DPASV Method for Determination of Trace Concentrations of Manganese in Non-Buffered Chloride Solutions by Addition of Cyanide as a Masking Agent

 A highly sensitive, selective, and rapid differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric method at HMDE is described for the determination of trace concentrations of Mn²⁺. The determination of Mn²⁺ in non-buffered chloride solution is seriously disturbed by the presence of Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ due to intermetallic compound formation. The procedure is based on the addition of low amounts of cyanide as a masking agent. The interference of < 20 μgL⁻¹ of Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cr³⁺ and < 75 μgL⁻¹ of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ can thus be avoided, as the formed cyanide complexes prevent intermetallic compound formation during the short accumulation period. Thus, the addition of cyanide greatly improves the DPASV determination of manganese in non-buffered medium. A comparison between the determination of Mn²⁺ in the presence of a mixed cyanide/non-buffered chloride and in the ammoniacal buffer solution shows that the peak current of manganese in the presence of cyanide is four times higher with the same peak potential. The proposed method is shown to be applicable for the Mn²⁺ determination in both ground and tap water. A good agreement is obtained between the results by DPASV and AAS. Received May 14, 1999. Revision May 25, 2000.