A novel electrochemical cyanide sensor using gold nanoparticles decorated carbon ceramic electrode

The high toxicity of cyanide and its great variety of uses in industrial processes make it necessary to develop sensitive and selective sensors for its determination in natural and waste waters. In this work, using modified carbon ceramic electrode with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was reported. The electrodeposition of GNPs on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM image showed that the size of gold nanoparticles was examined around 75 nm. The GNPs/CCE was used for the determination of cyanide (CN−) in solution (pH 12). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) methods were used for the determination of CN−. The linear dynamic range from 0.5 μM to 14.0 μM and a detection limit was found to be 0.09 μM (S/N = 3) by SWV method. Interference studies were performed with typical anions present in natural and waste waters. Based on obtained result, the proposed sensor suffers from the interfering of thiocyanide (SCN−) ion.