Highly sensitive voltammetric determination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions using a carbon paste electrode modified with Mn₀.₅Zn₀.₅Fe₂O₄ spinel ferrite nanoparticles
摘要
A novel electrochemical sensing platform based on a Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode (MnZnFe NPs/CPE) was developed for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of trace Cd²+ and Pb²+ ions. MnZnFe NPs were synthesized via co-precipitation method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM&EDX, and TEM analyses, confirming the formation of a well-crystallized spinel ferrite structure with nanoscale morphology. The incorporation of MnZnFe NPs significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of the carbon paste matrix, providing improved adsorption capacity and electron-transfer kinetics for metal ions. Adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (ASDPV) was employed for analytical measurements under optimized conditions (pH 5, deposition potential − 1.2 V, deposition time 120 s). The modified electrode exhibited well-defined and separated oxidation peaks for both Cd²+ and Pb²+, achieving low detection limits 0.21 nM and 0.03 nM for Cd²+ and Pb²+ respectively, wide linear ranges 0.80 nM – 28.0 µM and 0.12 nM– 30.0 µM for Cd²+ and Pb²+ respectively, and excellent reproducibility (RSDs of 0.42% (Cd²+) and 1.39% (Pb²+)). The sensor also demonstrated high selectivity toward Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, with negligible interference from common coexisting ions, and showed good stability over repeated use. The developed MnZnFe NPs/CPE provides a simple, low-cost, and efficient approach for monitoring toxic heavy metals in environmental water samples.