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Polyanthranilic acid microspheres as an active material for electrochemical detection of sub-picomolar lead ion concentrations in aqueous media

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Abstract

An electrochemical sensor for the detection of lead ion in aqueous media has been developed by the modification of carbon paste electrode (CPE) with polyanthranilic acid (PANA) microspheres. PANA microspheres have been synthesized by the interfacial polymerization technique and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical response of the PANA-modified CPE to Pb2+ ions has been evaluated using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Various electrode parameters governing sensor sensitivity, such as preparation of active layer by drop casting, potential of Pb deposition, pH of deposition solution, and time of deposition, have been optimized for maximum performance. The electrochemical characterization of the PANA-modified CPE has revealed two linear response regimes for Pb2+ ions, one in the range from 1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−10 M, and one from 1 × 10−10 to 1 × 10−14 M with an LOD of 7.12 × 10−14 M (14.7 pg/L). The selectivity of the PANA-modified CPE has been tested against several cations and anions and is unaffected by Zn2+, NO3−, and SO42− ions. The stability and reusability of the electrode are satisfactory.

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The materials prepared and the data recorded in this study are available from the senior author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the SARD scheme of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment for the procurement of equipment at the host institution, Newman College, Thodupuzha. One of the authors, EVV, is grateful for the receipt of a DST-SERB fellowship.

Funding

The funding for this work was obtained from the Selective Augmentation of Research and Development (SARD) scheme of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE) (002/SARD/2015/KSCSTE) and from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) (EMR/2016/003755).

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Newman College, Thodupuzha, 685585, India

    Eldhose V. Varghese, Bejoy Thomas & Alex Joseph

  2. Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, UK

    Carsten Schwandt

  3. Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Praveen C. Ramamurthy

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  1. Eldhose V. Varghese
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Varghese, E.V., Thomas, B., Schwandt, C. et al. Polyanthranilic acid microspheres as an active material for electrochemical detection of sub-picomolar lead ion concentrations in aqueous media. Ionics 28, 4461–4470 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-022-04638-9

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