An adsorptive stripping voltammetry procedure for ultra-trace determination of U(VI) using double accumulation step on two lead-film working electrodes

An innovative approach for selective and robust screening of NBOHs, NBOMes, and LSD in forensic samples using a 3D-Printed electrochemical double cell

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and two phenethylamine classes (NBOHs and NBOMes) are the main illicit drugs found in seized blotter papers. The preliminary identification of these substances is of great interest for forensic analysis. In this context, this work constitutes the inaugural demonstration of an efficient methodology for the selective detection of LSD, NBOHs, and NBOMes, utilizing a fully 3D-printed electrochemical double cell (3D-EDC). This novel 3D-EDC enables the use of two working electrodes and/or two supporting electrolytes (at different pHs) in the same detection system, with the possibility of shared or individual auxiliary and pseudo-reference electrodes. Thus, the selective voltammetric detection of these substances is proposed using two elegant strategies: (i) utilizing the same 3D-EDC platform with two working electrodes (boron-doped diamond (BDD) and 3D-printed graphite), and (ii) employing two pH levels (4.0 and 12.0) with 3D-printed graphite electrode. This comprehensive framework facilitates a fast, robust, and uncomplicated electrochemical analysis. Moreover, this configuration enables a rapid and sensitive detection of LSD, NBOHs, and NBOMes in seized samples, and can also provide quantitative analysis. The proposed method showed good stability of the electrochemical response with RSD <9 % for Ip and <5 % for Ep, evaluating all oxidation processes observed for studied analytes (n = 7) at two pH levels, using the same and different (n = 3) working electrodes. It demonstrates a broad linear range (20-100 and 20-70 μmol L-1) and a low LOD (1.0 μmol L-1) for quantification of a model molecule (LSD) at the two pHs studied. Hence, the 3D-EDC combined with voltammetric techniques using BDD and 3D-printed graphite electrodes on the same platform, or only with this last sensor at two pH values, provide a practical and robust avenue for preliminary identification of NBOHs, NBOMes, and LSD. This method embodies ease, swiftness, cost-efficiency, robustness, and selectivity as an on-site screening tool for forensic analysis.

Stripping Voltammetry with Nanomaterials-based Electrode in the Environmental Analysis of Trace Concentrations of Tin

A method for the voltammetric determination of tin using a multiwall carbon nanotubes/spherical glassy carbon (CNTs/SGC) electrode is described. The new procedure is based on the adsorptive accumulation of the Sn(II)-cupferron complex on a CNTs/SGC electrode modified with a lead film, followed by electrochemical reduction of the adsorbed species. The optimal experimental conditions include the use of 0.10 mol L-1 acetate buffer (pH 5.7), 4.0×10-4 M cupferron and 1.0×10-4 M Pb(II). The peak current is proportional to the concentration of Sn(II) over the range of 1.0×10-9 -1.0×10-7 M and the detection limit is 3.1×10-10 M for a 95 s accumulation time. The proposed method was used to determine tin in real samples and certified reference materials.

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry for Determination of Vanadium: A Review

The main purpose of this review is to present methods of adsorptive stripping voltammetry that can be used to determine trace amounts of VO₂⁽⁺⁾ in various types of samples. The detection limits achieved using different working electrodes are presented. The factors influencing the obtained signal, including the selection of the complexing agent and the selection of the working electrode, are shown. For some methods, in order to increase the range of applied concentrations in which vanadium can be detected, a catalytic effect is introduced to adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The influence of the foreign ions and organic matter contained in natural samples on the vanadium signal is analyzed. This paper presents methods of elimination associated with the presence of surfactants in the samples. The methods of adsorptive stripping voltammetry for the simultaneous determination of vanadium with other metal ions are also characterized below. Finally, the practical use of the developed procedures, mainly for the analysis of food and environmental samples, is summarized in a tabular version.

A Novel Eco-Friendly and Highly Sensitive Solid Lead-Tin Microelectrode for Trace U(VI) Determination in Natural Water Samples

For the first time a solid state lead-tin microelectrode (diameter ϕ 25 µm) was utilized for U(VI) ion determination by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The described sensor is characterized by high durability, reusability and eco-friendly features, as the need for using lead and tin ions for metal film preplating has been eliminated, and consequently, the amount of toxic waste has been limited. The advantages of the developed procedure resulted also from the utilization of a microelectrode as a working electrode, because a restricted amount of metals is needed for its construction. Moreover, field analysis is possible to perform thanks to the fact that measurements can be carried out from unmixed solutions. The analytical procedure was optimized. The proposed procedure is characterized by two orders of magnitude linear dynamic range of U(VI) determination from 1 × 10^-9 to 1 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 (120 s of accumulation). The detection limit was calculated to be 3.9 × 10^-10 mol L^-1 (accumulation time of 120 s). RSD% calculated from seven subsequent U(VI) determinations at a concentration of 2 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 was 3.5%. The correctness of the analytical procedure was confirmed by analyzing a natural certified reference material.

Carbon nanotubes as a suitable material for electrochemical sensor used in voltammetric determinations of titanium

We report the use of carbon nanotubes as a material for the preparation of an electrochemical sensor that acts as a substrate for film metal electrodes used in stripping voltammetry. The sensor is based on a mixture of multiwall carbon nanotubes, glassy carbon spherical powder, and epoxy resin. The properly selected composition of the sensor made it possible to obtain a new substrate, competitive in relation to glassy carbon, for creating film metal electrodes. In this work, the proposed new sensor was used to determine the trace amounts of Ti(IV) on the lead film electrode. Measurements were carried out with in situ mode in an acetate buffer by adsorption stripping voltammetry with the use of cupferron as a complexing agent. Linear response to Ti(IV) ions in the concentration range of 7 × 10–10–7 × 10–8 mol L−1 and the limit of detection (LODs) 2.4 × 10–10 were obtained, respectively. These promising results revealed that a mixture of carbon nanotubes, epoxy resin, and spherical glassy carbon powder used for the determination of titanium ions on PbFE might represent an important addition to existing electrochemical sensor technologies. The proposed procedure was successfully used as a new and powerful analytical tool for determination of Ti(IV) in horsetail extracts.

Modified Mesoporous Carbon Material (Pb-N-CMK-3) Obtained by a Hard-Templating Route, Dicyandiamide Impregnation and Electrochemical Lead Particles Deposition as an Electrode Material for the U(VI) Ultratrace Determination

In this paper, a dicyandiamide-impregnated mesoporous carbon (N-CMK-3), electrochemically modified in situ with lead film (Pb-N-CMK-3), was tested as an electrode material for U(VI) ultratrace determination. The prepared carbon material was characterized by XRD, SEM-EDX, Raman, FT-IR, XPS analysis and nitrogen sorption measurements. The changes of electrochemical properties of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) after the N-CMK-3 and Pb-N-CMK-3 modification were studied using CV and EIS methods. The modification of the GCE surface by the N-CMK-3 material and Pb film increases the electroactive area of the electrode and decreases the charge transfer residence and is likely responsible for the electrochemical improvement of the U(VI) analytical signal. Using square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV), two linear calibration ranges extending from 0.05 to 1.0 nM and from 1.0 to 10.0 nM were observed, coupled with the detection and quantification limits of 0.014 and 0.047 nM, respectively. The Pb-N-CMK-3/GCE was successfully applied for U(VI) determination in reference materials (estuarine water SLEW-3 and trace elements in natural water SRM 1640a).

Nimesulide Determination on Carbon Black-Nafion Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode by Means of Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric method for Nimesulide (NIM) determination was developed. As a working electrode, glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with carbon black and Nafion (CB-Nafion GCE) was used. All measurements were carried out in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6). Conducted experiments allowed to optimize differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) instrumental parameters: sampling and waiting time ts = tw = 10 ms, step potential Es = 4 mV, and pulse amplitude ΔE = 50 mV. The best results were obtained for preconcentration potential and time equal to 400 mV and 20 s, respectively. Limit of detection was calculated and was equal to 0.14 µM for 20-s preconcentration time and 0.06 µM for 40-s preconcentration time. In order to prove the applicability of the developed method, concentration of nimesulide in pharmaceutical products was determined. Calculated recoveries were in the range 94–99%, which indicates that the method might be assumed as accurate. Coefficient of variation was equal to 5.0% (n = 7, NIM concentration 1 µM) Obtained results of NIM determination were in good agreement with the content declared by producers.

Application of a solid lead microelectrode as a new voltammetric sensor for adsorptive stripping voltammetry of U(VI)

For the first time solid lead microelectrode was utilized for analytical purposes: the article reports on its application for adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of U(VI) ions. The proposed solid metal microelectrode of a diameter of 25 μm contains about 30 μg of metallic lead that significantly restricts amount of toxic lead introduced into the environment in comparison to lead film equivalents. The potential window of the proposed sensor was checked by means of cyclic voltammetry. The optimization of the analytical procedure of determination of U(VI) ions complexed with cupferron was performed. The experimental parameters (potential of microelectrode activation, pH of supporting electrolyte, complexing agent concentration, potential and time of accumulation and effects of possible interferences) were studied. A linear calibration graph for U(VI) determination was linear in the range from 2 × 10^-9 to 1 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 (accumulation time of 120 s). The obtained detection limit for uranium ions determination following accumulation time of 120 s was 5.5 × 10^-10 mol L^-1. Repeatability of the method calculated as RSD % for U(VI) concentration of 2 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 was 4.7% (n = 5). The proposed procedure was successfully applied for U(VI) ions determination in lake water certified reference material that confirms analytical application.

Organic matter decomposition before arsenic speciation analysis of water sample - "Soft decomposition" using nano-photocatalysts

The applicability of photolysis in the speciation analysis of arsenic is investigated. The use of nano scale semiconductors (Fe₂O₃/WO₃/Fe₂O₃ at pH 6) as an active film during solar light irradiation of a water sample, containing some surfactants (SDS), results in the simplification of the organic matter and gives no speciation change in the arsenic. The reproducibility of active layer is shown to be high and the surface roughness of each photoactive sample and photocurrent do not differ by more than 6 and less than 8%, respectively. The procedure of sample pretreatment caused a minimum (8-10%) amount of speciation change, whilst the irradiation is no longer that 2 h. The study indicates that "soft decomposition" can be performed for as long as 4 h, and still give photostable arsenates (III) and methylarsenate species. However, the saturation of the water sample with Ar is required (to reduce the oxygen content) for the longer the decomposition time being applied.

Determination of trace Se(IV) by anodic stripping voltammetry following double deposition and stripping steps

A procedure of Se(IV) determination by anodic stripping voltammetry using two deposition and stripping steps at gold electrodes was proposed. A well-defined stripping peak of selenium was obtained at potential 0.9 V. The optimization of parameters influencing the selenium peak current including both deposition and stripping steps was performed. A linear relationship was observed between the Se(IV) peak current and its concentration in the range from 5×10^-9 to 1×10^-7mol L^-1. The limit of detection was found to be 8.5×10^-10mol L^-1. Repeatability of the method determined as RSD % for Se(IV) concentration of 5×10^-8mol L^-1 was 4.3% (n=7). The proposed procedure was used for Se(IV) determination in certified reference material and natural water samples and acceptable results and recoveries were obtained.