Determination of Pb(II) with a Dithizone-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

Abstract

A dithizone (DTZ) modified carbon paste electrode was developed for the sensitive and selective determination of Pb(II) using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry as well in batch as in FIA system. The analysis procedure is based on an open circuit accumulation step in a stirred sample solution. This was followed by a medium exchange to a clean solution and subsequently by a proper anodic stripping. The analytical performance was evaluated with respect to the quantity of modifier in the paste, accumulation time, background electrolyte, Pb(II) concentration and other variables. When the accumulation time applied was 5 minutes, linear calibration graphs were obtained in the concentration range 1 × 10−7–1 × 10−5 M and 8 × 10−8–5 × 10−6 M for batch and Flow Injection Analysis (FIA), respectively. The detection limits found were 8.65 × 10−8 M in batch and 4.45 × 10−8 M in FIA. A convenient and rapid renewal of electrode surface allows the use of a single modified electrode surface in multiple analytical determinations. Several coexisting metals ions such as Cd(II), Hg(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) had no interference on the determination of Pb(II). The proposed method was applied in the determination of lead in soils located in the vicinity of metallurgic transformation industry. The results obtained were in accordance to the ones supplied by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).