Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access

Electroanalytical methods in characterization of sulfur and organic matter species in water environment

3^rd International Conference on Electrochemistry

July 10-11, 2017 Berlin, Germany

Irena Ciglenecki, Marija Margus and Ivana Coha

Ru�?�?er Bo�?¡kovi�?�? Institute, Croatia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Phys Chem Biophys

Abstract :

Electroanalytical methods due to its simplicity and prompt response, low cost and relatively high sensitivity and selectivity, are shown to be good alternative analytical techniques for characterization and quantification of different sulfur and organic matter species including nanoparticles (NPs) in water environment. In the frame of the project â�?�?The sulphur and carbon dynamics in the sea- and fresh-water environmentâ�? (SPHERE), funded by Croatian science foundation we are studying sulphur (S) and carbon (C) dynamics between different environmental compartments (atmosphere, water, sediment, biota) of the sea- and fresh-water environment. A main focus is on the distribution between organic, inorganic, dissolved, colloidal and nano-particulate fraction. Voltammetric measurements in combination with electrochemical nanogravimetric measurements (EQCM) and atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy (AFM, STM) on different electrode surfaces (Hg,Au) are shown to be beneficial in giving more details and information related to attachment, adsorption, deposition and interaction between selected sulfur species, including NPs and functionalized electrode surfaces. Several experiments were designed to monitor in parallel to voltammetric and amperometric measurements, physicochemical and surface characteristics (�?¶ â�?�? potential and size) of the studied metal sulfide NPs (FeS, PbS, Ag2S and CdS) under same experimental conditions. It was shown that electrochemical signals produced by studied NPs from bulk solution and measured by DLS, �?¶ - potential and size of the same NPs, is changing with electrolyte concentrations as well as with its composition. The measurements indicate significant relationship between measured �?¶ â�?�? potential and size of the studied metal sulfide NPs dispersions and recorded voltammetric and amperometric peak charges, indicating great potential of electroanalytical chemistry in characterization of physico-chemical and surface chemistry features of the metal sulphide NPs in the water environment. The best electrochemical response is obtained in presence of the smaller NPs, <100 nm. Methodology that was developed in laboratory, in model water conditions was further applied for the study of natural sea- and freshwater samples including aerosols and rain precipitation.

Biography :

Email: irena@irb.hr