Heavy metals are serious inorganic pollutants that need to be monitored in the hydrosphere with simple and cheap methods. Herein, a new sensor was fabricated by modifying a carbon paste electrode with MgO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite for simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive simultaneous determination of Cd (II) and Cu (II) using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The electrochemical behavior of the constructed sensor was examined, and all parameters were optimized including deposition potential, time, pH, and scan rate. For Cd (II) and Cu (II), the respective detection limits were determined to be 3.3 × 10−11 M and 3.6 × 10−11 M, and the respective quantification limits were 1.1 × 10−10 M and 1.2 × 10−10 M. The sensor estimated Cd (II) and Cu (II) in Nile river, tap, and bottled real water samples with high recoveries ranging from 99 to 117%.
Graphical Abstract