Electrochemical detection of perchloroethylene using differential pulse voltammetry

Abstract

We demonstrate the application of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the electrochemical detection of perchloroethylene (PCE) on an unmodified glassy carbon electrode surface. Detection sensitivity was substantially improved using DPV, in which dechlorination was denoted by a cathodic peak observed at approximately −0.6V (vs Ag/AgCl). Peak current intensity was found to correlate linearly with concentration over a tested range of 0 to 10μM. The utility of this technique was subsequently evaluated for PCE-spiked environmental samples containing either Methylobacterium adhaesivum (1×106cells/mL) or creek water (10% v/v). In all environmental samples, a linear dynamic range was also observed from approximately 0 to 10μM. The limit of detection was determined to be 0.3μM in blank buffer, 0.4μM in bacteria-containing samples and 1.2μM in creek water samples.