Author(s)

Paul Mendy¹, Démo Koita¹, Theodore Tzedakis^2*, Cheikhou Kane¹, Codou Guèye Mar-Diop¹

¹Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, Dakar, Sénégal.
²Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.

For the challenging nature of the zirconium environment analysis, this study consists to analyze the electrochemical behavior of Zirconium in both aqueous and organic media. To that end first the electrolytic media was selected on the basis of the Pourbaix potential-pH diagram, which provides informations on the predominance of Zr^(IV) ion and Zr in aqueous media. In aqueous media, analyzes were first carried out in acidic media then in basic media. Studies have thus revealed that the acidic environment is not favourable for the electrochemical analysis of zirconium. Voltammograms obtained in an acidic environment show no zirconium detection signal; this is due to the strong presence of H⁺ ions in the solution. We have also observed in acidic media the phenomenon of passivation of the electrode surface. In aqueous alkaline media (pH = 13), we have drawn in reduction several Intensity-Potential curves by fixingsome technical parameterslike scanning speed, rotation speed of the electrode. The obtained voltammograms show cathodic waves, starting from -1.5 V/DHW and attributed to the reduction of Zr ^(IV) to Zr (0). The last phase of this study focused on the electrochemical analysis of zirconium in an organic media. In this media, several intensity-potential curves were plotted in reduction and in cyclic voltammetry with various parameters. Through several reduction analysis, the Zr ^(IV) was reduced to Zr (0) to the potential of -1.5 V/DHW. The electrochemical analysis of zirconium in organic media seems globally easier to achieve thanks to its large solvent window (i.e. dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent window > 6 V).

Zirconium, Electrochemical, Reduction, Cyclic Voltammetry, Voltammogram, Dymethylformamide

Mendy, P. , Koita, D. , Tzedakis, T. , Kane, C. and Mar-Diop, C. (2024) Electrochemical Analysis of Zirconiumin Aqueous and Organic Media. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 15, 99-118. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2024.152006.