Electrochemical Quantification of Lead Adsorption on TiO2 Nanoparticles

This work describes a rapid easy-to-use electrochemical method for quantifying lead (Pb²⁺) adsorption on metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), demonstrated here for titanium dioxide (TiO₂). The method was able to quantify Pb²⁺ adsorption for concentrations as low as 0.95 μM, and up to 200 μM in NP dispersions, and to differentiate ion uptake in the presence and absence of a natural organic material, humic acid (HA). The method was selective for Pb²⁺ against Cu²⁺, As³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions when measured in the specific potential range from ?0.4 to ?0.6 V and was successfully demonstrated in water and home-collected dust.