Potentiometric stripping analysis for zinc,cadmium. lead and copper in sea water

Analytical procedures for the determination of zinc(II), cadmium (II), lead(II) and copper(II) in sea water by potentiometric stripping analysis are described. The results are compared with those obtained by a combined solvent extraction-atomic absorption method both in the laboratory and on-board ship. The detection limits for zinc, cadmium, lead and copper are 0.03, 0.03, 0.01 and 0.02 μg l^-1, respectively, for a total analysis time of about 75 min. A very thin mercury film is useful in the determination of lead and copper.     

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.     

Stripping Potentiometry of Lead,Cadmium and Copper at a Nafion Coated Glassy Carbon Electrode with Encapsulated Mercury Acetate

Abstract

The stripping potentiometric determination of lead, cadmium and copper with mercury film glassy-carbon electrodes coated with a Nafion membrane was investigated. The mercury film was plated using either mercury(II) acetate encapsulated within the Nafion membrane or a mercury(II) solution. Dissolved dioxygen was used as the stripping agent. The electrodes showed promising properties, particularly robustness and response repeatability. A linear dependence of the stripping time on concentration was found in the μg l^?1 concentration range (s.d. of intercept ≤ 0.3 μg l^?1, r.s.d. of slope ≤ 1%, for both lead and cadmium).     

Optimisation of mercury film deposition on glassy carbon electrodes: evaluation of the combined effects of pH, thiocyanate ion and deposition potential

The combined effects of pH, thiocyanate ion and deposition potential in the characteristics of thin mercury film electrodes plated on glassy carbon surfaces are evaluated. Charges of deposited mercury are used as an experimental parameter for the estimation of the effectiveness of the mercury deposition procedure. The sensitivity of the anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) method for the determination of lead at in situ and at ex situ formed thin mercury films are also examined. It was concluded that, in acidic solutions (pH 2.5-5.7) and fairly negative deposition potentials, e.g. −1.3 to −1.5 V, thiocyanate ion promotes the formation of the mercury film, in respect both to the amount of deposited mercury and to the mercury deposition rate. Also, the mercury coatings produced in thiocyanate solutions are more homogeneous, as depicted by microscopic examinations. In the presence of thiocyanate there is no obvious advantage of using high concentrations of mercury and/or high deposition times for the in situ and ex situ preparation of the mercury film electrodes. The optimised thin mercury film electrode ex situ prepared in a 5.0 mM thiocyanate solution of pH 3.4 was successfully applied to the ASV determination of lead and copper in acidified seawater (pH 2). The limit of detection (3σ) was 6×10⁻¹¹ M for lead and 2×10⁻¹⁰ M for copper for a deposition time of 5 min. Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) of <1.2% were obtained for determinations at the nanomolar of concentration level.     

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.     

The differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry of copper and lead and their determination in EDTA extracts of soils with the mercury film glassy carbon electrode

The differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry of copper and lead at the mercury film glassy carbon electrode is discussed. The mercury film prevents the occurrence of a monolayer stripping peak for copper. The influence of antimony and bismuth on the anodic stripping voltammetric behaviour of copper and lead is discussed. An interaction between copper and antimony distorts the copper stripping peak and gives rise to an intermediate peak. The method described is suitable for determining copper and lead simultaneously in EDTA extracts of soils.     

Copper–mercury film electrode for cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of Se(IV)

The copper-mercury film electrode has been suggested for the determination of Se(IV) in a wide range of concentration from 1x10(-9) to 1x10(-6) mol L(-1)by square-wave cathodic stripping voltammetry. Insufficient reproducibility and sensitivity of the mercury film electrode have been overcome by using copper(II) ions during the plating procedure. Copper(II) has been found to be reduced and form a reproducible copper-mercury film on a glassy carbon electrode surface. The plating potential and time, the concentration of copper(II) and the concentration of the supporting electrolyte have been optimised. Microscopy has been used for a study of the morphology of the copper-mercury film. It has been found that it is the same as for the mercury one. The preconcentration step consists in electrodeposition of copper selenide on the copper-mercury film. The relative standard deviation is 4.3% for 1x10(-6) mol L(-1) of Se(IV). The limit of detection is 8x10(-10) mol L(-1) for 5 min of accumulation.     

Simultaneous determination of copper and lead in seawater using optimised thin-mercury film electrodes in situ plated in thiocyanate media

In the present work the anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) methodology using a thin mercury film electrode in situ plated in thiocyanate media was re-assessed in order to allow the simultaneous determination of copper and lead in seawater. Under previously suggested conditions [6], i.e. using a concentration of thiocyanate of 5 mM, the ASV peaks of copper and lead overlapped due to the formation of a stable copper(I)-thiocyanate species, limiting the analytical determinations. Therefore, the best value for the thiocyanate concentration was re-evaluated: for 0.05 mM a trade-off between good resolution of the copper and lead peaks and high reproducibility of the mercury film formation/removing processes was achieved. In this media, the ASV peaks for Pb and Cu occurred, separated by 140 mV. Also, the in situ thin mercury film electrode was produced and removed with good repeatability, which was confirmed by the relative standard deviation values for the ASV determinations: 0.5% for Pb and 2.0% for Cu (10 replicate determinations in a solution with metal concentrations 1.5×10⁻⁸ M for lead and 2.2×10⁻⁸ M for copper). The optimised methodology was successfully applied to the determination of copper in the presence of lead, in certified seawater (NASS-5).     

The determination of copper at thin film electrodes by constant current stripping potentiometry

A comparison of the determination of copper by constant current stripping potentiometry (CCSP) at mercury and gold films has been carried out. The preferred solution conditions for the mercury film study were determined to be 0.1M ammonium acetate at pH 4.5 and 0.1M HCl for the gold film study. The influence of chloride on the stripping signal was investigated and it was found that for the mercury film conditions, well-formed stripping signals could be obtained up to a chloride concentration of 0.5 M which permitted the ready determination of copper in seawater. With the gold film, high chloride concentrations affected both the film stability and the glassy carbon surface and repeatable results were difficult to obtain. The optimized CCSP methods were applied to various aqueous samples including tap water, seawater, TCLP (acetic acid) extracts as well as TCLP extracts using groundwater and ocean water. Based on the results obtained for these various matrices, it was concluded that there are several advantages favoring the mercury film. The interference from organic components in the sample matrix on the general applicability of CCSP for the determination of copper at either a mercury or gold film is discussed.     

Determination of cadmium, lead and copper in milk and milk powder by means of flow potentiometric stripping analysis

A flow potentiometric stripping analysis procedure for the determination of cadmium, lead and copper in milk and milk powder samples is described. The instrumental arrangement consists of a glassy-carbon thin-layer cell through which six different solutions may be drawn by means of a peristaltic pump and magnetically operated valves. The glassy-carbon electrode is pre-coated with a film of mercury which can be employed for several analytical runs. The sample, diluted five-fold with Suprapur hydrochloric acid, is electrolysed for 0.5–4 min prior to stripping in Suprapur hydrochloric acid. Pump-rate, electrolysis time and potential, opening and closing of inlet valves and digital evaluation of stripping times are controlled automatically by the computer. The analytical results agree satisfactorily with the certified values for three milk powder reference samples. The detection limit for cadmium, lead and copper in milk samples after 4, 1 and 0.5 min of pre-electrolysis is 0.8, 4 and 8 μg/l., respectively. An analytical procedure for the determination of lead in samples containing high concentrations of tin is described.     

The cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of traces of iodide with a hanging copper amalgam drop electrode

A hanging copper amalgam drop electrode (HCADE) is used for the determination of traces of iodide by cathodic stripping voltammetry. The cathodic stripping peak of copper(I) iodide from the HCADE is better defined than that of mercury(I) iodide from a hanging mercury drop electrode. Optimum conditions and interferences are reported. With a 3-min deposition time at ?0.1 V vs. SCE, the calibration plot is linear up to 2 × 10^?6 mol dm^?3 iodide. The detection limit for iodide with the HCADE under voltammetric conditions is 4 × 10^?8 mol dm^?3; this is lowered to 8 × 10^?9 mol dm^?3 by using the differential pulse stripping technique.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry with the florence mercury film electrode. determination of copper,lead and cadmium in sea water

The use of the rotating glassy carbon electrode mercury plated in situ for anodic stripping voltammetry has been investigated. The choice of electrode material is discussed. The effect of instrumental parameters on the stripping response for copper, lead and cadmium in sea water is studied, the results being in accordance with the theory of thin film electrodes. The variation in the observed sensitivity for the three metals in sea water is discussed in terms of complex-forming ligands. Lastly the performance of the film electrode is compared to that of the hanging mercury drop electrode.     

Chronopotentiometric Stripping Analysis Using Gold Electrodes,an Efficient Technique for Mercury Quantification in Natural Waters

This paper proposes a simple methodology for mercury quantification in natural water by stripping chronopotentiometry at constant current, using gold (film) electrodes constructed from recordable CDs in stationary cell. The proposed method allows the direct measurement of labile mercury in natural waters. To quantify total mercury, a robust and low cost UV irradiation system was developed for the degradation of organic constituents of water. The proposed system presents such advantages as excellent sensitivity, low cost, versatility, and smaller dimensions (portability for on‐field applications) when compared with other techniques (ICP, GFAAS, fluorimetry) traditionally utilized for mercury quantification. A large linear region of responses was observed, situated over the range 0.02–200 μg L^?1. Various experimental parameters were optimized and the system allowed quantifications in natural samples, with detection limit of 8 ng L^?1 and excellent reproducibility (RSD of 1.4% for 48 repetitive measurements using a 10 μg L^?1 mercury solution). Different metal ions were evaluated, including copper, as possible interferences on stripping mercury signals. Applications of the new method were demonstrated for the analysis of certified and groundwater samples spiked with a known amount of mercury and for the quantification of methylmercury in synthetic oceanic water, originally utilized for fishes contamination experiment.     

Potentiometric stripping analysis for mercury

In potentiometric stripping analysis for mercury, elemental mercury is deposited on a glassy carbon electrode surface by means of potentiostatic reduction. It is then oxidized by potassium permanganate added to the sample prior to analysis and the “redox titration curve” thus obtained is recorded on a high-input impedance recorder. Deaeration of the sample is unnecessary. The analytical range is 5 × 10^-9–10^-3 M mercury(II), the times needed for potentiostatic accumulation ranging from 64 min at 10^-8 M to 1 min at concentrations above 10^-6 M. The chemistry of the stripping process is discussed and an automatic instrument for potentiometric stripping analysis is described.     

Stripping chronopotentiometric detection of copper using screen-printed three-electrode system—application to acetic-acid bioavailable fraction from soil samples

Single-use sensors, incorporating a three-electrode configuration (graphite carbon-working electrode; carbon-counter electrode and silver/silver chloride-reference electrode), have been fabricated on a polyester substrate using low cost screen-printing (thick-film) technology. These electrodes coupled with constant current stripping chronopotentiometry (CCSCP), has provided a convenient screening tool for on-site detection of trace levels of copper. Modification of the graphite carbon surface based on in situ deposition of mercury film has been carried out. By appropriate choice of supporting medium and applied constant stripping current, well-resolved and reproducible response for copper was obtained. The stripping response for copper following 2 min deposition was linear over the concentration range examined (10-2000 ppb) with detection limit of 6 ppb using 2 M hydrochloric acid (HCl). Successful applications of the sensing device to acetic-acid bioavailable fraction of a certified reference material (CRM 601, a lake sediment) and soil samples are demonstrated.     

Use of a modified, high-sensitivity, anodic stripping voltammetry method for determination of zinc speciation in the North Atlantic Ocean

Zinc speciation is considered to be an important determinant of the biological availability of zinc. Yet in oceanic surface waters, characterization of zinc speciation is difficult due to the low concentrations of this essential micronutrient. In this study, an anodic stripping voltammetry method previously developed for the total determination of cadmium and lead was successfully adapted to the measurement of zinc speciation. The method differs from previous zinc speciation anodic stripping voltammetry methods in that a fresh mercury film is plated with each sample aliquot. The fresh film anodic stripping voltammetry method was compared to competitive ligand exchange cathodic stripping voltammetry in a profile from the North Atlantic Ocean. Results using the fresh film anodic stripping voltammetry method were similar to those determined using the cathodic stripping voltammetry method, though ligand concentrations determined by fresh film anodic stripping voltammetry were generally slightly higher than those determined by cathodic stripping voltammetry. There did not seem to be a systematic difference between methods for the estimates of conditional stability constants. The ligand concentration in the North Atlantic profile ranged from 0.9 to 1.5 nmol L⁻¹ as determined by fresh film anodic stripping voltammetry and 0.6 to 1.3 nmol L⁻¹ as determined by cathodic stripping voltammetry. The conditional stability constants determined by fresh film anodic stripping voltammetry were 10^9.8-10^10.5 and by cathodic stripping voltammetry were 10^9.8-10^11.3.     

Voltammetric Determination of Mercury(II) at Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Film Electrode. Effect of Halide Ions

The well‐known method for the determination of mercury(II), which is based on the anodic stripping voltammetry of mercury(II), has been adapted for applications at the thin film poly(3‐hexylthiophene) polymer electrode. Halide ions have been found to increase the sensitivity of the mercury response and shift it more positive potentials. This behavior is explained by formation of mercuric halide which can be easily deposited and stripped from the polymer electrode surface. The procedure was optimized for mercury determination. For 120 s accumulation time, detection limit of 5 ng mL^?1 mercury(II) has been observed. The relative standard deviation is 1.3% at 40 ng mL^?1 mercury(II). The performance of the polymer film studied in this work was evaluated in the presence of surfactants and some potential interfering metal ions such as cadmium, lead, copper and nickel.     

Determination of selenium(IV) by cathodic stripping voltammetry using a copper-modified mercury-film electrode modified with copper

The behavior of selenium(IV) at a mercury-film electrode previously modified with copper was studied by cathodic stripping voltammetry using an automatic system for replacing solutions without opening the circuit. The effect of chemical (the composition and concentration of the supporting electrolyte, the concentrations of mercury (II) and copper(II)) and electrochemical parameters (the potential and time of electrolysis) on the analytical signal of selenium was studied at each stage of the stripping cycle (the formation of the mercury-film electrode modified with copper, the electrochemical preconcentration of selenium, and the subsequent stripping of the concentrate). The detection limit for selenium(IV) was found to be 40 ng/L (5.0 × 10^?10 M) at an electrolysis time of 10 min.     

Determination of bismuth by electrochemical stripping analysis; elimination of interferences by using a mercury film electrode modified with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, and application to copper alloys

A mercury film electrode modified with a film consisting of tri-n-octylphosphinc oxide in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix is used for a galvanostatic stripping determination of bismuth in copper and copper alloys. The method can be used to determine from 0.002 to 0.5% of bismuth. It is very selective, simple and rapid. The precision and accuracy are good and the only serious interference is caused by tin(IV).     

Determination of Some Heavy Metal Ions with a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified by Poly(glycidylmethacrylate‐methylmethacrylate‐divinylbenzene) Microspheres Functionalized by 2‐Aminothiazole

A carbon paste electrode modified with 2‐aminothiazole functionalized poly(glycidylmethacrylate‐methylmethacrylate‐divinylbenzene) microspheres was used for trace determination of mercury, copper and lead ions. After the open‐circuit accumulation of the heavy metal ions onto the electrode, the sensitive anodic stripping peaks were obtained by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV)). Many parameters such as the composition of the paste, pH, preconcentration time, effective potential scan rate and stirring rate influence the response of the measurement. The procedures were optimized for most sensitive and reliable determinations of the desired species. For a 10‐min preconcentration time in synthetic solutions at optimum instrumental and experimental conditions, the detection limit (LOD) was 12.3, 2.8 and 4.5 μg L^?1 for mercury, copper and lead, respectively. The limits of detection may be enhanced by increasing the preconcentration time. For example, LOD of mercury and copper was 4.9 and 1.0 μg L^?1 for fifteen minutes preconcentration time. The sensitivity may also considered to be increased by using a more suitable electrode composition targeting the more conductive electrode with lesser amount of modified polymer for sub‐μg L^?1 levels of heavy metal ions. The optimized method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in tap water and waste water samples by means of standard addition procedure. The copper content found was comparable with the certified concentration of the waste water sample. The calibration plots for mercury and lead spiked real samples were also drawn.