Determination of mercury traces by differential-pulse stripping voltammetry after sorption of mercury vapour on a gold-plated electrode

Trace mercury is reduced with tin(II) to mercury metal, which is volatilised by bubbling air through the solution. A certain fraction of this mercury is sorbed on a rotating gold disk electrode and stripped in a thiocyanate solution. The detection limit is about 30 ng Hg(II) in solution; the relative standard deviation is 6% for 100 ng Hg(II) (n = 7). The detection limit for mercury in air is 1.7 ng l^?1 with a preconcentration time of 10 min.     

Determination of copper in the presence of a large excess of bismuth by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry without preliminary separation

Conditions have been found which make possible the determination of copper in the presence of a large excess of bismuth by differential-pulse and anodic-stripping voltammetry without preliminary separation. The electrochemical activity of the bismuth, which usually interferes in the determination of copper, is inhibited by using tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) as surfactant. In 0.2M EDTA and 0.01M ascorbic acid at pH 4.5 as supporting electrolyte without the surfactant present, trace levels of copper (1.5 x 10(-8)M) can be determined accurately if the molar ratio of bismuth to copper is not higher than 3, but if the electrolyte also contains TBAC at 0.01M concentration, bismuth can be tolerated in concentrations up to 10(-4)M, and the height of the copper peak is unaffected.     

Determination of trace metals by anodic-stripping voltammetry with a new kind of mercury electrode: The long-lasting sessile-drop electrode

A new kind of semi-stationary mercury drop electrode is described, which can be used for the determination of trace metals in natural waters by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry. Results are reported for the determination of zinc in potassium chloride and in samples of sea-water. The reproducibility of the electrode and of the results obtained with it for zinc at the 10(-8)M level are very satisfactory.     

Determination of mercury by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry with various working electrodes Application to the analysis of natural water sediments

Four types of working electrode (glassy-carbon and gold rotating-disk electrodes and two types of gold-film electrode) have been used in determination of traces of mercury by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry, and the analytical parameters of the procedures compared. The technique has been applied to the analysis of river sediments. The lowest limit of detection (0.02 μg/l.) was obtained with the gold rotating-disk electrode. Two procedures have been found optimal for analyses of sediment samples; determination with the gold rotating-disk electrode and solution-exchange after the preelectrolysis, and determination with the gold-film electrode prepared in situ in the sample extract. The sample pretreatment involved a separation of the 0.45–63 μm fraction, mineralization with a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids (3:1 or 1:3) under atmospheric pressure in a fused silica vessel, followed by irradiation with ultraviolet light, after addition of hydrogen peroxide (to destroy organic matter). The most serious interference is from iron; this can be prevented by adding fluoride or pyrophosphate. The procedure is an alternative to the AAS determination of the total mercury content in sediments, especially with heavily polluted samples (mercury concentrations up to 0.01%).     

Determination of trace impurities in high-purity reagents by mercury thin-film anodic-stripping voltammetry

Summary The use of an amalgamated silver-wire electrode, providing a relatively large rate of film area to volume of mercury, seems to present several advantages over the use of the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for the determination of trace impurities by anodic-stripping voltammetry (ASV). Peak resolution and sensitivity have both been improved by use of the mercury thin-film electrode (MTFE). Preparation, conservation and treatment of the electrode are simple, requiring brief etching of a silver wire with dilute nitric acid, followed by rinsing, drying and direct amalgamation with mercury. The MTFE is stored in mercury, the excess of which is wiped off before use; it is cleaned by anodic-stripping electrolysis at positive potentials. Under these conditions, ASV produces reproducible peak-heights, with excellent dependence on electrolysis time and concentration of impurities. Samples containing nanogram quantities or less of the impurities of interest, are analysed by a four-step procedure: (1) prolonged pre-electrolysis of the supporting electrolyte,in situ in the voltammetric cell, on an auxiliary MTFE; (2) ASV of the supporting electrolyte on a cleaned MTFE; (3) ASV after the dissolution of the sample; (4) ASV after the addition of standards. The method is suitable for the estimation of traces of Zn(II), Cd(II), Tl(I), Pb(II), Sb(III) and Cu(II) in various high-purity reagents. Most impurities have been adequately determined at the 10^–9–10^–8 M level by the regular procedure, and at the 10^–10–10^–9 M level may be determined if the preconcentration (electrolysis) time and rates of potential sweep are increased. The only disadvantage of the method is that the overvoltage of hydrogen evolution is lower for the MTFE than the HMDE.

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Zusammenfassung Die Verwendung einer amalgamierten Silberdrahtelektrode mit einer im Vergleich zum Quecksilbervolumen großen Oberfläche bietet offenbar verschiedene Vorteile bei der Bestimmung von Spurenbeimengungen durch Anodic-stripping Voltammetry (ASV) gegenüber einem hängenden Quecksilbertropfen (HMDE). Peakauflösung und Empfindlichkeit wurden mit Hilfe der Quecksilberdünnschicht-Elektrode (MTFE) verbessert. Herstellung, Aufbewahrung und Behandlung solcher Elektroden sind einfach; sie erfordern eine kurze Anätzung eines Silberdrahtes mit verd. Salpetersäure, Spülung, Trocknung und Amalgamierung mit Quecksilber. Diese Elektroden werden in Quecksilber aufbewahrt, dessen Überschuß vor der Verwendung weggewischt wird. Sie werden durch Anodic-stripping-Elektrolyse bei positivem Potential gereinigt. Unter diesen Bedingungen gibt ASV reproduzierbare Peakhöhen, die zu der Elektrolysezeit und der Konzentration der Beimengungen in gutem Abhängigkeitsverhältnis stehen. Proben, die Nanogrammengen solcher Beimengungen enthalten, werden nach einem Vierstufenverfahren analysiert: 1. verlängerte Vorelektrolyse des Trägerelektrolyten mittels einer Hilfs-MTFE im Voltammetriegefäß; 2. ASV des Trägerelektrolyten mit einer gereinigten MTFE; 3. ASV nach Auflösung der Probe; 4. ASV nach Zugabe der Standards. Die Methode eignet sich zur Bestimmung von Spuren Zn(II), Cd(II), Tl(I), Pb(II), Sb(III) und Cu(II) in verschiedenen hochreinen Reagenzien. Die meisten dieser Verunreinigungen wurden in der Größenordnung 10^–9 bis 10^–8 M mit Hilfe des regulären Verfahrens bestimmt. In der Größenordnung 10^–10 bis 10^–9 M können sie bei Verlängerung der Anreicherungszeit (elektrolytisch) und Erhöhung des Potentialbereichs bestimmt werden. Der einzige Nachteil des Verfahrens ist, daß die Überspannung zur Wasserstoffentwicklung geringer ist als mit dem hängenden Quecksilbertropfen.

     

Determination of thallium in bismuth by differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry without preliminary separation

The determination of trace levels of thallium in bismuth and bismuth salts by differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry has been made possible by using a surfactant as an electrochemical masking agent, in addition to a complexing agent. In 0.2M EDTA at pH 4.5 as supporting electrolyte in the absence of surfactant, bismuth at concentrations below 10(-4)M does not interfere. When the electrolyte also contains tetrabutylammonium ions at 0.01 M concentration, bismuth can be tolerated at concentrations up 0.05M, and the height of the thallium peak is unaffected. It is thus possible to determine 1 nM Tl(I) in the presence of 0.05M Bi(III), i.e., Tl at the 1 x 10(-6)% level in bismuth. The precision of the determination and the recovery are satisfactory. Neither an 800-fold ratio of Cu(II) nor a 10(7)-fold ratio of Pb(II) to Tl(I) interferes in the determination. Other cations such as Zn(2+), Cd(2+), In(3+), Hg(2+), Fe(3+), Sb(3+) and Sn(4+) in 10(4)-fold molar ratio to Tl(I) have no effect on the determination. Thallium has been determined in bismuth metal and in bismuth nitrate of various degrees of purity.     

Direct determination of bismuth(III) in sea water by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry at a glassy-carbon rotating-disk electrode

A method for the determination of bismuth(III) in untreated sea water at its natural pH of 8.1 is described. A bare glassy-carbon rotating-disk electrode is preconditioned by placing in the sample at an applied potential of ?0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 20 min; after stripping to ?0.4 V, bismuth is accumulated for 5 min at ?0.8 V and finally stripped in the square-wave mode. The bismuth peak appears at ca. + 0.10 V vs. Ag/AgCl; peak height is linearly related to concentration up to 2×10^?10 mol dm^?3. The method is highly selective for bismuth. The concentration of Bi(III) in the investigated sample was (6±1)×10^?11 mol dm^?3, or 12±2 ng dm^?3. The different types of response obtained are discussed.     

Determination of traces of selenium(IV) by cathodic stripping voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode

Conditions convenient for the determination of traces of seIenium(IV) by cathodic stripping technique are described. Several electrolytes were tested. Three procedures are given in which the troublesome splitting of the stripping peak is eliminated. Suitable conditions include perchloric acid solution at elevated temperature, hydrochloric acid solution after preconcentration at zero current, and perchloric acid solution containing a small amount of iodide. The detection limits are 5 × 10^-9, 2 × 10^-9 and 5 × 10^-10 mol dm^-3, respectively. The time required for the entire procedure is about 30 min starting with a soluble seIenium(IV) sample.     

Determination of traces of bismuth in copper by anodic stripping voltammetry

Summary Procedures are described for the determination of bismuth impurities in. copper using anodic stripping voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode. Bismuth was previously separated from copper by cation or anion exchange in hydrochloric acid. The method was applied to the analysis of commercially available high purity copper, showing satisfactory sensitivity and accuracy. The detection limit was about 2×10^–9 M bismuth in solution for a pre-electrolysis time of 15 min (–0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl); this corresponds to 0.004 ppm of bismuth for a 1 g sample and a final volume of 10 ml after separation.

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Bestimmung von Wismutspuren in Kupfer durch anodische Amalgamvoltammetrie

Zusammenfassung Mit hängendem Quecksilbertropfen. Wismut wird vor der Bestimmung durch Kationen oder Anionenaustausch aus salzsaurer Lösung vom Kupfer abgetrennt. Das Verfahren wurde zur Analyse von handelsüblichem hochreinem Kupfer angewendet. Mit einer Vorelektrolysedauer von 15 min (–0,5 V gegen Ag/AgCl) konnten noch 2×10^–9 M Bi bestimmt werden; das entspricht 0,004 ppm Bi für eine 1 g-Probe bei einem Endvolumen von 10 ml nach der Trennung.

     

Determination of nanomolar concentrations of lead and cadmium by anodic-stripping voltammetry at the silver electrode

Lead and cadmium have been determined by subtractive anodic-stripping voltammetry (SASV) in the square-wave mode at a silver electrode without removal of oxygen. The sensitivities and detection limits for the two metals differ considerably. Detection limits of 0.05 nM for lead and 1 nM for cadmium have been achieved following 90 s electrodeposition. The repeatability of consecutive SASV runs is good (for lead 0.5% at 20 nM for 30 s electrolysis, 5% at 0.3 nM for 60 s electrolysis; for cadmium 2.5% at 20 nM for 30 s electrolysis, 5% at 5 nM for 60 s). Hundreds of runs can be carried out without any pretreatment of the electrode. The high stability is attributed to renewal of the electrode surface that takes place during the electrodeposition step in a two-electrode cell: the silver counter/quasi-reference electrode generates silver ions that codeposit with lead and cadmium at the Ag-RDE, thus ensuring a continuity of the latter. Underpotential deposition (UPD) plays a central role in anodic-stripping voltammetry (ASV). During the deposition step, the adatom coverage of trace elements is in the range of 0.01-1% and no bulk deposition is invoked for metals that exhibit UPD. The UPD properties and, as a result, the ASV signals are strongly affected by the type and concentration of the supporting electrolyte. The effects of Cl⁻, Br⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ are shown. The analysis of lead and cadmium in natural waters has been performed. Surfactants distort the SASV signal. In order to ensure surfactant-free solutions, the samples were pretreated by wet ashing.     

Determination of pseudouridine at submicromolar concentrations by cathodic stripping voltammetry at a mercury electrode

Pseudouridine (5-ribosyluracil), uridine (N,1-ribosyluracil), deoxyuridine (N,1-deoxyribosyluracil) and uracil are investigated by means of d.c. polarography and by differential and normal pulse polarography. Pseudouridine, which is known to be a cancer marker, yields anodic polarographic currents in the pH range 7–11, whereas uridine and deoxyuridine are inactive under the same conditions. The polarographic response of pseudouridine obtained is due to the formation of a sparingly soluble mercury compound. Pseudouridine can be determined by differential pulse polarography in the concentration range 2–6 × 10^?6 M and by differential-pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry at concentrations two orders of magnitude lower. Small excesses of uridine, deoxyuridine or proteins do not interfere with the determination.     

Determination of arsenic by cathodic stripping voltammetry at a hanging mercury drop electrode

Arsenic (III), respectively arsenic(V) after the reduction were determined in model solutions and some inorganic and organic materials by fast scan differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry and by direct current cathodic stripping voltammetry with a rapid increase of potential. The accumulation on a hanging mercury drop electrode followed by cathodic stripping was carried out in 0.7–0.8M HCl or 1–2M H₂SO₄ solutions containing Cu(II)-ions. Detection limits calculated from regression parameters was determined to be under 1 ng/ml for the samples containing very low arsenic concentrations. The relative standard deviation did not reach 8% for arsenic contents about of 5 ng/ml.     

Direct determination of traces of silver in mercury by voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode in acetonitrile medium

A direct method for the determination of silver in mercury is described. The sample of mercury is introduced into the container of the hanging mercury drop electrode and the anodic voltammograms are recorded in a 0.1 M lithium perchlorate solution in acetonitrile. The anodic peak of silver obtained under these conditions is well separated from the mercury dissolution current. The peak height is proportional to silver concentration over the wide range 2 × 10^?6 mol dm^?3 (1.6 × 10^?6%) to at least 2.0 × 10^?2 mol dm^?3. No prior separation is needed; the procedure requires less than 20 min. The diffusion coefficient of silver in mercury was determined at several temperatures. It was found that silver in mercury does not form intermetallic compounds with copper, lead, thallium, cadmium, tin and bismuth.     

Evaluation of differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry at a stationary mercury-film electrode with stirred solution

Differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry at a stationary mercury-film electrode with the solution stirred during the deposition step has been investigated. The sensitivity achieved by using such a simple set-up is similar to that obtained with a mercury-film rotating disk electrode. The effects of various experimental parameters on the peak current are described. Lead and cadmium were used as test systems, and gave detection limits of around 1 x 10(-10)M with 5-min deposition times.     

Determination of nitrate in natural waters by voltammetry at a stationary mercury drop electrode

Nitrate can be determined by second-sweep cyclic voltammetry at a stationary mercury drop electrode utilizing the autocatalytic effect of the hydroxyl ions formed at the surface of the electrode during the reduction of nitrate in the presence of an excess of trivalent cations. The reduction current in the second sweep with the same drop is proportional to the nitrate concentration in the range 1–1500 μmol l^?1 in natural waters. The humic substances present in natural waters have a favourable effect on the determination of nitrate. The method is applied to the determination of nitrate in drinking and river waters.     

Determination of promethazine by anodic differential-pulse voltammetry

A differential-pulse voltammetric method is described for the determination of promethazine hydrochloride. The method is based on the anodic oxidation of promethazine on a glassy carbon electrode at + 0.64 V vs. SCE in Prideaux buffer of pH 2.3. The reversibility of the oxidation was tested by cyclic voltammetry; the electrode process is quasi-reversible. From the results of microcoulometric experiments and a study of acid—base equilibria, a mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation is presented. The method is applied to determine promethazine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations. Calibrations are linear over the 0.1–1 and 1–5 mg/50 cm³ ranges.     

Determination of metals by second-harmonic alternating-current voltammetry with a semi-stationary mercury electrode

The simultaneous determination of tin(II) and lead(II) as well as of indium(III) and cadmium(II) by second-harmonic a.c. voltanunetry using a semi-stationary mercury electrode with a drop-time of 240-300 sec (the long-lasting sessile-drop mercury electrode) has been investigated. Under the best experimental conditions, concentration ratios in the ranges l:12 c(Sn):c(Pb) 15:1 and 1:15 c(In):c(Cd) 15:1 can be determined.     

Determination of subnanomolar concentrations of cobalt by adsorptive stripping voltammetry at a bismuth film electrode

Procedures for trace cobalt determinations by adsorptive stripping voltammetry at in situ and ex situ plated bismuth film electrodes are presented. These exploit the enhancement of the cobalt peak obtained by using the Co(II)–dimethylglyoxime–cetyltrimethylammonium bromide–piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) system. The calibration graph for an accumulation time of 120 s was linear from 2 × 10^–10 to 2 × 10^–8 mol L^–1. The relative standard deviation from five determinations of cobalt at a concentration of 5 × 10^–9 mol L^–1 was 5.2%. The detection limit for an accumulation time of 300 s was 1.8 × 10^–11 mol L^–1. The proposed procedure was applied to cobalt determination in certified reference materials and in tap and river water samples.     

Analysis of domperidone in pharmaceutical formulations and wastewater by differential pulse voltammetry at a glassy-carbon electrode

The redox characteristics of the drug domperidone at a glassy-carbon electrode (GCE) in aqueous media were critically investigated by differential-pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). In Britton–Robinson (BR) buffer of pH 2.6–10.3, an irreversible and diffusion-controlled oxidation wave was developed. The dependence of the CV response of the developed anodic peak on the sweep rate (ν) and on depolizer concentration was typical of an electrode-coupled chemical reaction mechanism (EC) in which an irreversible first-order reaction is interposed between the charges. The values of the electron-transfer coefficient (α) involved in the rate-determining step calculated from the linear plots of E _p,a against ln (ν) in the pH range investigated were in the range 0.64 ± 0.05 confirming the irreversible nature of the oxidation peak. In BR buffer of pH 7.6–8.4, a well defined oxidation wave was developed and the plot of peak current height of the DPV against domperidone concentration at this peak potential was linear in the range 5.20 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.40 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with lower limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 6.1 × 10⁻⁷ and 9.1 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, respectively. A relative standard deviation of 2.39% (n = 5) was obtained for 8.5 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ of the drug. These DPV procedures were successfully used for analysis of domperidone in the pure form (98.2 ± 3.1%), dosage form (98.35 ± 2.9%), and in tap (97.0 ± 3.6%) and wastewater (95.0 ± 2.9%) samples. The method was validated by comparison with standard titrimetric and HPLC methods. Acceptable error of less than 3.3 % was also achieved. Figure In aqueous media at pH 7.6- 8.4, the DPV and cyclic voltammetry of the drug domperidone (I) at GCE showed an irreversible and diffusion controlled oxidation wave. The values of the electron transfer coefficient (α) involved in the rate determining step were found in the range 0.64± 0.05 confirming the irreversible nature of the peak. The analysis of the drug in pure form and in wastewater samples was successfully achieved