Fast-Scan Anodic Stripping Voltammetry for Detection of Pb(II) at Picomolar Level

Abstract

Fast-scan anodic stripping voltammetry (FSASV) was applied to sensitively detect Pb²⁺ on a mercury film electrode (MFE). The method was involved with a controlled preconcentration by accumulation of Pb²⁺ on the MFE followed by FSASV measurement. At the scan rate of 500 V/s, a linear relationship between the anodic stripping peak current and the logarithm of Pb²⁺ concentration in the solution was observed in the range from 0.1 µmol/L to 0.1 pmol/L with a detection limit of 0.1 pmol/L. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of Pb²⁺ in spiked water samples with satisfying recoveries in the range of 98.6 to 104.3%, and the corresponding relative standard deviation ranged from 3.7 to 5.5%. Therefore, FSASV is a sensitive, fast, cost-effective and simple method for the detection of Pb²⁺ at picomolar level and would be very promising in heavy metal determination.