Electrochemical sensor for trace determination of cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions: use of hybrid materials precursors to natural clays

A sensitive and efficient electroanalytical method for trace determination of cadmium(II) was developed using hybrid material-modified carbon paste electrodes. The hybrid materials were obtained by modifying the commercial bentonite (BC) and locally collected clay (LC) using the hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) as to obtain the organo-modified clay samples (BH and LCH). Moreover, the local clay was pillared with aluminium and modified with the HDTMA (LCAH). The carbon paste electrode was modified with the BC/BCH/LC/LCH/LCAH hybrid materials. Cyclic voltammetric analytical data showed that the modified electrodes were possessed a characteristic reversible behaviour of Cd(II) in aqueous media. Moreover, a significant increase in cathodic or anodic current was obtained using the modified electrodes, BCH, LCH and LCAH. The electroactive surface area of modified electrodes was increased significantly compared to the pristine clay-modified carbon paste electrodes. The response of the modified electrode was not affected significantly varying the pH within the pH region 2.0–10.0. Fairly, a good linearity between the anodic current and concentration of Cd(II) (5.0–40 μg/L) was achieved using the modified electrodes (BCH, LCH and LCAH). The presence of different cations and anions as coexisting ions were studied in order to simulate the real water matrix measurements. Additionally, the real matrix analysis was simulated using the Cd(II) spiked tap water, which showed a good linearity between the concentration of Cd(II) and anodic current.