Sequential voltammetric determination of trace metals in meals

An analytical procedure for the sequential determination of Zn(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Sb(III), Sn(II), Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and Fe(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI) by square wave voltammetry (SWV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ attack mixture, employing dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution (pH 6.9 and 8.7) as supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%; the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%.In presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Finally, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market.A critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Platinum,Rhodium, Palladium and Lead: Elements Linked to Vehicle Emissions. Their Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination in Superficial Water

The present work, regarding the determination of Pt(II), Rh(III) by square‐wave adsorption stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV), Pd(II) by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and Pb(II) by square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in superficial water is an interesting example of the possibility to simultaneously, or better sequentially determine each single element in real samples. The critical comparison between peak area and peak current highlights that lower limits of detection are obtained if peak area is employed as instrumental datum. 0.6 mmol/L formaldehyde+1.2 mmol/L hydrazine (formazone complex) in 0.3 mol/L HCl and ammonia‐ammonium chloride buffer pH 9.6 were employed as the supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR‐CRM 403 and Fresh Water NIST‐SRM 1643d. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error, respectively, were generally lower than 6% in all cases. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to superficial water sampled in proximity to superhighway and in the Po river mouth area. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Simultaneous square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Cr, Pb, Sn, Sb, Cu, Zn in presence of reciprocal interference: application to meal matrices

An analytical procedure for simultaneously determining chromium(VI), lead(II), tin(II), antimony(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ acidic attack mixture. Dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution pH 6.5 was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using, as working electrode, a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a platinum electrode and an AgAgClKCl_sat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%. The accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%, while the detection limits were lower than 0.123 μg/g.In the presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market for sale. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Sequential Voltammetric Determination of Ultratrace Osmium,Ruthenium and Iridium. Application to Superficial Water

The present work, regarding the determination of ultratrace Os(VIII), Ru(III) and Ir(III) in superficial waters is an interesting example of the possibility to simultaneously, or better sequentially determine each single element in real samples by voltammetry. The method is based on the catalytic current of the Os(VIII)‐ and Ru(III)‐bromate systems by square wave voltammetry and on the Ir(III) determination by square wave catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry. 0.5 mol L^?1 acetate buffer pH 4.9+7.7×10^?2 mol L^?1 NaBrO₃ and 0.5 mol L^?1 acetate buffer pH 4.9+7.7×10^?2 mol L^?1 NaBrO₃+2.3×10^?5 mol L^?1 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) +0.2 mol L^?1 KCl were employed as the supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR‐CRM 403 and Fresh Water NIST‐SRM 1643d. For all the elements, the accuracy, expressed as relative error e (%), was satisfactory, being lower than 6 %, while precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, s_r (%), was generally lower than 5 %. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to superficial water sampled in proximity to superhighway and in the Po river mouth area.     

Analytical procedures for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of heavy metals in meals

An analytical procedure regarding the determination of copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II) and antimony(III) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is proposed. The digestion of each matrix was carried out using concentrated HCl suprapure at 130 °C for 3 h. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was employed for simultaneously determining all the elements, using a conventional three-electrode cell and 0.5 M HCl as supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure has been verified on the reference standard materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a. For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r), and the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e), were of the order of 3 to 6%. The limits of detection were in the range 0.009–0.096 μg/g.     

Analysis of metal alloys by second-harmonic phase-selective a.c. voltammetry

Second-harmonic phase-selective a.c. voltammetry and second-harmonic a.c. anodic stripping voltammetry are shown to be particularly suitable for simultaneous determinations of elements having very close half-wave potentials (differences of <50 mV). The technique are applied to real matrices. Samples of standard materials BCS 207/2 Gunmetal, SRM 631 SPectrographic Zinc Spelter and SRM 899 (Nickel-base High-temperature Alloy) were digested with a sulphuric acid/nitric acid mixture; after dissolution, the samples were taken up in hydrochloric acid. After adjustment to 1 mol l^?1 HCl, the solutions were used directly for voltammetric measurements of Pb(II)/Sn (II), Sb(III)/Bi(III), Pb(II)/Tl(I) and In(III)/Cd(II) as appropriate. The confidence intervals of the experimental data were in agreement with the certified values for each element. Both the accuracy, expressed as percentage error, and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, were better than 5%. The standard addition technique was found to improve the resolution of the a.c. voltammetric peaks even in the case of severe overlapping.     

Determination of platinum-group metals and lead in vegetable environmental bio-monitors by voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques: critical comparison

This paper reports voltammetric sequential determination of Pt(II), Pd(II), and Rh(III), by square-wave adsorption stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV), and Pb(II), by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), in vegetable environmental matrices. Analytical procedures were verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Olive Leaves BCR-CRM 062 and Tomato Leaves NIST-SRM 1573a. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error, respectively, were always less than 6% and the limits of detection (LOD) for each element were below 0.096 g g^–1. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to laurel leaves sampled in proximity to a superhighway and in the Po river mouth area. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is discussed.     

Sequential Voltammetric Determination of Uranium,Cadmium and Lead by Using the ex situ Bismuth Film Electrode: Application to Phosphate Fertilizers

A sequential voltammetric procedure for the determination of uranium, cadmium and lead was investigated at an ex situ bismuth film electrode (BiFE). First, the adsorptive stripping voltammetry was applied to assay the U(VI)‐cupferron complex in the differential pulse mode (detection limit of 1.0 µg L^?1, 200 s accumulation time). Through the manipulation of the same aliquot of the sample, efforts were made to quantify cadmium and lead by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Detection limits of 2.03 µg L^?1 for Cd (II) and 2.43 µg L^?1 for Pb (II) were calculated (100 s accumulation time). The methodology was successfully applied to phosphate fertilizer samples after open vessel wet decomposition (HNO₃/H₂O₂). The following value ranges were evaluated: U (VI) 37.2–150 mg kg^?1, Pb (II) 78.3–204 mg kg^?1 and Cd (II) 44.1–71.6 mg kg^?1. Validation was performed by using the standard reference materials SRM‐695 – phosphate fertilizer – and SRM‐1643e – water.     

Determination of Se, As, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn by anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry in marine environmental matrices in the presence of reciprocal interference. Proposal of a new analytical procedure

Arsenic(III), selenium(IV), copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II) and manganese(II) have been determined in environmental matrices by differential pulse cathodic (DPCSV) and anodic (DPASV) stripping voltammetry. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using a conventional three-electrode cell and the ammonia–ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.4) as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR-CRM 403; Lagarosiphon Major BCR-CRM 060; and Cod Muscle BCR-CRM 422. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, and the accuracy, expressed as relative error, were, in all cases, lower than 5%; the detection limits, for each element in the experimental conditions employed, was approximately 10⁻⁹ M. The standard addition technique significantly improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high metal concentration ratios.     

Analytical procedure for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of trace metals in food and environmental matrices. Critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements

An analytical procedure fit for the simultaneous determination of copper (II), chromium(VI), thallium(I), lead(II), tin(II), antimony(III), and zinc(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in three interdependent environmental matrices involved in foods and food chain as meals, cereal plants and soils is described. The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl-HNO3-H2SO4 (meals and cereal plants) and HCl-HNO3 (soils) acidic attack mixtures. 0.1 mol/L dibasic ammonium citrate pH 8.5 was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using, as working electrode, a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a platinum electrode and an Ag/AgCl/KClsat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by the analyses of the standard reference materials: Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Tomato Leaves NIST-SRM 1573a and Montana Soil Moderately Elevated Traces NIST-SRM 2711. For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (Sr %) was lower than 5%. The accuracy, expressed as percentage relative error (e %) was of the order of 3-7%, while the detection limits were in the range 0.015-0.103 microg/g. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meal samples, cereal plants and soils samples drawn in sites devoted to agricultural practice. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry at in situ bismuth-plated carbon and gold microdisc electrodes in variable electrolyte content unstirred solutions

Carbon and gold microdisc electrodes (30 and 10 μm, respectively) have been tested as substrates for in situ bismuth film plating from unstirred solutions of variable acetate buffer content and were subsequently used in the anodic stripping voltammetry determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions. The effects of Bi(III) concentration, analyte accumulation time, stirring as well as supporting electrolyte content have been studied. Under optimal conditions good voltammetric responses were obtained by means of square wave anodic stripping voltammetry in unstirred analyte solutions of 5 × 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁶ M, even in the absence of added buffer. In an indicative application, Pb(II) ion levels were determined in tap water using bismuth-plated carbon microdisc electrodes.     

Antimony Film Electrode Prepared In Situ in Hydrogen Potassium Tartrate in Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Trace Detection of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Tl(I), In(III) and Cu(II)

An antimony film electrode (SbFE) was prepared in situ on a glassy carbon support and in a new supporting electrolyte, a saturated solution of hydrogen potassium tartrate in which Sb(III) ions were complexed using tartrate. Its performance in anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Tl(I), In(III) and Cu(II) traces was examined. It was found that 1.2 mg/L of Sb(III) yields the finest quality SbFE for analytical purposes. The procedure with in situ SbFE ensures well‐defined anodic stripping voltammetric curves of the investigated elements, low detection limits (0.5–3.8 µg/L), good reproducibility (1–5 %) and satisfactory sensitivity (32–184 nA/(µg/L)).     

Measurement of voltammetric peak area and resolution of overlapping peaks in the simultaneous determination of copper, lead, cadmium, and nickel in environmental matrixes

Peak area was used for the simultaneous determination of copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), and nickel(II) in environmental matrixes by differential pulse voltammetry. The voltammetric measurements were performed with a conventional 3-electrode cell and an ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer, pH 9.1, as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified first in aqueous reference solutions and later by analysis of the standard reference materials Estuarine Sediment BCR-CRM 277 and River Sediment BCR-CRM 320. The precision and accuracy of the method, expressed as the relative standard deviation and the relative error, respectively, were <5% in all cases; the detection limit for each element under the experimental conditions used was in the range 1-5 microg/L. In the case of mutual interference between neighboring elements, an analytical procedure is proposed that is based on the standard additions technique, which allows the resolution of the overlapping voltammetric peaks.     

Electrocatalytic Application of Girard's Reagent T to Simultaneous Determination of Furaldehydes in Pharmaceutical and Food Matrices by Highly Sensitive Voltammetric Methods

Sensitive and precise voltammetric methods for the determination of trace amounts of furaldehydes, mainly as furfural (F) and 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furaldehyde (HMF), in foods, pharmaceutical and other matrices is described. Determination of total furaldehyde at <μg g^?1 levels in alkaline buffered aqueous media was individually investigated. By the use of ordinary SWV and adsorptive square wave stripping voltammetry (Ad‐SWSV), the detection limits for determination of F and HMF found to be 400 and 10 ng g^?1, respectively. At a 1.0 μg g^?1 level of furfural in sample, the relative standard deviation (n=4) was 2.79%. The application of Ad‐SWSV to the determination of F and HMF, after their in situ derivatization with trimethylaminoacetohydrazide chloride (Girard's reagent T) at a static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) in NH₃‐NH₄Cl buffer of pH 9.5, resulted in a limit of detection of 10 ng g^?1 for the resolved peaks of HMF and F. The results obtained by the proposed method for the real samples were compared with the corresponding results from UV‐spectrophotometry and HPLC experiments in various matrices.     

An Electrochemical Sensor Based on Silver Nanoparticles‐Benzalkonium Chloride for the Voltammetric Determination of Antiviral Drug Tenofovir

A simple voltammetric nanosensor was described for the highly sensitive determination of antiviral drug Tenofovir. The benzalkonium chloride and silver nanoparticles were associated to build a nanosensor on glassy carbon electrode. Surface characterictics were achieved using scanning electron microscopic technique. The voltammetric measurements were performed in pH range between 1.0 and 10.0 using cyclic, adsorptive stripping differential pulse and adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry. The linear dependence of the peak current on the square root of scan rates and the slope value (0.770) demonstrated that the oxidation of tenofovir is a mix diffusion‐adsorption controlled process in pH 5.70 acetate buffer. The linearity range was found to be 6.0×10⁻⁸–1.0×10⁻⁶ M, and nanosensor displayed an excellent detection limit of 2.39×10⁻⁹ M by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The developed nanosensor was successfully applied for the determination of Tenofovir in pharmaceutical dosage form. Moreover, the voltammetric oxidation pathway of tenofovir was also investigated at bare glassy carbon electrode comparing with some possible model compounds (Adenine and Adefovir).     

Application of stripping voltammetry method for the analysis of available copper,zinc and manganese contents in soil samples

Determination of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) micronutrients in soil samples have been studied for an efficient fertiliser application. Plant-available micronutrients of soils were extracted with DTPA extraction procedure, then differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) and square wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV) methods were performed with inexpensive and disposable pencil graphite electrode for determination of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II). Parameters such as deposition potential, deposition time, pH and concentration of the supporting electrolyte were optimised for these ions. Under optimised conditions, the limits of detection were found as 0.01 mg L^?1 for Cu(II) and 0.02 mg L^?1 for Zn(II) and 0.25 mg L^?1 for Mn(II). Relative standard deviation (%RSD) was 6.80, 8.86 and 3.29 for Cu(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II), respectively. The experimental study was conducted using a flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The described stripping voltammetry methods were successfully applied for the determination of Mn(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) in soil samples.     

Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Dopamine in Presence of High Concentration of Ascorbic Acid Using a Fullerene‐C60 Coated Gold Electrode

A fullerene‐C₆₀‐modified gold electrode is employed for the determination of dopamine in the excess of ascorbic acid using square‐wave voltammetry. Based on its strong catalytic function towards the oxidation of dopamine and ascorbic acid, the overlapping voltammetric response of both the biomolecules at the bare electrode is resolved into two well‐defined voltammetric peaks with lowered oxidation potential and enhanced oxidation currents. Linear calibration curves for dopamine are obtained using square‐wave voltammetry over the concentration range 1 nM–5.0 μM in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.2 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9931 and the detection limit (3σ) is estimated to be 0.26×10^?9 M. The interference studies showed that the presence of physiologically common interferents (i.e. uric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, glucose and sodium chloride) negligibly affects the response of dopamine. The practical analytical utility of the method is illustrated by quantitative determination of dopamine in commercially available pharmaceutical formulation and human body fluids, viz. urine and blood plasma, without any preliminary treatment.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Cathodic Stripping Reactions. Diagnostic Criteria,Redox Kinetic Measurements,and Analytical Applications

A comparative study of different types of cathodic stripping reactions under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry is presented. Cathodic stripping processes involving reactions of second order as well as reactions coupled by adsorption of the reacting ligand are analyzed The inherent parameters, controlling the overall voltammetric behavior of each cathodic stripping electrode reaction are derived. The criteria for qualitative distinguishing of each mechanism are established as well as a methodology for redox kinetic measurements is proposed. The influence of the parameters of the excitation signal on the properties of the voltammetric response is analyzed in order to find optimal conditions for analytical application. The theoretical results are illustrated by the experiments with a series of uracil derivatives.     

Cathodic stripping voltammetry of nickel: sonoelectrochemical exploitation of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple

The exploitation of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) transition as a means of quantifying the concentration of nickel within industrial samples was assessed. The methodology relies upon the reagentless electrodeposition of Ni onto a glassy carbon electrode and the subsequent oxidative conversion of the metallic layer to Ni(III). The analytical signal is derived from a cathodic stripping protocol in which the reduction of the Ni(III) layer to Ni(II) is monitored through the use of square wave voltammetry. The procedure was refined through the introduction of an ultrasonic source which served to both enhance the deposition of nickel and to remove the nickel hydroxide layer that results from the measurement process. A well-defined stripping peak was observed at +0.7 V (vs. AgAgCl) with the response found to be linear over the range 50 nM to 1 μM (based on a 30 s deposition time). Other metal ions such as Cu(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and Co(II) did not interfere with the response when present in hundred fold excess. The viability of the technique was evaluated through the determination of nickel within a commercial copper nickel alloy and validated through an independent comparison with a standard ICP-AES protocol.     

Voltammetric method for ultra-trace determination of total mercury and toxic metals in vegetables. Comparison with spectroscopy

A new procedure for the determination of mercury(II), copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II) and zinc(II) traces in food matrices by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry and standard addition method is proposed. A rapid, inexpensive and multi-analyte analytical method suitable for food safety control is provided. Comestible vegetables were chosen as samples. A two-step, sequential determination was defined, employing two working electrodes: a gold electrode (GE) for mercury(II) and copper(II), and subsequently a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II) and zinc(II). No sample pre-treatment was needed. Spinach leaves, tomato leaves and apple leaves were employed as standard reference materials to optimize and defined the analytical procedure. The new method shows good selectivity, sensitivity, detectability and accuracy. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is discussed. Spinach, lettuce and tomato samples sold on the market were analysed as real samples. Lead(II) and cadmium(II) concentration exceeded the relevant legal limits.