Iron oxide-supported gold nanoparticle electrode for simultaneous detection of arsenic and sulfide on-site

The environmental behavior of arsenic (As) has garnered significant attention due to its hazardous nature. The fate of As often couples with sulfide, thus co-detecting arsenic and sulfide on-site is crucial for comprehending their geochemical interactions. While electrochemical methods are suitable for on-site chemical analysis, there currently exists no electrode capable of simultaneously detecting both arsenic and sulfide. To address this, we developed a dual-metal electrode consisting of iron oxide-encased carbon cloth loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au/FeOx/CC) using the electrochemical deposition method. This electrode enables square wave stripping voltammetry (SWASV) binary detection of As and sulfide. Comparison experiments reveal that the reaction sites for sulfide primarily reside on FeOx, while the interface synergy of iron oxide and gold nanoparticles enhances the response to arsenite (AsIII). Arsenate (AsV) is directly reduced to As0 on Fe0, obviating the need for an external reducing agent. The electrode achieves detection limits of 1.5 μg/L for AsV, 0.25 μg/L for AsIII, and 11.6 μg/L for sulfide at mild conditions (pH 7.8). Field validation was conducted in the Tengchong geothermal hot spring region, where the electrochemical method exhibited good correlation with the standard methods: Total As (r = 0.978 vs. ICP-MS), AsIII (r = 0.895 vs. HPLC-ICP-MS), and sulfide (r = 0.983 vs. colorimetric method). Principal component analysis and correlation analysis suggest that thioarsenic, could potentially be positive interferents for AsIII. However, this interference can be anticipated and mitigated by monitoring the abundance of sulfide. The study provides new insights and problems for the electrochemical detection of coexisted As and sulfide.

Evaluation of thallium ion as an effective ion in human health using an electrochemical sensor

Exposure to thallium (Tl), a noxious heavy metal, poses significant health risks to both humans and animals upon ingestion. Therefore, monitoring Tl levels in the environment is crucial to prevent human exposure and reduce the risk of developing severe health problems. This paper presents the development of a highly sensitive Tl ions sensor through surface modification of a glassy carbon electrode with a nanocomposite comprising MnO2 magnetic sepiolite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MnO2@Fe3O4/Sep/MWCNT/GCE). Multiple methodologies were employed to assess the performance of the newly developed sensor. By employing square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) to optimize the measurement conditions, notable enhancements were observed in the stripping peak currents of Tl (I) on the MnO2@Fe3O4/Sep/MWCNT/GCE surface. The effectiveness of the nanocomposite in facilitating electron transfer between the Tl (I) ions (guest) and the electrode (host) was demonstrated from the enhanced signals observed at the different modified electrode surfaces under optimal conditions. The developed sensor displayed a wide linear range of 0.1-1500 ppb for Tl (I) and a low detection limit of 0.03 ppb for Tl (I). It was found to be selective for Tl (I) ions while remaining unaffected by interfering non-target ions in the presence of the target ions. Despite its simple preparation procedure, the modified electrode exhibited high stability and excellent reproducibility for measuring Tl (I). The outstanding electroanalytical performances of the MnO2@Fe3O4/Sep/MWCNT/GCE electrode enabled its successful use as an ultrasensitive sensor for determining trace amounts of Tl in environmental samples.

Electrochemical determination of zinc(II) using N1-hydroxy-N1,N2-diphenylbenzamidine and multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode

In this study, a new carbon paste electrode modified with a laboratory-synthesized ligand, N¹-hydroxy-N¹,N²-diphenylbenzamidine (HDPBA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (HDPBA‒MWCNTs/CPE) has been developed. The modified electrode was applied for preconcentration and voltammetric determination of zinc ions (Zn(II)) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The preconcentration of Zn(II) on the electrode surface was performed in 0.1 M Brinton Robinson (B-R) buffer solution (pH 6) at an applied potential of -1.30 V versus Ag/AgCl for 120 s, followed by stripping in the positive potential scan of the SWASV after a quit time of 10 s. Under optimized experimental conditions, the proposed electrode exhibited a wider linear dynamic response for Zn(II) in a concentration range of 0.02-10.00 μM with a detection limit of 2.48 nM. This is due to the excellent metal-chelation property of the ligand, and the good conductivity and large surface area of MWCNTs which significantly improved the sensing performance of the nanocomposite modified electrode. The selectivity of the electrode was studied by evaluating the interference effects of various foreign ions on the peak current of Zn(II). The method exhibited high reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.1%. The present method was applied for the determination of zinc ions in water samples. The recovery values in the tested samples were found to be 98.50-106.0%, indicating a good accuracy of the proposed electrode. Furthermore, the electrochemical behavior of HDPBA in acetonitrile and aqueous solutions has been studied.

Boosting sensitive and selective detection toward Pb(II) via activation effect of Co and orbital coupling between Pb and O over Co@Co3O4 nanocatalyst

Fruitful achievements on electrochemical detection toward Pb(II) have been achieved, and their good performance is generally attributed to the adsorption property of nanomaterials. However, the design of sensing interfaces from the electronic structure and electron transfer process is limited. Here, Co@Co₃O₄ acquired an ultra-high detection sensitivity of 103.11 µA µM^-1 toward Pb(II), outperforming the results previously reported. The interfacial oxygen atoms build an electron bridge for Co activating Co₃O₄. Particularly, new energy levels of oxygen atoms were generated and matched with that of Pb(II). The strong orbital coupling effect between O and Pb makes the Co@Co₃O₄ sensitive and selective toward Pb(II). Compared with Co metal and Co₃O₄, Pb(II) got more electrons from Co@Co₃O₄, and longer Pb-O bonds were formed, allowing more Pb(II) to be catalyzed and reduced. Also, the superior stability and reproducibility of electrochemical detection make electrodes practicably. This work reveals that metals can stimulate intrinsically catalytic activity of their metal oxides, with the generation of orbit energy levels that match to a specific analyte. It provides a promising strategy for constructing sensitive and selective sensing interfaces toward ultra-low concentration analyte in body fluid and other complex samples.

Disposable and Low-Cost Electrode Based on Graphene Paper-Nafion-Bi Nanostructures for Ultra-Trace Determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II)

There is a huge demand for rapid, reliable and low-cost methods for the analysis of heavy metals in drinking water, particularly in the range of sub-part per billion (ppb). In the present work, we describe the preparation, characterization and analytical performance of the disposable sensor to be employed in Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV) for ultra-trace simultaneous determination of cadmium and lead. The electrode consists of graphene paper-perfluorosulfonic ionomer-bismuth nano-composite material. The electrode preparation implies a key step aimed to enhance the Bi3+ adsorption into nafion film, prior to the bismuth electro-deposition. Finely dispersed bismuth nanoparticles embedded in the ionomer film are obtained. The electrode was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The electrode shows a linear response in the 5-100 ppb range, a time-stability tested up to almost three months, and detection limits up to 0.1 ppb for both Pb2+ and Cd2+. The electrode preparation method is simple and low in cost and the obtained analytical performance is very competitive with the state of art for the SWASV determination of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in solution.

Nafion-Protected Sputtered-Bismuth Screen-Printed Electrode for On-site Voltammetric Measurements of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in Natural Water Samples

In this work, we explore the protection with Nafion of commercial sputtered-bismuth screen-printed electrodes (Bi_SPSPEs), to improve its ability for on-site determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in ambient water samples. The modified screen-printed platform was coupled with a miniaturized cell, in combination with a battery-operated stirring system and a portable potentiostat operated by a laptop for decentralized electrochemical measurements using Square-Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV). We also describe a detailed electrode surface characterization by microscopy and surface analysis techniques, before and after the modification with Nafion, to get insight about modification effect on signal size and stability. Optimization of the chemical composition of the medium including the optimization of pH, and instrumental parameters, resulted in a method with detection limits in the low ng/mL range (3.62 and 3.83 ng·mL⁻¹ for Cd and Pb respectively). Our results show an improvement of the sensitivity and stability for Nafion-protected Bi_SPSPEs in pH = 4.4 medium, and similar or lower detection limits than comparable methods on commercial Bi_SPSPEs. The values obtained for Pb(II) and Cd(II) in natural water samples agreed well with those obtained by the much more costly Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP-MS, technique as a reference method (recoveries from 75% to 111%).

Electrochemical Sensing toward Trace As(III) Based on Mesoporous MnFe₂O₄/Au Hybrid Nanospheres Modified Glass Carbon Electrode

Au nanoparticles decorated mesoporous MnFe₂O₄ nanocrystal clusters (MnFe₂O₄/Au hybrid nanospheres) were used for the electrochemical sensing of As(III) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Modified on a cheap glass carbon electrode, these MnFe₂O₄/Au hybrid nanospheres show favorable sensitivity (0.315 μA/ppb) and limit of detection (LOD) (3.37 ppb) toward As(III) under the optimized conditions in 0.1 M NaAc-HAc (pH 5.0) by depositing for 150 s at the deposition potential of -0.9 V. No obvious interference from Cd(II) and Hg(II) was recognized during the detection of As(III). Additionally, the developed electrode displayed good reproducibility, stability, and repeatability, and offered potential practical applicability for electrochemical detection of As(III) in real water samples. The present work provides a potential method for the design of new and cheap sensors in the application of electrochemical determination toward trace As(III) and other toxic metal ions.

Pb, Cu and Cd distribution in five estuary systems of Marche, central Italy

Heavy metals are subjected to monitoring in estuarine and marine water by the European Union Water Framework Directive, which requires water body health to be achieved by 2021. This is the first survey of heavy metals content in five estuaries of Marche, a region in central Italy. Results showed that total Pb and Cu concentrations decreased by 70-80%, from 1000-2000 to 100-200 ng L(-1) (Pb) and from 2000-3000 to 500-1000 ng L(-1) (Cu) from river to sea. Cd was consistently 20-40 ng L(-1). Dissolved Pb and Cu concentrations declined by 50% and 70% respectively passing from oligohaline to euhaline water, from 150 to 70 ng L(-1) and from 2000-1000 to 600-400 ng L(-1). Cd decreased slightly from ∼20 to ∼10 ng L(-1). Although such concentrations are in the range allowed by the Water Framework Directive, they far exceed (up to 10×) the ground content ceiling set for 2021.