The determination of chromium(VI) in waste water and industrial effluents by differential pulse polarography

A method for the determination of chromium(VI) in water and waste water is described. Interfering cations are separated by co-precipitation with aluminium from the phosphate-buffered solution. Differential-pulse polarographic measurement of chromium(IV) in the same background solution at pH 10 or 12 provides a lower limit of determination of 30 μg l⁻¹ Cr(VI). No significant losses of chromium(VI) occur in the precipitation step; chromium(VI) is not susceptible to reduction by waste-water constituents at the moderate pH maintained throughout the procedure. The polarographic characteristics of chromium(VI) in phosphate-buffered solution are discussed.     

Determination of manganese at ng ml levels in natural waters by differential pulse polarography

A procedure based on differential pulse polarography is described for the determination of manganese at ng/ml levels in fresh, estuarine and sea-water buffered at pH 9.5 with a citrate-borate solution that also serves as supporting electrolyte. The procedure is unaffected by the potentially interfering compounds most likely to occur in natural waters. Furthermore, iron (in ascorbate-borate buffer, pH 9.5) or chromium (in ascorbate-ammonia-ammonium-chloride buffer, pH 9.8) can be determined together with manganese. Some results for the concentration of manganese, iron and chromium in the River Arno are reported.     

Cathode ray polarography and differential pulse polarography of the catalytic molybdenum(VI) wave

The optimum conditions of electrolyte composition and pH were studied for the cathode ray polarography (c.r.p.) of the catalytic molybdenum(VI) wave; 1–2 M potassium nitrate at pH 1.6–2.2 is optimum, the detection limit is 3 × 10^-9 M (0.3 ppb) molybdenum(VI). Equal molar concentrations of foreign electroactive substances do not interfere at the potential of the molybdenum wave and 500-fold amounts of these can be tolerated if their c.r.p. peaks are separated from the molybdenum wave by 0.1 or 0.2 V. Similar conditions were used for the differential pulse polarography of the catalytic wave. The detection limit is 2 × 10^-8 M (2 ppb). being limited in part by lead impurities which contribute to the background.     

Direct determination of pentachlorophenol by differential pulse polarography

Differential pulse polarography at the dropping mercury electrode and differential pulse voltammetry at the carbon paste electrode are used for direct determinations of pentachlorophenol at concentrations down to 0.27 ppm. PCP is electrochemically reduced in phosphate buffers of pH 8 to produce a concentration-dependent current peak at —0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The procedure requires only 15 min. Cyclic voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode is used to evaluate the electrochemical reaction and to establish the reversibility of the PCP electrode reaction.     

The determination of trace levels of aluminium by differential pulse polarography

The direct determination of aluminium in aqueous solutions by differential pulse polarography is described. If the pH is carefully controlled to 4.00 ± 0.01, there is a linear relationship between the peak height of the polarographic wave and the aluminium concentration up to 2.5 × 10^-5 mol dm^-3. The coefficient of variation is about 4% at the 10^-5 mol dm^-3 level. With increasing aluminium concentrations, the relationship ceases to be linear, and above 9 × 10^-5 mol dm^-3, the peak splits, probably because of hydrolysis and polymerisation. Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ interfere at levels 100 times greater than that of the aluminium whereas Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, NO₃^-, ClO₄^-, Cl^- and SO₄^2- do not interfere.     

The effect of organic matter and colloidal particles on the determination of chromium(VI) in natural waters

The chromium(VI) contents of two water samples, a river water and a sea-water, were determined by means of solvent extraction with APDC (ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate) into chloroform and by co-precipitation with iron(III) hydroxide. The analytical results depended on the separation method used, possibly because of differences in the behaviour of the chemical species of chromium in natural waters. Various chromium species, including simple inorganic ions, organic complexes, Cr(III) adsorbed on inorganic colloids and Cr(III) combined with organic polymers, were prepared, and their analytical characteristics were investigated.     

The determination of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin in blood by differential pulse polarography

A sensitive differential pulse polarographic assay was developed for the determination of phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin in blood. The assay involves the selective extraction of the compound into chloroform from whole blood buffered to pH 7.0. After suitable “clean-up” of the sample, each compound is nitrated in 10% potassium nitrate in sulfuric acid at 25° for 1 h. The nitro-derivatives are extracted into ethyl acetate, and the residues are dissolved in 1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) or 0.1 M sodium hydroxide for phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin, respectively; the solutions are deoxygenated, and analyzed by differential pulse polarography. The overall recovery of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin from blood was 72.3% ±6.5 (s_r) and 76.7 ±2.3 (s_r) respectively. The sensitivity limit is 1–2 μg ml^-1 of blood for both compounds. A modified assay for the determination of both compounds in blood with t.l.c. separation was also developed.     

The determination of chromium species in natural waters

A method for the determination of chromium species has been developed and successfully applied to both fresh and sea water samples. The method utilizes pre-concentration of total chromium, chromium(ni) and particulate chromium at natural pH with accurate and precise analysis by a single flameless atomic absorption procedure. A minimal blank allows for a reliable detection limit of 0.02 nM, which is sufficient for most natural waters with chromium concentrations in the range 0.01–10 nM. Immediate shipboard preconcentration of the samples minimizes storage problems. The method is simple and rapid; 20 samples can be analysed in duplicate for total chromium, chromium(III) and particulate chromium in one day with routinely available reagents and equipment.     

Determination of methylviologen (Paraquat) by differential pulse polarography

Summary Determination of Methylviologen (Paraquat) by Differential Pulse Polarography The second reduction wave of methylviologen (Paraquat) has been studied at pH 2 by different polarographic techniques. The limiting current is diffusion-controlled. Evidence for dimerization of the radical formed in the first reduction step has been obtained. The n values for the reduction process have been calculated at concentration levels where the dimer and the monomer predominate. Paraquat can be determined by differential pulse polarography in the 6.0×10^–5–4.0×10^–7 M concentration range, the limit of determination being 1.7×10^–7 M. The method has been applied to paraquat determination in commercial herbicides.     

Trace determination of As(III) and As(V) in natural waters by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

Summary Arsenic is deposited from acid solution onto a rotating gold electrode at a potential of –0.3 V vs. NCE and then stripped anodically. The peak current is linearly dependent on the As(III) concentration. Electroinactive As(V) is first reduced to As(III) by gaseous SO₂. Trace metals in amounts as usually present in (polluted) sea water do not interfere and the destruction of dissolved organic matter is usually not necessary. For a deposition time of 4 min the determination limit is approximately 0.2 g/l As. The relative standard deviation for As contents between 2 and 5 g/l lies between 6 and 10% depending on the amount of dissolved organic matter present and a good accuracy is obtained, i. e. well within 10% of the value expected when various aqueous samples are spiked with a standard As solution.

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Spurenbestimmung von As(III) und As(V) in natürlichen Wässern durch Differentialpuls-Anodic Stripping-Voltammetrie

Zusammenfassung Arsen wird aus saurer Lösung bei einem Potential von –0,3 V vs. NKE auf einer rotierenden Goldelektrode abgeschieden und anschließend anodisch wieder aufgelöst, wobei die Höhe des Strompeaks linear von der As(III)-Konzentration abhängig ist. As(V) ist nicht elektroaktiv und muß deshalb zuerst mit SO₂-Gas zu As(III) reduziert werden. Die normalerweise in belastetem Meerwasser vorliegenden Metallspuren und gelösten organischen Stoffe stören bei der Bestimmung nicht. Bei einer Anreicherungszeit von 4 min liegt die Bestimmungsgrenze bei ungefähr 0,2 g/l As. Die relative Standardabweichung für As-Gehalte zwischen 2 und 5 g/l liegt zwischen 6 und 10%, in Abhängigkeit vom Gehalt an gelösten organischen Stoffen. Die Richtigkeit der Methode ist gut, d. h. der Fehler lag unter 10%, wenn verschiedene, mit As-Standard aufgestockte Lösungen analysiert wurden.

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Weisz, University of Freiburg, on occasion of his 60th birthday     

The determination of a carbamate insecticide in soil samples by differential pulse polarography

Differential pulse polarography is shown to be a simple and potentially useful method for monitoring the degradation of a carbamate insecticide (Bendiocarb; 2,3-isopropyli-denedioxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate) in soil samples. Only extraction from the soil sample with dichloromethane and evaporation of the extract is needed prior to polarography. Calibration plots were linear over the range 10–50 mg l^?1 at ?0.94 V vs. Ag/AgCl in an acetate buffer of pH 5.0. There is no apparent interference from hydrolysis products or soil components.     

Trace analysis of toxic metals,III. Determination of chromium as trivalent chromium by differential pulse polarography

Methods for trace analysis of chromium as Cr³⁺ were investigated, using differential pulse polarography in various media. Determination at the ng/ml-g/ml range can be carried out in KCl/HCl, KCNS/HOAc, and other media. Total concentration of chromium in a solution containing Cr³⁺ and HCrO ₄ ^– can be determined in KCNS/HOAc, and it is found that HCrO ₄ ^– can be converted quantitatively to Cr³⁺. The relative quantity of HCrO ₄ ^– and Cr³⁺ can be determined by the difference between the total chromium concentration and the concentration of HCrO ₄ ^– . The sensitivity (12.5 ng/ml) and accuracy of this method is better than the method that determines total chromium as HCrO ₄ ^– .     

Indirect trace determination of NTA in natural waters by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

Summary Bismuth(III) is added to the water sample in excess to NTA and EDTA to form inert stable complexes with them at pH 2. The uncomplexed Bi(III) is then deposited into a hanging mercury drop electrode at a potential of –0.15 V vs. SCE and subsequently stripped anodically in the differential pulse mode. The peak current of uncomplexed Bi(III) is recorded. By a second deposition at –0.35 V vs. SCE Bi(III) from Bi³⁺ and Bi-NTA is deposited. The concentrations of NTA and EDTA in the sample are determined from the concentration of added Bi(III) and the voltammetrically determined Bi(III) at these two potentials by the standard addition method. Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn do not interfere. Fe(III) has to be reduced by ascorbic acid or hydroxylamine before the determination. Cu(II) in concentrations larger than 40 g/l has to be removed by preelectrolysis. In samples with chloride contents above 0.05 M the stripping step has to be performed after medium exchange to a perchloric acid solution of pH 2. For a deposition time of 2 min the determination limit is approximately 0.2 g/l NTA and 0.1 g/l EDTA. The relative standard deviation for NTA concentrations at 2 or 10 g/l lies at 10 or 1.3%, respectively. Good accuracy is established by finding within 2% the levels adjusted when water samples are spiked with a standard solutions of NTA or EDTA.

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Indirekte Spurenbestimmung von NTA in natürlichen Wässern durch differentielle Pulsinversvoltammetrie

Zusammenfassung Bismuth(III) wird zur Wasserprobe in Überschuß zur NTA- und EDTA-Konzentration bei pH 2 zugegeben, wobei stabile inerte Komplexe gebildet werden. Nicht komplexiertes Bi(III) wird an der hängenden Quecksilbertropfenelektrode beim Potential –0,15 V (SKE) kathodisch als Amalgam abgeschieden und dann anodisch wieder gelöst. Dabei wird im differentiellen Pulsmodus der Bi(III)-peak registriert. Durch die zweite kathodische Abscheidung beim Potential –0,35 V (SKE) wird Bi(III) aus unkomplexiertem Bi³⁺ und dem BiNTA-Komplex abgeschieden. Die Konzentrationen von NTA und EDTA in der Probe werden aus den voltammetrisch bestimmten Bi(III)-Konzentrationen bei den zwei angegebenen Potentialen und der zugegebenen Konzentration von Bi(III) mit der Standard-Additions-Methode bestimmt. Die Spurenmetalle Cd, Cu, Pb und Zn stören die Bestimmung nicht. Fe(III) muß vor der Bestimmung mit Ascorbinsäure reduziert werden, Cu in der Konzentration von mehr als 40 g/l muß durch Vorelektrolyse entfernt werden. Wenn die Probe mehr als 0.05 M Chlorid enthält, muß der Strippingvorgang nach Elektrolytwechsel in einer Perchlorsäurelösung bei pH 2 durchgeführt werden. Für eine Anreicherungszeit von 2 min liegt die Bestimmungsgrenze bei 0,2 g/l NTA und 0,1 g/l EDTA. Die relative Standardabweichung beträgt bei einer Konzentration von 2, bzw. 10 g/l NTA 10 bzw. 1,3%. Die Richtigkeit ist gut, was aus der Wiederfindungsrate von 2% der zur Probe zugegebenen Lösung des NTA- oder EDTA-Standards hervorgeht.

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Fresenius on the occasion of his 70th birthday

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On leave from the University of Thessaloniki, Greece     

Determination of chromium(VI) in dialysis fluids by alternating current and differential pulse voltammetry

Alternating current (ACV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are employed for the determination of Cr(VI) in dialysis fluids, using 0.1 mol/1 dibasic ammonium citrate as supporting electrolyte (pH 5.9). A three-electrode cell was used: The working electrode was a long-lasting sessile-drop mercury electrode (LLSDME) with a drop time of 240 to 300 s. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (s _r%), and accuracy, expressed as relative recovery (R%) are also reported.     

Determination of bacitracin by differential pulse polarography.

Differential pulse polarograms of pharmaceutical-grade bacitracin exhibit a well-defined double wave at the dropping mercury electrode over the entire pH range 1–8. The current is diffusion-controlled and proportional to the concentration as well as to the biological activity of the sample. The concentration of bacitracin and of zinc—bacitracin can be determined by pulse polarography with a standard deviation less than 2%. The biologically inactive oxidation product (bacitracin F) is reduced at less negative potentials and can easily be determined in the presence of the biologically active components of bacitracin.     

Study on the determination of trace rhenium (VII) by the adsorption differential pulse polarography

The determination of trace rhenium (VII) by differential pulse polarography in the system of H₂SO₄-(NH_sOH)₂ · H₂SO₄-TeO^2?₄ is markedly improved by the addition of Nitron, which is adsorbed on the surface of mercury electrode. The limit of detection is down to 2 × 10¹⁰ M. The adsorptive peak potential is ?0.80 V (vs. SCE). In the ranges of 5 × 10¹⁰—10^?8, 1 × 10^?5—10^?7 and 1 × 10^?7—10^?6M, there are good linear relationships between the peak current increment and the concentration, of which the relative standard deviations are 9.5, 6.6, 1.8% respectively with the correlation coefficients of linear regression of 0.995–0.999. The results relating to this polarographic wave show that it is an adsorption-catalytic wave. The mechanism of the electrode reaction is discussed.     

Aqueous sulfur species determination using differential pulse polarography

Sulfur species play pivotal roles in biogeochemistry; however, quantification remains difficult because such species are transitory. Our objective was to determine the utility of using differential pulse polarography (DPP) to characterize soluble sulfur species of potential interest in agriculture and environmental quality. Polarographic responses for sulfide, disulfide, pentasulfide, sulfite, thiosulfate, tetrathionate, pentathionate, cysteine, and glutathione were determined. Sulfur in the compounds was categorized as cysteine-S, thiosulfate-S, nonpurgeable or purgeable sulfide-S, or sulfite based on characteristic polarographic responses for each respective category. Nonpurgeable sulfide-S, cysteine-S, and thiosulfate-S were polarographically separated using a pH 8.0 phosphate buffer. Nitrate/bicarbonate (pH 10.0) and acetate (pH 5.0) buffers were used to determine purgeable sulfide-S and sulfite, respectively. Sulfur in water extracts from cysteine-amended soils was quantified using the developed DPP method. Cysteine-, thiosulfate-, and sulfide-S were measured from these extracts without interferences during a 16-d incubation period. The developed DPP method provides qualitative and quantitative information concerning sulfur species in aqueous solutions and is potentially applicable to soil and sediment extracts.     

Differential determination of chromium(VI) and total chromium in natural waters using flow injection on-line separation and preconcentration electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

A rapid, sensitive and selective method for the differential determination of CrIII and CrVI in natural waters is described. Chromium(vi) can be determined directly by flow injection on-line sorbent extraction preconcentration coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate as the complexing agent and C18 bonded silica reversed-phase sorbent as the column material. Total Cr can be determined after oxidation of CrIII to CrVI by potassium peroxydisulfate. Chromium(III) can be calculated by difference. The optimum conditions for sorbent extraction of CrVI and oxidation of CrIII to CrVI are evaluated. A 12-fold enhancement in sensitivity compared with direct introduction of 40 microliters samples was achieved after preconcentration for 60 s, giving detection limits of 16 ng l-1 for CrVI and 18 ng l-1 for total Cr (based on 3 sigma). Results obtained for sea-water and river water reference materials were all within the certified range for total Cr with a precision of better than 10% relative standard deviation in the range 100-200 ng l-1. The selectivity of the determination of CrVI was evaluated by analysing spiked reference materials in the presence of CrIII, resulting in quantitative recovery of CrVI.