Antivibration Electrode Support for Shipboard Stripping Voltammetry

• Published in: Electroanalysis (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 11; no. 15; pp. 1155 - 1157
• Main Authors: Aldrich, Annette P, Jahme, Mark, van den Berg, Constant M. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH 01.11.1999
• Subjects: Cathodic stripping voltammetry; Vibration suppression
• ISSN: 1040-0397; 1521-4109
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-4109(199911)11:15<1155::AID-ELAN1155>3.0.CO;2-6

Cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) is subject to interference by engine vibrations when used on‐board ship. Scanning wave‐forms utilizing high‐frequency potential modulations can to some extent overcome this problem, but these cannot be used for catalytic CSV without major loss of sensitivity. To minimize the effects of vibrations an antivibration electrode support was developed based on a PVC plate suspended from elastic bands. The support was compared to the more simple expedient of placing the electrode on large rubber (“Hi‐Fi”) feet. Successful damping was evaluated from ship‐board determinations of iron in seawater by catalytic CSV. The rubber feet were found to lower the relative standard deviation (RSD) of these measurements to 34 % from 70 % without damping. The antivibration support was found to lower the RSD to an acceptable 10 % and was used extensively for voltammetry on‐board ship.