Quantitation of Metal Ions in Archaeological Glass by Abrasive Stripping Square-Wave Voltammetry Using Graphite/Polyester Composite Electrodes

A method for identifying Co, Cu, Sb, Sn, Fe, Zn, and Zr pigments in glasses using square‐wave voltammetry as the detection mode is described. It is based on the abrasive attachment of glass microsamples to graphite/polyester composite electrodes. Sample amounts less than 1 μg are used allowing for the study of archaeological samples. In all cases well‐defined anodic stripping peaks corresponding to the oxidation of metal deposits generated at potentials ranging from −0.6 to −1.6 V (vs. SCE) are obtained. This response is in agreement with that displayed by the corresponding metal oxides. Quantitative estimates of the relative population of metal ions in glasses are obtained from peak area measurements with an accuracy comparable to that obtained with SEM/EDX.