Determination of Trace Amounts of Copper in Tap Water Samples with a Calix[4]arene Modified Carbon Paste Electrode by Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

A calix[4]arene modified carbon paste electrode was used for trace determination of copper. The study of the preconcentration of copper as well as the other heavy metal ions at the modified electrode, with subsequent measurement by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), indicates the efficient open‐circuit accumulation of the analytes onto the electrode. Many parameters such as the composition of the paste, pH, preconcentration time and stirring rate influence the response of the measurement. The procedure was optimized for copper determination. For a 10‐minute preconcentration time at pH 6.5–7.5, the detection limit (LOD) was 1.1 μg L^?1. The optimized method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in tap water sample by means of standard addition procedure. The copper content of the sample was comparable with the result obtained with AAS method.     

Stripping Voltammetry of Mercury(II) with a Chemically Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Containing Silica Gel Functionalized with 2,5‐Dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole

The accumulation voltammetry of mercury(II) was investigated at a carbon paste electrode chemically modified with silica gel functionalized with 2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (DTTPSG‐CPE). The repetitive cyclic voltammogram of mercury(II) solution in the potential range ?0.2 to +0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), (0.02 mol L^?1 KNO₃ ; v=20 mV s^?1) show two peaks one at about 0.0 V and other at 0.31 V. However, the cathodic wave peak, around 0.0 V, is irregular and changes its form in each cycle. This peak at about 0.0 V is the reduction current for mercury(II) accumulated in the DTTPSG‐CPE. The anodic wave peak at 0.31 V is well‐defined and does not change during the cycles. The resultant material was characterized by cyclic and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry performed with the electrode in differents supporting electrolytes. The mercury response was evaluated with respect to pH, electrode composition, preconcentration time, mercury concentration, “cleaning” solution, possible interferences and other variables. The precision for six determinations (n=6) of 0.05 and 0.20 mg L^?1 Hg(II) was 2.8 and 2.2% (relative standard deviation), respectively. The method was satisfactory and used to determine the concentration of mercury(II) in natural waters contaminated by this metal.     

Determination of Trace Tl(I) by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry on Novel Disposable Microfabricated Bismuth‐Film Sensors

This work reports the trace determination of Tl(I) by square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) on novel microsensors equipped with a bismuth‐film electrode (BiFE). The sensors were fabricated by a multistep microfabrication approach combining sputtering (to deposit the electrode materialm, bismuth‐ and the insulator SiO₂, on the surface of a silicon wafer) and photolithography (to define the geometry of the sensor). The effect of the preconcentration time, the preconcentration potential and the SW stripping parameters were investigated. Using the selected conditions, the 3σ limit of detection was 0.6 µg L^?1 of Tl(I) at a preconcentration time of 240 s and the percent relative standard deviation was 4.3 % at the 10 µg L^?1 level (n=8). In order to eliminate the interference caused by Pb(II) and Cd(II), EDTA was added in the sample solution The method was successfully applied to the determination of Tl(I) in a certified lake water sample. These new sensors exhibit excellent mechanical stability and offer wide scope as mercury‐free disposable sensors for trace metal analysis.     

Chemical Speciation of Antimony(III and V) in Water by Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry Using the 4‐(2‐Thiazolylazo) – Resorcinol

A simple adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry method has been developed for antimony (III and V) speciation using 4‐(2‐thiazolylazo) – resorcinol (TAR). The methodology involves controlled preconcentration at pH 5, during which antimony(III) – TAR complex is adsorbed onto a hanging mercury drop electrode followed by measuring the cathodic peak current (I_p,c) at ?0.39 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode. The plot of I_p,c versus antimony(III) concentration was linear in the range 1.35×10^?9–9.53×10^?8 mol L^?1.The LOD and LOQ for Sb(III) were found 4.06×10^?10 and 1.35×10^?9 mol L^?1, respectively. Antimony(V) species after reduction to antimony(III) with Na₂SO₃ were also determined. Analysis of antimony in environment water samples was applied satisfactorily.     

Palladium Particles‐Impregnated Natural Phosphate Electrodes for Electrochemical Determination of Mercury in Ambient Water Samples

We present here a simple procedure for the determination of mercury(II) using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) at palladium particles‐impregnated natural phosphate modified carbon paste electrodes (Pd‐NP‐CPE). The surface of modified electrode was characterized using SEM, infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and electrochemical analysis. All experimental variables involved in the voltammetric stripping method were optimized. The detection limit was found to be 4.99×10^?8 mol L^?1 (S/N=3) that is not different to the permitted value for Hg(II) in water reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposed electrode exhibits good applicability for monitoring Hg(II) in tap and wastewater.     

Selective and Sensitive Determination of Uranyl Ions in Complex Matrices by Ion Imprinted Polymers‐Based Electrochemical Sensor

We report on the design of a UO₂²⁺‐selective electrode based on the use of UO₂²⁺ imprinted polymer nanoparticles (IP‐NPs), and its application for the differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry determination of uranyl ions. A carbon paste electrode was modified with the IP‐NPs, and differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry was applied as the detection technique after open‐circuit sorption of UO₂²⁺ ions. The modified electrode responses to UO₂²⁺ was linear in the 0.1 µg L^?1 to 10 µg L^?1 and in the 0.01 mg L^?1 to 10 mg L^?1. The method detection limit of the sensor was 0.03 µg L^?1.     

Voltammetric Determination of Mercury(II) at Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Film Electrode. Effect of Halide Ions

The well‐known method for the determination of mercury(II), which is based on the anodic stripping voltammetry of mercury(II), has been adapted for applications at the thin film poly(3‐hexylthiophene) polymer electrode. Halide ions have been found to increase the sensitivity of the mercury response and shift it more positive potentials. This behavior is explained by formation of mercuric halide which can be easily deposited and stripped from the polymer electrode surface. The procedure was optimized for mercury determination. For 120 s accumulation time, detection limit of 5 ng mL^?1 mercury(II) has been observed. The relative standard deviation is 1.3% at 40 ng mL^?1 mercury(II). The performance of the polymer film studied in this work was evaluated in the presence of surfactants and some potential interfering metal ions such as cadmium, lead, copper and nickel.     

Enhanced Resolution of Copper and Bismuth by Addition of Gallium in Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with the Bismuth Film Electrode

This paper presents the enhanced analysis of copper on a bismuth electrode upon addition of gallium(III). The presence of gallium alleviates the problems of overlapping stripping signals usually observed between copper and bismuth when using the Bismuth Film Electrode. In addition, it has been found that the presence of gallium improves the reproducibility of the bismuth stripping signal. Simultaneous deposition of copper and bismuth at ?1500 mV for 2 minutes in a supporting electrolyte composed of 0.1 M pH 4.75 acetate buffer with 250 μg L^?1 gallium yields well resolved copper and bismuth signals when analyzed with square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Simultaneous analysis of copper and lead yielded linear calibration plots in the range 10 to 100 μg L^?1 with regression coefficients of 0.997 and 0.994 respectively. The theoretical detection limit for copper was calculated to be 4.98 μg L^?1 utilizing a 2 minutes deposition time. The relative standard deviation for a copper concentration of 50 μg L^?1 was 1.6% (n=10).     

Voltammetric Sensing of Mercury and Copper Cations at Poly(EDTA‐like) Film Modified Electrode

Complexing polymer‐coated electrodes have been synthesized by oxidative electropolymerization of ethylenediamine tetra‐N‐(3‐pyrrole‐1‐yl)propylacetamide (monomer L ). The presence of four polymerizable pyrrole fragments on the same EDTA skeleton was thought to confer enhanced rigidity and controlled dimensionality to the resulting complexing materials, which were used for the electrochemical detection of Hg(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions by means of the chemical preconcentration‐anodic stripping technique. The polyamide electrode material showed particularly a significant selectivity towards mercury ions, even in the presence of a large excess of other metal cations. Moreover, the use of imprinted polymer‐coated electrodes prepared by electropolymerization of L in the presence of metal cations turned out to significantly improve the detection limits, down to 5×10^?10 mol L^?1 for Hg(II) and Cu(II) species.     

Pt‐Nanoparticle Incorporated Carbon Paste Electrode for the Determination of Cu(II) Ion by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Pt‐nanoparticles were synthesized and introduced into a carbon paste electrode (CPE), and the resulting modified electrode was applied to the anodic stripping voltammetry of copper(II) ions. The synthesized Pt‐nanoparticles were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques to confirm the purity and the size of the prepared Pt‐nanoparticles (ca. 20 nm). This incorporated material seems to act as catalysts with preconcentration sites for copper(II) species that enhances the sensitivity of Cu(II) ions to Cu(I) species at a deposition potential of ?0.6 V in an aqueous solution. The experimental conditions, such as, the electrode composition, pH of the solution, pre‐concentration time, were optimized for the determination of Cu(II) ion using as‐prepared electrode. The sensitivity changes on the different binder materials and the presence of surfactants in the test solution. The interference effect of the coexisted metals were also investigated. In the presence of surfactants, especially TritonX‐100, the Cu(II) detection limit was lowered to 3.9×10^?9 M. However, the Pt‐nanoparticle modified CPE begins to degrade when the period of deposition exceeds to 10 min. Linear response for copper(II) was found in the concentration range between 3.9×10^?8 M and 1.6×10^?6 M, with an estimated detection limit of 1.6×10^?8 M (1.0 ppb) and relative standard deviation was 4.2% (n=5).     

Simultaneous Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Nickel(II) and Cobalt(II) at an In Situ Bismuth‐Modified Gold Electrode

A study on the simultaneous determination of Ni(II) and Co(II) dimethylglyoximates (Ni‐DMG and Co‐DMG) through adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry at an in situ bismuth‐modified gold electrode (Bi‐AuE) is reported. The key operational parameters, such as Bi(III) concentration, accumulation potential and accumulation time were optimized and the morphology of the Bi‐microcrystals deposited on the Au‐electrode was studied. The Bi‐AuE allowed convenient analysis of trace concentrations of solely Ni(II) or of Ni(II) and Co(II) together, with cathodic stripping voltammograms characterized by well‐separated stripping peaks. The calculated limit of detection (LOD) was 40 ng L^?1 for Ni(II) alone, whereas the LOD was 98 ng L^?1 for Ni(II) and 58 ng L^?1 for Co(II), when both metal ions were measured together. The optimized method was finally applied to the analysis of certified spring water (NIST1640a) and of natural water sampled in the Lagoon of Venice. The results obtained with the Bi‐AuE were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values and with those provided by complementary techniques, i.e., ICP‐OES and ICP‐MS.     

Water hyacinth modified carbon paste electrode for simultaneous electrochemical stripping analysis of Cd (II) and Pb (II)

In this study, we demonstrated a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of Pb (II) and Cd (II) in aqueous solution using carbon paste electrode modified with Eichhornia crassipes powder by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The effect of modifier composition, pH, preconcentration time, reduction potential and time, and type of supporting electrolyte on the determination of metal ions were investigated. Pre-concentration on the modified surface was performed at open circuit. The modified electrode exhibited well-defined and separate stripping peaks for Pb (II) and Cd (II). Under optimum experimental conditions, a linear range for both metal ions was from 10 to 5000 μg L^?1 with the detection limits of 4.9 μg L^?1, 2.1 μg L^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb (II), respectively. The modified electrode was found to be sensitive and selective when applied to determine trace amounts of Cd (II) and Pb (II) in natural water samples.     

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.     

Lead Determination by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using a p‐Phenylenediamine Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

Carbon paste electrodes were modified by mixing appropriate amounts of the monomers o‐phenylendiamine, p‐phenylendiamine and m‐phenylendiamine (o‐PD, p‐PD and m‐PD) into a graphite powder‐paraffin oil matrix. The electropolymerization of the incorporated phenylendiamine was then carried out in a carbon paste electrode in acidic medium by cyclic voltammetry between ?0.30 V and +0.90 or under constant potential. The modified carbon paste electrodes (MCPEs) obtained by this electropolymerization method were found to be useful for trace determination of Pb²⁺ in aqueous solutions. Lead(II) was first preconcentrated on the modified electrodes by complexation with the modifier, and the electrode was then transferred to an electrochemical cell. The best results in terms of sensitivity and detection limit were obtained with poly p‐phenylenediamine (poly (p‐PD)). For a 10‐min preconcentration time, the calibration plot was linear from 5×10^?8 mol L^?1 to 10^?5 mol L^?1, with r²=0.999 and relative standard deviation equal to 5%. However, the lowest lead concentration that could be detected was 10^?9 mol L^?1. Interference from metal ions like Cd(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), Fe(II) and Cu(II) was also studied.     

Determination of Selenium Traces on Cyclic Renewable Mercury Film Silver Electrode in Presence of Copper Ions Using Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

The new cyclic renewable mercury film silver based electrode (Hg(Ag)FE), applied for the determination of selenium(IV) traces in the presence of copper ions using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DP CSV) is presented. The preparation of the Hg(Ag)FE is very simple. 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 0.5 nM (39 ng L^?1) to 100 nM (7.9 μg L^?1) for a preconcentration time of 45 s, with correlation coefficient of 0.9995. For a Hg(Ag)FE with a surface area of 8 mm² the detection limit for a preconcentration time of 90 s is as low as 17 ng L^?1. The repeatability of the method at a concentration level of the analyte as low as 2 μg L^?1, expressed as RSD is 2.7% (n=7). The proposed method was successfully applied and validated by studying the certified reference material (bovine liver BCR‐185) and simultaneously recovery of Se(IV) from spiked water samples.     

Bismuth‐Coated Iridium Microwire Electrode for the Determination of Trace Metals by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

This work reports the utility of an iridium microwire plated in situ with a bismuth film for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The experimental variables (concentration of the bismuth plating solution, preconcentration potential, accumulation time) were investigated. The limit of detection was 1 µg L^?1 for Pb(II) and 1.5 µg L^?1 for Cd(II) (at 300 s of preconcentration) and the % relative standard deviations were lower than 4.9 % and 5.5 %, respectively, at the 20 µg L^?1 level (n=8). In addition, a study was made of coating the iridium‐based bismuth‐film microsensor with a film of Nafion for operation in the presence of surfactants. Finally, the electrode was applied to the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in wastewater and tapwater samples.     

Voltammetric Determination of Acibenzolar‐S‐Methyl Using a Renewable Silver Amalgam Film Electrode

Acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (ASM) is a novel fungicide applied for crop protection. A renewable silver amalgam film electrode was used for the determination of ASM in pH 3.4 Britton? Robinson buffer using square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SW AdSV). The parameters of the method were optimized. The electroanalytical procedure made possible to determine ASM in the concentration range of 5×10^?8–3×10^?7 mol L^?1 (LOD=4.86×10^?9, LOQ=1.62×10^?8 mol L^?1). The effect of common interfering pesticides and heavy metal ions was checked. The validated method was applied in ASM determination in spiked water samples.     

The Use of the Bismuth Film Electrode for the Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Tin

Bismuth coated glassy carbon electrodes have been applied to the square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) of trace concentrations of tin. Optimization of Bismuth Film Electrode (BFE) performance was conducted after initial comparison with the more traditional mercury electrode. Simultaneous deposition of tin and bismuth at ?1.3 V for 2 minutes in a supporting electrolyte of 2.5 M sodium bromide utilizing a square‐wave stripping step, allowed analysis of tin at the μg L^?1 level. Parameters, such as deposition potential and time, bismuth concentration, square‐waveform settings including amplitude, step height and frequency were studied and optimized. The dependence of stripping current on deposition time indicates that using longer deposition time should facilitate sub μg L^?1 analysis. Tin was analyzed simultaneously with cadmium and either indium or thallium; Where as lead and copper were not resolved from the stripping peaks of tin and bismuth respectively. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of tin in fruit juice.     

Remote Stripping Analysis of Lead and Copper by a Mercury‐Coated Platinum Microelectrode

The performance of a remote stripping sensor based on mercury microelectrodes (MM‐RS) for the in situ detection of trace metals in aquatic systems, was investigated. The submersible device employed here consists of a single mercury‐coated platinum disk microelectrode assembled in a two‐electrode cell configuration, and connected remotely by a 30 m long shielded cable. First, the MM‐RS device is characterized in Ru(NH₃) and Pb²⁺ synthetic aqueous solutions by applying cyclic voltammetry and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), respectively. The results obtained show that the small electrode dimensions and the related low currents involved, the long remote connection cable or the use of a two‐electrode system do not cause noise effects or uncompensated resistance problems in the measurements. Using square‐wave voltammetry in the stripping step, linear calibration graphs for Pb²⁺ ions over the concentration range 1×10^?9?5×10^?7 M were obtained, and a detection limit, DL, of 0.15 nM was found. The relative standard deviation (RSD), at 5×10^?8 M Pb²⁺ level, was within 5%. The effect of humic acid and of sodium dodecylsulfate surfactants on the stripping responses was also investigated. The performance of the submersible MM‐RS system was tested for the in situ monitoring of the labile fraction of lead and copper on a site of the Lagoon of Venice. In situ Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ concentrations were monitored for about 8 hours, by leaving the sensor immersed in the lagoon waters (2 m depth) and recording the response every hour. Under these field conditions, reliable in situ data for the labile fraction of these metal ions with a satisfactory precision, the RSD being within 7 and 9 % for lead and copper, respectively, were obtained.     

Recent Advances in Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with Bismuth‐Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

In this article, the results of some recent investigations on two types of bismuth‐modified carbon paste electrodes are presented. In the first study, the bismuth‐film carbon paste electrode (BiF‐CPE) operated in situ and employed in anodic stripping voltammetry of Cd(II) and Pb(II) at the low μg L^?1 level was of interest in view of choosing the proper Bi(III)‐to‐Me(II) concentration ratios (where Me: Pb or Cd). Such optimization has resulted in significant improvement of detection limits down to 1.0 μg L^?1 Cd and 0.8 μg L^?1 for Pb, which allowed us to apply the BiF‐CPE for analysis of selected real samples of tap and sea water. The BiF‐CPE was also further investigated for its application in highly alkaline media. In this case, attention was focused on the complex‐forming capabilities of the OH ^– ions and their effect on the anodic stripping characteristics of some heavy metals (i.e. Cd, Pb, Tl) as well as upon the formation of the bismuth film itself. The last example deals with the continuing characterization of the recently introduced carbon paste electrodes modified with bismuth powder (Bi‐CPEs) which combine the advantageous properties of carbon paste material with the favorable electrochemical properties of bismuth. Three series of electrodes, differing either in the content of metallic bismuth (from 8 to 50% w/w) or in the type of the carbon powder used (two spectroscopic types of graphite and powdered glassy carbon), were compared and the respective relations to the optimal carbon paste composition evaluated. Attractive electroanalytical performance of the Bi‐CPE in anodic stripping voltammetry is demonstrated for selected model mixtures of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Tl, and In).