Trace measurement of ruthenium by adsorptive stripping voltammetry

In the presence of optimum amounts of hydroxylamine, trace ruthenium(III) can be conveniently determined in acidic (boric) media by coupling catalytic hydrogen processes with adsorptive accumulation of the catalyst, sung differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the redox and interfacial processes. Optimal experimental conditions were found to be a stirred borate (0.015 M, pH 2.5) solution containing 0.55 M hydroxylamine, a preconcentration potential of -0.70 V, and a scan rate of 5 mV/s. With a 7 min accumulation period the detection limit was 3x10-10 M. The possible interferences by other platinum group metals are investigated. (author)