SEMIDIFFERENTIAL ELECTROCHEMICAL STRIPPING ANALYSIS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRACE HEAVY METALS IN SEAWATER

A new voltammetric technique has been described for the determination of trace Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn in seawater by semidifferential electrochemical stripping analysis, in which the semiderivative, e, of the stripping current, i, is measured as a function of electrode potential, at a rotating thin mercury film glassy carbon electrode formed in situ. The optimun conditions are reported. It is demonstrated that the technique has more merits than that of the ordinary linear sweep anodic stripping voltammetry, greatly enhances the sensitivity and resolution and shortens the time of pre-electrolysis.