Contemporary polarography vs.

AAS and IC
AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy IC - Ion Chromatography

Contemporary polarographic methods and applications are widely acknowledged and used worldwide in a wide range of
applications. It is recognized as modern, rapid, reproducible, unambiguous, and sensitive method of chemical analysis
with generally acceptable results. EXAMETER polarographic devices utilize generally acknowledged electroanalytical
method originally discovered by Prof. Jaroslav Heyrovský - the Nobel Prize laureate 1959.
At a fragment of initial and running costs usual for AAS or IC, the contemporaory polarography offers in many
application areas comparable sensitivity, higher portability and flexibility. Advanced voltammetric / polarographic
methods of analysis are generally suitable for waters, aqueous and other solutions and various materials, determination
of active anions, numerous organic compounds, for dealing with an extremely wide range of concentrations - high
concentrations as well as with trace amounts of analyzed species down to 10-10 - 10-11 mol.l-1.

Main advantages of polarographic method in comparison with AAS and IC:

♦ Considerably lower initial cost, low operating costs, cheap consumables
♦ High sensitivity and wide range of applications (thousands)
♦ Suitability for direct ion measurement in difficult matrices such as seawater, wastewater,
etc...
♦ Fast analysis within tens of seconds, enables multiple analysis during one measurement
(multitasking)
♦ Polarograph is easily portable device, small and lightweight, easy to understand, simple
user friendly control and application software

The results obtained by contemporary polarographic devices EXAMETER are in many cases identical and totally
comparable with those obtained by AAS and IC.

Many industrial standards worldwide describe voltammetric analysis of metal and organic compounds traces. These are
mainly ISO, DIN, EPA, ASTM, AOAC and TNV standards (but also many other). EXAMETER family polarographs
follow these standards and are compliant with them. Holder of International and Czech patents!
Certificate No. 05 075 issued by ITC (Czech Republic) certifies that EXAMETER family polarographs:
♦ utilize a highly sensitive, generally aknowledged electro analytical method, recommended e.g. by DIN 38 406, with
attained detection limit in the range to 10−10 mol.l-1
♦ provide correct, unambigious, reproducible and generally acceptable results, in actual cases identical with results of
other analytical methods, e.g. of atomic absorbtion spectroscopy or ionic chromatography
♦ represent an automated integrated system of hardware and software, reaching the top level in it´s field, enabling
it´s user to reach accreditation for corresponding tests
♦ are ecologically harmless under common conditions

Careful consideration of needs for chemical analysis and consequent choice of polarography instead of AAS or IC
methods can save significant amount of money in everyday practice, brings significant benefit of portability and
flexibility. Contemporary polarography represented by EXAMETER systems is modern, fast developing lively analytical
method which is in strict contradiction with widely spread ill-reputation of polarography as an outdated method which
offers only low sensitivity and complicated operation. The contrary is true!

EXAMETER systems can be utilized not only in well equipped laboratories but also in common labs, workstations under
industrial conditions or mobile conditions. Ambient conditions have practically NO influence on principial use of
described measurements. EXAMETER polarographic systems are small, lightweight and easily portable. Low energy
consumption makes them easier to operate in mobile conditions.
If the application instructions are followed, the accuracy of analysis is independent on operator in principle. Undue
human factors as to precision, reproducibility of the obtained results, etc. are eliminated.

The detection limits (i.e. the lowest concentrations that can be determined) of the contemporary voltammetric methods
are e.g. for metals of the order 10−10 to 10−11 mol.l-1 (with the determination span 10−3 to 10−11 mol.l−1); for classical
polarography they were around 10−5 mol.l−1. General examples of some detection limits of stripping voltammetry:

Al 3 ppb Ni 0.01 ppb Co 0.01 ppb NO3¯ 0.05 ppm

Ag 1 ppb Pb 0.05 ppb Ti 0.05 ppb NO2¯ 0.01 ppm
+
Cd 0.05 ppb Mo 0.05 ppb As 0.1 ppb NH4 60 ppb
Cr 0.01 ppb Pd 0.01 ppb Mn 0.5 ppb Cl ¯ 1 ppb
3
Cu 0.05 ppb Se 1 ppb Fe 0.03 ppm PO4 ¯ 2 ppm
2
Hg 0.03 ppb Zn 0.05 ppb Be 0.1 ppb SO4 ¯ 20 ppb
2
Cr (VI) 0.01 ppb As (III) 0.1 ppb S¯ 0.01 ppm Fe (III) 0.03 ppm

EXAMETER systems can determine about 2/3 of elements of the periodic system. Total number of applications which
were described, tested and prepared for use exceeds several thousands!

1
Application areas of advanced voltammetric techniques – examples of described applications:
Water and Water treatment
• Determination of about 2/3 of all the elements of the periodic system as Pb, Zn, Cd, Al, Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni, V, Co,
Se, Te, Mo, Tl, Sn, Be, U, S, actinide elements, halogens Au, Ag, Pt, metals Hg, etc.
− − − − − 2− 2− − − 3−
• Determination of anions NO3 , NO2 , Cl , Br , J , S , SO4 , CN , SCN , PO4 , etc.
• Determination of organic compounds as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, nitrocompounds, (solvents, paints,
etc.), azocompounds (dyestuffs), aldehydes, pohosphates, sugars, and many other
• Determination of dissolved oxygen
• Water quality control in Water treatment plants, Sewage treatment plants, etc.
• Analysis of aqueous solutions
• Analysis of drinking water, waste water, rain, sea and river water, underground water, industrial water, etc.
Ecology and Ecoanalysis
• Analysis of natural waters and various samples after their dissolution
• Estimation of ecological changes due to various types of ecologically significant factors, events, activities, etc.
• Powerstation ashes, atmosphere, dusts and fallouts
• Refuse dumps
• Waste and sewage waters and it´s sediments and leakages
Decontamination technologies
• Analysis of various types of samples
• Recognition, monitoring of technological processes
• Analysis of input and output parameters
Agriculture, Alimentation and Food control
• Varous organic compounds
• Vitamine C, Vitamines B1, B2, B6, B9 and other
• Nicotinamides
• Cystine and Cysteine
• Cyanide
• Pesticides and Aldehydes
Biochemistry
• Biochemical and biotechnological products of body fluids like blood, urine, saliva, sweat, etc.
• Plant and animal tissues
Hygiene, Medicine and Pharmacology
• Analysis of waters and various samples, products and extracts
• Biological fluids
• Body fluids
• Drugs
• Noxious species
• Metabolites, etc.
Geology, Metallurgy and Mining industry
• Analysis of ores
• Analysis of geological samples, minerals and raw materials
• Geological recognition
• Production of metals, elements or compounds
• Additives in electroplating baths, formaldehydes, etc.
• Technological control of production intermediates and final products
• Recultivation of mining areas, industrial areas, soils, etc.
Engineering and Oil industry
• Determination of metals in oils, crude oils, motor oils and lubricants
• Characterization of oils or crude oils on the basis of determination of present metals
• Diagnostics of friction systems, motors and moving mechanisms based on the determination of metals in oils,
motor oils and lubricants – determination of mechanical problems without engine disassembly, estimation of life
expectancy of engines, lubricant replacement planning, repair planning, etc.
Construction and Building industry
• Analysis of various building materials
• Quality control of content of chlorides, e.g. determination of chlorides in cement sand, water and other input
building materials and components
• Estimation of corrosion stability of reinforced concrete (ferro - concrete) and other building materials or
constructions with respect to their quality lifetime and strength
EXAMETER polarographs are relatively cheap, though highly sensitive in various fields of chemical analysis, giving
accurate and reliable results.