Validation of bismuth film electrode for determination of cobalt and cadmium in soil extracts using ICP-MS

A study is presented on the use of the bismuth film electrode (BiFE) operated in the anodic stripping and the cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (ASV, CAdSV) modes, for the determination of two trace heavy metals (Cd and Co, respectively), in soil extract samples. Two types of BiFE were examined in this study: the in situ prepared BiFE, which was employed in ASV determination of Cd, and the ex situ prepared BiFE, which was used in CAdSV of Co with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) as complexing agent. A series of unpretreated soil extracts with varying Cd and Co concentrations were analyzed, and the results obtained compared to those determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed the suitability of stripping analysis at the BiFE for determination of μg l⁻¹ levels of heavy metals in soil extracts. The promising results obtained here, coupled with the non-toxic nature of bismuth (in comparison to commonly used mercury electrodes employed in stripping analysis), offer great promise in centralized and decentralized analysis of trace heavy metals in complex environmental matrices.     

Determination of trace cobalt(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry on disposable microfabricated electrochemical cells with integrated planar metal-film electrodes

This work reports the determination of trace Co(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry on disposable three-electrode cells with on-chip metal-film electrodes. The heart of the sensors was a bismuth-film electrode (BiFE) with Ag and Pt planar strips serving as the reference and counter electrodes, respectively. Metals were deposited on a silicon chip by sputtering while the areas of the electrodes were patterned via a metal mask. Co(II) was determined by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) after complexation with dimethylglyoxime (DMG). The experimental variables (the DMG concentration, the preconcentration potential, the accumulation time and the SW parameters), as well as potential interferences, were investigated. Using the selected conditions, the 3σ limit of detection was 0.09 μg l⁻¹ of Co(II) (for 90 s of preconcentration) and the relative standard deviation for Co(II) was 3.8% at the 2 μg l⁻¹ level (n = 8). The method was applied to the determination of Co(II) in a certified river water sample. These mercury-free electrochemical devices present increased scope for field analysis and μ-TAS applications.     

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.     

On-line stripping voltammetry of trace metals at a flow-through bismuth-film electrode by means of a hybrid flow-injection/sequential-injection system

In this work, we describe an automated stripping analyzer operating on a hybrid flow-injection/sequential-injection (FIA/SIA) mode and utilizing a bismuth-film electrode (BiFE) as a flow-through sensor for on-line stripping voltammetry of trace metals. The instrument combines the advantages of FIA and SIA and is characterised by simplicity, low-cost, rapidity, versatility and low consumption of solutions. The proposed analytical flow methodology was applied to the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and of Ni(II) and Co(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). The steps of the rather complex experimental sequence (i.e. the bismuth-film formation, the analyte accumulation, the voltammetric stripping and the electrode cleaning/regeneration) were conducted on-line and the critical parameters related to the respective analytical procedures were investigated. In ASV, for a accumulation time of 180 s the limits of detection for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 2 and 1 μg l⁻¹, respectively (S/N = 3) and the relative standard deviations were 5.3% and 4.7%, respectively (n = 8). In AdSV, for a total sample volume of 1000 μl, the limits of detection for Ni(II) and Co(II) were 1 μg l⁻¹ (S/N = 3) and the relative standard deviations were 5.5% and 6.2%, respectively (n = 8). The measurement frequency ranged between 15 and 20 stripping cycles h⁻¹. The results indicate that the BiFE is well suited as a flow-through detector for on-line stripping analysis and, by virtue of its low toxicity, can serve as a viable alternative to mercury-based flow-through electrodes.     

铋膜电极方波吸附溶出伏安法测定纺织品中痕量钴和镍

本文建立了在铋膜修饰电极上采用方波吸附溶出伏安法同时测定纺织品中痕量Co2+和Ni2+的方法.以NH3-NH4Cl作为缓冲液,在丁二酮肟浓度为10 μmol/L的体系中,Co2和Ni2+的还原峰电位分别为-1.13 V和-1.03 V.当缓冲溶液pH为9.2,富集电位为-0.7V,富集时间为200 s时,C02 +和Ni2+在0.5～50 μg/L范围呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数R2＞0.99,其检出限分别为0.79 μg/L和0.96 μg/L,其它金属离子的干扰较小.采用标准加入法测定纺织品中Co>和Ni2+,回收率在94.88％～104.14％之间.     

Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Cobalt and Nickel as Their α‐Furil Dioxime Complexes

The exploitation of the catalytic‐adsorptive effect in the Co(II)‐dioxime‐nitrite systems provides a significant increase of the Co adsorptive stripping voltammetric response and subsequently the influence of the interfering elements such as Ni and Zn is strongly diminished. The purpose of the present paper was to study voltammetric properties of Co and Ni in a supporting electrolyte containing ammonia buffer, α‐furil dioxime in the absence and in the presence of nitrite, by differential pulse polarography and adsorptive stripping voltammetry. Results of detailed studies aimed at optimizing the analytical parameters for simultaneous catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of Co and Ni in the form of complexes with α‐furil dioxime in the presence of Zn matrix are presented. In the supporting electrolyte of composition 0.1 M NH₄Cl, 0.5 M NH₃, 4×10^?5 M αFD, 0.5 M NaNO₂ the linearity range amounts from 0.03 to 2.4 μg/L for Co and from 0.3 to 9 μg/L for Ni for 20 s of accumulation. The method enables the determination of Co and Ni in the presence of a great excess of Zn with the detection limit equal to 0.02 μg/L Co and 0.2 μg/L Ni obtained for a 20 s accumulation time.     

Simultaneous determination of nickel(II) and cobalt(II) by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry on a rotating-disc bismuth-film electrode

This works reports the use of square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) for the simultaneous determination of Ni(II) and Co(II) on a rotating-disc bismuth-film electrode (BFE). The metal ions in the non-deoxygenated sample were complexed with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) and the complexes were accumulated by adsorption on the surface of the BFE. The stripping step was carried out by using a square-wave potential-time voltammetric excitation signal. Electrochemical cleaning of the bismuth film was employed, enabling the same bismuth film to be used for a series of measurements. The experimental variables (choice of the working electrode substrate, the presence of oxygen, the DMG concentration, the buffer concentration, the preconcentration potential, the accumulation time, the rotation speed and the SW parameters) as well as potential interferences were investigated and the figures of merit of the methods were established. Using the selected conditions, the 3σ limits of detection were 70 ng l⁻¹ for Co(II) and 100 ng l⁻¹ for Ni(II) (for 300 s of preconcentration) and the relative standard deviations were 2.3% for Co(II) and 3.9% for Ni(II) at the 2 μg l⁻¹ level (n = 8). Finally, the method was applied to the determination of nickel and cobalt in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Ex Situ Prepared Antimony Film Electrode for Electrochemical Stripping Measurement of Heavy Metal Ions

The antimony film electrode (SbFE) was prepared ex situ for anodic and adsorptive stripping voltammetric measurement of selected heavy metal ions. The electrode revealed good linearity for Cd(II) and Pb(II) in a nondeaerated solution of 0.01 M HCl in the examined concentration range from 25 to 80 μg L^?1 with limits of detection of 1.1 μg L^?1 for Cd(II) and 0.3 μg L^?1 for Pb(II) and an excellent reproducibility. The preplated SbFE was also preliminary tested for measuring low levels of Ni(II) using adsorptive stripping voltammetry exhibiting good linearity and sensitivity in combination with only a 30 s deposition step.     

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.     

Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry method for determination of trace metals in alkaline-earth matrices after flotation separation

An inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method is developed for determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Tl and Zn in traces in calcite, CaCO₃, dolomite, CaMg(CO₃)₂, and gypsum, CaSO₄. Interferences of a Ca/Mg matrix on analyte intensities were investigated. The results reveal that Ca does not interfere with Cr, Ni and Zn, but tends to decrease the intensity of the other elements. Magnesium as a matrix element does not interfere on with Zn, but increases the intensities of Ni, Cr and Cu, and decreases the intensities of Cd, Co and Tl. To eliminate these matrix interferences on trace element intensities, a flotation separation method is proposed. Lead(II) hexamethylenedithiocarbamate, Pb(HMDTC)₂, is applied as a collector for flotation of trace elements from acidic solutions of mineral samples. The flotation of acidic aqueous solutions of calcite, dolomite and gypsum was performed at pH 6.0, using 10 mg l⁻¹ Pb and 0.3 mmol l⁻¹ HMDTC⁻ added to 1 l of solution tested. The method detection limits of analytes in different minerals range from 0.02 to 0.06 μg g⁻¹ for Cd, 0.04 to 0.10 μg g⁻¹ for Co, 0.03 to 0.13 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, 0.02 to 0.16 μg g⁻¹ for Cu, 0.09 to 0.30 μg g⁻¹ for Ni, 6.45 to 7.71 μg g⁻¹ for Tl and 0.18 to 0.20 μg g⁻¹ for Zn.     

Simultaneous Determination of Nickel and Cobalt Using a Solid Bismuth Vibrating Electrode by Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

A simple, fast, sensitive and greener voltammetric procedure for simultaneous analysis of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) by square wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (SW‐AdCSV) using a solid bismuth vibrating electrode is presented for the first time. The procedure enables to determine Ni together with Co, in ammonia buffer 0.1 M (pH 9.2) and in the presence of oxygen, and involves an adsorptive accumulation of metal‐dimethylglyoxime (Ni‐DMG and Co‐DMG) complexes on the electrode surface. For Ni and Co, the detection limits, obtained with 30 s of accumulation time, were 0.6 and 1.0 µg L^?1, respectively. The method was free of metals (Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Pb²⁺ up to 50 µg L^?1, Al³⁺ and Mn²⁺ up to 500 µg L^?1; Zn²⁺ up to 300 µg L^?1) interferences up to the concentrations mentioned in brackets. The proposed method was validated for simultaneous determination of Ni and Co in a certified reference surface and river waters with good results.     

Antimony Film Microelectrode for Anodic Stripping Measurement of Cadmium(II), Lead(II) and Copper(II)

The antimony film microelectrode (SbFME) is presented for measuring trace heavy metal ions in combination with anodic stripping voltammetry. The SbFME was tested in model solutions of 0.01 M HCl containing Cd(II) and Pb(II) in the presence of dissolved oxygen. The microsensor exhibited good linear behavior in the examined concentration range 20 μg L⁻¹ to 100 μg L⁻¹ and LoD of 1.9 and 3.1 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The suitability of SbFME for measuring trace levels of Cu(II) was demonstrated using the standard reference material of natural water exploiting the sensor's specific characteristic of low re‐oxidation signal for antimony.     

Determination of trace metals in rain water by differential-pulse stripping voltammetry

Differential-pulse stripping voltammetry is applied to measure zinc, cadmium, lead and copper by anodic stripping and selenium(IV) by cathodic stripping in rain water at pH 2; subsequently, at pH 9,1, manganese is measured by anodic stripping on the same portion, and cobalt and nickel are measured in the adsorptive mode after formation of their dimethylglyoximates. The instrumental parameters are optimized. The linear ranges, mutual interferences and detection limits are studied. Excellent accuracy is demonstrated; the standard deviation is around 15% at 2.5–50 μg l^?1 levels. The method is shown to be applicable for rain water.     

Carbon Paste Electrode Plated with Lead Film. Voltammetric Characteristics and Application in Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

A lead film plated in situ at a carbon paste support was tested as a novel, potential electrode for adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of cobalt traces in an ammonia buffer solution. To show the practical applicability of the new electrode, a catalytic adsorptive Co system in a supporting electrolyte containing 0.1 M ammonia buffer, 5×10^?4 M nioxime and 0.25 M nitrite was selected and investigated as a model solution. Pb and Co ions were simultaneously accumulated in situ on the electrode surface: Pb ions electrochemically at ?1.3 V) and then at ?0.75 V, at which potential the Co(II)‐nioximate complex was also pre‐concentrated via adsorption. Instrumental parameters, such as the time of nucleation and formation of Pb film deposits, the time of accumulation of the Co‐nioxime complex at the PbF/CPE, and the procedures of electrode regeneration, were optimized to obtain good reproducibility and sensitivity of the Co response. The optimized procedure yields favorable and highly stable stripping responses with good precision (RSD=3% for a 5×10^?8 M Co) and good linearity (up to 5×10^?7 M, coefficient of determination, R=0.996). The detection limit was 4×10^?10 M Co (0.023 μg L^?1) for an accumulation time of 120 s. The method enables the determination of Co in the presence of high excesses of Ni or Zn. The voltammetric data were correlated with the structural characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF).     

Differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of nickel and cobalt in high purity aluminium

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of nickel and cobalt in pure aluminium has been described using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPASV) by adsorptive accumulation of the dimethyl glyoxime (DMG) complex on the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). As supporting electrolyte 0.1 mol/l ammonia buffer, pH 9.0, containing ammonium citrate and 5×10^–4 mol/l DMG has been used. The determination limit obtained has been as low as 0.5 g/g for Ni and 0.2 g/g for Co (using about 100 mg sample) with a relative standard deviation of 13% and 22%, respectively.     

Determination of trace Pb(Ⅱ), Cd(Ⅱ) and Zn(Ⅱ) using differential pulse stripping voltammetry without Hg modification

In this work,we reported a simultaneous determination approach for Pb(II),Cd(II)and Zn(II)atμg L 1concentration levels using differential pulse stripping voltammetry on a bismuth film electrode(BiFE).The BiFE could be prepared in situ when the sample solution contained a suitable amount of Bi(NO)3,and its analytical performance was evaluated for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II),Cd(II)and Zn(II)in solutions.The determination limits were found to be 0.19μg L 1for Zn(II),and0.28μg L 1for Pb(II)and Cd(II),with a preconcentration time of 300 s.The BiFE approach was successfully applied to determine Pb(II),Cd(II)and Zn(II)in tea leaf and infusion samples,and the results were in agreement with those obtained using an atomic absorption spectrometry approach.Without Hg usage,the in situ preparation for BiFE supplied a green and acceptability sensitive method for the determination of the heavy metal ions.     

Application of Graphene as a Sorbent for Simultaneous Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Amounts of Cobalt and Nickel in Environmental Water and Vegetable Samples

A new method using a column packed with graphene as adsorbent was developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) prior to their determinations by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Several factors influencing the extraction efficiency of Co and Ni and their subsequent determinations, such as pH, amounts of the chelating agent, flow rates of sample and eluent solution, eluent type and its volume, breakthrough volume, and adsorption capacity were established. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 4.0‐200.0 μg L^?1 and 5.0‐200.0 μg L^?1 with detection limits of 0.36 μg L^?1 and 0.51 μg L^?1 for Co and Ni, respectively. Good relative standard deviations for ten determinations of 100.0 μg L^?1 of Co and Ni were 3.2 and 3.6%, respectively. The results for determination of Co and Ni in tap water, river water, sea water, vegetable and spiked samples have demonstrated the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method. To validate the proposed method, three certified reference materials of environment water (GSBZ 50030‐94 and GSB 07‐1186‐2000) and tomato leaf (GSBZ 51001‐94) were analyzed, and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Trace Uranium with a Bismuth‐Film Electrode Based on the U(VI)→U(V) Reduction Step of the Uranium‐Cupferron Complex

This work reports the use of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) for the determination of uranium on a preplated rotating‐disk bismuth‐film electrode (BiFE). The principle of the method relied on the complexation of U(VI) ions with cupferron and the subsequent adsorptive accumulation of the complex on the surface of the BiFE. The uranium in the accumulated complex was then reduced by means of a cathodic voltammetric scan while the analytically useful U(VI)→U(V) reduction signal was monitored. The experimental variables as well as potential interferences were investigated and the figures of merit of the method were established. Using the selected conditions, the 3σ limit of detection for uranium was 0.1 μg L^?1 at a preconcentration time of 480 s and the relative standard deviation was 4.7% at the 5 μg L^?1 level for a preconcentration time of 120 s (n=8). The accuracy of the method was established by analyzing a reference sea water sample.     

Square wave Stripping voltammetry of Cobalt Based on Adsorptive accumulation of its Hydroxynaphthol Blue (HNB) Complex at the Static Mercury Drop Electrode

ABSTRACT

A new method is described for the determination of cobalt based on the square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry of Co(II) complexed with hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) at the static mercury drop electrode. Optimal conditions were found to be: preconcentration potential, -0.500V vs. Ag/AgCl (KCl 3M); preconcentration time, 30 s (with stirring); pulse height, 50 mV; frequency, 100 Hz; scan increment, 4 mV; step time, 0.010 s; supporting electrolyte, HEPES/HCl (0.1 M, pH 7.0-8.0) or triethanolamine/HCl (0.1 M, pH 7.6); concentration of hydroxynaphthol blue, 5.0 × 10^?6 M. The response of the system was found to be linear in a range of Co(II) concentrations from 2.0 to 10.0 μg/L. The limit of detection was found to be 1.8 × 10^?9 M with 2 minutes of preconcentration time. The effect of various potential interferences were also studied including a variety of cations, anions and organic surfactants. The interferences by Ni(II), and Cr(VI) may be eliminated by addition of EDTA or CDTA and the of Fe(III) and Ti(IV) by fluoride. The merits of the procedure were demonstrated in the analysis of certified and biological samples.     

Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium,Lead, Copper,and Thallium in Highly Saline Samples by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) Using Mercury‐Film and Bismuth‐Film Electrodes

This paper describes a comparative study of the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Tl(I), and Cu(II) in highly saline samples (seawater, hydrothermal fluids, and dialysis concentrates) by ASV using the mercury‐film electrode (MFE) and the bismuth‐film electrode (BiFE) as working electrodes. The features of MFE and BiFE as working electrodes for the single‐run ASV determinations are shown and their performances are compared with that of HMDE under similar conditions. It was observed that the stripping peak of Tl(I) was well separated from Cd(II) and Pb(II) peaks in all the studied saline samples when MFE was used. Because of the severe overlapping of Bi(III) and Cu(II) stripping peaks in the ASV using BiFE, as well as the overlapping of Pb(II) and Tl(I) stripping peaks in the ASV using HMDE, the simultaneous determination of these metals was not possible in highly saline medium using these both working electrodes. The detection limits calculated for the metals using MFE and BiFE (deposition time of 60 s) were between 0.043 and 0.070 μg L^?1 for Cd(II), between 0.060 and 0.10 μg L^?1 for Pb(II) and between 0.70 and 8.12 μg L^?1 for Tl(I) in the saline samples studied. The detection limits calculated for Cu(II) using the MFE were 0.15 and 0.50 μg L^?1 in seawater/hydrothermal fluid and dialysis concentrate samples, respectively. The methods were applied to the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Tl(I), and Cu(II) in samples of seawater, hydrothermal fluids and dialysis concentrates.