Voltammetry with programmed baseline compensation

An instrument for repetitive voltammetric experiments has been designed, constructed and evaluated. The instrument is applicable as a detector for HPLC and FIA, process control and traditional experiments in unstired solutions. Special features include: multiple modes of voltammetry, real-time color-contour display of data, ability to change experimental parameters during a series of voltammograms, the storage on computer disk of all data points and parameters, ability to compensate background current on a point-by-point basis, and fast and convenient post-run data processing and analysis. The compensation of background currents, both capacitative and faradaic, results in flat baselines which allow increased current gain with improved peak definition and resolution from the ADC. Compensated baselines also allow operation at higher potentials and can be used to mask matrix impurities or even analytes added previously to the cell.