Determination of zinc in fuel alcohol by anodic stripping voltammetry

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in fuel ethanol is obtained in different steps as production and storage of ethanol, constituting an inorganic contamination. Quantitative analysis of these contaminants has been usually carried out by conventional techniques as atomic absorption spectrofotometry. According to high sensibility of stripping voltammetric techniques for quantification of heavy metals and a few number of realized works for this kind of matrix, the aim of this work was to develop an electroanalytical procedure for zinc determination in fuel ethanol. Electrochemical determination for zinc in aqueous media by linear sweep voltammetry exhibited an anodic peak current in a potential of –1,12V vs. SCE, presenting linear dependence against zinc concentration in an interval of 5,0x10-7 to 5,0x10-6 mol.L-1 with an amperommetric sensibility of 1,2x106 mA.mol-1.L and a detection limit of 2,6x10-7 mol.L-1. Zinc determination in fuel ethanol commercial sample was obtained by addiction of 200 mL of sample in a final volume of 20 mL of supporting electrolite. The concentration of zinc in the sample was obtained by standard addiction method, presenting a value of 5,7± 0,19x10-5 mol.L-1 in zinc.