TiO2 assisted photo-oxidation of wastewater prior to voltammetric determination of trace metals: Eco-friendly alternative to traditional digestion methods

Abstract

Voltammetry is a sensitive method for metal determination and one alternative to ICP MS, but its limitation is the influence of the organic matrix on the measurements. To avoid those interferences, wet digestion with H2O2 accelerated with UV irradiation is applied and evaporation of excess of reagents is required. In this study, photolytic oxidation in quartz tubes with anatase was carried out, using as object of study wastewater samples with high amount of organic matter. Cadmium and lead determination was carried out in order to test metal recoveries. Lead recoveries reached c.a 85% for UV digestion with hydrogen peroxide, 98% for digestion with anatase immobilized with polyvinylidene fluoride (N-metylo-2-pirolidon) and c.a 103% for digestion with immobilized anatase (anatase in gum). The results obtained showed the usefulness of TiO2 layer as an oxidation medium. An easy, cheap and eco-friendly digestion method of surfactants without any reagent has been developed, with equal sensitivity but and the same detection limit of traditional digestion methods.