An electrochemical sensor technology, based on stripping potentiometry
at a 100-mu m gold fiber electrode, has been developed for remote det
ection of trace metal contaminants, The new probe circumvents technica
l difficulties, including the need for mercury surfaces, removal of ox
ygen, or forced convection, that previously prevented the adaptation o
f stripping analysis to in situ remote operations, The gold microelect
rode, connected to a long communication cable, allows convenient measu
rements of trace copper, mercury, lead, or selenium at 3-4-min interva
ls and instrument/sample distances up to 32 m, The remarkable sensitiv
ity of the probe is coupled with multielement capability, high stabili
ty, and simplicity, Field demonstrations involving both downhole groun
d-water monitoring and in situ shipboard seawater analysis were succes
sful, The new probe should be extremely useful. for the characterizati
on of priority metal pollutants in hazardous waste sites and for the i
mmediate detection of sudden metal contaminations,