Anodic stripping voltammetry at a mercury film electrode: baseline concentrations of cadmium,lead, and copper in selected natural waters

A simple, rapid, and inexpensive anodic stripping voltammetric method with a mercury thin film electrode is reported for the establishment of baseline concentrations of cadmium, lead, and copper in natural waters. The procedure for routine surface preparation of wax-impregnated graphite mercury film electrodes requires about 30 min. Concentrations in the 0.006–6 μg l^-1 range are determined by linear d.c. voltage sweeps; the total time for a plating and stripping cycle is 6 min or less. The need for pressure-digesting samples for copper determinations is demonstrated. The a.s.v. results correlate well with corresponding analyses performed by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.