Adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (AdCSV) using Metrohm's 797 VA Computrace is a simple method for determining trace levels of uranium in drinking and mineral water.
While different national health authorities prescribe limits in drinking water ranging from 0 up to 10ug/l, the World Health Organization recommends a concentration limit of 15ug/l.
The AdCSV method for the voltammetric determination of the uranium content is based on complexing U(VI) with chloranilic acid (CAA) at a pH between 1.8 and 2.5.
After pre-concentration of the uranium-chloranilic acid complex at the working electrode, the uranium content can be determined down to the ng/l range by using the differential pulse measuring technique (DP).
The determination of uranium(VI) is specific and selective, as the positive deposition potential means that other metal-CAA complexes or organic matrix components of natural waters are either not adsorbed on the working electrode or hardly adsorbed at all.
The German standard DIN 38406-17 is currently being developed based on this AdCSV method.
This means that in future the voltammetric determination of uranium can be used as a recognised method for monitoring drinking and mineral water in daily practice.
