DETERMINATION OF TRACE THORIUM USING CATALYTIC ADSORPTIVE STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY OF THE THORIUM CUPFERRON COMPLEX

A sensitive stripping voltammetric procedure for trace measurement of thorium, based on the catalytic-adsorptive peak of the thorium-cupferron complex, is reported. Optimal experimental conditions include the use of 1mM BES buffer solution (pH 5.5), containing 20 muM cupferron, an accumulation potential of -0.80 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and a differential pulse potential scan. The resulting stripping procedure offers improved sensitivity over a previous stripping scheme for thorium. The limit of detection after 5 min preconcentration is 50 ng/l. (2 x 10(-10) M), the response is linear up to 8 x 10(-8) M, and the relative standard deviation at the 2.1 x 10(-8) M level is 4.4%. Possible interferences are evaluated.