Screen-printed electrografted electrode for trace uranium analysis

This paper reports the interest of the novel 4-carboxyphenyl-grafted screen-printed electrodes (4-CP-SPEs) for sub-nanomolar analysis of uranium in water samples. Electrodes were easily prepared via electrochemically reduction of the corresponding diazonium salt. The stability of the grafted layer has been clearly demonstrated. Uranium detection was then achieved by immersing the grafted electrode into the sample solution, followed by the electrochemical measurement of adsorbed U(VI) by square wave voltammetry.Adsorption time was investigated so as to find the best compromise between analysis time, repeatability and reproducibility. Limit of detection and quantitation reached 7 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 2 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, interference study was conducted with Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II); no major interference was established. 4-CP-SPEs were finally applied for uranium determination in estuarine water demonstrating the convenience of these electrodes for environmental analysis.