Direct determination of bismuth(III) in sea water by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry at a glassy-carbon rotating-disk electrode

A method for the determination of bismuth(III) in untreated sea water at its natural pH of 8.1 is described. A bare glassy-carbon rotating-disk electrode is preconditioned by placing in the sample at an applied potential of ?0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 20 min; after stripping to ?0.4 V, bismuth is accumulated for 5 min at ?0.8 V and finally stripped in the square-wave mode. The bismuth peak appears at ca. + 0.10 V vs. Ag/AgCl; peak height is linearly related to concentration up to 2×10^?10 mol dm^?3. The method is highly selective for bismuth. The concentration of Bi(III) in the investigated sample was (6±1)×10^?11 mol dm^?3, or 12±2 ng dm^?3. The different types of response obtained are discussed.