Principles of the method
Anodic-stripping analysis is the most sensitive of all commonly used electroanalytical techniques. Analyses can be performed at the trace level and are applicable to solutions containing metal ions in the concentration range of 10-6 - 10-12 M. Other advantageous features of stripping voltammetry include the capability for simultaneous multielement determination and relatively inexpensive instrumentation compared to that required for the spectroscopic techniques.
Three types of working electrodes can be used:
(a) the classical hanging mercury-drop electrode (HMDE),
(b) the thin-film mercury electrode (TFME),
(c) solid electrodes (gold, silver, surface-modified carbon).
The sequence of steps of the anodic stripping analysis is described below.