The determination of cadmium lead copper and zinc in ground water estuarine water sewage and sewage effluent by anodic stripping voltammetry
J.G.rdiner; M.J.S.iff
Water Research 9(5-6): 517-523
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-1354
DOI: 10.1016/0043-1354(75)90077-9
Accession: 027581108
Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) using the thin-film mercury electrode was shown to be a successful technique for the determination of total (free plus complexed) trace metal concentrations in various types of aqueous sample. The method developed involved the minimum of sample treatment and required only simple and inexpensive equipment. The practical limit of sensitivity was about 0·1 g I−1 for cadmium, lead and copper. The determination of zinc was found to be complicated by the formation of an intermetallic compound with copper. Interference by other trace metals and by complexing agents was investigated. Photochemical oxidation for the decomposition of complexes of the metals with organic ligands in filtered sewage and sewage effluent was found to be successful, although the process is slower for cadmium than for the other metals. Good agreement with atomic absorption spectroscopy was obtained for all the types of aqueous sample investigated. Possible improvements of the ASV technique are discussed.