Flow injection analysis-stripping voltammetric sensor for determination lead(II) in aqueous environments

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Lead (Pb²⁺) contamination in aquatic environments poses significant risks.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for lead ions are crucial for environmental monitoring.
• Developing novel electrode materials can enhance electrochemical sensing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a multi-walled carbon nanotube paste electrode modified with ferrocenium tetrachlorobismuthate (FTB@MWCNTs/CPE).
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of the FTB@MWCNTs/CPE sensor for lead ion detection.
• To demonstrate the sensor's applicability in real water samples for environmental monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of FTB@MWCNTs/CPE composite.
• Material characterization using FTIR, TEM, FESEM, EDX, and XRD.
• Electrochemical analysis via CV, EIS, chronocoulometry, and SWSV with FIA.
• Interference studies and real water sample analysis.

Main Results:

• The FTB@MWCNTs/CPE exhibited enhanced electron transfer properties and increased electroactive surface area.
• The sensor achieved a low detection limit of 0.08 nM for Pb²⁺ with two linear dynamic ranges (1.0-100 nM and 1.0-100 μM).
• High selectivity, reproducibility, stability, and recovery rates (93-107%) in real water samples were demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The developed FTB@MWCNTs/CPE sensor is a promising tool for sensitive, selective, and rapid voltammetric detection of lead ions.
• The sensor's performance in real samples highlights its practical applicability for environmental water quality monitoring.
• This work contributes to the development of advanced electrochemical sensors for heavy metal detection.