Stripping voltammetry techniques analysis

Abrasive stripping voltammetry — Technique where traces of solid particles are abrasively transferred onto the surface of an -> electrode, followed by an electrochemical dissolution (anodic or cathodic dissolution) that is recorded as a current-voltage curve [i]. It allows qualitative and quantitative analysis of metals, alloys, minerals, etc. The technique is a variant of - voltammetry of immobilized particles [ii]. 

Pretreatment of the collected particulate matter may be required for chemical analysis. Pretreatment generally involves extraction of the particulate matter into a liquid. The solution may be further treated to transform the material into a form suitable for analysis. Trace metals may be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), emission spectroscopy, polarogra-phy, and anodic stripping voltammetry. Analysis of anions is possible by colorimetric techniques and ion chromatography. Sulfate (S04 ), sulfite (SO-, ), nitrate (NO3 ), chloride Cl ), and fluoride (F ) may be determined by ion chromatography (15). 

Other techniques that have been used include subtractive differential pulse voltammetry at twin gold electrodes [492], anodic stripping voltammetry using glassy-carbon electrodes [495,496], X-ray fluorescence analysis [493], and neutron activation analysis [494],... 

Most of our understanding of the marine chemistry of trace metals rests on research done since 1970. Prior to this, the accuracy of concentration measurements was limited by lack of instrumental sensitivity and contamination problems. The latter is a consequence of the ubiquitous presence of metal in the hulls of research vessels, paint, hydrowires, sampling bottles, and laboratories. To surmount these problems, ultra-clean sampling and analysis techniques have been developed. New methods such as anodic stripping voltammetry are providing a means by which concentration measurements can be made directly in seawater and pore waters. Most other methods require the laborious isolation of the trace metals from the sample prior to analysis to eliminate interferences caused by the highly concentrated major ions. 

Cadmium in acidified aqueous solution may be analyzed at trace levels by various instrumental techniques such as flame and furnace atomic absorption, and ICP emission spectrophotometry. Cadmium in solid matrices is extracted into aqueous phase by digestion with nitric acid prior to analysis. A much lower detection level may be obtained by ICP-mass spectrometry. Other instrumental techniques to analyze this metal include neutron activation analysis and anodic stripping voltammetry. Cadmium also may be measured in aqueous matrices by colorimetry. Cadmium ions react with dithizone to form a pink-red color that can be extracted with chloroform. The absorbance of the solution is measured by a spectrophotometer and the concentration is determined from a standard calibration curve (APHA, AWWA and WEF. 1999. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed. Washington, DC American Public Health Association). The metal in the solid phase may be determined nondestructively by x-ray fluorescence or diffraction techniques. 

Analytical Applications In addition to the above-mentioned analytical aspects of the processes at Hg electrodes, in this section, we briefly review the papers focused on the subject of the affinity of various compounds to the mercury electrode surface, which allowed one to elaborate stripping techniques for the analysis of inorganic ions. Complexes of some metal ions with surface-active ligands were adsorptively accumulated at the mercury surface. After accumulation, the ions were determined, usually applying cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV). Representative examples of such an analytical approach are summarized as follows. 

The concentration levels of most trace metals and metalloids lie below 1000 pg P . Therefore, the classical methods of analysis do not have the required sensitivity. Among the instrumental techniques that have been extensively used for the analysis of biological materials include, atomic absorption spectrometry, plasma emission spectrometry, anodic stripping voltammetry and neutron activation analysis. 

Lange B, Scholz F, Weuiss A, Schwedt G, Behnert J, Raezke KP (1993) Abrasive stripping voltammetry - the electrochemical alternative for pigment analysis. Internal Lab 23 23-26. Scholz F, Nitschke L, Henrion G (1989) Identification of solid materials with a new electrochemical technique - the abrasive stripping voltammetry. Fresenius Z Anal Chem 334 56-58. 

The detection limit of SEV for analysis is greatly extended by its use in conjunction with an electrochemical preconcentration step. This technique, termed dc stripping voltammetry, is discussed in Chapter 24. 

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) is the oldest, and still the most widely used version of stripping analysis [3]. The technique is applicable to metal ions that can be readily deposited at the working electrode, and particularly for those metals that dissolve in mercury. In this case, the metals are being preconcentrated by electrodeposition into a small-volume mercury electrode (a thin mercury film or a hanging mercury drop). The preconcentration is done by cathodic deposition at a controlled potential and time. The deposition potential is usually ca. 0.3 Y more negative than E° for the least easily reduced metal ion to be determined. The metal ions reach the mercury electrode by diffusion and convection, where they are reduced and concentrated as amalgams ... 

The majority of the works with HgCFMEs focused on the anodic stripping of metals [127]. However, our works have been mainly focused on the determination of organic molecules that show the ability of adsorption on mercury [119-121], for example pteridines. Therefore, those molecules can be primarily preconcentrated on HgCFMEs and, subsequently, determined by cathodic stripping techniques. This procedure is described like adsorptive stripping voltammetry and it is a very interesting technique for trace and ultratrace analysis due to its... 

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) is a very sensitive instrumental technique for the measurement of metals in solution. Of particular importance are determinations of reactive or ASV-labile metal concentrations. ASV-labile metal is defined as the fraction of the total metal concentration that is measured under a defined set of ASV and solution conditions. Labilities of metal species in natural water have been related to toxicities. Thus, one objective of speciation analysis carried out by ASV is to find conditions where the ASV-labile fraction is a close approximation to the toxic fraction of a metal. In experimental terms, the ASV-labile metal should be equal to the electroactive fraction of the metal. The latter... 

Polarographic AC and pulse polarographic techniques as well as stripping analysis are effective tools for the determination of trace levels of metal ions. Table 3.1 provides a comparison of the sensitivity and usefulness of the various methods.12,21 23 For metal ions, stripping voltammetry usually is the method... 

Various spectroscopic techniques such as flame photometry, emission spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectrometry, spectrophotometry, flu-orimetry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, neutron activation analysis and isotope dilution mass spectrometry have been used for marine analysis of elemental and inorganic components [2]. Polarography, anodic stripping voltammetry and other electrochemical techniques are also useful for the determination of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, etc. in seawater. Electrochemical techniques sometimes provide information on the chemical species in solution. 

De-proteinisation of diluted whole blood, and acid extraction of lead from proteins with 2M HNOs is the preparation chosen for the National Bureau of Standards reference method for blood-lead analysis [28]. Centrifugation of blood samples treated in this way yields clear supernatant fractions that contain all of the lead present, and which are easily dispensed into electrothermal atomisers using auto-sampling techniques. This method gave results that compared very well with those obtained using anodic stripping voltammetry, r = 0.975, for concentrations of 10—900 pg l-1 of lead in blood [15]. 

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) was applied to the determination of copper traces present as Cu(dik)2. The differential pulse technique was used to strip the amalgamated copper from a hanging mercury drop electrode. The experimental variables such as scan rate of electrode potential, deposition potential, deposition time and stirring speed of the solution could be optimized. The linear range of the calibration plot was 0.05-1 (xM and the LOD was 0.014 fiM Cu(II). A method was used for the determination of copper in breast milk and beer as typical examples of application, consisting of minerahzation of the sample, extraction of Cu(II) from the aqueous solution with a 1 M solution of acacH in chloroform and ASV end analysis . 

Flow-injection analysis is also well-suited for the automation of anodic stripping voltammetry. Metals can be plated from the sample solution as it passes over the electrode. Stripping is then carried out in the deox-ygenated carrier stream (15, 34). The sample itself does not have to be deox-ygenated. Detection limits of 3 nM have been reported for lead by this technique (34). 

---