Skip to content

Combined Voltammetric Measurement of pH and Free Chlorine Speciation Using a Micro-Spot sp2 Bonded Carbon–Boron Doped Diamond Electrode

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2020-11-16
JournalAnalytical Chemistry
AuthorsAnthony J. Lucio, Julie V. Macpherson
InstitutionsUniversity of Warwick
Citations19

This work demonstrates the use of an sp<sup>2</sup>-bonded carbon microspot boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode for voltammetric measurement of both pH and analyte concentration in a pH-dependent speciation process. In particular, the electrode was employed for the voltammetric detection of pH and hypochlorite (OCl<sup>-</sup>) in unbuffered, aerated solutions over the pH range 4-10. Knowledge of both pH and [OCl<sup>-</sup>] is essential for determination of free chlorine concentration. The whole surface of the microspot BDD electrode was found active toward the voltammetric oxidation of OCl<sup>-</sup>, with OCl<sup>-</sup> showing a characteristic response at +1.5 V vs SCE. In contrast, it was only the surface integrated quinones (Q) in sp<sup>2</sup>-bonded carbon regions of the BDD electrode that were responsible for the voltammetric pH signal. A Nernstian response for pH (gradient = 63 ± 1 mV pH<sup>-1</sup>) was determined from proton coupled electron transfer at the BDD-Q electrode, over the potential range -0.4-0.5 V vs SCE. By measuring both OCl<sup>-</sup> and pH voltammetrically, over the pH range 4-10, the OCl<sup>-</sup> oxidative current was found to correlate extremely well with the predicted pH-dependent [OCl<sup>-</sup>] speciation profile.

  1. 2010 - White’s Handbook of Chlorination and Alternative Disinfectants
  2. 2014 - Microbiology of Waterborne Diseases [Crossref]
  3. 1989 - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater
  4. 2003 - Guidelines for drinking-water quality
  5. 2002 - Technical Information Series - Booklet No. 17