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.