DETERMINATION OF COPPER BY ANODIC-STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY ON A GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE USING A CONTINUOUS-FLOW SYSTEM

A successful flow-through system was developed for trace analysis of c opper using DPASV with a glassy-carbon electrode. Periodical chemical regeneration of the electrode with a 1 mol/L NaOH solution increased s ensitivity and precision. The method was shown to be applicable with a detection limit of 0.56 mu g/L, with a determination time of less tha n 7 min per measurement (without deaeration time). The draw-back of th e system is the 10 min deaeration time. The system gave an accuracy of 0.090 +/- 0.005% for a certified reference material of low alloy stee l containing 0.090 +/- 0.004% Cu. Applicability to various fresh water samples with a Cu content between 1.57 and 13.11 mu g/L with an RSD < 2.36% is illustrated.