Cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) is the quantification of metals species from their reduction current. The stripping bit means that there is a preconcentration step that usually consists of adsorption of a complex with a selective ligand (usually an organic ligand) on the electrode. The metal in the complex is reduced. The sensitivity is very good because the adsorption forms a single molecular layer that is reduced in its entirety. There is no diffusion during the scan so a high scan rate can be used which gives a high sensitivity. The sensitivity of CSV is sufficient to detect about 20 elements in seawater.

The sensitivity is improved by catalytic effects: in this case the reduced metal acts as catalyst for the reduction of another species causing the metal to become re-oxidised so it can contribute again to the reduction current. Usually this involves adding an oxidant (bromate or oxygen for instance) so the reduction peak height becomes dependent on the concentration of the oxidant and the metal.

Diagram showing peak for copper in seawater by CSV in the presence of salicylaldoxime to form the adsorptive species.

Examples: look in  the following papers for the original methods:

Zima, J. and C. M. G. van den Berg (1994). "Determination of arsenic in sea water by cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate." Analytica Chimica Acta 289: 291-298.

van den Berg, C. M. G., M. Boussemart, K. Yokoi, T. Prartono and M. L. A. M. Campos (1994). "Speciation of aluminium, chromium and titanium in the NW Mediterranean." Marine Chemistry 45(4 SU  -): 267-282.

Yokoi, K. and C. M. G. van den Berg (1992). "Simultaneous determination of titanium and molybdenum in natural waters by catalytic cathodic stripping voltammetry." Analytica Chimica Acta 257: 293-299.

van den Berg, C. M. G., K. Murphy and J. P. Riley (1986). "The determination of aluminium in seawater and freshwater using cathodic stripping voltammetry." Analytica Chimica Acta 188: 177-185.

Van Den Berg, C. M. G. and Z. Q. Huang (1984). "Direct electrochemical determination of dissolved vanadium in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry with the hanging mercury drop electrode." Analytical Chemistry 56: 2383-2386.

van den Berg, C. M. G. and Z. Q. Huang (1984). "Determination of uranium (VI) in sea water by cathodic stripping voltammetry of complexes with catechol." Analytica Chimica Acta 164: 209-222.

van den Berg, C. M. G. (1984). "Direct determination of sub-nanomolar levels of zinc in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry." Talanta 31: 1069-1073.

van den Berg, C. M. G. (1984). "Determination of copper in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry of complexes with catechol." Analytica Chimica Acta 164: 195-207.