Recent advances in polarographic analysis

Abstract Polarography, originated by Heyrovský in 1922 is again gaining more and more attention among analytical chemists. This is because of the availability of cheap instruments - mainly for differential pulse polarography (d.p.p.) - with higher sensitivity by several orders than the classical d.c. polarograph. New sensitive polarographic methods are applied mainly for trace metal analysis in environmental chemistry and for the determination of organic compounds like drugs, remedies, toxic and carcinogenic compounds, and pesticides. D.p.p., in combination with the stripping method, represents one of the most sensitive analytical methods for trace metal analysis. New types of sensor are described (static mercury drop electrode, Pt electrode with thermal regeneration, microelectrodes) and their special advantages in application explained. New trends in stripping analysis, such as the analysis of solid substances adsorptive accumulation permitting the analysis of organic compounds, and electrolysis at the interface between two immiscible electrolytes, are discussed. The advantages of semi-integrateon and semidifferentiation are outlined. Polarography is finding many applications in measurements in flowing liquid systems and in construction of single-purpose gas analysers. The combination of polarography with h.p.l.c. should be one of the most important analytical methods of the near future.