Stripping Chronopotentiometry with Dry‐Preservable Supporting Electrolyte

The determination of some toxic metals by stripping chronopotentiometry with a supporting solution having an unconventional composition has been investigated with the aim of using such components in disposable measuring cells preservable in dry state and quite ready for use, only needing addition of a small volume of sample. The new supporting solution is prepared with a solid strong acid, p‐toluenesulfonic acid, in the place of the inorganic acids commonly used to improve the cation availability. The other components are, as usual, sodium chloride, which fixes the potential of the screen‐printed silver – silver chloride reference electrode, and mercury(II) chloride as the plating agent. This supporting solution has been tested in batch measurements with the mercury film glassy carbon electrode as well as with screen‐printed carbon‐ink electrodes, either with mercury film or bare. The physical shape of the mercury layer electrolytically deposited on screen‐printed carbon‐ink electrodes from a supporting solution containing 0.1 M p‐toluenesulfonic acid and 0.1 M sodium chloride has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) microanalysis. In chronopotentiometric stripping p‐toluenesulfonic acid performs as well as the usual inorganic strong acids, particularly in terms of sensitivity. At 0.1 mol dm^?3 it proved very suitable for the determination of toxic metals, in particular lead(II), at levels down to a few μg dm^?3. The overall results appear promising and can open new avenues for preparing disposable cells for on‐field stripping chronopotentiometric determination of toxic metals.     

Sulfonamides as ionophores for ion-selective electrodes. IV. New secondary sulfonamide podands and cryptands

New compounds — podands and cryptands with two secondary sulfonamide groups —have been synthesized and are described. They were tested as ionophores for guanidinium ions in PVC-membrane electrodes with bis (2-ethylhexyl)sebacate (DOS) as plasticizer.     

Aggregation effects on evaporation and the air/water interface of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solutions

 The system dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH)–water was studied by surface tension, ion-selective electrodes and evaporation in an electrobalance. Results confirmed earlier conclusions about a stepwise aggregation mechanism in DTAOH solutions. The aggregation process started at a total concentration C _T=(2.51±0.10)×10^-4 mol dm^-3) which probably corresponds to the formation of dimers. At C _T= (1.300±0.041)×10^-3 mol dm^-3 there was a change in the surface and evaporation behavior, corresponding to the formation of small, fully ionized aggregates which grew with increasing concentration. At C _T= (1.108±0.010)×10^-2 mol dm^-3 the formation of true micelles with hydroxide counterions in the Stern layer did not change significantly the evaporation and adsorption behavior. This means that between this concentration and C _T=(3.02±0.28)× M28.8n10^-2 mol dm^-3, the changes in structure were gradual. At the latter concentration there was a sudden change in the monolayer state at the air/water interface, with a strong surfactant desorption, and a major change in evaporation behavior. The changes are compatible with the formation of few, large aggregates reducing the total concentration of kinetically independent solute units, which in turn increased the activity of the solvent. This phenomenon is in agreement with literature information. The reduction in the evaporation rate of water was mainly due to the reduction of the water activity, caused by colligative effects. The reduction of the effective area available for evaporation had only a slight effect in water evaporation. Received: 9 January 1997 Accepted: 19 October 1997     

Electrochemical behaviour of Pt(100), Pt(111) and Pt polycrystalline surfaces in hydrogencarbonate solution

It was demonstrated that adsorbed CO is obtained from the reduction of NaHCO₃ solution when Pt(100), Pt(110), disordered Pt(111) and polycrystalline electrodes are employed. Reduction of CO₂ coming from the dissociation of the hydrogencarbonate anion is proposed as the reaction that produces CO. By using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, linear and multi-bonded CO were detected on polycrystalline platinum electrodes. The shape of the band associated with linearly adsorbed CO is monopolar as a consequence of the partial overlapping, at lower wavenumbers, of the absolute bands at both potentials (0.05 and 0.35 V).     

Comparison of pulsed amperometric detection and integrated voltammetric detection for inorganic sulfur compounds in liquid chromatography

A Variety of potential–time waveforms are useful in pulsed electrochemical detection (PED) when applied for the amperometric detection of numerous polar organic compounds following their separation by liquid chromatography (LC). Here, we compare the waveforms for pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) and integrated voltammetric detection (IVD) applied for detection of organosulfur compounds at Au electrodes in acidic media. In PAD waveforms, electrodes response is measured at a constant detection potentials. In IVD waveforms, electrodes current is integrated throughout a fast cyclic scan of the detection potential. As a consequence of this difference in detection strategy, the background signal for IVD is significantly smaller for PAD in the detection of organosulfur compounds whose response mechanisms require the concomitant formation of surface oxides on Au electrodes. Furthermore, in comparison to Pad, IVD has a larger sensitivity and a diminished system peak from 0₂ dissolved in the sample. Use of a preadsorption step increases detection sensitivity in both PAD and IVD. The limit of detection (S/N=3)for cysteine in LC-IVD is ca. 6 nM for a 50-μl injection (i.e., 300 fmol) using a detection waveform that includes a 1000-ms preadsorption period.     

Electroanalytical sensors for nonconducting media based on electrodes supported on perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes

Electroanalytical sensors, suitable for the analysis and monitoring of electroactive analytes present in gaseous phase or low-conductive liquid media, and based on electrodes in close contact with perfluorinated ion-exchange polymers are reviewed. The basic operative mechanism of these sensors, in which ion-exchange polymers act as solid polymer electrolytes (SPE's), is thoroughly discussed, while stressing the fundamental reasons why their behavior differs from that of conventional membrane electrodes. The procedures for preparing composite working electrodes by coating one side of ion-exchange membranes with stable porous films of conductive materials are described, along with the most common strategies followed to assemble this type of sensors. Useful examples of measurements in electrolyte-free media of inorganic and organic electroactive species of interest mainly for environmental analysis are given. Future prospects for the development of these sensors are also discussed.     

Conducting graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) with pyrrole and thiophene

A thiophene‐functionalized methacrylate monomer (3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) was synthesized via the esterification of 3‐thiophene methanol with methacryloyl chloride. The methacrylate monomer was polymerized by free‐radical polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM2) and polypyrrole and of PMTM2 and polythiophene were synthesized by constant‐potential electrolyses. p‐Toluene sulfonic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate were used as the supporting electrolytes. PMTM2‐coated platinum electrodes were used as anodes in the polymerization of pyrrole and thiophene. Moreover, the oxidative polymerization of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM1) was studied with FeCl₃ as the oxidant. The self‐polymerization of PMTM1 was also investigated by galvanostatic electrolysis both in dichloromethane and in propylene carbonate. The structures of PMTM1 and PMTM2 were investigated by several spectroscopic and thermal methods. The grafting process was elucidated with conductivity measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy studies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4131–4140, 2002     

Voltammetric Behavior of Osmium‐Labeled DNA at Mercury Meniscus‐Modified Solid Amalgam Electrodes. Detecting DNA Hybridization

The complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2′‐bipyridine has been utilized as a probe of DNA structure and an electroactive marker of DNA in DNA hybridization sensors. It produces several voltammetric signals, the most negative of them has been observed only at mercury electrodes. This signal is of catalytic nature affording a high sensitivity of DNA determination. The catalytic current due to evolution of hydrogen in voltammetry of DNA modified by complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2′‐bipyridine (DNA‐Os,bipy) was studied. Solid amalgam electrodes (modified with mercury menisci) of silver (m‐AgSAE), copper (m‐CuSAE), gold, and of combined bismuth and silver, were used as possible substitutes for mercury electrodes. Besides the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), the catalytic current was observed only on m‐AgSAE and m‐CuSAE. Electrodes of gold and bismuth amalgams did not give the catalytic current. The detection limit of DNA‐Os,bipy on HMDE was 0.1 ng mL^?1 (RSD=2.3 %, N=11), and on m‐AgSAE 0.2 ng mL^?1 (RSD=3.1%, N=11). The m‐AgSAE was successfully applied as a detection electrode in double‐surface DNA hybridization experiments offering highly specific discrimination between complementary (target) and nonspecific DNAs, as well as determination of the length of a repetitive DNA sequence. The m‐AgSAE has proved a convenient alternative to the HMDE or carbon electrodes used for similar purposes in previous work.     

Stripping Voltammetry of Mercury(II) with a Chemically Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Containing Silica Gel Functionalized with 2,5‐Dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole

The accumulation voltammetry of mercury(II) was investigated at a carbon paste electrode chemically modified with silica gel functionalized with 2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (DTTPSG‐CPE). The repetitive cyclic voltammogram of mercury(II) solution in the potential range ?0.2 to +0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), (0.02 mol L^?1 KNO₃ ; v=20 mV s^?1) show two peaks one at about 0.0 V and other at 0.31 V. However, the cathodic wave peak, around 0.0 V, is irregular and changes its form in each cycle. This peak at about 0.0 V is the reduction current for mercury(II) accumulated in the DTTPSG‐CPE. The anodic wave peak at 0.31 V is well‐defined and does not change during the cycles. The resultant material was characterized by cyclic and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry performed with the electrode in differents supporting electrolytes. The mercury response was evaluated with respect to pH, electrode composition, preconcentration time, mercury concentration, “cleaning” solution, possible interferences and other variables. The precision for six determinations (n=6) of 0.05 and 0.20 mg L^?1 Hg(II) was 2.8 and 2.2% (relative standard deviation), respectively. The method was satisfactory and used to determine the concentration of mercury(II) in natural waters contaminated by this metal.     

Elimination of SAS Interferences in Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Cr(VI) by Means of Fumed Silica

In the work the procedure of chromium(VI) determination by catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (CAdSV) with application of fumed silica, is presented. Two variants of the method are proposed: in the first fumed silica is put directly to the electrolytic cell containing tested solution, in the second the silica is shaken with the sample and next centrifuged. The effectiveness of many surface‐active substances removal from synthetic solutions as well as natural water samples, is studied. In the experiments the fumed silica (Sigma‐Aldrich) of the specific surface area in the range 200–390 m² g^?1 was used. Two types of the working electrodes were applied, i.e., hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and cyclic renewable mercury film electrode (Hg(Ag)FE). In the silica presence i) the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 0.1 μg L^?1 Cr(VI) is <2% (HMDE) and <5% (Hg(Ag)FE), n=7, ii) the detection limits estimated deposition time 20 s were respectively 14 ng L^?1 (HMDE) and 22 ng L^?1 (Hg(Ag)FE). The accuracy of the method was tested by studying the recovery of Cr(VI) from spiked natural water samples.