Differential pulse voltammetry detection of Pb(ii) using nitrogen-doped activated nanoporous carbon from almond shells

Almond shell-based charcoal was prepared by carbonizing almond shells in a nitrogen atmosphere. Nanoporous carbon (NPC) was formed via activating the obtained charcoal using potassium hydroxide as an activating agent, followed by the synthesis of nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon (N-NPC) via a hydrothermal reaction using urea as the nitrogen source. The obtained N-NPC possessed a large surface area (1075 m(2) g(−1)), narrow pore-size distribution (1–2 nm) and nitrogen content reaching 2.23 wt%. Using N-NPC with Nafion to modify a glassy carbon electrode, a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was fabricated for the determination of Pb(ii) in aqueous solutions with differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The peak current of Pb(ii) showed linearity over concentrations from 2.0 to 120 μg L(−1) and the detection limit (S/N = 3) was estimated to be 0.7 μg L(−1) for Pb(ii), which was 15-fold lower than the guideline value of drinking water given by the World Health Organization (WHO). The experimental data indicated that this easy and low-cost method is an accurate and fast method for the detection of trace Pb(ii).