Use of pyrolyzed paper as disposable substrates for voltammetric determination of trace metals

Luiz André Juvêncio Silva; Weberson Pereira da Silva; Jason G Giuliani; Sheila Cristina Canobre; Carlos D Garcia; Rodrigo Alejandro Abarza Munoz; Eduardo Mathias Richter

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2016.12.009

Use of pyrolyzed paper as disposable substrates for voltammetric determination of trace metals

Talanta. 2017 Apr 1:165:33-38. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.12.009. Epub 2016 Dec 6.

Authors

Luiz André Juvêncio Silva¹, Weberson Pereira da Silva², Jason G Giuliani³, Sheila Cristina Canobre¹, Carlos D Garcia⁴, Rodrigo Alejandro Abarza Munoz¹, Eduardo Mathias Richter⁵

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia, MG, 38408100, Brazil.
² Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia, MG, 38408100, Brazil; Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry, UT San Antonio, Texas, USA.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina, USA.
⁵ Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia, MG, 38408100, Brazil. Electronic address: emrichter@iqufu.ufu.br.

PMID: 28153262
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.12.009

Abstract

The possibility of using pyrolyzed paper as disposable working electrodes for trace metals determination is reported for the first time. A small piece of pyrolyzed paper (0.7×0.7cm) was positioned at the bottom side of the electrochemical cell using a rubber O-ring, which defined the electrode area (0.48cm; 0.18cm²). A large number of electrodes can be obtained from a single piece of standard dimensions (2.5cm×7.5cm) of paper, therefore minimizing the cost per unit. The electrochemical performance of the pyrolyzed paper was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and by the determination of Zn, Cd, and Pb by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The unmodified pyrolyzed paper showed excellent performance for Pb and Cd detection (LOD =0.19 and 0.16 ppb, respectively). In the presence of Bi³⁺(in-situ film formation), the simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd and Pb was also possible (LOD=0.26, 0.25, and 0.39 ppb, respectively).

Keywords: Cadmium; Carbon substrate; Lead; Paper electrode; Simultaneous determination; Stripping voltammetry; Zinc.