Electrochemical lead separation from copper, copper alloy, silver and silver alloy for isotope ratio determination in archaeometric investigations

The possibility of electrochemical oxidation of Pb2+ to PbO2 as a method of isolation of lead in low concentrations in copper and silver matrixes was studied. Suitable electrolysis cell was developed and the influence of various factors (electrode surface and state, reaction time, temperature, electrolyte volume, acidity, concentration of indifferent electrolyte, stirring rate and current density) on the efficiency of the process was evaluated. The accuracy and reproducibility of the method were estimated by determination of the quantity of lead in SRMs by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). By means of ICP-mass spectrometry (MS), the lead isotopic ratios in SRMs were determined.