2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (picric acid, PA) is known to have severe genotoxic effects, while adverse reactions are observed in humans as well. World Health Organization (WHO) has designated PA as one of the priority contaminants of the surface waters.
In this contribution, a bismuth bulk electrode was used for investigation of the electrochemical behavior of PA, using differential pulse voltammetry, and a new method for its determination was subsequently developed. The optimal medium for the determination was 0.1 mol L-1 acetate buffer pH 4.0.
The calibration curves were measured in the concentration range from 2 to 100 mu mol L-1, with the limits of quantification 0.7 mu mol L-1 in deionized water, 1.1 mu mol L-1 in drinking water, and 1.8 mu mol L-1 in river water. The RSD (n = 20) were 3.2, 6.2, and 9.9 %, respectively.