Modified carbon-containing electrodes in stripping voltammetry of metals

Papers dealing with modified electrodes made of carbon materials and composites for use in stripping voltammetry of metals have been reviewed. The review consists of two parts, of which the first considers applications of modified glassy carbon and carbon paste electrodes, while the second describes diverse modified carbon-containing composite and microscopic electrodes. Information about modifiers, electrode modification methods, conditions, and limits of detection of elements in different materials has been tabulated. The review covers 550 papers published in Russia and abroad between 1990 and the first half of 2007.     

Modified carbon-containing electrodes in stripping voltammetry of metals. Part II. Composite and microelectrodes

The second part of the review, which covers modified carbon-containing electrodes, describes composite and microelectrodes. Electrodes made of commercial and laboratory carbon-containing composite materials are discussed. Impregnated and thick-film electrodes and microelectrodes made of carbon fibers form a separate group. Various modifiers and methods of electrode modification are presented. Prospects for the future development of solid-state modified electrodes are considered.     

Voltammetric behavior of sulfadimetoxol using square-wave and adsorptive stripping square-wave techniques

The voltammetric behavior of sulfadimetoxol (SDX) was studied by square-wave techniques, leading to two methods for its determination in aqueous samples and veterinary formulations. The application of the square-wave mode shows the determination of SDX between 1 × 10⁻⁷ M and 2 × 10⁻⁶ M at −0.60 V and for the stripping voltammetry of adsorbed SDX with an accumulation step of 15 s proved to be more sensitive, yielding signals five times larger than those obtained without the accumulation. The determination of SDX was done between 2 × 10⁻⁸ M and 5 × 10⁻⁷ M by stripping mode. The relative standard deviations obtained for concentration levels of SDX as low as 3 × 10⁻⁷ M with square-wave was 3.4 % (n = 8) and for 2 × 10⁻⁷ M with stripping square-wave was 3.1 % (n = 8). The methods were satisfactorily applied for determining SDX in four veterinary products.     

Stripping voltammetry of silver ions at polythiophene-modified platinum electrodes

The present work describes the development of a modified platinum electrode for stripping voltammetric determination of silver. The deposition of films based on electropolymerisation of the monomer thiophene was carried out by cycling the potential towards positive values between 0 and 1.6 V.The preconcentration process of silver ions was initiated on the surface of the modified electrode by complexing silver with polythiophene (PTH) when a negative potential (−0.5 V) was applied; then the reduced products was oxidized by means of differential pulse stripping voltammetry and the peak was observed at 0.17 V. Parameters such as pH, supporting electrolyte and number of electropolymerisation cycles were studied. A linear relation between current peak and concentration of Ag(I) was obtained in the range 0.07-1.0 mg L⁻¹. The detection limit for Ag(I) was evaluated to be 0.06 mg L⁻¹. The reproducibility was tested carrying out 11 measurements at different electrodes and the relative standard deviation was 1.5%. The interference of several metals was investigated and showed negligible effect on the electrode response.     

Antimony film screen-printed carbon electrode for stripping analysis of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) in natural samples

An in-situ antimony film screen-printed carbon electrode (in-situ SbSPCE) was successfully used for the determination of Cu(II) simultaneously with Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, by means of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), in a certified reference groundwater sample with a very high reproducibility and good trueness. This electrode is proposed as a valuable alternative to in-situ bismuth film electrodes, since no competition between the electrodeposited copper and antimony for surface sites was noticed. In-situ SbSPCE was microscopically characterized and experimental parameters such as deposition potential, accumulation time and pH were optimized. The best voltammetric response for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions was achieved when deposition potential was −1.2 V, accumulation time 120 s and pH 4.5. The detection and quantification limits at levels of μg L⁻¹ suggest that the in-situ SbSPCE could be fully suitable for the determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in natural samples.     

Voltammetric Determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Ions in Well Water Using a Sputtered Bismuth Screen‐Printed Electrode

A method using commercially available sputtered bismuth screen‐printed electrodes (Bi_spSPE), as substitute to mercury electrodes, for the determination of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in drinking well water samples collected in a contaminated area in The Republic of El Salvador by means of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) has been proposed. The comparable detection and quantification limits obtained for both Bi_spSPE and hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), together with the similar results with a high reproducibility obtained in these water samples analyses recommend the applicability of Bi_spSPE for the determination of low level of metal concentrations in natural samples.     

A study by voltammetry and the photocurrent response method of copper electrode behavior in acidic and alkaline solutions containing chloride ions

The electrochemical behavior of Cu electrodes in Cl⁻ solutions was studied in a wide range of pH. The results were compared with those obtained in solutions containing F⁻, Br⁻, I⁻ and So²⁻₄ ions at pH 8.5, and discussed in terms of the competitive formation of Cu₂O and CuCl films on the Cu surface and the influence of CuCl on the properties of Cu₂O. At pH 8.5 or higher, Cu₂O was formed first, whereas at pH 5.7 or lower the Cu₂O film was formed on the Cu surface under the CuCl layer which was formed initially. It is believed that the Cu₂O films doped with Cl⁻ ions exhibited poor protective properties against Cu corrosion.     

Non-conductive nanomaterial enhanced electrochemical response in stripping voltammetry: The use of nanostructured magnesium silicate hollow spheres for heavy metal ions detection

Nanostructured magnesium silicate hollow spheres, one kind of non-conductive nanomaterials, were used in heavy metal ions (HMIs) detection with enhanced performance for the first time. The detailed study of the enhancing electrochemical response in stripping voltammetry for simultaneous detection of ultratrace Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ was described. Electrochemical properties of modified electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The operational parameters which have influence on the deposition and stripping of metal ions, such as supporting electrolytes, pH value, and deposition time were carefully studied. The anodic stripping voltammetric performance toward HMIs was evaluated using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) analysis. The detection limits achieved (0.186 nM, 0.247 nM, 0.169 nM and 0.375 nM for Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺) are much lower than the guideline values in drinking water given by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, the interference and stability of the modified electrode were also investigated under the optimized conditions. An interesting phenomenon of mutual interference between different metal ions was observed. Most importantly, the sensitivity of Pb²⁺ increased in the presence of certain concentrations of other metal ions, such as Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ both individually and simultaneously. The proposed electrochemical sensing method is thus expected to open new opportunities to broaden the use of SWASV in analysis for detecting HMIs in the environment.     

Voltammetric determination of Imatinib (Gleevec) and its main metabolite using square-wave and adsorptive stripping square-wave techniques in urine samples

The voltammetric behaviour of Imatinib (STI 571) and its main metabolite (N-demethylated piperazine derivative) were studied by square-wave techniques, resulting in to two methods for their determination in aqueous and urine samples at pH 2. The application of the square-wave (SW) without the adsorptive accumulation and voltammetric stripping (AdSV) exhibit a peak at a reduction potential of −0.70 V for an accumulation potential of −0.45 V. The sensitivity was higher for the stripping technique because a signal four times higher than that provided by the square-wave method without the previous accumulation was obtained. Due to the fact that Imatinib and its metabolite show the same voltammetric reduction process, some experiments were performed in order to compare the voltammetric response of Imatinib and its main metabolite in a similar ratio than that of the therapeutic concentration. The calibration curve for Imatinib in urine was linear in the range from 1.9 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.9 × 10⁻⁶ M in stripping mode with an accumulation time (t_acc) of 10 s. The relative standard deviations obtained for concentration levels of Imatinib as low as 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ M for square-wave was 2.17% (n = 9) and for stripping square-wave was 2.65% (n = 9) in the same day. The limits of detection for square-wave and stripping square-wave were 5.55 × 10⁻⁹ and 5.19 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively. Thus, the presented method are straightforward, rapid and sensitive and has been applied to the determination of Imatinib and its main metabolite altogether in urine samples from real patients.     

Voltammetric studies on the interactions between camazepam metabolic series and human serum albumin. Determination of oxazepam using adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The behaviour of oxazepam in adsorptive stripping voltammetry was studied taking into account those conditions which have an influence on the accumulation step (electrolyte, pH, time, potential, drop size and stirring rate), rest time and stripping step (pulse amplitude and scan rate). Oxazepam can be determined at a hanging mercury drop electrode by differential-pulse voltammetry in 0.008 M Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 2.0 with a ?0.50 V accumulation potential. Its detection limit was found to be 3.6 × 10^?10 M (30-s accumulation) and the relative standard deviation for oxazepam concentrations in the range 2.8 × 10^?8?4.0 × 10^?7 M is lower than 2.8% (80-s accumulation). In addition, a procedure using adsorptive stripping voltammetry was developed to study the interactions occurring between human albumin and the camazepam metabolic series (camazepam, temazepam and oxazepam). The interactions decreased in the order temazepam ? oxazepam ? camazepam and the groups and structural modifications favouring interaction were determined.     

Determination of sildenafil citrate (viagra) and its metabolite (UK-103,320) by square-wave and adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetry. Total determination in biological samples

The voltammetric behaviour of Sildenafil citrate (SC) and its main metabolite UK-103,320 (UK) was studied by square wave techniques, leading to two methods for its total determination in biological samples (urine and human serum). The application of the square wave (SW), without the adsorptive accumulation, shows a maximum response at −0.950 V. The effect of experimental parameters that affect this determination are discussed. The stripping technique, proved to be more sensitive, yielding signals three times larger than those obtained by applying a square wave scan without the previous accumulation. Two calibration graphs to determine total SC and UK concentration were established. Calibration graph in urine sample was linear in the range 4.4×10⁻⁸ to 4.8×10⁻⁷ M by the stripping mode with an accumulation time of 10 s. In the same conditions but in serum sample regression line was linear in the range 3.4×10⁻⁸ to 9.7×10⁻⁷ M. The two proposed methods (SW and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV)) were applied to the total concentration analysis in eight different biological samples by the standard addition method with satisfactory results in the four different serum samples by the SW and in the four urines by SWAdSV.     

Standard addition method applied to solid-state stripping voltammetry: determination of zirconium in minerals and ceramic materials

An application of the standard addition method to stripping voltammetry of solid materials immobilized in inert electrodes is described. The method allows the determination of the mass fraction of a depositable metal M in a material on addition of known amounts of a standard material containing M to a mixture of that material and a reference compound of a second depositable metal, R. After a reductive deposition step, voltammograms recorded for those modified electrodes immersed in a suitable electrolyte produce stripping peaks for the oxidation of the deposits of M and R. If no intermetallic effects appear the quotients between the peak areas and the peak currents for the stripping oxidation of M and R vary linearly with the mass ratio of the added standard and the reference compound, thus providing an electrochemical method for determining the amount of M in the sample. The method has been applied to the determination of Zr in minerals, ceramic frits, and pigments, using ZnO as reference material and ZrO₂ as the standard.     

Determination of Se, As, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn by anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry in marine environmental matrices in the presence of reciprocal interference. Proposal of a new analytical procedure

Arsenic(III), selenium(IV), copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II) and manganese(II) have been determined in environmental matrices by differential pulse cathodic (DPCSV) and anodic (DPASV) stripping voltammetry. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using a conventional three-electrode cell and the ammonia–ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.4) as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR-CRM 403; Lagarosiphon Major BCR-CRM 060; and Cod Muscle BCR-CRM 422. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, and the accuracy, expressed as relative error, were, in all cases, lower than 5%; the detection limits, for each element in the experimental conditions employed, was approximately 10⁻⁹ M. The standard addition technique significantly improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high metal concentration ratios.     

A study of bismuth-film electrodes for the detection of trace metals by anodic stripping voltammetry and their application to the determination of Pb and Zn in tapwater and human hair

This work reports the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) at the low μg l⁻¹ concentration levels by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) on a bismuth-film electrode (BFE) plated in situ. The metal ions and bismuth were simultaneously deposited by reduction at −1.4 V on a rotating glassy carbon disk electrode. Then, the preconcentrated metals were oxidised by scanning the potential of the electrode from −1.4 to 0 V using a square-wave waveform. The stripping current arising from the oxidation of each metal was related to the concentration of each metal in the sample. The parameters for the simultaneous determination of the three metals were investigated with the view to apply this type of voltammetric sensor to real samples containing low concentrations of metals. Using the selected conditions, the limits of detection were 0.2 μg l⁻¹ for Cd and for Pb and 0.7 μg l⁻¹ for Zn at a preconcentration time of 10 min. Finally, BFE's were successfully applied to the determination of Pb and Zn in tapwater and human hair and the results were in satisfactory statistical agreement with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).     

Biological application of microelectrode arrays in drug discovery and basic research

Electrical activity of electrogenic cells in neuronal and cardiac tissue can be recorded by means of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) that offer the unique possibility for non-invasive extracellular recording from as many as 60 sites simultaneously. Since its introduction 30 years ago, the technology and the related culture methods for electrophysiological cell and tissue assays have been continually improved and have found their way into many academic and industrial laboratories. Currently, this technology is attracting increased interest owing to the industrial need to screen selected compounds against ion channel targets in their native environment at organic, cellular, and sub-cellular level.As the MEA technology can be applied to any electrogenic tissue (i.e., central and peripheral neurons, heart cells, and muscle cells), the MEA biosensor is an ideal in vitro system to monitor both acute and chronic effects of drugs and toxins and to perform functional studies under physiological or induced pathophysiological conditions that mimic in vivo damages. By recording the electrical response of various locations on a tissue, a spatial map of drug effects at different sites can be generated, providing important clues about a drug's specificity.In this survey, examples of MEA biosensor applications are described that have been developed for drug screening and discovery and safety pharmacology in the field of cardiac and neural research. Additionally, biophysical basics of recording and concepts for analysis of extracellular electrical signals are presented.Abbreviations AP action potential - DG dentate gyrus - EC entorhinal cortex - ECG electrocardiogram - ERG electroretinogram - LFP local field potentials - MEA microelectrode array - PSTH peri-stimulus–time histogram - SNR signal-to-noise ratio     

On-site fuel electroanalysis: Determination of lead,copper and mercury in fuel bioethanol by anodic stripping voltammetry using screen-printed gold electrodes

The potential application of commercial screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGEs) for the trace determination of lead, copper, and mercury in fuel bioethanol is demonstrated. Samples were simply diluted in 0.067 mol L⁻¹ HCl solution prior to square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) measurements recorded with a portable potentiostat. The proposed method presented a low detection limit (<2 μg L⁻¹) for a 240 s deposition time, linear range between 5 and 300 μg L⁻¹, and adequate recovery values (96–104%) for spiked samples. This analytical method shows great promise for on-site trace metal determination in fuel bioethanol once there is no requirement for sample treatment or electrode modification.     

Assay of anti-coagulant drug warfarin sodium in pharmaceutical formulation and human biological fluids by square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry

The cyclic voltammogram of the anti-coagulant drug warfarin sodium at the hanging mercury drop electrode exhibited a well-defined single two-electron irreversible peak over the pH range 4-7, which may be attributed to the reduction of the CO double bond of the drug molecule. Based on the interfacial adsorptive character of the drug onto the mercury electrode surface, a square-wave cathodic stripping procedure was optimized for its trace determination. The calibration plot was linear over the concentration range of 5×10⁻⁹ to 4×10⁻⁷ M warfarin sodium in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer of pH 5, with limits of detection and quantitation of 6.5×10⁻¹⁰ and 2.1×10⁻⁹ M warfarin sodium, respectively. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for assay of warfarin sodium in its pharmaceutical formulation “hemofarin tablets”, human serum and urine without the necessity for sample pretreatment or time-consuming extraction or evaporation steps, prior to assay of the drug. Limits of detection of 1.1×10⁻⁹ and 1.3×10⁻⁸ M warfarin sodium were achieved, while limits of quanitation of 3.7×10⁻⁹ and 4.3×10⁻⁸ M warfarin sodium were estimated in human serum and urine, respectively. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the drug were studied and the estimated pharmacokinetic parameters were favorably compared with those reported in literature.     

H-point standard addition method applied to solid-state stripping voltammetry: quantitation of lead and tin in archaeological glazes

A solid-state electrochemical application of the H-point standard addition method to the quantification of two depositable metals A and B, which produce strongly overlapped stripping peaks, is described. The method is based on the mechanical transference of mixtures of the solid sample plus a selected compound, of a reference depositable metal R, and of known amounts of a reference material containing A or B, to paraffin-impregnated graphite electrodes. After a reductive deposition step, voltammograms recorded for those modified electrodes immersed into a suitable electrolyte produce stripping peaks for the oxidation of all of the metals deposited. Measurement of the currents at selected potentials in overlapping peaks corresponding to the stripping of A and B permits the quantitation of these metals in the solid sample, while avoiding matrix effects. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of Pb and Sn in archaeological glazes using PbCO₃ and SnO₂ as standards and ZnO as a reference material.      

Significance of data treatment and experimental setup on the determination of copper complexing parameters by anodic stripping voltammetry

Different procedures of voltammetric peak intensities determination, as well as various experimental setups were systematically tested on simulated and real experimental data in order to identify critical points in the determination of copper complexation parameters (ligand concentration and conditional stability constant) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Varieties of titration data sets (Cu_measuredvs. Cu_total) were fitted by models encompassing discrete sites distribution of one-class and two-class of binding ligands (by PROSECE software). Examination of different procedures for peak intensities determination applied on voltammograms with known preset values revealed that tangent fit (TF) routine should be avoided, as for both simulated and experimental titration data it produced an additional class of strong ligand (actually not present). Peak intensities determination by fitting of the whole voltammogram was found to be the most appropriate, as it provided most reliable complexation parameters.Tests performed on real seawater samples under different experimental conditions revealed that in addition to importance of proper peak intensities determination, an accumulation time (control of the sensitivity) and an equilibration time needed for complete complexation of added copper during titration (control of complexation kinetics) are the keypoints to obtain reliable results free of artefacts.The consequence of overestimation and underestimation of complexing parameters is supported and illustrated by the example of free copper concentrations (the most bioavailable/toxic specie) calculated for all studied cases. Errors up to 80% of underestimation of free copper concentration and almost two orders of magnitude overestimation of conditional stability constant were registered for the simulated case with two ligands.     

Multivariate analytical sensitivity in the determination of selenium, copper, lead and cadmium by stripping voltammetry when using soft calibration

A new approach to the multivariate sensitivity concept based on the determination of the capability of discrimination of a method of analysis is shown. Thus the analytical sensitivity is defined in this work by the analyte concentration that a analytical method is able to discriminate, which implies the estimation of the ‘false noncompliance’ and ‘false compliance’. In this approach the estimation of the multivariate analytical sensitivity is independent of scale factors and calibration models, and allows one to study the behavior of a analytical method for several concentrations and matrix. The estimation of this parameter in the simultaneous determination of selenium, copper, lead and cadmium by stripping voltammetry when using soft calibration is carried out, showing that different multivariate analytical sensitivities are obtained for each metal.