Anodic stripping voltammetry of silver(I) using a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We describe a silver(I)-selective carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a silver-chelating Schiff base, and its electrochemical response to Ag(I). Effects of reduction potential and time, accumulation time, pH of the solution and the stripping medium were studied by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry and optimized. The findings resulted in a method for the determination of silver over a linear response range (from 0.5 to 235 ng mL−1) and with a detection limit as low as 0.08 ng mL−1. The sensor displays good repeatability (with the RSD of ± 2.75 % for 7 replicates) and was applied to the determination of Ag(I) in water samples and X-ray photographic films.