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AGENCY USE
ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was used as a technique to determine the feasibility of the use of a coulometric detector in the determination of perchlorate, iodide, and various other anions commonly found in drinking water. Through the CV analysis, it was determined that only iodide could" be accurately determined through electrochemical detection. Nitrite, sulfide, and thiocyanate would be reduced, but are poor candidates for coulometric detection. Perchlorate was not reduced within the range of potentials allowed by a coulometric detector. Therefore, it does not appear the coulometry can provide an effective method for the detection of perchlorate. Studies showed that, of the anions tested, only nitrate, sulfide, and thiocyanate would interfere with the detection of iodide.14. However, there are some substances normally found in drinking water that may interfere with perchlorate analysis by ion chromatography, and questions have been raised as to the sensitivity and the robustness of the IC methods. For example, it has been demonstrated in our laboratory that high amounts of total dissolved solid in water samples can block out the response to perchlorate in conductivity measurements.35 Hence, a more sensitive and selective method for the determination of the perchlorate ion is therefore needed.Electrochemical detection has been suggested as an alternative technique to IC, which uses a conductivity detector, due to it's increased sensitivity and ability to selectively detect anions that cannot be separated through chromatography. 35 This technique, which involves the reduction of perchlorate, would not only be useful in the determination of perchlorate, but would also be invaluable in the development of a process for the removal of perchlorate contamination.An inexpensive method for reducing perchlorate to chlorine would dramatically simplify remediation processes. Standard reduction tables indicate that the reduction of perchlorate is thermodynamically favorable. 36Electrochemical detectors apply a potential between a working and reference electrode.This applied potential causes an exchange of electrons to take place in electroactive species at the site of the working electrode. The current that results from the movement of electrons ...