Hg-Ni OTTLE at this pH, showing that the glyoxylic acid wave is obscured by hydrogen evolution at this electrode. As a result of the extended negative range, glyoxylic acid could be analyzed by thin-layer coulometry and by thin-layer differential pulse voltammetry in the Hg-Au OTTLE (26, 27).Reduction of Metals. The utility of the Hg-Au minigrid for the reduction of metal ions to the elemental form is limited by the tendency of the gold which is dissolved in the mercury film to form intermetallic compounds with other metals (Cd, Mn, Sn, Zn) deposited in the mercury (28). For example, lead, which does not form an intermetallic compound with gold, gave a well-behaved, reversible cyclic voltammogram at the Hg-Au minigrid. By contrast, cadmium gave a good reduction wave, but the oxidation wave for Cd°was absent due to the formation of a Cd-Au intermetallic compound.