Electrochemical reduction of tellurium(IV)

Direct current and differential pulse polarographic techniques have been employed in the present study to understand the nature and the mechanism of the electrochemical reduction behaviour of tellurium in various aqueous supporting electrolytes. The consecutive reduction, Te4+ → Te0 → Te2− in acid and slightly alkaline medium; Te4+ → Te2− in strongly alkaline medium and formation of two types of elemental tellurium (electrochemically at the electrode and chemically in the bulk) are observed and discussed. The possibility of the simultaneous estimation of tellurium with zinc and cadmium in the form of the semiconductor materials has been examined. Adsorption complication of the metal ions observed, if any, are reported.