Voltammetric copper(II) determination with a montmorillonite-modified carbon paste electrode

The clay mineral montmorillonite has been tested as modifier for the carbon paste electrode with a novel electrode modification technique. The differential pulse voltammetric determination of copper(II) by means of this modified carbon paste electrode has been studied. A detection limit of 4×10^-8 mol/l has been achieved after 10 min preconcentration under open circuit conditions with subsequent anodic stripping voltammetry. The calibration curve for Cu(II) is linear in the range of 4×10^-8–8×10^-7 mol/l. Pb interferes in a 10-fold molar and Cd and Hg in a 100-fold molar excess. The interference by humic ligands is significant.