VA Application Note V–213

Copper in drinking water by

anodic stripping voltammetry at
the scTRACE Gold using the
946 Portable VA Analyzer

Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials.
Whereas copper is highly toxic for microorganisms, the toxicity for humans is
limited. However, there is a risk for health why a guideline value of 2000 µg/L
was set.

Results
Cu in drinking water
51 µg/L
 Method description

Sample Analysis
• Tap water Measuring solution 14 mL ultrapure water
+ 1 mL sample
+ 3 mL electrolyte
Instrument
946 Portable VA Analyzer Parameters

Stirrer speed 3000 rpm

Mode DP – Differential pulse
Stirring time 10 s
Cyclovoltammetric
pretreatment
Start potential 0V
Vertex potential 0.75 V
Sweep rate 1 V/s
No. of cycles 5
Potentiostatic
Electrodes pretreatment
scTRACE Gold 6.1258.000 Potential 1 0.75 V
Waiting time 1 10 s
Reagents Potential 2 -0.3 V
Waiting time 2 30 s
HNO3 Nitric acid, w(HNO3) = 65%,
for trace analysis*, CAS Equilibration time 10 s
7697-37-2 Sweep
HCl Hydrochloric acid, w(HCl) = Current measuring ± 1 µA
30%, for trace analysis*, range
CAS 7647-01-0
Start potential -0.1 V
KCl Potassium chloride, for trace
analysis*, CAS 7447-40-7 End potential 0.6 V
Ultrapure water Ultrapure water, resistivity Potential step 0.006 V
>18 M©·cm (25 °C), type I Pulse amplitude 0.05 V
grade (ASTM D1193)
Pulse time 0.02 s
Cu standard stock β(Cu) = 1 g/L
solution Sweep rate 0.1 V/s
Peak potential Cu 0.25 V
* e.g., Honeywell Fluka TraceSelect®, Merck suprapur®,
or equivalent

Solutions

Electrolyte c(KCl) = 0.3 mol/L

c(HCl) = 0.1 mol/L
Cu standard addition β(Cu) = 1 mg/L, acidified
solution with 1 mL/L HNO3
Version 1, published in July 2017
VA Application Note V–213

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