Abstract
Citrus limon peel (kitchen waste) and Leucaena leucocephala seeds (agricultural waste) were used as a modifier for fabrication of modified carbon paste electrode for determination of mercury in aqueous sample using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Mercury was adsorbed on electrode surface at open circuit and anodic stripping voltammetric scan was run from −0.5 to 0.5 V. Various electrochemical parameters including amount of modifier, supporting electrolyte, accumulating solvent, pH of the accumulating solvent, and accumulation time were investigated. The effect of presence of other metal ions and surfactants was also studied. In comparison C. limon peel proved to be a better modifier than L. leucocephala seed biomass. This was justified by electrode characterization using cyclic voltammetry that indicated decrease in resistance of electrode when C. limon peel was used as modifier and increase when modifier was L. leucocephala seeds. Maximum current response was obtained using 5 % C. limon peel biomass, hydrochloric acid as supporting electrolyte, acetate buffer of pH 6 as an accumulating solvent, 10-min accumulation time, and scan rate of 50 mV/s. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range 100 to 1,000 μg L−1 of mercury for accumulation time of 10 min with limit of detection of 57.75 μg L−1 and limit of quantification of 192.48 μg L−1. This technique does not use mercury as electrode material and, therefore, has a positive environmental benefit.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brainina, K. Z., Vilchinskaya, E. A., & Khanina, R. M. (1990). Influence of the redox potential of the medium on stripping voltammetric measurement results. Analyst, 115, 1301–1304.
Dias Filho, N. L., do Carmo, D. R., & Caetano, L. (2005). Preconcentration and determination of mercury (II) at a chemically modified electrode containing 3-(2-thioimidazolyl) propyl silica gel. Analytical Science, 21(11), 1359–1363.
Fong, B. M. W., Siu, T. S., Lee, J. S. K., & Tam, S. (2007). Determination of mercury in whole blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 31, 281–287.
Gao, Z., Wang, G., Li, P., & Zhao, Z. (1991). Differential pulse voltammetric determination of cobalt with a perfluorinated sulfonated polymer-2,2-bipyridyl modified carbon paste electrode. Analytical Chemistry, 63(10), 953–957.
Giacomino, A., Abollino, O., Malandrino, M., & Mentasti, E. (2008). Parameters affecting the determination of mercury by anodic stripping voltammetry using a gold electrode. Talanta, 75(1), 266–273.
Harikumar, P. S., Dhruvan, A., Sabna, V., & Babitha. (2011). Study on the leaching of mercury from compact fluorescent lamps using stripping voltammetry. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 3(1), 008–013.
Jarzynska, G., & Falandysz, J. (2011). The determination of mercury in mushrooms by CV-AAS and ICP-AES techniques. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 46(6), 569–573.
Khan, M. R., & Khoo, S. B. (1998). 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol modified carbon paste electrode for trace cobalt (II) determination by differential pulse cathodic voltammetry. Analyst, 123(6), 1351–1357.
Kissinger, P. T., & Heineman, W. R. (Eds.). (1984). Laboratory techniques in electrochemistry (pp. 499-538). New York: Marcel Dekker.
Lang, C. Y., Chen, Y. W., Tong, J., Wang, M., & Belzile, N. (2005). Determination of total mercury in porewater of lake sediments: control of interference from dissolved organic carbon and sulfide. Canadian Journal of Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy, 50(3), 167–174.
Lu, X., Wang, Z., Geng, Z., Kang, J., & Gao, J. (2000). 2,4,6-tri(3,5-Dimethylpyrazoyl)-1,3,5-triazine modified carbon paste electrode for trace cobalt(II) determination by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Talanta, 52(3), 411–416.
Mojica, E. R. E., & Micor, J. R. L. (2007). Utilization of plant refuses as component of heavy metal ion sensors in water samples. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 11(3), 69–74.
Mojica, E. R. E., Vidal, J. M., Pelegrina, A. B., & Micor, J. R. L. (2007). Voltammetric determination of Pb (II) ions at carbon paste electrode modified with banana tissue. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(9), 1286–1292.
Rezaei, B., & Damiri, S. (2008). Multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified electrode as a sensor for adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of hydrochlorothiazide. IEEE Sensors Journal, 8(9), 1523–1529.
Singhvi, R., Taneja, A., Patel, J. R., Kansal, V., Gasser, C. J., & Kalnicky, D. J. (2011). Determination of total metallic mercury in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Environmental Forensics, 12(2), 143–148.
Wu, H. P. (1996). Dynamics and performance of fast linear scan anodic stripping voltammetry of Cd, Pb, and Cu using in situ-generated ultrathin mercury films. Analytical Chemistry, 68, 1639–1645.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, New Delhi for rendering financial assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Devnani, H., Satsangee, S.P. Voltammetric trace determination of mercury using plant refuse modified carbon paste electrodes. Environ Monit Assess 185, 9333–9342 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3255-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3255-7