Detection of Trace Heavy Metal Ions Using Carbon Nanotube‐ Modified Electrodes

A sensitive voltammetric method for detection of trace heavy metal ions using chemically modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) electrode surfaces is described. The CNTs were covalently modified with cysteine prior to casting on electrode surfaces. Cysteine is an amino acid with high affinities towards some heavy metals. In this assay, heavy metals ions accumulated on the cysteine‐modified CNT electrode surfaces prior to being subjected to differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry analysis. The resulting peak currents were linearly related to the concentrations of the metal ions. The method was optimized with respect to accumulation time, reduction time and reduction potential. The detection limits were found to be 1 ppb and 15 ppb for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ respectively. The technique was used for the detection of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in spiked lake water. The average recoveries of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ were 96.2% and 94.5% with relative standard deviations of 8.43% and 7.53% respectively. The potential for simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions by the modified CNTs was also demonstrated.     

Nafion汞膜修饰电极用于阳极溶出伏安法测定痕量铋的研究

本文报道了Nafion汞膜修饰电极及其用于阳极溶出伏安法测定未处理尿样,水样及土样中痕量铋的研究。样品中常共存的Pb(Ⅱ)、Sb(Ⅲ )等19种阳离子及尿样中共存的有机物在实验条件下不干扰。本法不仅选择性好,而且灵敏度也较高。线性范围为2×10~(-10)～1×10~(-7)mol/L。回收率为94～105％。     

High‐Sensitivity Determination of Lead(II) and Cadmium(II) Based on the CNTs‐PSS/Bi Composite Film Electrode

A high‐sensitivity sensing platform for lead(II) and cadmium(II) based on the bismuth modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs)‐poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) composite film electrode (CNTs‐PSS/Bi) was fabricated. The composite film CNTs‐PSS/Bi provided remarkably improved sensitivity and reproducibility compared with previously reported CNTs‐modified electrodes. The detection limits were estimated to be 0.04 ppb for lead(II) and 0.02 ppb for cadmium(II) with a preconcentration time of 120 s, respectively. The linear responses of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were over the ranges of 0.5–50 ppb and 0.5–90 ppb, respectively. Finally, the practical application of the proposed method was verified in the real water sample with satisfactory results.     

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.     

丁二酮肟修饰碳糊电极阳极溶出伏安法测定痕量铋

报道了用丁二酮肟修饰碳糊电极测定微量铋的电分析方法。Bi~(3+)通过与电极表面的丁二酮肟作用而富集在电极表面,同时在-0.40 V(vs.SCE)还原成零价,当电极电势从-0.40 V向0.40 V扫描时,被还原的铋从电极表面溶出,在0.03 V出现一个十分灵敏的阳极溶出峰。优化了各种实验参数,如支持电解质的选择及pH值、丁二酮肟的用量、富集电位及时间等。修饰电极测定铋的线性范围为1×10~(-9)～1×10~(-6)mol/L。富集6 min后检出限可达4×10~(-10)mol/L。该方法简便快速,灵敏度高,分析成本低廉,并成功应用于实际水样中微量铋的测定。     

Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Trace Heavy Metals in Real Water Using Multi‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes/Nafion Composite Film Electrode

Multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Nafion composite film (MWCNTs/Nafion) were used for fabricating electrochemical sensors for the voltammetric detection of trace lead(II) and cadmium(II) in several water samples. The morphology and structure of MWCNTs/Nafion film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectrum (IR). The electron transfer of MWCNTs/Nafion composite film was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). Various experimental parameters, which influenced the response of MWCNTs/Nafion/GC to target metals, were optimized. The results showed that the synergistic effect was obtained on the MWCNTs/Nafion/GC whose sensitivity and stability were better than those of Nafion‐coated electrode (Nafion/GC) or CNTs/GC. Stability of the Pb(II) and Cd(II) stripping signals was excellent with relative standard deviations (RSD) within 5% (n=10) from one electrode preparation to another, and RSD of 30 µg·L^?1 Pb(II) and Cd(II) were 2.8% and 3.2% for 20 repeated analysis on one single CNTs/Nafion/GC. Over 50 runs, the stability of Pb and Cd detection at the MWCNTs/Nafion conposites electrode was still satisfactory with RSD lower than 6.0%. The determination limits (S/N=3) of the proposed method were determined to be 100 ng·L^?1 for Pb and 150 ng·L^?1 for Cd. Finally, the MWCNTs/Nafion/GC was successfully applied to determine Pb(II) and Cd(II) in different water samples with recoveries of 97%–103% for Pb and 96%–104% for Cd.     

Facile and Simultaneous Stripping Determination of Zinc,Cadmium and Lead on Disposable Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Screen‐Printed Electrode

Screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) are cheap and disposable. But their application for heavy metal detection is limited due to the low sensitivity and poor selectivity. Here we report the ultrasensitive and simultaneous determination of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes and Nafion composite modified SPE with in situ plated bismuth film (MWCNTs/NA/Bi/SPE). The linear curves range from 0.5–100 µg L^?1 for Zn²⁺ and 0.5–80 µg L^?1 for Cd²⁺. Uniquely, the linear curve for Pb²⁺ ranges from 0.05–100 µg L^?1 with a detection limit of 0.01 µg L^?1. The practical application was verified in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Sensitive Stripping Determination of Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) on Disposable Graphene Modified Screen‐Printed Electrode

In the present work, a sensitive, facile and disposable sensing platform for trace analysis of heavy metal ions was developed at the Bi modified graphene‐poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) composite film screen printed electrode (GR/PSS/Bi/SPE). The GR/PSS/Bi/SPE improved sensitivity and linearity due to the functionalization of graphene with negatively charged PSS providing more absorbing sites. The detection limit of the GR/PSS/Bi/SPE is found to be 0.042 µg L^?1 for Cd²⁺ and 0.089 µg L^?1 for Pb²⁺ with linear responses of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in the range of 0.5–120 µg L^?1. Finally, the practical application was confirmed in real water with satisfactory results.     

A Novel Cell Design for the Improved Stripping Voltammetric Detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) on Commercial Screen‐Printed Strips by Bismuth Codeposition in Stirred Solutions

A novel electrochemical cell design is proposed to allow fast, reproducible and highly efficient convective transport of dissolved substances to screen‐printed electrochemical three‐electrode strips mounted on miniaturized plastic vessels, with the goal of improving detection limits in disposable electrochemical stripping field sensors. The experimental configuration has been tested for accumulation of the selected heavy metals ions Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), codeposited with bismuth ions on a carbon disk screen‐printed working electrode before detection by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Chemical and instrumental variables of the proposed device and associate electrochemical method were optimized. Selected parameters gave detection limits in the low ng mL^?1 range with moderate deposition time (120 s). Practical applicability was tested on certified water and real samples (tap water and waste water), with acceptable results, suggesting potential usefulness for field environmental monitoring of heavy metals.     

Modification of carbon screen-printed electrodes by adsorption of chemically synthesized Bi nanoparticles for the voltammetric stripping detection of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II)

A simple procedure for the chemical synthesis of bismuth nanoparticles and subsequent adsorption on commercial screen-printed carbon electrodes offer reliable quantitation of trace zinc, cadmium and lead by anodic stripping square-wave voltammetry in nondeareated water samples. The influence of two hydrodynamic configurations (convective cell and flow cell) and the effect of various experimental variables upon the stripping signals at the bismuth-coated sensor are explored. The square-wave peak current signal is linear over the low ng mL⁻¹ range (120 s deposition), with detections limits ranging from 0.9 to 4.9 ng mL⁻¹ and good precision. Applicability to waste water certified reference material and drinking water samples is demonstrated. The attractive behaviour of the new disposable Bi nanoparticles modified carbon strip electrodes, coupled with the negligible toxicity of bismuth, hold great promise for decentralized heavy metal testing in environmental and industrial effluents waters.     

Determination of Lead(II) Using Screen‐Printed Bismuth‐Antimony Film Electrode

This work presents a disposable bismuth‐antimony film electrode fabricated on screen‐printed electrode (SPE) substrates for lead(II) determination. This bismuth‐antimony film screen‐printed electrode (Bi‐SbSPE) is simply prepared by simultaneously in situ depositing bismuth(III) and antimony(III) with analytes on the homemade SPE. The Bi‐SbSPE can provide an enhanced electrochemical stripping signal for lead(II) compared to bismuth film screen‐printed electrodes (BiSPE), antimony film screen‐printed electrodes (SbSPE) and bismuth‐antimony film glassy carbon electrodes (Bi‐SbGC). Under optimized conditions, the Bi‐SbSPE exhibits attractive linear responses towards lead(II) with a detection limit of 0.07 µg/L. The Bi‐SbSPE has been demonstrated successfully to detect lead in river water sample.     

Influence of Nafion Coatings and Surfactant on the Stripping Voltammetry of Heavy Metals at Bismuth‐Film Modified Carbon Film Electrodes

Nafion polymer coated bismuth‐film‐modified carbon film electrodes have been investigated for reducing the influence of contaminants such as surfactants in the anodic stripping voltammetry of trace metal ions. The influence of the coating on electrode response has been tested with both ex situ and in situ bismuth film deposition, with and without the polymer coating. The electrode assemblies and interfacial characteristics in the presence of the non‐ionic surfactant Triton‐X‐100 have been probed with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Nafion coating successfully decreases the adsorption of Triton on the bismuth film surface, and demonstrates that this strategy allows measurement of these trace metals in environmental samples containing surfactants.     

Ex Situ Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) Investigation of Bismuth‐ and Bismuth/Lead Alloy Film‐Modified Gold Electrodes in Alkaline Medium

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in feedback mode was employed to characterise the reactivity and microscopic peculiarities of bismuth and bismuth/lead alloys plated onto gold disk substrates in 0.1 mol L^?1 NaOH solutions. Methyl viologen was used as redox mediator, while a platinum microelectrode was employed as the SECM tip. The metal films were electrodeposited ex situ from NaOH solutions containing either bismuth ions only or both bismuth and lead ions. Approach curves and SECM images indicated that the metal films were conductive and locally reactive with oxygen to provide Bi³⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. The occurrence of the latter chemical reactions was verified by local anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at the substrate solution interface by using a mercury‐coated platinum SECM tip. The latter types of measurements allowed also verifying that lead was not uniformly distributed onto the bismuth film electrode substrate. These findings were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy images. The surface heterogeneity produced during the metal deposition process, however, did not affect the analytical performance of the bismuth coated gold electrode in anodic stripping voltammetry for the determination of lead in alkaline media, even in aerated aqueous solutions. Under the latter conditions, stripping peak currents proportional to lead concentration with a satisfactory reproducibility (within 5 % RSD) were obtained.     

Nafion Coated Silver Amalgam Electrode for Determination of Trace Metals by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

This paper describes characterization and application of Nafion coated solid silver amalgam electrodes to prevent surface fouling of surfactants in determination of trace metals by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Polymer films of different thickness were tested using Nafion solutions in the range 0.25%–1%. Optimum thickness was archived using a 0.5% Nafion solution, resulting in both increased response and stability over time compared to uncoated electrodes. The influence of model surface active macromolecules was studied using triton X‐100, sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyl pyridinium chloride and bovine serum albumin as representatives for surfactants. The resistance to surfactants makes the studied Nafion coated solid silver amalgam electrodes an interesting alternative for practical use in environmental monitoring.     

Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium,Lead, Copper,and Thallium in Highly Saline Samples by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) Using Mercury‐Film and Bismuth‐Film Electrodes

This paper describes a comparative study of the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Tl(I), and Cu(II) in highly saline samples (seawater, hydrothermal fluids, and dialysis concentrates) by ASV using the mercury‐film electrode (MFE) and the bismuth‐film electrode (BiFE) as working electrodes. The features of MFE and BiFE as working electrodes for the single‐run ASV determinations are shown and their performances are compared with that of HMDE under similar conditions. It was observed that the stripping peak of Tl(I) was well separated from Cd(II) and Pb(II) peaks in all the studied saline samples when MFE was used. Because of the severe overlapping of Bi(III) and Cu(II) stripping peaks in the ASV using BiFE, as well as the overlapping of Pb(II) and Tl(I) stripping peaks in the ASV using HMDE, the simultaneous determination of these metals was not possible in highly saline medium using these both working electrodes. The detection limits calculated for the metals using MFE and BiFE (deposition time of 60 s) were between 0.043 and 0.070 μg L^?1 for Cd(II), between 0.060 and 0.10 μg L^?1 for Pb(II) and between 0.70 and 8.12 μg L^?1 for Tl(I) in the saline samples studied. The detection limits calculated for Cu(II) using the MFE were 0.15 and 0.50 μg L^?1 in seawater/hydrothermal fluid and dialysis concentrate samples, respectively. The methods were applied to the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Tl(I), and Cu(II) in samples of seawater, hydrothermal fluids and dialysis concentrates.     

铅镉重金属离子在铋膜电极上的相互影响

采用原位镀铋电极的方式,以玻碳电极为工作电极,通过改变Cd2+和Pb2+的比例,考察不同Pb2+和Cd2+浓度条件下,两者同时存在时的相互影响。实验发现,Cd2+和Pb2+同时存在时,存在相互的影响,特别是对于Cd2+的检测,由于Pb2+较正的析出电位,对于Cd2+的析出有一定的辅助作用。考察了Cd2+和Pb2+单独存在时的分析性能,Pb2+沉积时间为60 s时,在1~80μg/L范围内呈线性关系,检出限为0.5μg/L;Cd2+的沉积时间为120 s,在1~25μg/L和30~200μg/L范围内有良好的线性关系,检出限为1.0μg/L。考察了铋膜电极在不同实际水样中对Pb2+和Cd2+的分析,获得了较好的一致性。     

Nafion—玻碳修饰电极阴极溶出伏安法测定痕量铋的研究

研究并提出在HNO_3-NaCl-硫脲(Tu)体系中,Nafion/玻碳(Gc)修饰电极阴极溶出伏安法测定痕量鉍的方法。表明Tu具络合协同作用,使Nation阳离子交换能力提高。本法检出限为5×10~(-9)mol/L Bi~(3+)(td:5min),电极表面易于再生,文中研究了电极过程机理,计算得[Bi(Tu)_6]~(3+)在Nafion膜中的分配系数(K_D),扩散系数(D)和选择性系数(K_H~[Bi(Tu)_6~+]~(3+))分别为7.57×10~5,5.9×10~(-11)cm~2/s及3.39。     

Novel Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Trace Gallium(III) with Presence of Catechol Using Mercury Film Silver Based Electrode

A new adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of trace gallium(III) based on the adsorption of gallium(III)‐catechol complex on the cyclic renewable mercury film silver based electrode (Hg(Ag)FE) is presented. The effects of various factors such as: preconcentration potential and time, pulse height, step potential and supporting electrolyte composition are optimized. The calibration graph is linear from 2 nM (0.14 μg L^?1) to 100 nM (6.97 μg L^?1) for a preconcentration time of 30 s, with correlation coefficient of 0.9993. For a Hg(Ag)FE with a surface area of 9.7 mm² the detection limit for a preconcentration time of 90 s is as low as 7 ng L^?1. The repeatability of the method at a concentration level of the analyte as low as 0.05 μg L^?1, expressed as RSD is 3.6% (n=5). The proposed method was successfully applied by studying the natural samples and simultaneous recovery of Ga(III) from spiked water and sediment samples.     

Bismuth Film Microelectrode Modified with Overoxidized Poly‐1‐Naphtylamine Protective Membrane for Enhanced Stripping Voltammetric Detection

The application of protective overoxidized poly‐1‐naphtylamine membrane (ONAP) is demonstrated in combination with bismuth film microelectrode (ONAP‐BiFME) for anodic stripping voltammetric measurement of trace heavy metals in the presence of some selected surfactants. The ONAP membrane was electrochemically deposited on the surface of bare single carbon fiber microelectrode followed by the in situ or ex situ preparation of the bismuth film. The key operational parameters influencing the stripping performance of the ONAP‐BiFME were optimized and its electroanalytical performance was examined in the model solution containing Cd(II) and Pb(II) as test metal ions. The ONAP‐BiFME exhibited significantly enhanced stripping voltammetric response (approximately 70% for Cd(II) and 45% for Pb(II)) in comparison with unmodified BiFME in the absence of surfactants. In the presence of high concentrations, e.g., 20 mg L^?1, of anionic or cationic surfactants, the stripping signal for, e.g., Cd(II) decreased for less than 6% at the ONAP‐BiFME, whereas at the unmodified BiFME the signal attenuated considerably (approximately 38%). Moreover, in the presence of 10 mg L^?1 of nonionic surfactant Triton X‐100, the stripping signals at the bare BiFME were almost completely suppressed, whereas at the ONAP‐BiFME exhibited linear concentration behavior in the examined concentration range from 10 to 120 μg L^?1, with the calculated limit of detection of 5.0 μg L^?1 and 3.4 μg L^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively in connection with 60 s accumulation time. The attractive behavior of ONAP‐modified BiFME expands the applicability of bismuth‐based electrodes for measurement of trace heavy metals in real environments, where the presence of more complex matrix can be expected.