RAPID METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF COPPER(II) AND LEAD(II) IN TAP WATER USING A PORTABLE POTENTIOMETRIC STRIPPING ANALYZER

Tap water samples of 400 mul were added to 200 mul of matrix-modifying solution consisting of hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride, mercury(II), ethanol, Triton X-100 and bismuth(III) as internal standard and contained in disposable 2-ml Eppendorff sample tubes. The mixture was analysed for copper(II) and lead(II) using a commercial computerized potentiometric stripping analyser in combination with a laboratory-made electrode system and rotating sample holder. Copper(II) in the range 0.10-5 mg l-1 was determined in less than 1 min and lead(II) in the range 1-50 mug l-1 in 3 min, the precisions being ca. 15%.