Simultaneous determination of mercury(II), copper(II) and bismuth(III) in urine by flow constant-current stripping analysis with a gold fibre electrode

Urine samples are treated with concentrated nitric acid and potassium permanganate ar 70°C for 10 min prior to injection. The flow electrode system consists of a 10-μm diameter gold fibre working electrode, a glassy carbon reference electrode and a platinum counter electrode. In the fully automated constant-current stripping procedure, the gold fibre is first covered with a fresh gold film after which the sample is electrolyzed for 1 min prior to stripping in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid with a current of 0.1μA. The procedure is repeated on a spiked sample after which the sample analyte concentrations are evaluated and presented digitally and graphically on a printer/plotter. The results obtained for bismuth, copper and mercury in a urine reference sample were 36.9, 39.7 and 47.7 μg l^?1 with standard deviations (n=10) of 3.2, 4.2 and 2.1, respectively. The certified values for copper and mercury were 45 and 51 μg l^?1; no certified value was available for bismuth.     

Automated determination of total arsenic in sea water by flow constant-current stripping analysis with gold fibre electrodes

Total arsenic in sea water is determined in a fully automated flow system, by means of potentiostatic deposition for 4 min at a 25-μm gold fibre electrode and subsequent constant-current stripping in 5 M hydrochloric acid. Previously the sample is acidified with hydrochloric and arsenic(V) is reduced to arsenic(III) with iodide. During stripping, the potential vs. time transient is recorded with a real-time measurement rate of 26.5 kHz and a potential resolution of 1 mV. Cleaning and regeneration of the gold electrode are fully automated. The total arsenic concentrations in two reference sea waters (NASS-1 and CASS-1) were evaluated by single-point standard addition and found to be 1.58 and 1.14 μg l^?1 with standard deviations of 0.39 and 0.28 μg l^?1, respectively; certified values are 1.65 ± 0.19 and 1.04 ± 0.07 μg l^?1. The arsenic(III) content in these samples was below the detection limit (0.15 μg l^?1).     

Automated determination of lead in urine by means of computerized flow potentiometric stripping analysis with a carbon-fibre electrode

Five different digestion procedures have been investigated. In the recommended procedure 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid-nitric acid mixture (1:1) were added to a 5-ml urine sample. After 1 min the sample was diluted to 100 ml with distilled water. The sample was divided into two 50-ml samples and to one of them a standard addition of 10 microg/l. lead(II) was made. The two samples were analysed fully automatically by means of computerized flow potentiometric stripping analysis, the main features of the procedure being mercury-film precoating, electrolysis of the sample for 90 sec and subsequent stripping in 1M calcium chloride/0.1M hydrochloric acid. Tin and copper were found not to interfere if present at concentrations below 50 mg/l. but high concentrations of tin had to be masked by the addition of copper in order to form a copper-tin intermetallic compound. Complexing agents used in lead poisoning therapy did not interfere with the determination. The lead concentration in a Seronorm reference urine sample was found to be 93 microg/l. with a standard deviation of 8 microg/l. (n = 5), the certified value being 88 microg/l.     

Determination of selenium by means of computerized flow constant-current stripping at carbon fibre electrodes. : Application to human whole blood and milk powder.

The main features of the flow constant-current stripping analysis for selenium(IV) are formation of a mercury film on a carbon fibre sensor in a chloride medium containing mercury(II), electrolysis in the sample at ?0.20 V vs. SCE for 15–60 s, and subsequent stripping (reduction) of the mercury(II) selenide formed on the electrode surface, by means of a constant current of 0.40 μA in an acidic magnesium chloride solution containing Triton X-100. During stripping, the potential vs. time gradient is monitored at a real-time measuring rate of 25.6 kHz. All experimental parameters are under computer control. A standard addition method is used and the results are calculated and reported, both digitally and graphically. Equations relating the magnitude of the constant current to the concentration of reducible species, and, in particular, of dissolved dioxygen, are derived. Milk powder and whole blood reference samples were analyzed by high-pressure digestion in nitric acid and dilution with hydrochloric acid, in order to reduce selenium(VI) to selenium(IV), and then constant-current stripping. The results obtained by this method were lower than those obtained by the reference technique, but the values agreed within one standard deviation of the two techniques. Ions, such as iron(III) and lead(II), known to interferè with electrochemical stripping for selenium(IV) in batch analysis did not interfere in the flow approach.     

Determination of uranium(VI) in seawater by means of automated flow constant-current cathodic stripping at carbon fibre electrodes

Uranium(VI) is determined in an automated flow system by means of constant-current reductive stripping with a mercury film-coated carbon fibre electrode and catechol as adsorptive reagent at pH 8.6 Interference from iron(III) is eliminated by addition of sulphite. Increased linear range between stripping signal and sample uranium(VI) concentration can be obtained by adding, in the computer, several stripping curves, each obtained after a short period of adsorptive accumulation. It is shown that the hanging mercury drop electrode can be used for the determination of uranium(VI) by means of computerized constant current stripping without the need for inert gas bubbling. The results obtained for uranium(VI) in two reference seawater samples, NASS-1 and CASS-1, were 2.90 and 2.68 μg l^?1 with standard deviations (n = 8) of 0.57 and 0.75 μg l^?1, respectively.     

Determination of thallium in soils by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry by means of a mercury film electrode

Trace amounts of thallium can be determined in soils by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with a mercury film electrode. The mercury film is plated ex situ on a glassy carbon surface. By using a supporting electrolyte of ascorbic acid and EDTA at pH 4.5 and the optimum electrolysis potential, interferences from lead and other metal ions can be eliminated. The method does not require any separation of thallium from the matrix. The results are in satisfactory agreement with those obtained by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Anodic stripping determination of mercury in air with a glassy carbon electrode

A technique for stripping determination of mercury traces in air employing a glassy carbon electrode is described. The sample is passed at 2 liters min^?1 for 2 hr through an absorber containing 0.2 M potassium permanganate and 10% $\text{w}\text{v}$ sulfuric acid (1:1). After reduction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride, the determination is carried out in 0.12 M potassium thiocyanate at pH 2.0 ± 0.2 in the presence of 0.2 ppm of cupric ions. Calibration curves were found to be linear in the range 20 ppb-1 ppm Hg(II) in the cell. The accuracy of the method was tested over simulated samples and it was found to be better than 95%; the relative standard deviation was 5% or less. The limit of detection of mercury in air was approximately 10 μg m^?3.     

Determination of mercury in air by stripping voltammetry with chromatomembrane preconcentration

It is shown that mercury can be determined in air by stripping voltammetry at a level of 0.05 μg/m³ (0.005 MPC in the air of working areas) using chromatomembrane preconcentration.     

Determination of dinoseb by adsorptive stripping voltammetry using a mercury film electrode

An adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of the pesticide dinoseb (2-sec.-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) at the mercury film electrode is described. The deposition of the mercury film on a glassy carbon disk electrode was optimized. The temperature, at which the mercury film was deposited, was demonstrated to have a strong influence on the stripping peaks, the first one being much more intense than the second. A systematic study of the variables affecting the stripping response was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry. The results obtained have been compared with those at the HMDE; a significant improvement in the sensitivity of the method developed with the MFE was observed. Using a 300 s accumulation time, the limits of determination and detection were 3.6 × 10^–10 and 1.1 × 10^–10 mol L^–1, respectively. The effect of the presence of several herbicides on the dinoseb response was also tested. The method has been applied to the determination of the pesticide in spiked apple juice at two concentration levels: 12.0 and 1.2 g L^–1 of juice.     

Parameters affecting the determination of mercury by anodic stripping voltammetry using a gold electrode

The electrochemical determination of aqueous Hg(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at a solid gold electrode is described. The aim of this work is to optimise all factors that can influence this determination. Potential wave forms (linear sweep, differential pulse, square wave), potential scan parameters, deposition time, deposition potential and surface cleaning procedures were examined for their effect on the mercury peak shape and intensity. Five supporting electrolytes were tested. The best responses were obtained with square wave potential wave form and diluted HCl as supporting electrolyte. Electrochemical and mechanical surface cleaning, aimed at removing the amount of mercury deposited onto the gold surface, were necessary for obtaining a good performance of the electrode. Response linearity, repeatability, accuracy and detection limit were also evaluated.     

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.     

Automated determination of molybdenum(VI) in seawater by means of constant-current reduction of the adsorbed 8-quinolinol complex in a computerized flow potentiometric stripping analyzer

Molybdenum(VI) in seawater is determined by means of potentiostatic adsorption of the 8-quinolinol complex onto a mercury film electrode at ?0.2 V vs. SCE and subsequent reduction of the complex by means of constant-current stripping in 5 M calcium chloride medium with a fully automated stripping analyzer. A single stripping peak at –0.42 V vs. SCE was obtained. The molybdenum(VI) concentration in reference seawater NASS-1, with a certified value of 11.5 ± 1.9 μg 1^?1, was found to be 8.9 ± 1.3 μg 1^?1 (n = 10).     

Flow potentiometric and constant-current stripping analysis for mercury(II) with gold,platinum and carbon fibre working electrodes : Application to the Analysis of Tap Water

Gold, platinum and carbon fibres with 10-μm diameter were mounted in PVC tubes and used as flow sensors in computerized potentiometric and constant-current stripping analysis for mercury, after electroplating ofa gold film onto the fibre surfaces. Compared to gold and glassy carbon disc electrodes, the fibre electrodes gare increased sensitivity and stability and were considerably simpler to handle. The gold-coated carbon fibre electrode gave a higher background than the gold fibre electrode, in both the potentiometric and constant-current stripping modes. Mercury(II) could be determined in presence of a 10⁵-fold (molar) amount of copper(II) by constant-current stripping in media with chloride concentrations below 0.05 M. The detection limit for mercury(II) after 10 min of electrolysis was 45 ng l^?1 at the 3 σ level.     

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.     

Computerized flow constant-current stripping analysis for nickel(II) and cobalt(II) with carbon fibre and modified carbon fibre electrodes

Nickel (II) and cobalt (II) are determined by constant-current stripping analysis, with mercury- coated carbon fibre electrodes, in non-deoxygenated solutions after potentiostatic adsorptive accumulation of their dimethylglyoxime complexes. By adding several stripping scans, each obtained after a short period of potentiostatic deposition, instead of a single scan obtained after the same total time of potentiostatic adsorption, the linear range between the analytical signal and the analyte concentration can be extended. By using pulsed-potential procedures for adsorptive accumulation, cobalt (II) can be determined in the presence of a larger amount of nickel (II) and vice versa. Carbon fibre electrodes were modified by sucking ethanolic solutions of either dimethylglyoxime (of Nafion and dimethylglyoxime) through the electrodes; Nafion did not affect the general behaviour of this electrode. The background of the modified electrodes was lower than that of the unmodified electrodes. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysis of sea- water reference samples. The detection limit for nickel (II) was about 40 ng l^?1 for a total potentiostatic deposition time of 100 s (5×20 s); the reagent blank was about 150 ng l^?1 under these conditions.     

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 mercury in biological fluids by potentiometric stripping analysis

A method is described for the determination of mercury by potentiometric stripping analysis. The analyte, Hg²⁺, is employed for oxidizing a fixed amount of cadmium, previously reduced and amalgamated at a thin mercury film preplated on a glassy carbon electrode. The cadmium stripping signal correlates well with the amount of Hg²⁺ added. Correlation coefficients of 0.9971 and 0.9960 were obtained for the two working ranges: (25 ng–2.5 g) and (5.0–50) g Hg²⁺, respectively, in spiked water samples. The method was investigated with respect to precision and accuracy by spiking a natural water sample with 25 g Hg²⁺.Nine replicate determinations gave a mean value of 24.8 g with a standard deviation ±0.31 g. The 95% confidence limit of the mean suggested the absence of systematic errors. Using the highest possible sensitivity, detection limits of 2.0 ng (167 ng/l) and 0.5 ng (4.2 ng/100 ml of whole blood) were obtained in water and blood samples, respectively. The applicability of the method was successfully extended to include the more complex matrices after recording a zero blank from authentic samples spiked with Cd²⁺ (25 g).The described PSA procedure is a simple and rapid method compared with the cold-vapor technique, with a 5.2% and 4.9% RSD, respectively.     

Carbon fibre electrodes in flow potentiometric stripping analysis

The construction of carbon fibre flow electrodes suitable for use in connection with potentiometric and constant-current stripping is described, and the fibre electrodes are compared with a glassy carbon disc thin layer cell. The signal-to-background ratio is approximately 1.6 times higher for an 8–10 μm carbon fibre compared to the glassy carbon disc electrode. If an Ag/AgCl tube is used as both counter and reference electrode, the signal-to-noise ratio of the fibre electrode is approximately five times better than for a glassy carbon disc electrode with a calomel reference; the latter electrode design, however, gives slightly better precision. The dead volume and internal potential drop of the fibre electrodes are more than one order of magnitude smaller than for the glassy carbon disc electrode. Because of the simplicity of the manufacturing process and low material cost, the fibre cells can be used as disposable electrodes and the polishing process necessary in connection with glassy carbon disc electrodes can be omitted.