Voltammetric technique,a panacea for analytical examination of environmental samples

Voltammetric methods for trace metal analysis in environmental samples of marine origin like mangrove,sediments and shrimps are generally recommended. three different electroanalytical techniques i.e. polarography,anodic stripping voltammetry (asv) and adsorptive stripping voltammetry (adsv) have been used. cd2+,pb2+,cu2+ and mn2+ were determined through asv,cr6+ was analyzed by adsv and fe 2+,zn2+,ni2+ and co2+ were determined through polarography. out of which pairs of fe2+/zn2+ and ni2+/co2+ were determined in two separate runs while cd2+,pb2+,cu2+ were analyzed in single run of asv. sensitivity and speciation capabilities of voltammetric methods have been employed. analysis conditions were optimized that includes selection of supporting electrolyte,ph,working electrodes,sweep rate etc. stripping voltammetry was adopted for analysis at ultra trace levels. statistical parameters for analytical method development like selectivity factor,interference,repeatability (0.0065-0.130 μg/g),reproducibility (0.08125-1.625 μg/g),detection limits (0.032-5.06 μg/g),limits of quantification (0.081-12.652 μg/g),sensitivities (5.636-2.15 na ml μg-1) etc. were also determined. the percentage recoveries were found in between 95-105% using certified reference materials. real samples of complex marine environment from karachi coastline were also analyzed. the standard addition method was employed where any matrix effect was evidenced.