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Abstract
A sensitive voltammetric method for the determination of trace boron, based on the formation of the complex of boric acid with 4‐hydroxy‐5‐[salicylideneamino]‐2‐7‐naphthalenedisulfonic acid (azomethine H) is described. The reduction of the boric acid‐azomethine H complex at a hanging mercury drop electrode was exploited by square wave voltammetry (SWV) and cyclic voltammetry to determine boron in natural water samples, which were collected in the regions surrounding the boron mines of Central Anatolia. A reduction peak that belongs to the boric acid‐azomethine H complex at this electrode was observed at −1.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl(sat.). The effects of various parameters, such as ligand concentration, boric acid concentration, and formation time of the boric acid‐azomethine H complex, were investigated. Electrochemical experiments were conducted in 1.0 M HOAc/0.5 M NH4OAc buffer at pH of 4.4±0.2. Linear working range was established by regression analysis between 5.0×10−8 M and 1.0×10−4 M. The probable metal cation interferences in water samples were eliminated by adding EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) to the samples. Data obtained using the square wave voltammetric (SWV) technique was compared statistically with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS) data. Evaluation of the method based on statistical data was performed and the values of the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were found to be 4.17×10−6 M and 1.39×10−5 M, respectively.
This work was supported by Ankara University Scientific Research Fund (Grant 2000‐07‐05‐019). I thank Eti Holding and Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA) for donating boron real samples and ICP‐MS data. I would like to thank Dr. Ali Osman Solak and Dr. Adnan Kenar for their valuable guidance and their contributions to the discussions.