Optimisation and application of the voltammetric technique for speciation of chromium in the Patos Lagoon Estuary—Brazil

Abstract

The chemical speciation analysis of chromium in one of the most important South American Estuary was performed for the first time. Samples were collected in Patos Lagoon Estuary (Brazil) and were analysed by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry, with the following analytical figures of merit: limit of detection, 0.1 nmol L(-1); precision RSD = 3%, n = 7; linearity, from limit of quantitation up to 20 nmol L(-1); and accuracy of 99.8%, expressed as recovery. No labile chromium forms were identified in samples, beside industries and a city were near the study area. It is pointed out a reverse correlation between total and non-active chromium and salinity, which could be explained by biogeochemical processes.

Removal of traces of mercury from a carrier gas for analytical purpose

“…The determination of the concentration of metals in environmental samples has drawn the attention of researchers over the years, and the chemical speciation analyses of metals have received particular attention (Borges et al 2012;Wotter et al 2011). The impact of mercury in the environment concerning its toxicity, mobility, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification is responsible for a continuous interest to investigate the fate of this metal (Santos et al 2008;Stergarsek et al 2013;Emili et al 2012).…”