Simultaneous electrochemical determination of arsenic, copper, lead and mercury in unpolluted fresh waters using a vibrating gold microwire electrode

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Alves, G.M.S. (Author) Other; Magalhães, J.M.C.S. (Author) Other; Salaun, P. (Author) Other; van den Berg, C.M.G. (Author) Other; H. M. V. M. Soares (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Analytica Chimica Acta

Vol. 703

Pages: 1-7

ISSN: 0003-2670

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 82 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 102 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-KK5

DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.07.022

Abstract (EN): In this work, a simple, rapid, reliable and low cost method for simultaneous electrochemical determination of As, Cu, Hg and Pb ions, on a vibrating gold microwire electrode combined with stripping voltammetry, is described for the first time. The multi-element detection was performed in the presence of oxygen by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in HCl 0.1 M with NaCl 0.5 M. This media was found optimum in terms of peak resolution, peak shape and sensitivities, and has a composition similar to seawater to which the method could potentially be applied. The gold microwire electrode presented well defined, undistorted. sharp and reproducible peaks for trace concentrations of Cu, Hg and Pb and As presented a reproducible peak with a small shoulder. Using a gold vibrating microwire electrode of 25 mu m diameter and 30 s deposition time, the detection limits of As, Cu, Hg and Pb were 0.07, 0.4, 0.07 and 0.2 mu g L-1, respectively. Possible effects of Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni. Sb and Zn were investigated but did not cause any significant interferences. Finally, the method was applied for the simultaneous determination of these four metals in unpolluted river water samples and the results were validated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy with Electrotherrnal Atomization (AAS-EA) or by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7