NEW COBALT(II)-BASED ELECTROCATALYST FOR REDUCTION OF TRICHLOROACETIC ACID AND BROMATE

A novel cobalt(II) complex trans-[Co(C6H11N3)(4)(SCN)(2)] (C6H11N3 = 1-butyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The cobalt center is six-coordinate, (CoN6)-N-II, the axial positions being occupied by the isothiocyanate ligands and the equatorial positions by the 1-butyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole ligands. A conductive carbon paste electrode (Co-CPE), comprised of the studied complex and a carbon powder, was fabricated by the direct mixing method. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic performance of Co-CPE were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The Co-CPE shows electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of trichloroacetic acid and bromate. The detection limit and sensitivity are 0.01 mu mol dm(-3) and 76.86 mu A mu mol(-1) dm(3) for trichloroacetic acid, and 0.02 mu mol dm(-3) and 96.19 mu A mu mol(-1) dm(3) for bromate, respectively. The modified electrode features good reproducibility, high stability, low detection limit, technical simplicity and rapid preparation, which is important for practical applications.