ABSTRACT
We examined the use of a bismuth-glassy carbon (Bi/C) composite electrode for the determination of trace amounts of lead and cadmium. Incorporated bismuth powder in the composite electrode was electrochemically dissolved in 0.1M acetate buffer (pH 4.5) where nanosized bismuth particles were deposited on the glassy carbon at the reduction potential. The anodic stripping voltammetry on the Bi/C composite electrode exhibited well-defined, sharp and undistorted peaks with a favorable resolution for lead and cadmium. Comparing a non-oxidized Bi/C composite electrode with an in-situ plated bismuth film electrode, the Bi/C composite electrode exhibited superior performance due to its much larger surface area. The limit of detection was 0.41 microg/L for lead and 0.49 microg/L for cadmium. Based on this study, we are able to conclude that various types of composite electrodes for electroanalytical applications can be developed with a prudent combination of electrode materials.
Subject(s)
Bismuth/analysis , Cadmium/analysis , Electrodes , Lead/analysis , Trace Elements/analysis , Adsorption , Calibration , Carbon/chemistry , Electrochemistry/methods , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Microelectrodes , Oxygen/chemistry , Potentiometry , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
A bismuth-modified carbon nanotube electrode (Bi-CNT electrode) was employed for the determination of trace lead, cadmium and zinc. Bismuth film was prepared by in situ plating of bismuth onto the screen-printed CNT electrode. Operational parameters such as preconcentration potential, bismuth concentration, preconcentration time and rotation speed during preconcentration were optimized for the purpose of determining trace metals in 0.1M acetate buffer solution (pH 4.5). The simultaneous determination of lead, cadmium and zinc was performed by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The Bi-CNT electrode presented well-defined, reproducible and sharp stripping signals. The peak current response increased linearly with the metal concentration in a range of 2-100 microg/L. The limit of detection was 1.3 microg/L for lead, 0.7 microg/L for cadmium and 12 microg/L for zinc (S/N=3). The Bi-CNT electrode was successfully applicable to analysis of trace metals in real environments.