Trace voltammetry

Differential pulse polarography and stripping voltammetry have been applied to the analysis of trace metals in airborne particulates, incinerator fly ash, rocks. 

Miscellaneous Samples Besides environmental and clinical samples, differential pulse polarography and stripping voltammetry have been used for the analysis of trace metals in other samples, including food, steels and other alloys, gasoline, gunpowder residues, and pharmaceuticals. Voltammetry is also an important tool for... 

Anodic stripping voltammetry at a mercury film electrode can be used to determine whether an individual has recently fired a gun by looking for traces of antimony in residue collected from the individual s hands, fn a typical analysis a sample is collected with a cotton-tipped swab that had been wetted with 5% v/v HNO3. When returned to the lab, the swab is placed in a vial containing 5.00 mb of 4 M HCl that is 0.02 M in hydrazine sulfate. After allowing the swab to soak overnight,... 

The methods of investigation of metal species in natural waters must possess by well dividing ability and high sensitivity and selectivity to determination of several metal forms. The catalytic including chemiluminescent (CL) techniques and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) are the most useful to determination of trace metals and their forms. The methods considered ai e characterized by a low detection limits. Moreover, they allow detection of the most toxic form of metals, that is, metal free ions and labile complexes. 

PRECONCENTRATION AND DETERMINATION OF THALLIUM TRACES IN WATER BY STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY... 

Stripping voltammetry procedure has been developed for determination of thallium(I) traces in aqueous medium on a mercury film electrode with application of thallium preconcentration by coprecipitation with manganese (IV) hydroxide. More than 90% of thallium present in water sample is uptaken by a deposit depending on conditions of prepai ation of precipitant. Direct determination of thallium was carried out by stripping voltammetry in AC mode with anodic polarization of potential in 0,06 M ascorbic acid in presence of 5T0 M of mercury(II) on PU-1 polarograph. 

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). 

Differential-pulse voltammetry is an extremely useful technique for measuring trace levels of organic and inorganic species, hi differential-pulse voltammetry, fixed-magnitude pulses—superimposed on a linear potential ramp—are applied to the working electrode at a time just before the end of the drop (Figure 3-5). The current... 

Besides trace metals, adsorptive stripping voltammetry has been shown to be highly suitable for measuring organic compounds (including cardiac or anticancer drugs, nucleic acids, vitamins, and pesticides) that exhibit surface-active properties. 

Explain clearly how and why the coupling of stripping voltammetry to a differential pulse waveform can enhance the power of shipping measurements of trace metals. 

Such effects are observed inter alia when a metal is electrochemically deposited on a foreign substrate (e.g. Pb on graphite), a process which requires an additional nucleation overpotential. Thus, in cyclic voltammetry metal is deposited during the reverse scan on an identical metallic surface at thermodynamically favourable potentials, i.e. at positive values relative to the nucleation overpotential. This generates the typical trace-crossing in the current-voltage curve. Hence, Pletcher et al. also view the trace-crossing as proof of the start of the nucleation process of the polymer film, especially as it appears only in experiments with freshly polished electrodes. But this is about as far as we can go with cyclic voltammetry alone. It must be complemented by other techniques the potential step methods and optical spectroscopy have proved suitable. 

Electrochemical methods such as potentiometry allow analyses up to p,gL quantities, or, with methods such as voltammetry, they extend into the micro-trace range. Table 8.74 compares potentiometry to other electroanalytical techniques. Potentiometry and ion-selective electrodes are described in various books [476-480],... 

Table 8.76 shows the main characteristics of voltammetry. Trace-element analysis by electrochemical methods is attractive due to the low limits of detection that can be achieved at relatively low cost. The advantage of using standard addition as a means of calibration and quantification is that matrix effects in the sample are taken into consideration. Analytical responses in voltammetry sometimes lack the predictability of techniques such as optical spectrometry, mostly because interactions at electrode/solution interfaces can be extremely complex. The role of the electrolyte and additional solutions in voltammetry are crucial. Many determinations are pH dependent, and the electrolyte can increase both the conductivity and selectivity of the solution. Voltammetry offers some advantages over atomic absorption. It allows the determination of an element under different oxidation states (e.g. Fe2+/Fe3+). 

Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Analysis Preconcentration of Trace Elements Radionuclide X-ray Fluorecence Analysis Voltammetry... 

C. Belmont, M.L. Tereier, J. Buffle, G. Fiaccabrino, and M. Koudeldahep, Mercury-plated iridium-based microelectrode arrays for trace metals detection by voltammetry optimum conditions and reliability. Anal. Chim. Acta 329, 203-214 (1996). 

It has been demonstrated that the presence of CNTs greatly increases the oxidation peak current of 6-benzylaminopurine. The CNT-modified electrode is suitable for the determination of trace amounts of benzylaminopurine and has the advantages of high sensitivity, quick response, and good stability [86], Wang et al. have studied the electro-catalytic oxidation of thymine at a a-cyclodextrin incorporated CNT coated electrode in an alkaline media. A sensitive detection scheme for thymine has been further developed by using differential pulse voltammetry [87], The electrochemical determination... 

G. Zhao, K. Liu, S. Lin, J. Liang, X. Guo, and Z. Zhang, Application of a carbon nanotube modified electrode in anodic stripping voltammetry for determination of trace amounts of 6-benzylaminopurine. Microchim. Acta 143, 255—260 (2003). 

To date, a few methods have been proposed for direct determination of trace iodide in seawater. The first involved the use of neutron activation analysis (NAA) [86], where iodide in seawater was concentrated by strongly basic anion-exchange column, eluted by sodium nitrate, and precipitated as palladium iodide. The second involved the use of automated electrochemical procedures [90] iodide was electrochemically oxidised to iodine and was concentrated on a carbon wool electrode. After removal of interference ions, the iodine was eluted with ascorbic acid and was determined by a polished Ag3SI electrode. The third method involved the use of cathodic stripping square wave voltammetry [92] (See Sect. 2.16.3). Iodine reacts with mercury in a one-electron process, and the sensitivity is increased remarkably by the addition of Triton X. The three methods have detection limits of 0.7 (250 ml seawater), 0.1 (50 ml), and 0.02 pg/l (10 ml), respectively, and could be applied to almost all the samples. However, NAA is not generally employed. The second electrochemical method uses an automated system but is a special apparatus just for determination of iodide. The first and third methods are time-consuming. 

Measurement techniques that can be employed for the determination of trace metals include atomic absorption spectrometry, anodic stripping voltammetry, differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, liquid chromatography of the metal chelates with ultraviolet-visible absorption and, more recently, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. 

Stolzberg [143] has reviewed the potential inaccuracies of anodic stripping voltammetry and differential pulse polarography in determining trace metal speciation, and thereby bio-availability and transport properties of trace metals in natural waters. In particular it is stressed that nonuniform distribution of metal-ligand species within the polarographic cell represents another limitation inherent in electrochemical measurement of speciation. Examples relate to the differential pulse polarographic behaviour of cadmium complexes of NTA and EDTA in seawater. 

Certain trace substances such as selenium (IV) can be determined by differential cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV). For selenium a rather positive preconcentration potential of-0.2 V is adjusted. Selenium (IV) is reduced to Se2", and Hg from the electrode is oxidised to Hg2+ at this potential. It forms, with Se2" on the electrode, a layer of insoluble HgSe, and in this manner the preconcentration is achieved. Subsequently the potential is altered in the cathodic direction in the differential pulse mode. The resulting mercury (II) peak produced by the Hg11 reduction is proportional to the bulk concentration of SeIV in the analyte. 

The relative advantages and disadvantages ofvoltammetric and atomic absorption methodologies are listed below. It is concluded that for laboratories concerned with aquatic chemistry of metals (which includes seawater analysis), instrumentation for both AAS (including potentialities for graphite furnace AAS as well as hydride and cold vapour techniques) and voltammetry should be available. This offers a much better basis for a problem-orientated application of both methods, and provides the important potentiality to compare the data obtained by one method with that obtained in an independent manner by the other, an approach that is now common for the establishment of accuracy in high-quality trace analysis. 

Clem and Hodgson [783] discuss the temporal release of traces of cadmium and lead in bay water from EDTA, ammonium pyrrolidine diethyldithiocarba-mate, humic acid, and tannic acid after treatment of the sample with ozone. Anodic scanning voltammetry was used to determine these elements. 

Aniline, methyl aniline, 1-naphthylamine, and diphenylamine at trace levels were determined using this technique and electrochemical detection. Two electrochemical detectors (a thin-layer, dual glassy-carbon electrode cell and a dual porous electrode system) were compared. The electrochemical behavior of the compounds was investigated using hydrodynamic and cyclic voltammetry. Detection limits of 15 and 1.5nmol/l were achieved using colourimetric and amperometric cells, respectively, when using an in-line preconcentration step. 

Buffle, J. and Tercier-Waeber, M.-L. (2000). In situ voltammetry concepts and practice for trace analysis and speciation. In In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems Chemical Analysis and Speciation. eds. Buffle, J. and Horvai, G., Vol. 6, IUPAC Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems, Series eds. Buffle, J. and van Leeuwen, H. P., John Wiley Sons, Ltd, Chichester, pp. 279 105. 

With the introduction of modern electronics, inexpensive computers, and new materials there is a resurgence of voltammetric techniques in various branches of science as evident in hundreds of new publications. Now, voltammetry can be performed with a nano-electrode for the detection of single molecular events [1], similar electrodes can be used to monitor the activity of neurotransmitter in a single living cell in subnanoliter volume electrochemical cell [2], measurement of fast electron transfer kinetics, trace metal analysis, etc. Voltammetric sensors are now commonplace in gas sensors (home CO sensor), biomedical sensors (blood glucose meter), and detectors for liquid chromatography. Voltammetric sensors appear to be an ideal candidate for miniaturization and mass production. This is evident in the development of lab-on-chip... 

Stripping voltammetry or stripping analysis has a special place in electrochemistry because of its extensive application in trace metal analysis. Stripping voltammetry (SV) is a two-step process as shown schematically in Fig. 18b. 12. In the first step, the metal ion is reduced to metal on a mercury electrode (thin mercury film on glassy carbon or a HMDE) as amalgam. 

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