Construction of miniature flow-through cells for electrochemical generation of volatile compounds

(EN) The presented dissertation thesis summarizes the new results of electrochemical generation of volatile compounds usable in atomic spectral methods. The main aim of this work is to develop and to characterize new types of electrolytic flow-through cells and to examine their possibilities of determination of arsenic, selenium and antimony by using the electrochemical hydride generation technique coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry with a quartz tube atomizer. Individual electrolytic cells were designed and constructed to comply with two important requirements. The cathode chamber of the electrolytic cell should have a minimal volume and a high efficiency of analyte conversion to the volatile hydride. Constructed electrolytic cells are divided into the construction groups and described in the experimental part. Selenium was chosen as the first analyte. The relevant working parameters (such as type, concentration and flow rate of electrolytes, generation current and carrier gas flow rate) were optimized for each newly constructed electrolytic cell. Under the optimal working parameters, the basic characteristics of selenium determination were found out by using electrochemical hydride generation. The electrolytic cells were compared to each other and with the classical electrolytic cell..