Novel quantification for silver ion generated by the submerged arc discharge method

Abstract

This study used the submerged arc discharge method (SADM) to produce metal fluid containing nanoparticles and submicron particles, whereby the energy focused by an electric arc was used to dissolve silver metal in deionised water. No additional chemical substances were required throughout the process, which enabled production to be fast and straightforward. Conventional concentration measurement of silver ions (Ag+) uses 200 ml of sample solution for every test wherein the Ag+ revert to atoms, resulting in the incapacity of the solution to be reused. This study devised a new quantification method that requires only a trace amount (6 ml) of Ag+ solution and used equations and data from electrical conductivity, concentration and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption values to determine their respective relationships with Ag+ concentration, after which the solution can still be reused.