Anodic Stripping Voltammetry and Differential Pulse Polarography

This chapter deals with a brief introduction to conventional direct current polarography and a detailed account of the usefulness of differential pulse polarography (DPP) and anodic stripping voltammetry as analytical techniques. In normal pulse polarography, potential pulses of gradually increasing amplitude are applied to an electrode, starting from an initial potential where no Faradaic current flows. DPP combines a linear voltage ramp with pulses of a fixed magnitude. Stripping voltammetry is very similar to polarography with a small, but significant, change in procedure. The technique of stripping voltammetry has been used in trace analysis with relative ease and success in a variety of analytical applications. The hanging mercury drop electrode is the best working electrode for stripping voltammetry because of its extremely reproducible surface. The use of a three-electrode potentiostat is recommended when modern polarographic techniques applicable to routine analysis of soils, sediments, and waters for inorganic trace constituents are used.