Electrolytic processes in various degrees of dispersion.

While following voltammetric behavior of ultrafine metallic powders, we realized that the results obtained with six metals (Al, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, and W) were providing us with material for treating the connection between electroactivity and the state of dispersion of matter. The electroactive species were metallic oxides formed spontaneously on surfaces of the metallic powder particles, and we could follow their electrochemical reactivity in the states of coarse and fine suspensions, colloids, and true solutions. Each state of dispersion can be characterized by a distinctive form of electroactivity, which we illustrated by experimental results with all six metals.

Voltammetric determination of thiodiglycolic acid in urine.

In urine the level of thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA) is a sensitive indicator of exposure of the human organism to some physiologically active or toxic substances, gases and vapors. The determination of TDGA by use of a voltammetric method based on electroreduction of TDGA in acidic solution at the hanging mercury drop electrode has been developed and practically tested. In order to eliminate the matrix effect of urine, prior to voltammetric measurement the samples are eluted from a small column of PVC powder.