Determination of trace arsenic on hanging copper amalgam drop electrode

Hanging copper amalgam drop electrode has been applied for trace determination of arsenic by cathodic stripping analysis. Detection limit for As(III) as low as 0.33 nM (0.02 μg/L) at deposition time (240 s) could be obtained. For seven successive determinations of As(III) at concentration of 5 nM relative standard deviation was 2.5% (n = 7). Interferences from selected metals and surfactant substances were examined. Absence of copper ions in sample solution causes easier optimization and makes method less vulnerable on contamination. The developed method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials (CRMs) and applied to arsenic determinations in natural water samples.     

Voltammetric determination of herbicide molinate in river water and rice samples using solid silver amalgam electrode fabricated with nanoparticles

The evaluation of the voltammetric behaviour and the determination of herbicide molinate were performed for the first time over the surface of solid amalgam electrode fabricated with silver nanoparticles using cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry techniques. The experimental and instrumental parameters were evaluated to reach the maximum analytical response for molinate. It was achieved when a medium composed of 0.04 mol L^?1 Britton–Robinson buffer at the pH value of 4.0 was used. Under these conditions, molinate showed one pronounced reduction peak at E_p = ?0.37 V (vs. Ag/AgCl 3 mol L^?1) that was characterised as an irreversible system. An analytical curve was constructed at the concentration range from 9.36 to 243.49 µg L^?1 and a limit of detection of 2.34 µg L^?1 was obtained. The amalgam electrode presented good stability during the measurements with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 2.9% for the repeatability and 5.4% for the reproducibility. The voltammetric method developed here could be conveniently applied for the determination of molinate in river water and rice spiked samples at levels below those established on the legislations of European Union and Brazil with good accuracy (RSD of less than 5% for all samples). Comparison with HPLC technique was carried out and the results indicated satisfactory concordance. According to the results depicted here, the silver nanoparticles solid amalgam electrode showed itself highly sensitive and an interesting alternative for the routine analysis of molinate in water and food samples. Furthermore, it introduces an environmentally acceptable alternative to the mercury electrodes, most commonly used for determination of reducible pesticides.     

Determination of triazine herbicides: development of an electroanalytical method utilizing a solid amalgam electrode that minimizes toxic waste residues, and a comparative study between voltammetric and chromatographic techniques

The use of a copper solid amalgam electrode (CuSAE) for the analytical determination of triazine herbicides (atrazine and ametryne) instead of the conventional hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is reported. The results obtained using electroanalytical methods utilizing each of these electrodes were also compared with those provided by the HPLC technique. The results indicated that the CuSAE electrode can be used to detect the herbicides studied, since the detection limits reached using the electrode (3.06 μg L⁻¹ and 3.78 μg L⁻¹ for atrazine and ametryne, respectively) are lower than the maximum values permitted by CONAMA (Brazilian National Council for the Environment) for wastewaters (50 μg L⁻¹) and by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States) in natural water samples (10.00 μg L⁻¹). An electroanalytical methodology employing CuSAE and square wave voltammetry (SWV) was successfully applied to the determination of atrazine and ametryne in natural water samples, yielding good recoveries (70.30%–79.40%). This indicates that the CuSAE provides a convenient substitute for the HMDE, particularly since the CuSAE minimizes the toxic waste residues produced by the use of mercury in HDME-based analyses.     

Determination of lead and cadmium in seawater using a vibrating silver amalgam microwire electrode

Silver amalgamated electrodes are a good substrate to determine lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in seawater because they have properties similar to mercury but without the free mercury (Hg). Here a silver amalgamated microwire (SAM) electrode is optimised for the determination of Pb and Cd in coastal waters and uncontaminated ocean waters. The SAM was vibrated during the deposition step to increase the sensitivity, and electroanalytical parameters were optimised. The Hg coating required plating from a relatively concentrated (millimolar) solution, much greater (500×) than used for instance to coat glassy carbon electrodes. However, the coating on the ex situ amalgamated electrode was found to be stable and could be used for up to a week to determine trace levels of Pb in seawater of natural pH. The limit of detection square-wave ASV (50 Hz) using the pre-plated SAM electrode was 8 pM Pb using a 1-min plating time at pH 4.5. The limit of detection in pH 2 seawater was 4 pM using a 5-min plating time, and it was 12 pM using a 10-min plating time at natural pH in the presence of air, using a square-wave frequency of 700 Hz. The vibrating SAM electrode was tested on the determination of Pb in reference seawater samples from the open Atlantic (at the 20 pM level), Pacific, and used for a study of Pb in samples collected over 24 h in Liverpool Bay (Irish Sea).     

Voltammetric determination of dinitronaphthalenes using a silver solid amalgam paste electrode

The electrochemical behavior and application of a new sensor, a silver solid amalgam paste electrode (AgSA-PE), based on the mixture of a fine silver solid amalgam powder (60:40 (w(Hg)/w(Ag))) and a suitable organic pasting liquid (Paraffin oil) in a ratio of 20:1 (w/w), was investigated in an aqueous-methanolic media (1:1). This alternative working electrode provides simple preparation and handling, adequate mechanical stability, easily renewable electrode surface, sufficiently wide cathodic potential window (up to -1200 mV within a pH range of 2.7-12.3), and sufficient sensitivity without any necessary pretreatment. The practical usability of the AgSA-PE was verified by the development of voltammetric methods for the determination of selected environmentally important pollutants (1,3-, 1,5-, and 1,8-dinitronaphthalenes) in an aqueous-methanolic media (1:1). The differential pulse voltammetric methods at AgSA-PE give linear concentration dependences in the range of 1-100 μmol l(-1) with limits of detection of about 1 μmol l(-1) in a mixture of Britton-Robinson buffer of appropriate pH and methanol (1:1).     

Electrochemical study and voltammetric determination of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate using silver nanoparticles solid amalgam electrode

We report in this work, for the first time, the voltammetric study and the development of an electroanalytical method for the determination of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (Na-DDC) using solid amalgam electrode fabricated with silver nanoparticles. The experimental parameters were studied and the best voltammetric response was reached when using 0.02 mol L^–1 Britton–Robinson buffer (pH = 5.5). Cyclic voltammograms of the substance presented two voltammetric signals: one cathodic peak at E_p = – 0.55 V and one anodic peak at E_p = – 0.49 V. The redox process of Na-DDC showed itself as an adsorption-controlled and quasi-reversible system. A mechanism for this electrochemical reaction was proposed. The analytical studies employed square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) and were based on the cathodic signal given by Na-DDC. Good linearity was observed in the concentration range from 2.83 × 10^–7 mol L^–1 to 6.89 × 10^–6 mol L^–1. The obtained limit of detection was 7.26 × 10^–8 mol L^–1. The electroanalytical approach described here was successfully employed for the determination of Na-DDC in river water at levels of concentration from 1.46 × 10^–7 mol L^–1 to 1.46 × 10^–6 mol L^–1 with good repeatability and reproducibility (RSD values of 4.2% and 5.9%, respectively). The values found during these determinations presented good concordance when compared with the expected values. According to the data presented here, the solid amalgam electrode fabricated with silver nanoparticles may be seen as an effective and green tool for the electrochemical analysis of Na-DDC and also other reducible compounds that usually require mercury-based electrode surfaces.     

Mercury meniscus on solid silver amalgam electrode as a sensitive electrochemical sensor for tetrachlorvinphos

The in-house prepared mercury meniscus modified solid silver amalgam electrode (m-AgSAE) was successfully applied for the detection of organophosphate pesticide tetrachlorvinphos in pH 7 buffer solution. The electrochemical performance of m-AgSAE for the reduction of tetrachlorvinphos was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and square wave voltammetry (SWV), respectively. The surface morphology of solid silver electrode (AgE), as-amalgamated solid silver amalgam electrode (AgSAE), and polished solid silver amalgam electrode (p-AgSAE) was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Among the applied techniques, DPV and SWV analysis showed a remarkable increase in the reduction peak current and provided a simple, fast, and sensitive method for the determination of tetrachlorvinphos. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to correlate the electrocatalytic activity of AgSAE, p-AgSAE and m-AgSAE with their interfacial charge transport capabilities. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the DPV and SWV responses were linear over the 1–9 μM and 10–50 μM concentration ranges with a detection limit of 0.06 μM for DPV and 0.04 for SWV. The estimation of tetrachlorvinphos in the ground and waste water samples with the proposed method was in good agreement with that of the added amount. The proposed electrochemical method not only extends the application of non-toxic m-AgSAE, but also offers new possibilities for fast and sensitive analysis of tetrachlorvinphos and its structural analogs in environmental samples.     

用混合粘合剂修饰的碳糊电极测定诺氟沙星

在pH10.50的磷酸盐缓冲溶液中 ,当含有0.8mmol/L的NH4Cl,8mg/L的SLS(十二烷基磺酸钠)时 ,诺氟沙星在由69.1% (w)的石墨粉、24.5 % (w)的液体石蜡和6.4 % (w)的甘油组成的混合粘合剂碳糊电极上产生一灵敏的阴极溶出还原峰 ,峰电位为 -1.61V ;峰电流与诺氟沙星浓度在8.0×10 -9～4.0×10 -7mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系 ,相关系数为r=0.9949 ,检出限为3.0×10-9 mol/L ;该法用于测定诺氟沙星胶囊含量 ,结果令人满意     

活化玻碳电极伏安法测定锰的研究

采用活化玻碳电极(GC)以伏安法对测定锰进行了研究。结果表明:沉积于电极表面的二氧化锰对锰(Ⅱ)的电化学氧化具有自催化作用,活化GC电极可极大地提高测定锰的灵敏度。在0.04mol LNH3 NH4Cl(pH9.0)底液中,锰浓度在6.0×10-8～1.0×10-5mol L范围内成线性关系,检出限为4.0×10-8mol L。用3×10-7mol L锰溶液重复测定9次,RSD为1.6%。     

Voltammetric study and electroanalytical determination of contraceptive levonorgestrel using silver solid amalgam electrode fabricated with nanoparticles

Here we describe the investigation of the electrochemical behaviour and the electroanalytical quantification of hormonal contraceptive levonorgestrel using solid amalgam electrode fabricated with silver nanoparticles. Until now, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of solid working electrodes for levonorgestrel determination. Over this electrodic surface, the substance showed one cathodic peak at E_p = ?1.41 V. Moreover, the electrochemical reduction of levonorgestrel was defined as an irreversible and mainly adsorption-controlled process involving two protons and two electrons. Square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) was used for the quantification of levonorgestrel. The instrumental and experimental parameters were studied and optimized. The best conditions of analysis were observed when using 0.04 mol L^?1 Britton–Robinson (BR) buffer at pH 6.0. The analytical signal of levonorgestrel showed a linear dependence on the concentration range from 5.03 × 10^?7 mol L^–1 to 1.01 × 10^?5 mol L^–1. The LOD and LOQ obtained were 9.09 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 and 3.03 × 10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The voltammetric method was employed for the quantification of levonorgestrel in real pharmaceutical formulations and urine samples. The results provided good concordance with the expected values. It makes the working electrode used here an interesting and less toxic option for the analysis of reducible substances in comparison with the HMDE.     

Catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of copper(II) on a carbon paste electrode

A catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of copper(II) on a carbon paste electrode (PCE) in an alizarin red S (ARS)-K₂S₂O₈ system is proposed. In this method, copper(II) is effectively enriched by both the formation and adsorption of a copper(II)-ARS complex on the PCE, and is determined by catalytic stripping voltammetry. The catalytic enhancement of the cathodic stripping current of the Cu(II) in the complex results from a redox cycle consisting of electrochemical reduction of Cu(II) ion in the complex and subsequent chemical oxidation of the Cu(II) reduction product by persulfate, which reduces the contamination of the working electrode from Cu deposition and also improves analytical sensitivity. In Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 4.56±0.1) containing 3.6×10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ ARS and 1.6×10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ K₂S₂O₈, with 180 s of accumulation at −0.2 V, the second-order derivative peak current of the catalytic stripping wave was proportional to the copper(II) concentration in the range of 8.0×10⁻¹⁰ to ∼3.0×10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit was 1.6×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method was evaluated by analyzing copper in water and soil.     

Utilising gallium for enhanced electrochemical copper analysis at the bismuth film electrode

A sensitive anodic stripping voltammetric procedure at the bismuth film electrode (BFE) for trace analysis of copper (II) in the presence of gallium is presented. The new protocol circumvents the problems of overlapping stripping signals between copper and bismuth that previously hampered the analysis of copper at the BFE. The results illustrate that the addition of gallium not only improves the reproducibility of the bismuth stripping signal but also facilitates much improved resolution between the stripping signals of bismuth and copper. Investigations into the effect of gallium on the stripping response of copper and bismuth were studied showing a 4:1 gallium:copper mole ratio produces optimum signals from bismuth and copper indicating a possible stoichiometric relationship. Optimisation of other key variables including electrolyte composition, accumulation parameters and appropriate waveform settings were studied and optimised. The optimised procedures show a range of linear calibration plots (R² > 0.994) ranging from 2 to 500 μg L⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation for a solution containing 100 μg L⁻¹ copper was 3.7% (n = 10). Utilising an accumulation time of 300 s the limit of detection was 1.4 μg L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). This technique was successfully applied to the analysis of copper in tap water representing the first successful copper determination in real samples using the BFE.     

Voltammetric determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations using a copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) modified carbon paste electrode

The electroanalytical determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations of a homemade carbon paste electrode modified with copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) (CuHCF) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Several parameters were studied for the optimization of the sensor such as electrode composition, electrolytic solution, pH effect, potential scan rate and interferences in potential. The optimum conditions were found in an electrode composition (in mass) of 15% CuHCF, 60% graphite and 25% mineral oil in 0.5 mol l⁻¹ acetate buffer solution at pH 6.0. The analytical curve for isoprenaline was linear in the concentration range from 1.96×10⁻⁴ to 1.07×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 1.2% for 1.96×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ isoprenaline solution (n=5). The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations; the CuHCF modified carbon paste electrode gave comparable results to those results obtained using a UV spectrophotometric method.     

Voltammetric determination of arsenic in high iron and manganese groundwaters

Determination of the speciation of arsenic in groundwaters, using cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV), is severely hampered by high levels of iron and manganese. Experiments showed that the interference is eliminated by addition of EDTA, making it possible to determine the arsenic speciation on-site by CSV. This work presents the CSV method to determine As(III) in high-iron or -manganese groundwaters in the field with only minor sample treatment. The method was field-tested in West-Bengal (India) on a series of groundwater samples. Total arsenic was subsequently determined after acidification to pH 1 by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Comparative measurements by ICP-MS as reference method for total As, and by HPLC for its speciation, were used to corroborate the field data in stored samples. Most of the arsenic (78 ± 0.02%) was found to occur as inorganic As(III) in the freshly collected waters, in accordance with previous studies. The data shows that the modified on-site CSV method for As(III) is a good measure of water contamination with As. The EDTA was also found to be effective in stabilising the arsenic speciation for longterm sample storage at room temperature. Without sample preservation, in water exposed to air and sunlight, the As(III) was found to become oxidised to As(V), and Fe(II) oxidised to Fe(III), removing the As(V) by adsorption on precipitating Fe(III)-hydroxides within a few hours.     

Voltammetric determination of N-acetylcysteine using a carbon paste electrode modified with copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III)

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a carbon paste electrode modified with copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) (CuHCF) as well as its behavior as electrocatalyst toward the oxidation of N-acetylcysteine were investigated. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode and the electrooxidation of N-acetylcysteine were explored using sweep linear voltammetry. The best voltammetric response was observed for a paste composition of 20% (w/w) copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) complex, acetate buffer solution at pH of 6.0 as the electrolyte and scan rate of 10 mV s^− 1. A linear voltammetric response for N-acetylcysteine was obtained in the concentration range from 1.2 × 10^− 4 to 8.3 × 10^− 4 mol L^− 1, with a detection limit of 6.3 × 10^− 5 mol L^− 1. The proposed electrode is useful for the quality control and routine analysis of N-acetylcysteine in pharmaceutical formulations.     

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).     

Voltammetric behavior and determination of bismuth on sodium humate modified carbon paste electrode

The preconcentration and voltammetric behavior of Bi^III on a sodium humate modified carbon paste electrode was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV). The proposed measurement involves an initial nonelectrolytic preconcentration step in which Bi^III is complexed by the surface modifier in a solution of 0.05 M KNO₃-0.0106 M HNO₃ (pH 2.0) and a subsequent electrochemical scan step in which the preconcentrated Bi^III was reduced and then oxidized promptly in supporting electrolyte of 0.5 M HNO₃. The resulting DPSV anodic current was proportional to the concentration of Bi^III ion over the range of 4.78 × 10⁻⁸–1.44 × 10⁻⁵ M. The detection limit was 4.78 × 10⁻⁸ M. The proposed method was used to determine bismuth in various samples. Various factors affecting the electrode behavior were also investigated at the same time.     

Application of renewable silver amalgam annular band electrode to voltammetric determination of vitamins C, B1 and B2

In this work, the design and results of applying silver liquid amalgam film-modified silver solid amalgam annular band electrode (AgLAF-AgSAE), refreshed before each measurement, to voltammetric determination of vitamins C (VC), B₁ (VB1) and B₂ (VB2) are presented. The method is based on adsorptive accumulation of analytes at the AgLAF-AgSAE in a phosphate buffer (VB1), phosphate buffer with Triton X-100 (VB2) and an alkaline borate buffer with Triton X-100 (VC). The analytical parameters and procedure of electrode activation were optimized. The calibration graphs obtained for vitamins C, B₁ and B₂ are linear, respectively, for concentration range 0.05-12, 0.01-0.1 and 0.05-3 mg L⁻¹. The detection limits were calculated and equaled 0.02, 0.003 and 0.009 mg L⁻¹, while repeatability of the peak current was 2%, 1% and 3%, respectively. These results are comparable with results obtained for polarographic determination of the same vitamins using mercury electrodes. Finally, the AgLAF-AgSAE was applied to the determination of vitamins in pharmaceutical samples and fruit juices with satisfactory results.