The proposed manifold was used to study the adsorption rates of Cd(II) and Pb(II) onto vermiculite at different pHs, allowing one to perform high sensitivity measurements at high sampling frequency, using low cost instrumentation.     

Determination of Vitamin K1by Adsorptive Stripping Square-Wave Voltammetry

Abstract

The adsorption of vitamin Ki at a hanging mercury drop electrode at pH 4.2 allows the determination of this compound in the 1 × 10^?6 M ^? 1 × 10^?9 M concentration range. Applying a square-wave potential scan provides a 200-fold increase of the peak current compared to differential pulse stripping voltammetry. The influence of several operational parameters such as the nature and the pH of the supporting electrolyte, the deposition time and the potential are discussed. Interactions between the adsorbed molecules occur during the deposition step.     

Determination of gallium by anodic stripping square-wave voltammetry Detection of a GaZn intermetallic compound and its destruction by Sb in an NaSCNNaClO(4) supporting electrolyte

Reproducibility for successive determinations with a hanging mercury drop electrode is assessed in relation to solution stirring, drop size and back-diffusion to the mercury thread. The effect of experimental parameters such as drop size, deposition time and gallium concentration on the observed stripping current is investigated. The interference of zinc present in a 0.5M NaSCN + 4.2M NaClO(4) supporting electrolyte on the gallium detection limit and calibration plots is described. Formation of an intermetallic compound with a Zn:Ga ratio of 2:3 and its destruction by co-deposition of zinc with Sb are reported. A detection limit of 10(-8)M gallium was obtained in the presence of 10(-5)M Sb(III).     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of the anti-inflammatory drug tolmetin in bulk form, pharmaceutical formulation and human serum

The electro-reduction of tolmetin at the hanging mercury drop electrode was studied in different supporting electrolytes using cyclic voltammetry and square-wave stripping voltammetry techniques. Voltammograms of tolmetin exhibited a single well-defined 2-electron irreversible cathodic peak in media of pH < 4, which may be attributed to reduction of the >C=O double bond of the analyte molecule. Adsorption of tolmetin onto the surface of the hanging mercury electrode was identified and each adsorbed tolmetin molecule was found to occupy an area of 0.23 nm². A square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedure was described for the direct determination of tolmetin in bulk form and pharmaceutical formulation (Rumatol® capsules) with a limit of quantitation of 2 × 10^?9 M and a mean percentage recovery of 98.35 ± 1.21% to 99.57 ± 1.23. Moreover, the described procedure was successfully applied for the direct assay of tolmetin in spiked human serum without pretreatment or extraction prior to the analysis while a quantitation limit of 5 × 10^?9 M tolmetin was achieved.      

Square-wave voltammetric determination of daminozide

A novel electrochemical method is described for the determination of the growth regulator, daminozide. Daminozide is hydrolyzed in alkaline aqueous media to form 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). The UDMH is oxidized at ?0.38 V vs. Ag/AgCl at the hanging mercury drop electrode and detected by square-wave voltammetry. The sensitivity is about 2.3 nA 1 mg^?1 and the standard deviation (n = 8) for different standard solutions is 2.9 nA. Results obtained with apples after steam distillation agreed well with results obtained with a previously published method.     

Determination of ketorolac in human serum by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The adsorption behavior of ketorolac on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) was explored by square-wave and cyclic voltammetry. The square wave voltammetric response of ketorolac depends on the parameters of the square wave voltammetry excitation signal as well as on the pH of the medium and the accumulation time. The drug was accumulated at HMDE and a well-defined peak was obtained at -1.41 V versus. Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl) in acetate buffer of pH 5.0. A square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the quantitative determination of ketorolac was developed. The linear concentration range was 1x10(-10)-1x10(-8) when using 300 s accumulation at -0.8 V. The detection limit of ketorolac was 1.0x10 (-11)M . The precision was excellent with relative standard deviation of 3.85% at concentration of 5x10 (-8)M after 60 s accumulation time. Applicability to serum samples was illustrated. A detection limit of 14 ng per ml of serum was obtained.     

Characteristics of the dropping mercury electrode below the limiting current: Part II. Drop time and scan rate effects

A mathematical model of the dropping mercury electrode that includes the effects of electrochemical kinetics, ohmic potential drop, and mass transfer is used to examine the influence of scan rate and drop time on the shape of the polarographic wave. The system behavior is described in terms of three characteristic dimensionless parameters. For certain parameter values, the half-wave potential predicted for a metal deposition reaction is dependent on the drop time and scan rate used to obtain the polarogram.     

Square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of trace amounts of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole in water samples

A sensitive, simple and reproducible square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method is developed for the determination of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBIM) in different water samples using a static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) as a working electrode. The solution conditions and instrumental parameters were optimized for the determination of MBIM by square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry. This method is based on a sensitive adsorptive reduction peak of the MBIM at ?0.532 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode in a Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 10.0. The linear concentration range was 20–600 ng ml^?1 when using 0.0 V as the accumulation potential. The detection limit of the method was calculated to be 8.41 ng ml^?1. The precision was excellent with relative standard deviations (n = 20) of 2.30%, 1.71%, 2.25% and 1.33% at MBIM concentrations of 40, 90, 200 and 500 ng ml^?1, respectively. The proposed voltammetric method is used for the determination of MBIM in different spiked water samples.     

Role of the anion in the underpotential deposition of cadmium on a Rh(111) electrode: probed by voltammetry and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to examine the underpotential deposition (UPD) of cadmium on a rhodium(111) electrode in sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. The (bi)sulfate and chloride anions in the electrolytes played a main role in controlling the number and arrangement of Cd adatoms. Deposition of Cd along with hydrogen adsorption occurred near 0.1 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) in either 0.05 M H2SO4 or 0.1 M HCl containing 1 mM Cd(ClO4)2. These coupled processes resulted in an erroneous coverage of Cd adatoms. The process of Cd deposition shifted positively to 0.3 V and thus separated from that of hydrogen in 0.05 M H2SO4 containing 0.5 M Cd2+. The amount of charge (80 microC/cm2) for Cd deposition in 0.5 M Cd2+ implied a coverage of 0.17 for the Cd adatoms, which agreed with in situ STM results. Regardless of [Cd2+], in situ STM imaging revealed a highly ordered Rh(111)-(6 x 6)-6Cd + HSO4- or SO42- structure in sulfuric acid,. In hydrochloric acid, in situ STM discerned a (2 x 2)-Cd + Cl structure at potentials where Cd deposition commenced. STM atomic resolution showed roughly one-quarter of a monolayer of Cd adatoms were deposited, ca. 50% more than in sulfuric acid. Dynamic in situ STM imaging showed potential dependent, reversible transformations between the (6 x 6) Cd adlattices and (square root 3 x square root 7)-(bi)sulfate structure, and between (2 x 2) and (square root 7 x square root 7)R19.1 degrees -Cl structures. The fact that different Cd structures observed in H2SO4 and HCl entailed the involvement of anions in Cd deposition, i.e. (bi)sulfate and chloride anions were codeposited with Cd adatoms on Rh(111).