Fast-scan differential pulse polarography at a dropping mercury electrode

A fast-scan modification of differential pulse polarography (d.p.p.) is described, in which a dropping mercury electrode with a drop lifetime of 50 s is polarized by 100-ms pulses with a 100-ms interval between pulses; sampling and treatment of the current data are the same as in d.p.p. The method can be used to determine amalgam-forming metals at concentrations above 1 × 10^-8 mol l^-1 with good reproducibility. The technique permits a ten-fold decrease in the measuring time compared to conventional d.p.p. The method can be used for direct polarographic determinations and also advantageously replaces d.p.p. in anodic stripping.