摘要 |
The present invention provides a voltammetric apparatus comprising a) an electroanalytical cell comprising a mercury meniscus electrode as a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode; b) a purification container in connection with the cell for purifying contaminants from the working electrode; and c) a means for delivering the resulting purified mercury from the purification container to the working electrode. The present invention further provides a method for trace element detection comprising the steps of i) providing a voltammetric apparatus comprising a) an electroanalytical cell, the cell comprising a mercury meniscus electrode as a working electrode, a reference electrode, a working electrode channel, and a measurement channel; b) a purification container in connection with the cell for purifying contaminants from the working electrode; and c) a means for delivering the resulting purified mercury from the purification container to the working electrode; ii) introducing a first sample into the measurement channel; iii) delivering mercury from the bottom of the working electrode channel towards the measurement channel, thereby forming a mercury meniscus in contact with the measurement channel, thereby forming the mercury meniscus electrode; and iv) performing at least one measurement, thereby detecting the trace elements in the sample. |