Coulometric analysis
First Claim
1. A coulometric method for determining the quantity of a substance in a solution, wherein a first sample of the solution is introduced into a cavity in which a working electrode is located, a constant potential is applied between the working electrode and a reference electrode in electrical contact with the first sample until such time as the current through the working electrode has decayed to a minimum, the applied constant potential is maintained as the first sample of the solution is replaced by a second sample of the solution in a manner such that the cavity remains filled with solution during the replacement procedure, the applied constant potential is maintained until such time as the current through the working electrode has again decayed to a minimum, and the total amount of the charge passing through the working electrode subsequent to the introduction of the second sample into the cavity as the current through the working electrode again decays to a minimum is determined.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the quantity of a substance in a solution. An exemplary embodiment of the method includes the step of introducing a first sample of the solution into a cavity in which a working electrode is located. A constant potential is applied between the working electrode and a reference electrode in electrical contact with the first sample until such time as the current through the working electrode has decayed to a minimum. The applied constant potential is maintained as the first sample of the solution is replaced by a second sample of the solution in a manner such that the cavity remains filled with solution during the replacement procedure. The applied constant potential is maintained until such time as the current through the working electrode has again decayed to a minimum, and the total amount of the charge passing through the working electrode subsequent to the introduction of the second sample into the cavity is determined.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A coulometric method for determining the quantity of a substance in a solution, wherein a first sample of the solution is introduced into a cavity in which a working electrode is located, a constant potential is applied between the working electrode and a reference electrode in electrical contact with the first sample until such time as the current through the working electrode has decayed to a minimum, the applied constant potential is maintained as the first sample of the solution is replaced by a second sample of the solution in a manner such that the cavity remains filled with solution during the replacement procedure, the applied constant potential is maintained until such time as the current through the working electrode has again decayed to a minimum, and the total amount of the charge passing through the working electrode subsequent to the introduction of the second sample into the cavity as the current through the working electrode again decays to a minimum is determined.
- 5. A coulometric analyser for the determination of the quantity of a substance in a solution, comprising a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a working electrode, the counter electrode being electrically coupled to an amplifier output, the reference electrode being electrically coupled to an amplifier input, and the working electrode located in a cavity and electrically coupled to a recorder/integrator, wherein the working electrode and the cavity are dimensioned such that all parts of the cavity are located within a distance of the working electrode on the order of the diffusion layer thickness for the stationary solution.
Specification