Chemically modified carbon paste electrode for determination of copper(II) by potentiometric method

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Copper(II) ion (Cu(II)) detection is crucial in environmental monitoring and industrial processes.
• Developing selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors for Cu(II) remains an active research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the efficacy of a carbon paste electrode modified with 3,4-dihydro-4,4,6-trimethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidine thione (DTPT) for Cu(II) determination.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance and selectivity of the DTPT-modified electrode.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a carbon paste electrode modified with DTPT.
• Potentiometric measurements in aqueous solutions to determine Cu(II) concentration.
• Selectivity testing against various interfering metal ions.

Main Results:

• The DTPT-modified electrode showed a linear potentiometric response to Cu(II) over a wide concentration range (9.77x10(-7) to 7.6x10(-2) M).
• A Nernstian slope of 30±2 mV/decade, a response time of ~45 seconds, and a detection limit of 7.0x10(-7) M were achieved.
• The electrode exhibited excellent selectivity for Cu(II) over other metal ions and was successfully applied to analyze Cu(II) in electronic waste samples.

Conclusions:

• The DTPT-modified carbon paste electrode is a robust and reliable sensor for the potentiometric determination of Cu(II).
• The electrode's high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability make it suitable for real-world sample analysis, including environmental and industrial applications.