Contamination of drinking water by heavy metals from corrosion of plumbing and pollution of groundwater aquifers poses a major risk to human health. Current methods for detection and quantification of dissolved metals, such as atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, require expensive laboratory-based equipment, highly trained personnel, and hazardous chemicals. These limitations prevent practical onsite testing. To facilitate more frequent and less expensive testing, our research group has developed voltammetric methodologies and sensors for rapid, onsite detection of thallium, iron, and copper. The methodologies used square wave stripping voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry with disposable carbon screen printed electrodes. To improve the sensitivity of the methodologies, the electrodes were modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and bismuth nanoparticles for detection of thallium, and gold nanoparticles with a spiked structure (gold nanostars) for detection of iron and copper. To control the sample pH and conductivity, modified Britton Robinson buffer was added for thallium and copper testing and dilute nitric acid was added for iron testing. These methodologies accurately detected the three metals, at concentrations below military exposure guidelines for drinking water. For thallium, iron, and copper, the linear ranges were 0 to 50 ppb, 0 to 5000 ppb, and 0 to 5000 ppb, respectively, and the limits of detection were 1.9 ppb, 63.8 ppb, and 56.4 ppb, respectively (see Figure 1 for voltammograms). Data analysis software was developed for the automatic analysis of data and prediction of concentration, to enable accurate testing by nontechnical personnel.

Disposable voltammetric sensors for rapid detection of Thallium, Iron, and Copper

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