Fundamental features of metal ion determination by stripping chronopotentiometry

A study of the features of stripping chronopotentiometry (SCP) as a function of the stripping current magnitude is presented. Transformation of the E versus t traces into dt/dE versus E curves allows the charging current to be eliminated from the analytical signal (the transition time, tau). Manipulation of the applied stripping current allows the stripping time regime to be varied from conditions of semi-infinite linear diffusion (I tau (1/2) constant; tau proportional to c(2)) to conditions approaching complete depletion (I tau constant, tau proportional to c). The sensitivity and resolution of SCP are greatest under conditions of semi-infinite diffusion, and are comparable with those of the more widely exploited DP-SV technique (C) 2001 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.