Determination of Pb(II) by sequential injection/stripping analysis at all-plastic electrochemical fluidic cells with integrated composite electrodes

•All-plastic disposable fluidic electrochemical cells were fabricated.•The cells were mass-produced at low cost using injection-moulding.•The cells were incorporated into a sequential injection manifold.•Pb(II) was determined by sequential injection/anodic stripping voltammetry.•The method was automated and fast enabling sub-μg L−1 detection of Pb(II).

This work reports the development of a sequential injection/stripping analysis method for the determination of trace Pb(II) at injection-moulded electrochemical fluidic cells. Conducting carbon fibre–loaded polystyrene electrodes were integrated within the plastic cells. The flow-through cells were incorporated into a home-made sequential injection analysis (SIA) manifold. Different experimental parameters for the detection of Pb(II) were investigated including the type and concentration of the supporting electrolyte, the conditions of the stripping step, the volume of the sample, the flow rate and the accumulation potential. The LOD for Pb(II) was 0.5 μg L−1, the within-cell % relative standard deviation (n=8) was 3.1% and the between-cell % relative standard deviation (n=5) was 8.9% for 25 μg L−1 Pb(II). The cells were applied to the determination of Pb(II) in tapwater and a phosphate fertilizer sample.

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