• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2020

Electrochemical Quartz Crystal microbalance is a tool that is capable of measuring nanogram-scale mass change on electrode surface. When applying alternating voltage to the quartz crystal with metal electrode formed on both sides, a resonant frequency by inverse piezoelectric effect depends on its thickness. The resonant frequency changes sensitively by mass change on its electrode surface; frequency increase with metal dissolution and decrease with metal deposition on the electrode surface. The relationship between resonant frequency and mass change is shown by Sauerbrey equation so that the mass change during metal dissolution can be measured in real time. Especially, it is effective in the case of reaction mechanism and rate studies accompanied by precipitation, volatilization, compound formation, etc. resulting in difficulties on ex-situ AA or ICP analysis. However, it should be carefully considered during EQCM experiments that temperature, viscosity, and hydraulic pressure of solution, and stress and surface roughness can affect on the resonant frequency. Application of EQCM was shown as a case study on leaching of platinum using aqueous chlorine for obtaining activation energy. A platinum electrode of quartz crystal oscillator with 1000 Å thickness exposed to solution was used as leaching sample. Electrogenerated chlorine as oxidant was purged and its concentration was controlled in hydrochloric acid solution. From the experimental results, platinum dissolution by chlorine is chemical reaction control with activation energy of 83.5 kJ/mol.