An Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Trace Concentrations of Cadmium, Based on Spherical Glassy Carbon and Nanotubes

The practical application of a novel, eco-friendly electrochemical sensor based on low-dimensional structures, spherical glassy carbon microparticles, and multiwall carbon nanotubes is described. This sensor, modified with a bismuth film, was used for the determination of Cd(II) by the anodic stripping voltammetric method. The instrumental and chemical factors influencing the sensitivity of the procedure were thoroughly investigated and their most favorable values were selected (acetate buffer solution pH = 3 ± 0.1; 0.15 mmol L(−1) Bi(III); activation potential/time: −2 V/3 s; accumulation potential/time: −0.9 V/50 s). Under the selected conditions, the method exhibited linearity in the range of 2 × 10(−9) to 2 × 10(−7) mol L(−1) Cd(II) with a detection limit of 6.2 × 10(−10) mol L(−1) Cd(II). The results obtained also showed that the application of the sensor for Cd(II) detection did not experience any significant interference in the presence of a number of foreign ions. The applicability of this procedure was evaluated using TM-25.5 Environmental Matrix Reference Material and SPS-WW1 Waste Water Certified Reference Material as well as river water samples through addition and recovery tests.