Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) is an analytical technique that specifically detects heavy metals such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury and others. Heavy metals are usually toxic to humans and animals (and plants in some cases). ASV does not detect the light metals such as Sodium, Potassium, Aluminium, Calcium and Magnesium. It cannot detect inorganic elements such as Sulphur, Iodine, Bromine and Phosphorus or anions such as Sulphate, Chloride, Nitrate etc.
ASV (Anodic Stripping Voltammetry) essentially works by electroplating certain metals in solution onto an electrode. This concentrates the metal. The metals on the electrode are then sequentially stripped off, which generates a current that can be measured. The current (milliamps) is proportional to the amount of metal being stripped off. The potential (voltage in millivolts) at which the metal is stripped off is characteristic for each metal. This means the metal can be identified as well as quantified