Polarographic and voltammetric study of genotoxic 2,7-dinitrofluoren-9-one and its determination using mercury electrodes

Electrochemical behavior of genotoxic 2,7-dinitrofluoren-9-one was investigated by DC polarography and DC tast polarography, both at a dropping mercury electrode, and by cyclic voltammetry at a hanging mercury drop electrode, in buffered aqueous-methanolic solutions. The number of exchanged electrons was determined by constant-potential coulometry at a mercury pool electrode. A possible mechanism of the electrochemical reduction has been proposed. Optimal conditions were found for the determination of 2,7-dinitrofluoren-9-one by DC tast polarography in the concentration range from 2 × 10–6to 1 × 10–5mol l–1and by differential pulse polarography (from 2 × 10–7to 1 × 10–5mol l–1), both at dropping mercury electrode, by differential pulse voltammetry (from 2 × 10–8to 1 × 10–5mol l–1) and by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (from 2 × 10–9to 1 × 10–7mol l–1), both at hanging mercury drop electrode. Practical applicability of the developed methods was verified on the direct determination of 2,7-dinitrofluoren-9-one in drinking water in 10–8mol l–1concentration range, and in drinking and river water (both in 10–9mol l–1concentration range) using preliminary separation and preconcentration by solid-phase extraction.