Application of sampled-d.c. anodic stripping voltammetry to metal/fulvic acid equilibria

The use of anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) to determine the labile metal fraction in metal/ fulvic acid equilibrium systems is discussed. A method is described for distinguishing between the contributions of processes in the reduction and oxidation steps to the observed anodic (stripping) current. This method, which facilitates separate examination of the two processes, is based on timed addition of fulvic acids during the deposition step, on pH control, and on measurement of sampled-d.c. ASV peak areas (Faradaic charge) for metal/fulvic acid solutions. Results are presented for copper(Il) and lead(Il) complexes with six colloid-free soil-derived fulvic acids. In contrast to differential-pulse ASV, the stripping current measured by sampled-d.c. ASV showed no measurable contribution from ligand adsorption on the mercury drop. For heterogeneous ligand systems, such as fulvic acid, use of stripping peak heights over-estimates the fraction of non-labile metal complex because peak broadening results from the range of complexes formed in the anodic step.