Comparative Study of a Wide Variety of Polarographic Techniques with Multifunctional Instrumentation

Recent advances in electronics have enabled the possibility of building extremely versatile multifunciional polarographic instrumentaiion. Such instrumentation provides opportunity for realistic experimental evaluation and comparison of a large number of polarographic techniques. Using the PAR Model 170 Electrochemistry System, a comparative study of the determination of copper in 1M NaNO₃ by conventional and rapid dc; Tastdc; derivative Tastdc; conventional and rapid ac (both phase-sensitive and nonphase-sensi-tive); Tast ac; pulse; derivative pulse; differential pulse and inverse or anodic stripping dc, ac, and pulse polarography has been undertaken. The results are reported critically, with emphasis on limits of detection and suitability for routine analysis. The development of the highly promising technique of rapid phase-sensitive ac polarography is reported. The electrode parameters for the copper(II) reduction are obtained from ac measurements.