Sensitive determination of Cd and Pb by differential pulse stripping voltammetry with in situ bismuth-modified zeolite doped carbon paste electrodes

Here we investigated the analytical performances of the bismuth-modified zeolite doped carbon paste electrode (BiF-ZDCPE) for trace Cd and Pb analysis. The characteristics of bismuth-modified electrodes were improved greatly via addition of synthetic zeolite into carbon paste. To obtain high reproducibility and sensitivity, optimum experimental conditions for bismuth deposition were studied. Voltammetric responses of the BiF-ZDCPEs prepared with different ratios of zeolite, carbon powder, and silicone, were examined under same conditions. The in situ plated (zeolite/graphite powder/silicone, 10/190/80 w/w) BiF-ZDCPEs exhibited the most sensitive response to Cd and Pb in 0.10 M acetate buffer (pH 4.5). The detection limits of the modified electrode were 0.08 μg L−1 for Cd(II) and 0.10 μg L−1 for Pb(II) based on three times the standard deviation of the baseline with a preconcentration time of 120 s under optimal conditions, respectively. The modified electrode showed well linear response to both Cd(II) and Pb(II) over the concentration range from 1.0 to 20.0 μg L−1. The BiF-ZDCPEs were successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in real samples, and the results were in agreement with those of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).