Selective electrochemical detection of ionic and neutral species using films of Suwannee River humic acid.
An electroanalytical method has been developed to investigate the uptake of redox-active species by the humic acid substances. The Suwannee River humic acid (SHA) films were first cast on a glassy carbon electrode using an electrophoretic approach. The binding of a series of redox-active species to these SHA films was then probed using cyclic voltammetry at a rotating disk electrode. Neutral molecules such as hydroquinone and cationic species such as methyl viologen are able to bind with the humic membrane and exhibit high redox activity within the film. On the other hand, anionic species such as ferrocyanide are unable to attach themselves to the SHA films and thus exhibit negligible electrochemical activity. Cyclic voltammetric study of SHA films has also facilitated the determination of the partitioning constants and identification of the effect of coadsorbed ions (Ca2+) on the binding of redox species. The electroanalytical method described in this study opens up new avenues to examine the interactions and transport of charged species in a humic acid environment.
Vinodgopal
K
K
Radiation Laboratory and Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA. kvinod@iun.edu
Subramanian
Vaidyanathan
V
Kamat
Prashant V
PV
D004563:Electrochemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D007477:Ions; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D006812:Humic Substances; D007477:Ions