Quantitative anodic generation of cobalt (III) at glassy carbon in acetic acid. Coulometric titrations with the generated reagent

Conditions are established for quantitative electrochemical generation of cobalt (III) at a glassy carbon working electrode in anhydrous acetic acid in the presence of potassium acetate, sodium acetate or sodium perchlorate. In anhydrous alkali-metal acetate solutions cobalt (III) is as stable as in the presence of acetic anhydride. The concentration of cobalt(III) in the solution is considerably decreased in the presence of small amounts of water. This phenomenon is much more pronounced in sodium perchlorate supporting electrolyte. Coulometric titration methods for the determination of hydroquinone, 2-methylhydroquinone and ascorbic acid with the generated oxidant have been developed. The errors of the determinations are less than ±2%.