Simultaneous detection of trace Cd(II) and Pb(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry using a bismuth oxycarbide/nafion electrode

Heavy metal pollution causes serious health threat to humanbeings. Herein we fabricated a novel bismuth oxycarbide (BOC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the simultaneous detection of cadmium and lead ions using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The main factors influencing the detection performance, such as solution pH, deposition voltage and deposition time were optimized to be 4.5, −1.3v, and 700s, respectively. The detection limits for lead ions and cadmium ions were 4.30 μg/L and 3.97 μg/L, respectively. These detection limits are both lower than 5 μg/L for cadmium ions and 10 μg/L for lead ions national standards. The BOC modified GCE exhibits good selectivity and reliability for the detection of lead ions and cadmium ions. BOC/GCE may find great potential for heavy metal ions detection in real water sample.