Simultaneous amperometric determination of nickel and copper

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Accurate quantification of metals like nickel and copper is crucial in material science and alloy analysis.
• Existing methods may face challenges with complex matrices or specific interfering ions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel amperometric titration method for the simultaneous determination of nickel and copper.
• To assess the method's applicability to real-world alloy samples and identify potential interferences.

Main Methods:

• Amperometric titration utilizing specific applied voltages for selective metal detection.
• Systematic investigation of interference from various ions (e.g., Co, Al, Fe(III), Cr, Zn, Mn) and mitigation strategies.
• Application of the standard addition method for trace-level nickel determination (<3 mg).

Main Results:

• Accurate determination of nickel (1.0-16.0 mg) and copper (1.0-11.0 mg) with an average error below 1%.
• Successful elimination of interference from aluminum, iron(III), and chromium.
• Identification of optimal conditions to prevent interference from zinc and manganese.
• Demonstrated utility in analyzing alloys like nichrome, Raney nickel, constantan, german silver, and manganin.

Conclusions:

• The described amperometric titration method provides a reliable and accurate approach for quantifying nickel and copper in various matrices.
• The method is robust, with effective strategies to manage common interfering species, making it suitable for alloy analysis.