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.