DIFFERENTIAL-PULSE POLAROGRAPHY OF SOME ORGANIC PEROXIDES

Severan organic peroxides were studied by differential pulse polarogra phy (DPP) in water and water-solvent media, and compared to hydrogen p eroxide. Reduction occurred usually between -0.1 and +0.3 V vs. SCE, e xcept for the peroxides containing a tert-butyl group adjacent to the -O-O- function. In this case, reduction was more difficult and was shi fted to the 0.9 to -1.1 V vs. SCE range. Diffusion coefficients were d etermined and are in the 4-9 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1) range. The detection limits are generally no lower than 5 x 10(-5) mol l(-1), due to the h igh irreversibility of the reduction process. Calibration plots from 5 x 10(-5) to about 5 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) exhibit very good linearity.