Electrochemical sensors of heavy metals using novel polymer-modified glassy carbon electrodes

Electroanalytical determination of heavy metals using stripping voltammetry is commonly employed and has many advantages over other methods. The sensitivity of the technique is greatly improved by employing different modified electrodes. Seven novel polymer-modified glassy carbon electrodes have been developed in this investigation for the trace analysis of heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper in formulated samples of waters by square wave stripping voltammetry. Very good responses have been observed for all the metals, while all the modified electrodes employed. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-modified electrode has resulted in very low limit of detection (LOD) value. Comparison is made between literature results of LOD and the results obtained in this study. An independent atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis of the industrial wastewater sample was carried out and the results compared. The suitability of the method for practical application was ascertained by applying the procedure for the wastewater from a plating industry.