Sains Malaysiana 40(10)(2011): 1153–1163

 Determination of Lead(II), Cadmium(II) and Copper(II) in Waste-Water and Soil Extracts on Mercury Film Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes Sensor

(Penentuan Plumbum(II), Kadmium(II) dan Kuprum(II) dalam Air-buangan dan

Ekstrak Tanah dengan Sensor Skrin Bercetak Terubah Suai Karbon Filem Raksa)

Mohd Fairulnizal Md Noh*

Nutrition Unit, Cardiovascular Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre

Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ibtisam E. Tothill

Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, England

United Kingdom

Received: 17 June 2010/Accepted: 21 October 2010

ABSTRACT

A sensor incorporating a three electrodes configuration have been fabricated using low cost screen-printing technology. These electrodes couples with Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry (SWSV) has provided a convenient screening tool for on-site detection of trace levels of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II). Modification of the graphite carbon surface based on in situ deposition of mercury film has been carried out. By appropriate choice of supporting medium, and optimized parameters setting such as amount of mercury used the deposition potential, deposition time, frequency and scan rate, well resolved and reproducible response for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) were obtained. The performance characteristics of the developed mercury film screen printed carbon electrode (MFSPCE) for 120 s deposition time showed that the linear range for cadmium(II), lead(II) and copper(II) were 10 to 200 μg L^-1. The detection limit recorded for Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) were 2, 1 and 5 μg L^-1 with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 6.5%, 6.9% and 7.5%, respectively. Successful applications of the sensing device to waste-water and extracted soil samples were demonstrated.

Keywords: Mercury film screen-printed carbon electrode; soil extract; Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry; waste water

ABSTRAK

Suatu sensor yang terdiri daripada tiga konfigurasi elektrod telah difabrikasi menggunakan teknologi cetakan skrin yang berkos rendah. Elektrod-elektrod ini bersama dengan teknik Voltametri Perlucutan Gelombang Empat Segi (SWSV) merupakan peralatan penyaringan mudah untuk pengesanan aras terendah plumbum(II) cadmium(II) dan kuprum(II). Pengubahsuaian permukaan karbon grafit berasaskan kepada perlekatan semasa (in-situ) filem merkuri telah dijalankan. Melalui pemilihan media pembantu dan parameter-parameter yang sesuai seperti jumlah raksa yang digunakan, keupayaan pengendapan, masa perlekatan, frekuensi dan kadar saringan, keputusan dan kebolehhasilan untuk Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) telah diperoleh. Ciri-ciri pencapaian elektrod karbon bercetak skrin filem raksa yang direkabentuk dan dibiarkan selama 120 s untuk masa pengendapan, menunjukkan julat linear untuk Pb(II), Cd(II) dan Cu(II) ialah daripada 10 sehingga 200 μg L^-1. Had pengesanan yang dicatatkan untuk Cd(II), Pb(II) dan Cu(II) ialah 2, 1 dan 5 μg L^-1 dengan sisihan piawai relatif (RSD) 6.5%, 6.9% dan 7.5%, masing-masing. Aplikasi sensor ini kepada sampel air buangan dan sampel tanah yang diekstrak telah ditunjukkan.

Kata kunci: Air buangan; ekstrak tanah; elektrod karbon bercetak skrin filem raksa; Voltametri Perlucutan Gelombang Empat Segi

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*Corresponding author; email: fairul@imr.gov.my