In a supporting electrolyte containing NH3-NH4Cl, a reduction peak of rivanol (RIL) was found by linear-sweep voltammetry at Hg electrode. The peak shows a potential of -1.42 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and adsorptive characteristics. When the concentration of RIL is sufficiently low, the sweep rate is sufficiently rapid and the accumulation time is sufficiently long, the peak current is totally contributed by the reduction of adsorbed RIL. The adsorbed species is most probably diaminoethoxyacridine neutral mol. of RIL. The saturated adsorption amount of RIL at Hg electrode is 4.0 ?10-10 mol譪m-2 and every RIL mol. occupies 0.42 nm2. The no. of electrons transferred per RIL mol., n, is 2 and the transfer coefficient a of the irreversible adsorptive system of RIL is 0.71. The mechanisms of electrochem. reduction of RIL at the Hg electrode was explored. The detection limit of the adsorptive stripping voltammetry of RIL is 1.0 ?10-9 mol譫m-3 when the accumulation time is 3 min on optimized condition.

Key words: MERCURY ELECTRODE, RIVANOL, FUEL CELL