Simultaneous ultrasensitive detection of heavy metals using chelate-functionalized carbon nanotube-modified electrodes

ENVR 186

Jeffrey Morton, jeffrey619@missouristate.edu and Adam K. Wanekaya, wanekaya@missouristate.edu. Department of Chemistry, Missouri State University, 901 S National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897
We describe an ultrasensitive voltammetric detection of trace heavy metal ions using chelate-functionalized carbon nanotube-modified electrodes. Suspensions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were covalently bound with various metal-specific chelate in separate reactions. The suspensions of the chelate-functionalized MWNTs were then mixed in different ratios and cast on glassy carbon electrodes. The resulting multichelate-functionalized carbon nanotube glassy carbon electrodes were suspended in a solution containing multiple heavy metals resulted in accumulation of various metals via complexation reactions. Preliminary stripping voltammetric analysis results indicate extremely sensitive and simultaneous detection of multiple heavy metals. The procedure was optimized with respect to the ratios and amount MWNT cast, applied reduction potentials, pH and concentration of the buffer solution used for accumulation and voltammetric detection.