Determination of trace levels of nickel(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry using a disposable and low-cost carbon screen-printed electrode

Abstract

A commercial and disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) has been proposed for a fast, simple and low-cost determination of Ni(II) at very low concentration levels by differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV) in the presence of dimethylglyoxime (DMG) as complexing agent. In contrast with previously proposed methods, the Ni(II)-DMG complex adsorbs directly on the screen-printed carbon surface, with no need of mercury, bismuth or antimony coatings. Well-defined stripping peaks and a linear dependence of the peak area on the concentration of Ni(II) was achieved in the range from 1.7 to 150 microg/L, with a limit of detection of 0.5 microg/L using a deposition time of 120 s. An excellent reproducibility and repeatability with 0.3% (n = 3) and 1.5% (n = 15) relative standard deviation, respectively, were obtained. In addition, the suitability of the SPCE as sensing unit has been successfully assessed in a wastewater certificated reference material with remarkable trueness and very good reproducibility.