Polarographic and voltammetric determination of genotoxic 4-nitroindane at mercury electrodes

Determination and electrochemical investigation of genotoxic nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 4-nitroindane (4-NI) were carried out using direct current tast polarography (DCTP) and differential pulse polarography (DPP) at a classical dropping mercury electrode (DME) and using direct current voltammetry (DCV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) at a hanging mercury drop minielectrode (HMDmE). The following optimal media for the determination of 4-NI were found: methanol—Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer of pH 12.0 (1:1) for DCTP and DPP, methanol—BR buffer of pH 9.0 (1:9) for DCV, and methanol—BR buffer of pH 8.0 (1:9) for DPV. For CV investigation, mixtures of methanol—BR buffer of pH 3.0, 8.0, and 12.0 (1:1) were used. The limits of quantification were: 0.65 µmol dm−3 (DCTP at the DME), 0.10 µmol dm−3 (DPP at the DME), 0.075 µmol dm−3 (DCV at the HMDmE), and 0.070 µmol dm−3 (DPV at the HMDmE). An attempt to increase the determination sensitivity using adsorptive accumulation of 4-NI on the HMDmE surface was not successful. The newly developed polarographic and voltammetric methods were successfully applied for the determination of 4-NI in model samples of drinking and river water.