Voltammetric determination of synthetically prepared phytochelatins (gamma-Glu-Cys)(2)Gly (PC(2)) and (gamma-Glu-Cys)(3)Gly (PC(3)) has been studied using new type of copper solid amalgam electrode. The determination, based on the formation of cuprous complexes in buffer pH 8.1, is suitable for concentrations of PC in the range 10-100 nmol l(-1). Reproducibility, employing electrochemical cleaning of the electrode surface, was statistically evaluated. The achieved limit of detection (2.1-2.6x10(-9) mol l(-1) for DCV measurement) together with the robust character of the electrode offer its use for detection of PCs in separated extracts of real samples.

J Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Dolejskova 3 18223 Prague 8 Czech Republic

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Amalgam Electrode-Based Electrochemical Detector for On-Site Direct Determination of Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) from Soils