Electrochemical Methods for Environmental Analysis - Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis - page 289

Chapter 11

Electrochemical Methods
for Environmental Analysis

11.1 INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROCHEMICAL THEORIES

11.2 POTENTIOMETRIC APPLICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
11.3 VOLTAMMETRIC APPLICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

REFERENCES

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

Electroanalytical methods are based on the measurements of current, potential, and
resistance, and relate such measurements to analyte concentration. A variety of
electroanalytical techniques are available to measure parameters, such as gases,
metals, inorganic nonmetallic constituents (pH, anions), physical and aggregate
properties (alkalinity, conductivity). Many of these parameters can be determined by
other analytical methods introduced in the previous chapters, such as wet chemical
methods, atomic spectroscopy, or ion chromatography. In many cases, however,
electroanalytical methods offer the competitive advantages of low cost, fast
response, and the ability to monitor in situ.
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the general principles and
environmental applications of the common electroanalytical techniques. Potentio-
metry and voltammetry are the primary focus, whereas coulometry and conducto-
metry are only briefly examined. We start with a brief review on redox chemistry and
important terms essential to the comprehension of electrochemical analysis. For
each major variation of potentiometric and voltammetric methods, specific
environmental applications are provided to illustrate the underlying chemistry and
instrumental components.