Detection of heavy metals released at the sediment/water interface by combining Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) measurements

Abstract
Hemisphere mercury microelectrodes are investigated in combine anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) experiments for the detection of heavy metal ions at the solid/solution interface of a sediment sample. Relatively large anodic stripping peaks due to lead are monitored at m distances from the solid particles, while, under the same experimental conditions, no or lower ASV peaks are found in the bulk solution. This suggests that diffusion gradients at sediment/water interface is monitored. This method, therefore, offers a new possibility for investigating on spatial differences of immobilization and remobilization processes of heavy metals at sediment/water interfaces.