Stripping Chronopotentiometry: An Alternative Method for the Determination of Gold in Geological Samples

Nipaporn MEEPUN; Suphawuth SIRIKET; Saravut DEJMANEE; Roongroje RATANA-OHPAS

Authors

Nipaporn MEEPUN Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Suratthani 81400
Suphawuth SIRIKET Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Phuket Rajabhat University, Phuket 83000
Saravut DEJMANEE Division of Chemistry, School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
Roongroje RATANA-OHPAS Division of Chemistry, School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161

Keywords:

Gold, geological, stripping chronopotentiometry

Abstract

A stripping chronopotentiometric method was developed for reliable determination of gold in geological samples. Gold in gold ore and steam sediment samples was determined by constant current film stripping chronopotentiometry at a bare glassy carbon working electrode. The following optimum conditions were obtained: 0.5 M hydrochloric acid as a supporting electrolyte, an electrolysis potential of –0.6 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE), an electrolysis time of 2 min and a constant oxidative current of +4 μA. A linear concentration range was obtained from 1.0 to 20 mg/l. The detection limit was 0.27 mg/l (n = 10) and the relative a standard deviations of 1.0 mg/l Au(III) was 2.8 % (n = 10). In order to check the analytical accuracy, standard solution was spiked in a sample and the recoveries were found at 100.1 to 105.8 %. The results revealed that the quantity of gold in gold ore and sediment were 0.6 to 3.3 % and 0.9 to 1.2 %, respectively.

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