Differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetric determination of traces of lead in high-purity copper after its separation by ion exchange

Trace amounts of lead in copper can be determined by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry after separating it from the matrix. Lead was quantitatively retained on a small Dowex 1-X4 ion-exchange column, without retaining copper when present as a copper-amine complex in solutions containing 0.2 M sodium hydroxide. Subsequent desorption was done with 2 M nitric acid. After deposition for 1 min on a hanging mercury drop electrode and subsequent stripping, the limit of detection was 2 ng ml−1 and the limit of quantification was 6.6 ng ml−1. Recoveries of lead were checked by standard addition to copper solution.