Effect of mercury(II) on metal complex labilities determined by direct-current anodic stripping voltammetry on a thin mercury film electrode

The labilities of copper, lead and cadmium complexes with fulvic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid and an iron-humic acid colloid were studied on a preplated thin mercury film electrode and with in-situ plating of mercury on a glassy carbon electrode. In the presence of mercury(II) the apparent labilities based on direct-current anodic stripping voltammetric peak-area measurements increased for each of the cadmium and lead species and for the copper iron-humic acid colloid species. In contrast, for the copper complexes with nitrilotriacetic acid and fulvic acid the lability was not measurably altered by mercury(II); it is inferred that they do not undergo rapid metal exchange with mercury(II).