Indirect determination of the sum of chelons in drinking- and ground-waters by anodic stripping voltammetry

The complexing ligand EDTA can be determined as its complex with bismuth by indirect anodic stripping voltammetry down to 0.1 μg/L without a concentration step. Interfering copper and excess bismuth have to be removed by cation exchange, although in presence of these metals EDTA can be determined down to 0.5 μg/L only. If NTA, EDTA, and DTPA are present simultaneously, the accumulation curves for the corresponding bismuth-complexes can overlap, preventing a separate determination of the three chelons. Due to the interaction of NTA and DTPA with soil normally only EDTA is present in ground-waters. Similarly, EDTA also dominates in surface-waters. Thus it seems to be sufficient to determine the sum of the three chelons as EDTA (index of bismuth-complexation) using suitable electrochemical conditions.