ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 39, Number 3
JKCSEZ 39(3)
June 20, 1995 

A simple procedure, readily available at low cost with a sensitivity sufficient to determine trace levels of iron in seawater is proposed, which utilizes adsorptive accumulation of the iron/catechol complex on the mercury drop electrode in a borate medium of pH 8.0. Optimal conditions include a solution concentration of 2 mM catechol, 2.5 mM borate and a pH of 8.0, an accumulation potential of -0.25 V is applied for 1∼3 min, and the potential scan is in the differential pulse mode. The limit of detection is 1.5 nM Fe using a preconcentration time of 3 min. The interference from copper can be eliminated and baseline slope is greatly improved, because its peak is well separated from that of iron in the proposed medium.