Antimony film screen-printed carbon electrode for stripping analysis of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) in natural samples

• In-situ SbSPCEs are used for the determination of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions.
• Sb electrode is proposed as an alternative to in-situ bismuth film electrodes.
• LOD and LOQ at μg L−1 levels allow the considered ions determination in natural samples.

An in-situ antimony film screen-printed carbon electrode (in-situ SbSPCE) was successfully used for the determination of Cu(II) simultaneously with Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, by means of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), in a certified reference groundwater sample with a very high reproducibility and good trueness. This electrode is proposed as a valuable alternative to in-situ bismuth film electrodes, since no competition between the electrodeposited copper and antimony for surface sites was noticed. In-situ SbSPCE was microscopically characterized and experimental parameters such as deposition potential, accumulation time and pH were optimized. The best voltammetric response for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions was achieved when deposition potential was −1.2 V, accumulation time 120 s and pH 4.5. The detection and quantification limits at levels of μg L−1 suggest that the in-situ SbSPCE could be fully suitable for the determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in natural samples.

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