Simultaneous determination of the isomers of nitrophthalic acid by differential pulse polarography

A differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for simulataneous determination of isomers of nitrophthalic acid. In ammonia buffer (1.0 M), the peak potentials for the reduction of 4-and 3-nitrophthalic acids are ?0.54 and 0.67 V vs. SCE, respectively. Response of peak current vs. concentration of each isomer is linear over three orders of magnitude change in concentration. The detection limit for both 4-and 3-nitrophthalic acid is 0.2 mg l^?1. A typical sample can be analyzed for both isomers of nitrophthalic acid in less than 15 min.