Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: Development of Electrochemical Techniques for the Detection/Quantification of Mercury using Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes
EPA Grant Number: R829410E02Title: Development of Electrochemical Techniques for the Detection/Quantification of Mercury using Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes
Investigators: Seehra, Mohindar S.
Institution: West Virginia University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2003
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002
Project Amount: $274,928
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The overall objective of this research project is to develop electrochemical techniques using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes for the rapid onsite detection and quantification of mercury in the ppb range in solutions. Potential applications of such sensors include mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and mercury in aquatic systems.
Progress Summary:
During Year 1 of this project, our efforts were directed primarily at developing calibration curves for mercury detection in laboratory prepared solutions. Experiments were carried out by Dr. Manivannan, Professor Smart, and graduate student Carol Babyak. The experiments by Manivannan, et al., focused on the effect of chloride and nitrate ionic species on the sensitivity for Hg detection. Presence of chloride ions was found to improve the sensitivity more than the nitrate ions, but the formation of mercurous chloride was found to affect the reproducibility of the results. By co-deposition of gold in the ppm range on the BDD electrodes, the formation of mercurous chloride was avoided and reproducible curves for Hg detection in the 1 to 50 ppb range were obtained.
The Smart-Babyak team used square wave anodic stripping voltammetry to detect Cd and Pb up to 1 ppb level, and mercury up to 50 ppb level in 0.1 M KCl solutions. The calibration curves were found to be nonlinear at lower concentrations but linear at higher concentrations. The use of ultrasound to affect mass transport was found to reduce deposition times for similar detection limits. However, ultrasound degraded the BDD electrode. A procedure has been developed to rejuvenate the BDD electrode after degradation by ultrasound.
Future Activities:
During the final year of the project, we will focus on addressing the remaining problems for developing reproducible calibration curves for the detection of mercury, and applying this technology to test for mercury in river waters, and KCl impinger solutions obtained from the flue gas of the coal-fired research power plant of the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, PA.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 15 publications | 5 publications in selected types | All 4 journal articles |
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Manivannan A, Seehra MS, Tryk DA, Fujishima A. Electrochemical detection of ionic mercury at boron-doped diamond electrodes. Analytical Letters 2002;35(2):355-368. |
R829410E02 (2002) R829410E02 (2003) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
water, monitoring, analytical innovative technology., RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Ecology, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Incineration/Combustion, air quality, mercury , mercury absorbtion, air sampling, combustion kinetics, combustion gases, electrochemical technology, boron doped diamoond electrodes, mercury abatement technology, air pollution, mercury monitoring, mercury emissions, combustion flue gasesProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.