Low Cost Electrochemical PGE Platform for Sensitive Determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II)

Low-cost electrochemical platform for sensitive Pb(II) and Cd(II) detection in aqueous solution were fabricated using pencil graphite leads. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were applied to electrochemical characterization of the Pencil Graphite Electrode (PGE). Average electroactive surface was determined as 2.58 times its geometrical area. Parameters for the electrochemical detection of lead and cadmium ions were optimized using Anodic Stripping Square Wave Voltammetry (ASSWV) in 0.1 M HCl (Edep= -1 V, tdep= 60 s). Electroanalysis results exhibited linear increment of electrochemical signals with an increase in the concentration of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in two different ranges. Based on the calibration curve, limits of detection (LOD = 3σ m-1) were 0.946 mg L-1 and 1.107 mg L-1 respectively. This electrochemical platform constitutes an effective and low-cost approach (0.20 USD per unit) that may be useful to industry, academia, or regulatory agencies.