Trace analysis using voltammetry

Voltammetric trace analysis is used for determining electrochemically active substances. These can be inorganic or organic ions or even neutral organic compounds. Voltammetry is often used for supplementing and validating spectroscopic methods and is characterized by low equipment costs, comparably low investment and operating costs, short analysis times, and an outstanding accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike spectroscopic methods, voltammetry can also differentiate between different oxidation states of metal ions or between free and bound metal ions. This is referred to as speciation analysis.

Broad application range
Voltammetric measurements can be carried out both in aqueous solutions and in organic solvents. Heavy metal determinations are usually carried out in aqueous solutions after digestion of the sample. Voltammetry is suitable in particular for laboratories in which, with a medium sample throughput, only a few parameters need to be controlled. It is often used for specific applications that are either not feasible or too costly using other techniques.