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.     

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.     

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.     

Microvolume electrochemical cell employing cylindrical graphite fiber microelectrodes

A microvolume electrochemical cell was designed that allows voltammetric measurements to be conducted in less than 10-μl volumes of solutions. The cell body consists of a stainless-steel needle functioning as both the reference and auxiliary electrodes. A cylindrical graphite fiber microelectrode, inserted into the needle, serves as the working electrode. Microliter samples of solution can be aspirated into the cell by means of an Eppendorf micropipet attached to the needle. The performance of the microvolume cell was investigated by conducting square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry of lead and cadmium and square-wave voltammetry of epinephrine, both in solutions containing dissolved oxygen. The cell functioned very well in both methods; however, a needle preplated with mercury was found to improve the performance of the cell in anodic stripping voltammetry.     

Novel Screen-Printed Gold Nano Film Electrode for Trace Mercury(II) Determination Using Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Integrating the screen printing technique with the vacuum evaporation method, we developed a novel and disposable screen-printed gold film electrode (SPGFE) in the present work. First, a conductive silver layer, a connection graphite-carbon layer, and an insulating polymer layer were successively printed onto a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. Then, a gold thin film was achieved on the scheduled vacant site by use of the vacuum evaporation method. In order to enhance the electroanalytical performance of the SPGFE, the thickness of the gold film was controlled in the range of 70–80 nm under optimum conditions. The fabricated SPGFE was applied to detect trace mercury(II) based on the square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The results indicated that the proposed SPGFE exhibited higher sensitivity to trace mercury(II) than the gold disc electrode. The stripping current was linearly related to the concentration of mercury(II) in the range of 16–280 µg/L (R² = 0.9919) and 1.2–8.0 µg/L (R² = 0.9977), with a detection limit of 0.8 µg/L (S/N = 3) under 180 s accumulation. The SPGFE was further used to detect mercury in real samples, and the obtained results revealed a good agreement with those of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The highly sensitive and environmental friendly electrode, as another type of “mercury-free” electrode, holds great promise in stripping measurements.     

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.      

Stripping Analysis of Trace Metals at a Flow-Through Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrode after the Preconcentration by Supported Liquid Membrane Technique

Abstract

The performance of a flow-through mercury coated reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrode in the potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) of trace metals has been examined. A wall-jet glassy carbon cell was used for the comparative experiments. Experimental parameters influencing the stripping signals have been optimised in order to use the stripping analysis after the preconcentration and matrix isolation by supported liquid membrane (SLM) technique. The SLM with di-2-ethylhexyl-phosphoric acid (DEHPA) as the extractant in the membrane liquid for proton driven transport of trace metals across the membrane has been chosen. Results presented for lead determination in river water demonstrate the analytical advantages of coupled technique SLM-PSA.     

Square-wave voltammetric stripping analysis of thallium(III) at a poly(4-vinylpyridine)/mercury film electrode

A poly(4-vinylpyridine)/mercury film electrode (PVP/MFE) was used for the determination of trace thallium(III) by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Thallium(III) is preconcentrated onto the PVP/MFE as the anionic forms in chloride medium by the ion-exchange effect of the PVP. The high solubility of thallium in mercury further facilitates the accumulation effect. Various factors influencing the determination of thallium(III) were thoroughly investigated. This modified electrode displayed good resistance to interferences from surface-active compounds and common ions and increased sensitivity when used in conjunction with SWASV. In addition, detection can be achieved without deoxygenation and the electrode can be easily renewed. Applicability to various water samples is illustrated.     

Square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of antihypertensive agent telmisartan in tablets and its application to human plasma

The adsorptive stripping voltammetry of telmisartan was investigated with a hanging mercury drop electrode. This compound produced a catalytic hydrogen wave at ?1.5 V in Britton Robinson buffer of pH 10.38, and the peak current increased with adsorptive accumulation at the electrode. Adsorptive stripping voltammetry with the catalytic hydrogen wave could provide a sensitive novel method for the determination of telmisartan. Various chemical and instrumental parameters affecting the monitored electroanalytical response were investigated and optimized for telmisartan determination. Under these optimized conditions the square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SW-AdSV) peak current showed a linear dependence on drug concentration over the range 0.05–3.00 μg/mL (1 × 10^?7?6 × 10^?6 M) (r = 0.999) with accumulation for 120 s at ?1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The proposed electrochemical procedure was successfully applied for the determination of telmisartan in pharmaceutical tablets and human plasma. The results of the developed SW-AdSV method were comparable with those obtained by reported analytical procedures.     

Perfluorinated anion-exchange polymer mercury film electrode for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of zinc(II): effect of model organic compounds

The determination of zinc ion (1-60 ng ml⁻¹) by anodic square-wave stripping voltammetry on an anion-exchange perfluorinated polymer Tosflex mercury film electrodes (TMFE) was evaluated. The detection limit was 0.1 ng ml⁻¹ Zn(II). The effect of various organic compounds (gelatin, albumin, starch, camphor, humic acid, Triton X-100, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) is explored. The results indicate that due to the size-exclusion and ion-exchange properties of Tosflex film, the TMFE is considerably more resistant to organic interference than the bare mercury film electrode.     

Bismuth film electrodes for adsorptive stripping voltammetry of trace nickel

Bismuth film electrodes are shown to be very attractive alternatives to common mercury electrodes used for adsorptive stripping voltammetric measurements of trace nickel in the presence of the dimethylglyoxime complexing agent. Variables affecting the response have been assessed and optimized. Such optimization resulted in a favorable and highly stable stripping response, with good linearity (up to 80 μg L⁻¹) and precision (RSD=1.8%), and a low detection limit (0.8 μg L⁻¹ with 180 s adsorption). The adsorptive stripping performance makes the bismuth film electrode very attractive for measurements of trace metals that cannot be plated electrolytically, and should address possible restrictions on the use of mercury electrodes.     

Influence of hydrodynamic conditions of the solution on the sensitivity of stripping analysis of trace metals

Possibilities to increase the sensitivity of stripping analysis by optimising the hydrodynamic conditions of the solution during the deposition and rest period are evaluated. Rotation rates as high as 13 000 rpm can be applied during the deposition step at a mercury film rotating disc electrode for Zn, Cd, Pb, In and Tl determinations when 10–20 mg/l of Hg²⁺ for the renewal of the mercury film is added. Because of the extreme sensitivity on the properties of the mercury film in the case of Ga only 4000–5000 rpm are recommended. The highest stirring efficiencies using a magnetic stirrer are equivalent to 2500–3000 rpm when a rotating disc electrode is used. The effect of the duration of the rest period is not significant for square wave stripping voltammetry, however, analytical signals can be increased 10 and more times when potentiometric stripping analysis is applied.     

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.     

Trace determination of molybdenum by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry

Molybdenum is determined by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry in 0.15 M nitric acid solution containing 15 μM 2′,3,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone (morin) as a ligand. In this medium, molybdenum is preconcentrated on a hanging mercury drop electrode and stripped cathodically in square-wave voltammetry mode, with a peak potential of -350 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl). The effect of various parameters (ligand concentration, supporting electrolyte composition, accumulation potential and collection time) on the sensitivity and linear range of the calibration curve are discussed. With controlled accumulation for 1 min, the detection limit (3σ) was 0.45 ng ml^?1 molybdenum and the calibration curve is linear up to 70 ng ml^?1. The procedure is applied to the determination of molybdenum in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Homocysteine Voltammetry at a Mercury Electrode in the Presence of Nickel Ions

At a mercury electrode, Hcy and Cys yield similar cathodic stripping peaks connected to the reduction of the pertinent mercury thiolate. However, due the different behavior as a ligand for nickel ion, the above compounds perform very differently in the presence of this ion. Whereas the nickel ion at a high enough concentration suppresses the Cys peak, in the case of Hcy it causes the cathodic peak to shift to more negative potentials. The peculiar behavior of Hcy is due to the stabilization of the mercury thiolate surface layer by intermolecular Ni²⁺ bridges within the surface layer. Conversely, in the case of Cys, the nickel ion strongly competes with the mercury ion and leads to the formation of a surface adsorbed bis‐cysteinatonickelate complex, which prevents the formation of mercury cysteinate. Such a difference allows determining Hcy by cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of nickel ion with no Cys interference.     

A New Nitric Oxide Gas Sensor Based on Reticulated Vitreous Carbon/Nafion and Its Applications

Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC), and Nafion membrane are used to fabricate a composition electrode to measure nitric oxide (NO) concentration amperometrically in the gas phase. Limit of detection was found to be 6 ppb at an applied voltage of 0.66 V (vs. mercury sulfate reference electrode) with average response time of less than 30 seconds. The response of the sensor was linearly dependent on the concentration over the whole tested range from 19 ppb‐50 ppm of NO. Simplicity in electrode fabrication and consistent performance between individual sensors make RVC and Nafion attractive materials for detecting very low levels of nitric oxide gas in routine analysis.     

Voltammetric quantitation at the mercury electrode of the anticholinergic drug flavoxate hydrochloride in bulk and in a pharmaceutical formulation

Flavoxate hydrochloride, 2-piperidinoethyl 3-methyl-4-oxo-2-phenyl-4-H-chromene-8-carboxylate, is a smooth muscle antispasmodic. Its electrochemical behavior was studied at the mercury electrode in buffered solutions containing 30% (v/v) methanol using dc-polarography, differential-pulse polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and linear sweep-and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry. Sensitive and precise procedures were developed for determination of bulk flavoxate hydrochloride and in the pharmaceutical formulation Genurin® S.F, without sample pretreatment or extraction. Limits of quantitation (LOQ) of 1 × 10^?5, 5 × 10^?6, 1 × 10^?8 and 1 × 10^?9 M flavoxate hydrochloride were achieved by dc-polarography, differential-pulse polarography, linear sweep and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric, respectively.      

High flow-rate cells for continuous monitoring of low concentrations of electroactive species by polarography and stripping voltammetry at the static mercury drop electrode

A high-capacity flow-through cell which can be used at a maximum flow rate of 300 ml min^-1 has been developed for continuous monitoring of electroactive substances. The cell is compatible with the recently developed static mercury drop electrode. Comparative studies with a cell employing a conventional dropping mercury electrode are described. A wide range of polarographic techniques is applied, and it is demonstrated that the static mercury drop electrode improves the limits of detection, that laminar flow conditions are essential for low noise levels of operation, and that solution flow through a sulphite bed is a more effective method of oxygen removal than nitrogen bubbling. The combination of a microprocessor-controlled polarographic system, static mercury drop electrode and high-volume flow cell is very versatile for the determination of trace levels of electroactive species in flow streams. Preliminary results on anodic stripping voltammetry in flow streams are reported.     

Square-wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of thallium(I) at a Nafion/mercury film modified electrode

A Nafion/mercury film electrode (NMFE) was used for the determination of trace thallium(I) in aqueous solutions. Thallium(I) was preconcentrated onto the NMFE from the sample solution containing 0.01 M ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), and determined by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Various factors influencing the determination of thallium(I) were thoroughly investigated. This modified electrode exhibits good resistance to interferences from surface-active compounds. The presence of EDTA effectively eliminated the interferences from metal ions, such as lead(II) and cadmium(II), which are generally considered as the major interferents in the determination of thallium at a mercury electrode. With 2-min preconcentration, linear calibration graphs were obtained over the range 0.05-100 ppb of thallium(I). An even lower detection limit, 0.01 ppb, were achieved with 5-min accumulation. The electrode is easy to prepare and can be readily renewed after each stripping experiment. Applicability of this procedure to various water samples is illustrated.     

Automated square-wave anodic-stripping voltammetry with a flow-through cell and matrix exchange

An extremely sensitive and versatile instrument is described that performs square-wave anodic-stripping voltammetry. The instrument incorporates a flow-through cell and is capable of changing the solution matrix between the deposition and stripping steps. The working electrode is a static mercury drop electrode constructed in the authors' laboratories. The entire system is controlled by a microcomputer that allows the usual variation of the square-wave parameters, as well as setting of the initial and final scan potentials, the deposition time, the scan-rate, the instrument sensitivity and the drop size. To show the performance of the instrument, calibration graphs for Cd in the ranges 0.2-40 and 0.1-1 ng/ml are described and the reproducibility of the drop is discussed. Analysis of a NaCl sample for Cd is given as an example of application of the method.