Arístides Alberich

Potential shift correction in multivariate curve resolution of voltammetric data. General formulation and application to some experimental systems

A new mathematical algorithm is proposed to correct the progressive potential shift of some voltammetric signals that decrease the linearity of the data. The corrected data matrix can be further analysed by Multivariate Curve Resolution by Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) and the vector including the potential shift corrections can be fitted to specific equations such as that by DeFord-Hume. A detailed discussion is given on the different cases of potential shift correction, and, in some of them, mathematical simulation is made or experimental systems [Cd(ii)-glutathione and Zn(ii)-glycine] are analysed.

Bismuth film electrodes for the study of metal thiolate complexation: An alternative to mercury electrodes

A comparative study of the usual static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) and the bismuth film electrode (BiFE) as applied to the analysis of metal complexation by thiol-rich peptides is done. Preliminary experiments on BiFE by differential pulse voltammetry showed that Cd(II) and Pb(II)-ions behave in a similar way as using stripping voltammetry and stripping chronopotentiometry with regard to some splitting effects of the signals. Additionally, on BiFE glutathione (GSH) and some phytochelatins (PC(n)) produce quite irregular signals related to the anodic oxidation of bismuth, which restricted the studies to a narrower concentration range than on SMDE. In the presence of both metal ion and peptide the same characteristic signals were observed on BiFE and SMDE, but better resolution was achieved in the first one, allowing a qualitative analysis of the complexation process for the Pb-GSH system which was not possible on SMDE. This suggests that BiFE may be a complementary tool to Hg electrodes, if not a valuable alternative, in the study of metal complexation.

Soft modelling for the resolution of highly overlapped voltammetric peaks: application to some Pb-phytochelatin systems.

A differential pulse polarographic (DPP) study of the Pb(2+)/Cys-Gly, Pb(2+)/gamma-Glu-Cys, Pb(2+)/PC(2) and Pb(2+)/PC(3) systems is performed, being PC(2) and PC(3) the phytochelatins of general structure (gamma-Glu-Cys)(n)-Gly, with n=2 and 3, respectively. Analysis of DPP data is assisted by multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method in order to establish the complexes formation sequence and their final stoichiometries. DPP signals of these systems present, besides overlapping of peaks due to free metal ion and metal complexes, interference of mercury anodic signals. Despite these complications, MCR-ALS allows us to propose a model of complexation for each system, and some tentative structures for the complexes.

Three-dimensional voltammetry assisted by parametric signal fitting: A new perspective for the electrochemical evaluation of metal binding in the presence of electrodic adsorption

A new perspective of three-dimensional voltammetry is given for the study of metal complexation in the presence of adsorption phenomena and, eventually, when the electrochemical reversibility of the processes decreases. For this purpose, 3D-voltammograms are obtained as usual, i.e., by combination of chronoamperograms measured at different potential steps, but they are analysed by the new methodology of parametric signal fitting (PSF), which uses the full data matrix to fit a five-parameter equation to every component. The parametric signals can be time-dependent peaks or waves and the optimised parameters inform about the concentrations in both dissolved and adsorbed phases. The analysis can be carried out on both individual and augmented matrices. The preliminary tests on the well-known Cd(II)-glutathione system yield promising results and encourage the combination of 3D-voltammetry and PSF as a complementary tool for the study of metal complexation in complicated systems.