Several electrochemical methods currently exist to analyze heavy metal concentrations in solutions with various electrodes.  However, few methods exist that utilize a copper electrode.  Copper has been displayed to give less consistent results than other electrodes, however it may be beneficial in some situations due to its low cost.  Direct analysis of some heavy metals is a viable option using square wave stripping voltammetry with a copper electrode, but this is not the case for all heavy metals.  Cadmium, for example, forms a strong intermetallic bond with copper upon application of a reducing potential and does not strip off in a consistent fashion.  Work has been performed using a bismuth surface electroplated onto the copper electrode to determine if more consistent results can be achieved.  Bismuth's similarity to mercury, which works well as an electroplated surface, displays it's potential for working in this technique.

Analysis of heavy metal concentration utilizing a copper electrode and voltammetry

247th National Meeting (2014)

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