Abstract

The effect of applying ultrasound in anodic stripping voltammetry analysis of Cd2+ in pH 4.6 buffer containing the surfactant Triton X-100 has been investigated. Manipulation of the horn intensity and the horn/electrode distance was found to reduce the deleterious influence of the surfactant on the height of the cadmium peak. The system has been optimised to take advantage of the in situ cleaning action offered by ultrasound. As a result facile detection of Cd2+ (0.05-4 muM) in solutions containing 10 mug/mL Triton X-100 can be achieved without recourse to sample pretreatments or electrode modifications.