Polarographic Methods in Determination of Trace Inorganics in Water

Polarography is a particularly suitable method for the determination of trace inorganic material in water. Owing to the selectivity of electrode processes, interferences and hence prior chemical separations are minimized. Often several elements may be determined concurrently in the same supporting electrolyte. Anodic stripping and linear sweep voltammetry give an increased sensitivity which permits determinations in the p.p.b. range to be made. Polarographic methodology is reviewed. A survey of the literature concerned with determination of trace inorganic material in water is given. Procedures used in this loboratory for the determination of such elements as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, copper, indium, iodine, iron, lead, tellurium, and zinc are discussed. The matrices include laboratory distilled water, river water, and reactor cooling water. In addition a comparative technique is described whereby precisions of better than 1 % can be obtained at the 0.1 p.p.m. level.