Sensitive and Simple Electroanalytical Method for Lead Detection in Seawater Using VAdS with Eriochrome Blue Black R

Abstract

A novel electroanalytical approach for lead detection was developed using the voltammetric adsorptive stripping (VAdS) method with Eriochrome Blue Black R (EBBR) as the complexing agent. The method operates by accumulating the Lead-EBBR complex on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and measuring the peak current. The complex reduces at -0.46 V, with the peak current increasing as small amounts of EBBR are introduced into the sample. Key parameters such as pH, EBBR concentration, accumulation time (tacc), and accumulation potential (Eacc) were optimized. Under optimal conditions (pH 3, 0.6 mol/L EBBR, tacc 60 s, Eacc 0.35 V, and 40 mmol buffer), the peak current correlated directly with Lead (II) concentrations from 0.05 to 100 µg/L, with a detection limit of 0.01 µg/L. The method exhibited high precision, with a relative standard deviation of 0.5% for a 10 µg/L Lead (II) solution over ten trials. Validation of the method was achieved by comparing results from seawater samples from former bauxite mining areas, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), showing similar outcomes. The VAdS method proved highly effective for detecting Lead (II) in seawater contaminated by mining waste.