Polarographic determination of nanomolar concentrations of molybdenum(VI)

Summary Polarographic Determination of Nanomolar Concentrations of Molybdenum (VI) A new differential pulse polarographic method for the determination of Mo(VI) is described. Mo(VI) is first chelated by 7-nitro-8-hydroxychinoline-5-sulfonic acid at pH 1. The complex ion MoO₂L₂ ^2– formed is strongly adsorbed on the surface of a dropping mercury electrode. At a potential difference of 0.95 V the complex ion is reduced to a Mo(V)-complex, which is oxidized very fast by H_aq ⁺ providing the starting complex ion for repeated redox cycles. The net process consists in the catalytic reduction of H_aq ⁺ to 1/2 H₂ in the double layer. H₂ was detected by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. A modified preparation method for the chelating agent and its characterization are also described. The method was used for the determination of Mo(VI) in the surface water of Lake Zürich. An average value of 0.463±0.007 ng/g (4.83±0.07 nM) was calculated from 39 single values. The errors are the confidence intervals of the corresponding means at the 99% confidence level. The standard deviation and the practical detection limit were 0.016 and 0.031 ng/g, respectively, for single determinations on the average.