Absolute analysis of trace metals through galvanostatic stripping chronopotentiometry with signal accumulation

An electrochemical flow-through cell with a porous working electrode made of vitreous carbon particles and plated with mercury was used for the absolute determination of Pb using galvanostatic stripping chronopotentiometry in a flow system. After completing the potentiostatic electrodeposition of the analyte from the flowing sample solution the flow was stopped and oxygen in the solution inside the pores of the electrode was removed by reducing it. The deposit was then stripped by applying a constant current of 50 to 1000 μA and the measured potential vs time (E vs t) data were converted to the dt/dE vs E dependence by a memory mapping technique. Owing to the thin layer properties of the cell, the stripping/deposition steps could be repeated reproducibly enabling the accumulation of the signals while improving the signal to noise ratio. The method was also found to be suitable for the simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb and Cu. The experimental conditions, computerized data handling and signal processing have been investigated. Water, grass and sediment samples were analyzed for traces of Pb.