Anodic stripping voltammetry of antimony at unmodified carbon electrodes

Antimony is an element of significant environmental concern, yet has been neglected relative to other heavy metals in electroanalysis. As such very little research has been reported on the electroanalytical determination of antimony at unmodified carbon electrodes. In this paper we report the electrochemical determination of Sb(III) in HCl solutions using unmodified carbon substrates, with focus on non-classical carbon materials namely edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG), boron doped diamond (BDD) and screen-printed electrodes (SPE). Using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, EPPG was found to give a considerably greater response towards antimony than other unmodified carbon electrodes, allowing highly linear ranges in nanomolar concentrations and a detection limit of 3.9?nM in 0.25?M HCl. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the response from EPPG was 100 times greater than for glassy carbon (GC). Unmodified GC gave a comparable response to previous results using the bare substrate, and BDD gave an improved, yet still very high limit of detection of 320?nM compared to previous analysis using an iridium oxide modified BDD electrode. SPEs gave a very poor response to antimony, even at high concentrations, observing no linearity from standard additions, as well as a major interference from the ink intrinsic to the working electrode carbon material. Owing to its superior performance relative to other carbon electrodes, the EPPG electrode was subjected to further analytical testing with antimony. The response of the electrode for a 40?nM concentration of Sb(III) was reproducible with a mean peak current of 1.07?µA and variation of 8.4% (n?=?8). The effect of metals copper, bismuth and arsenic were investigated at the electrode, as they are common interferences for stripping analysis of antimony.     

Trace Analysis of Heavy Metals (Cd,Pb, Hg) Using Native and Modified 3D Printed Graphene/Poly(Lactic Acid) Composite Electrodes

Here we investigate the use of 3D printed graphene/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) electrodes for quantifying trace amounts of Hg, Pb, and Cd. We prepared cylindrical electrodes by sealing a 600 μm diameter graphene/PLA filament in a pipette tip filled with epoxy. We characterized the electrodes using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry in ferrocene methanol. The physical characterization showed a significant amount of disorder in the carbon structure and the electrochemical characterization showed quasi‐reversible behavior without any electrode pretreatment. We then used unmodified graphene/PLA electrode to quantify Hg, and Pb and Cd in 0.01 M HCl and 0.1 M acetate buffer using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. We were able to quantify Hg with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.1 nM (1.2 ppb), but Pb and Cd did not present measurable peaks at concentrations below ～400 nM. We improved the LODs for Pb and Cd by depositing Bi microparticles on the graphene/PLA and, after optimization, achieved clear stripping peaks at the 20 nM level for both ions (4.1 and 2.2 ppb for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively). The results obtained for all three metals allowed quantification below the US Environmental Protection Agency action limits in drinking water.     

电化学分析法测定硒的研究进展

本文综述了国内外电化学分析(极谱和溶出伏安法)测定痕量硒的研究进展,主要包括极谱催化波、吸附波以及阴极溶出伏安法,阳极溶出伏安法,并从反应体系、催化波类型、检出限和电极反应机理等方面进行归纳与评述,展望了硒分析方法的研究方向和发展前景,对进一步研究硒的电化学性质和探索测定硒的新体系有重要参考价值。     

Detection of lead(II) using an glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6

A glassy carbon electrode was modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6 to give an electrode for the selective determination of lead(II) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The use of carbon nanotubes with their extraordinary electrical conductivity and strong adsorption ability warrants high sensitivity. Benzo-18-crown-6 is employed as a “molecular scavenger” because of its excellent selectivity for lead(II). The modified electrode shows enhanced sensitivity, reproducibility and selectivity for lead(II) even without applying an electrical potential during the accumulation time. It responds linearly to lead(II) in the 1 to 30 nM concentration range (with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992) after a 10-min accumulation time. The detection limit is 1 nM. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity over other heavy metal ions such as Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II).

Simultaneous Anodic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Luteolin and 3‐Hydroxyflavone in Biological Fluids Using Renewable Pencil Graphite Electrodes

Simultaneous anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry was applied for selective and sensitive electrochemical determination of the flavones luteolin (LU) and the basic flavone core 3‐hydroxyflavone (3HF) using a renewable pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The increased separation of the anodic peak potential of LU and 3HF on a PGE surface together with the increased sensitivity renders their simultaneous determination feasible by square wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAASV). The electrochemical parameters such as surface concentration (Γ), electron transfer coefficient (α), and the standard rate constant (k_s) of both LU and 3HF at a PGE were calculated. For simultaneous detection of both compounds by synchronous change of the concentration of LU and 3HF, the detection limits were 1.34 nM and 5.15 nM, respectively. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the simultaneous detection of LU and 3HF in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results.     

Bucky-gel coated glassy carbon electrodes, for voltammetric detection of femtomolar leveled lead ions

Femtomolar (fM) leveled lead ions were electrochemically detected using a bucky-gel coated glassy carbon electrode and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The bucky-gel was composed of dithizone, ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The fabrication of the bucky-gel coated electrode was optimized. The modified electrode was characterized with voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry. After the accumulation of lead ions into the bucky-gel modified electrode at −1.2 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) for 5 min in a pH 4.4 sodium acetate-acetate acid buffer solution, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammograms of the accumulated lead show an anodic wave at −0.58 V. The anodic peak current is detectable for lead ions in the concentration range from 1.0 μM down to 500 fM. The detection limit is calculated to be 100 fM. The proposed method was successfully applied for the detection of lead ions in lake water.     

Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using a Vibrating Electrode

This work proposes a vibrating microwire electrode as working electrode in stripping voltammetry. The vibration was found to maintain a constant and thin (1–2 μm) diffusion layer during the deposition step. The electrode vibration eliminated the need for external stirring of the solution, thus facilitating in situ detection in the environment. The vibration was effected by fixing a low‐voltage (3 V), asymmetric, electrical rotor to the working electrode (a gold microwire of either 5 or 25 μm). The sensitivity of the vibrated electrode was ca. 22×greater than stationary. Measurements of copper (4 nM) by anodic stripping voltammetry using the vibrating electrode had a low standard deviation (1% for n=6) indicating that the diffusion layer had only minor variability. The agitation mechanism was unaffected by water moving at >2 m s^?1 and by water pressure equivalent to a depth of >40 m, indicating its suitability for in situ measurements. The vibrating probe was used for in situ detection of copper by anodic stripping voltammetry to a depth of 6 m. Using a 5 min deposition time, the limit of detection for labile copper was 38 pM.     

Voltammetric behavior of acebutolol on pencil graphite electrode: highly sensitive determination in real samples by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry

In this work, an electrochemical investigation of acebutolol (ACE), a beta-blocker drug, was carried out in alkaline medium using pencil graphite (PG) electrode. In cyclic voltammetry, the compound displayed a reversible and adsorption-controlled oxidation peak. By using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry, the oxidation peak current observed at +0.78 V showed a linear relationship with concentration at 0.4–7 nM interval in Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 10.0) and a detection limit of 0.09 nM. The relative standard deviation of 4.72% for the concentration level of 2.0 nM (n = 11) was also calculated. The PG electrode that is used for the first time in this method was successfully applied to determine the ACE in pharmaceutical formulations and urine.     

A novel tin-bismuth alloy electrode for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of zinc

We report on a novel tin-bismuth alloy electrode (SnBiE) for the determination of trace concentrations of zinc ions by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry without deoxygenation. The SnBiE has the advantages of easy fabrication and low cost, and does not require a pre-treatment (in terms of modification) prior to measurements. A study on the potential window of the electrode revealed a high hydrogen overvoltage though a limited anodic range due to the oxidation of tin. The effects of pH value, accumulation potential, and accumulation time were optimized with respect to the determination of trace zinc(II) at pH 5.0. The response of the SnBiE to zinc(II) ion is linear in the 0.5–25?μM concentration range. The detection limit is 50?nM (after 60?s of accumulation). The SnBiE was applied to the determination of zinc(II) in wines and honeys, and the results were consistent with those of AAS.

Silver nanoparticle assemblies supported on glassy-carbon electrodes for the electro-analytical detection of hydrogen peroxide

Electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide using an edge-plane pyrolytic-graphite electrode (EPPG), a glassy carbon (GC) electrode, and a silver nanoparticle-modified GC electrode is reported. It is shown, in phosphate buffer (0.05 mol L^–1, pH 7.4), that hydrogen peroxide cannot be detected directly on either the EPPG or GC electrodes. However, reduction can be facilitated by modification of the glassy-carbon surface with nanosized silver assemblies. The optimum conditions for modification of the GC electrode with silver nanoparticles were found to be deposition for 1 min at –0.5 V vs. Ag from 5 mmol L^–1 AgNO₃/0.1 mol L^–1 TBAP/MeCN, followed by stripping for 2 min at +0.5 V vs. Ag in the same solution. A wave, due to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide on the silver nanoparticles is observed at –0.68 V vs. SCE. The limit of detection for this modified nanosilver electrode was 2.0×10^–6 mol L^–1 for hydrogen peroxide in phosphate buffer (0.05 mol L^–1, pH 7.4) with a sensitivity which is five times higher than that observed at a silver macro-electrode. Also observed is a shoulder on the voltammetric wave corresponding to the reduction of oxygen, which is produced by silver-catalysed chemical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen then oxygen reduction at the surface of the glassy-carbon electrode.     

Enhanced Performance of Edge‐Plane Pyrolytic Graphite (EPPG) Electrodes over Glassy Carbon (GC) Electrodes in the Presence of Surfactants: Application to the Stripping Voltammetry of Copper

The voltammetric performance of glassy carbon (GC) and edge‐plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) electrodes was investigated for the oxidation of potassium ferrocyanide in aqueous solution both with and without the addition of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X‐100). The heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics were determined for all cases, and it was found that the GC electrode surface was far more sensitive to the presence of surfactant than the more hydrophilic EPPG surface. This result was then applied to the electroanalysis of copper via adsorptive stripping voltammetry in the presence of Triton X‐100 and it was observed that the EPPG electrode response was unaffected by up to 100 μM of surfactant, whilst the voltammetry on the GC electrode was significantly affected by only 10 μM.     

Lab‐on‐a‐Chip Sensor with Evaporated Bismuth Film Electrode for Anodic Stripping Voltammetry of Zinc

In this work, we report on the development of a lab‐on‐a‐chip electrochemical sensor that uses an evaporated bismuth electrode to detect zinc using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The microscale electrochemical cell consists of a bismuth working electrode, an integrated silver/silver chloride reference electrode, and a gold auxiliary electrode. The sensor exhibits a linear response in 0.1 M acetate buffer at pH 6 with zinc concentrations in the 1–30 μM range and a calculated detection limit of 60 nM. The sensor successfully detected zinc in a bovine serum extract and the results were corfirmed by independent AAS measurements. Our results demonstrate the advantageous qualities of this lab‐on‐a‐chip electrochemical sensor for clinical applications, which include small sample volume (µL scale), reduced cost, short response time and high accuracy at low concentrations of analyte.     

Adsorptive voltammetry of lipoic acid and lipoamide, based on use of a catalytic hydrogen wave

The adsorptive voltammetry of lipoic acid and lipoamide was investigated with a hanging mercury drop electrode. These compounds produced a catalytic hydrogen wave at - 1.35 V in ammonia buffer solution containing cobalt(II), and the peak current increased with adsorptive accumulation at the electrode. Thus adsorptive voltammetry with the catalytic hydrogen wave could provide a sensitive method for determining trace amounts of lipoic acid and lipoamide. The calibration graphs for both compounds were linear over the range 2-10nM with accumulation for 5 min at -0.6 V, and the detection limit was ca. 0.5nM.     

Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Zn,Cd and Pb at Bismuth Nanopowder Electrodes with Various Particle Size Distributions

Effect of particle size distribution on sensor characteristics of nano‐Bi fixed electrode has been investigated using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Bi nanopowders with various particle size distributions were synthesized by gas condensation (GC) method with the change of chamber pressure. As the chamber pressure decreased, the size of Bi nanopowder became smaller with narrower distribution due to a shorter residence time of Bi vapor. The square wave anodic stripping voltammograms (SWASV) showed well‐defined and highly reproducible peaks at ?1.2 V, ?0.8 V and ?0.6 V (vs. SCE), which are closely related to the oxidation of Zn, Cd and Pb, respectively. The sensitivity and detection limit of the nano‐Bi fixed electrode were quantitatively estimated from the analyses of SWASV. From the results, it is concluded that as the size of Bi nanopowder becomes smaller with narrower particle size distribution, the sensitivity and detection limit of sensor electrode for Zn, Cd and Pb are improved, which is ascribed to the increase in electrochemical‐active surface area.     

Stripping voltammetry study of ultra-trace toxic metal ions on highly selectively adsorptive porous magnesium oxide nanoflowers

We have demonstrated highly selective and sensitive detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) using a highly selective adsorptive porous magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoflowers. The MgO nanoflower-modified glassy carbon electrode was electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry; and the anodic stripping voltammetric performance of bound Pb(II) and Cd(II) was evaluated using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) analysis. The MgO nanoflower-modified electrode exhibited excellent sensing performance toward Pb(II) and Cd(II) that was never observed previously at bismuth (Bi)-based electrodes. Simultaneous additions of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were investigated in the linear range from 3.3 to 22 nM for Pb(II) and 40 to 140 nM for Cd(II), and detection limits of 2.1 pM and 81 pM were obtained, respectively. Some foreign ions, such as Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cr(III) do not interfere with the detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a highly adsorptive metal oxide with hierarchical micro/nanostructure that allows the detection of both Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions.     

A mercury-free electrochemical sensor for the determination of thallium(I) based on the rotating-disc bismuth film electrode

A bismuth film electrode was tested and proposed as an environmentally friendly sensor for the determination of trace levels of Tl(I) in non-deoxygenated solutions. Determination of thallium was made by anodic stripping voltammetry at a rotating-disc bismuth film electrode plated in situ, using acetate buffer as the supporting electrolyte. The stripping step was carried out by a square wave potential-time excitation signal. A univariate optimisation study was performed with several experimental parameters as variables. Under the selected optimised conditions, a linear calibration plot was obtained in the submicromolar concentration range, allowing the electrochemical determination of thallium in trace amounts; the calculated detection limit was 10.8 nM and the relative standard deviation for 15 measurements of 0.1 μM Tl(I) was ±0.2%, for a 120 s accumulation time. Interference of other metals on the response of Tl(I) was investigated. Application to real environmental samples was tested. The bismuth film electrode appears to be a promising tool for electroanalytical purposes, ensuring the use of clean methodology.     

Simultaneous determination of chromium(III) and cadmium(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry on a stannum film electrode

A stannum film electrode has been developed for the simultaneous determination of trace levels of chromium(III) and cadmium(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The stannum film electrode was generated in situ by depositing simultaneously the stannum film and the metals obtained by reduction of Cd(II) and Cr(III) at −1.4 V on a glassy carbon electrode. Then, the reduced products were oxidized by scanning the potential of the electrode from −1.4 to −0.4 V using DPASV. The electrode exhibited well-defined and separated stripping signals for both metals accompanied with a low background contribution. The possible mechanism of this design was proposed. Under the optimized working conditions, the detection limit was 2.0 and 1.1 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(III) and Cd(II) at a deposition time of 3 min. Finally, the stannum film electrode was successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) in tap water with satisfactory results.     

Signal enhancement in adsorptive stripping voltammetry of Pt by forced convection during the measurement step

Adsorptive stripping voltammetry (‘formazone-method’) is already known as one of the most sensitive methods for platinum analysis with a detection limit in the low picograms range. In this work, it is shown that the detection limit can be lowered even more by one order of magnitude to 0.2 pg (=1 fmol) Pt in 15 mL electrolyte, corresponding to 68 fmol/L, by applying forced convection during the stripping step of the voltammetric measurement. The sensitivity of the method (given in nA/pg Pt) is enhanced by a factor of 3-5 (in differential pulse mode and 15 mL vial), up to a factor of 30 (using square-wave mode and 3 mL vial). The maximum enhancement factor is limited by the maximum stirrer speed, which can be applied without negative effects on the hanging mercury drop electrode.To check for similar enhancement effects in other types of stripping methods, the behaviour of adsorptive stripping voltammetry for Pt is compared to conventional anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) of lead, and to adsorptive stripping voltammetry of nickel and cobalt using their dimethylglyoxime (DMG) complexes. No enhancement effect is observed in ASV of lead upon stirring, and the nickel-DMG-system exhibits only a smaller enhancement factor of about 1.5. A reasonable explanation of the higher signal enhancement in the catalytic Pt-formazone-system is the mass transport of reaction products, namely hydrogen, away from the working electrode during the catalytic hydrogen evolution cycle.     

Renewable Pencil Electrodes for Highly Sensitive Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of 3‐Hydroxyflavone and Morin in Bulk Form and in Biological Fluids

An electrochemical anodic adsorptive stripping procedure for ultra‐trace assay of 3‐hydroxyflavone (3HF) and Morin at a renewable pencil electrode (PGE) in bulk form and in biological fluids is described. The nature of the oxidation process of 3HF and Morin taking place at the PGE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the determination of the oxidation peak current is the basis of a simple, accurate and rapid method for quantification of 3HF by square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Determination of Morin was achieved by square‐wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry of the formed Morin? Cu(II) complex at a PGE. Factors influencing the trace measurements of 3HF and the Morin? Cu (II) complex at a PGE are assessed. The limits of detection and quantitation for the determination of 3HF and Morin in bulk form and in biological fluids were determined. The statistical analysis and the calibration curve data for trace determination of 3HF and Morin are reported.     

Square‐wave Amplitude Effect in Cathodic and Anodic Stripping Square‐wave Voltammetry

In this paper a theoretical study of stripping processes at planar electrodes under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry is presented. A mechanistic examination for cathodic stripping electrode mechanisms, a simple anodic striping mechanism, and anodic stripping mechanisms coupled with adsorption equilibrium of the analyte are discussed using varying square‐wave amplitudes. The methodologies described here use two typical features: the peak potential separation of square‐wave components and the amplitude‐based quasireversible maximum. Both methods can be applied at a constant frequency, i. e., constant scan rate. The received data are combined with the critical parameters of electrode reaction kinetics. Thus, the established methodologies allow for a simple kinetic characterization. The received diagnostic criteria are verified with experiments at a glassy carbon electrode for lead ions.