The effect of acetate concentration, solution pH and conductivity on the anodic stripping voltammetry of lead and cadmium ions at in situ bismuth-plated carbon microelectrodes

► No acetate buffer is needed for the Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV) of metal ions at in-situ prepared Bi-film microelectrodes. ► In poorly buffered, slightly acidified samples, higher SWASV signals are obtained in the absence of acetate ions. ► High SWASV signals at low acetate levels (<0.1 M) and pH values (<4.75) are due to an increase of both the forward and reverse response components. ► The increase of both signal components is a result of the metal analyte ions being in a free rather than in a complex form under such conditions.