Anodic stripping voltammetry with a glassy carbon electrode mercury-plated in situ

An anodic stripping technique is described in which a very thin mercury film is formed on a polished glassy carbon substrate by adding,, mercuric nitrate to the sample solution and electrodepositing mercury and trace metals simultaneously. The trace metals are then anodically stripped from the mercury film which typically has a thickness of 0.001–0.01 μm. After the analysis the mercury film can be completely removed from the electrode by simply wiping with a tissue. This new technique is highly sensitive, gives excellent resolution of neighbouring waves, and because of its simplicity and reliability is particularly suitable for routine analysis. Examples are given of the application of the method to the determination of copper, lead, and cadmium in diverse samples.