The voltammetric behavior of 9-nitroanthracene was investigated at a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode (m-AgSAE; inner diameter of 0.5 millimeter) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and adsorptive stripping DPV (DPAdSV). Optimum conditions were found for the determination of this analyte in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH=10.5): pulse width of 80 milliseconds, pulse height of -50 millivolts, initial potential (E-in)=-100 millivolts, final potential (E-fin)=-1200 milivolts, potential of accumulation (E-acc)=-100 millivolts, scan rate of 20 millivolts per second.
The limit of detection was found to be 0.7 nanomole per liter (t(acc)=60seconds) by DPAdSV at m-AgSAE. The method was successfully applied for the determination of 9-nitroanthracene in drinking and river water.