Microcomputer-controlled insturmentation for voltammetric techniques

A simple computer system for conducting voltammetric experiments is described. An Atari 800 XL microcomputer is connected to a laboratory-made analog/digital voltammetric analyzer by means of a two-directional serial transmission interface. The serial transmission makes it possible to decrease the number of connectors, which allows optical coupling between the microcomputer and other parts of the system. The system provides the user with computer-aided execution of experiments, including synthesis of potential waveforms and collection and development of responses. The performance of the hardware system is demostrated by its application in determining cadmium at the ng 1^-1 level in a solution of Suprapur sulphuric acid by background-corrected anodic stripping voltammetry with a deposition time of 180 s and a scan rate of 9 V s^-1.