Didactic experiment for voltametric determination the complexing capacity of natural waters

Abstract

The titration method can be applied to determine the complexation capacity between metal ions and ligands in natural water samples. The process involves the incremental addition of the metal to the sample containing a specific ligand, resulting in a titration curve that reflects the formation of complexes. The change in the curves slope indicates the saturation of the complexation capacity. In this study, the copper (II) ion was used due to its stability with organic ligands. The titration curve was analyzed to determine the complexation capacity (CC) and conditional formation constant (K) of the complex. Different mathematical treatments are proposed for this analysis. In the described experiment, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry was used to determine the complexation capacity of humic substances in natural waters. Experimental parameters such as pH, supporting electrolyte concentration, and volume of additions were previously optimized for the voltammetry technique. The obtained data were processed and analyzed, resulting in titration curves and voltammograms. The analysis of the curves allowed for the calculation of the complexation capacity and conditional stability constant of the formed complex. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the method as a didactic experiment for the voltammetric determination of natural water complexation capacity.