Simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Cu(II) using stripping voltammetry in groundwater, soil and Alhagi maurorum plants in industrial and urban areas in Northern Border, Saudi Arabia with luminol as a chelating agent

Abstract

The cathodic stripping voltammetry of Cu(II) and Cd(II) speciation was re-optimized by using luminol (Lu) in groundwater, soil and Alhagi maurorum plants, finding differences with the pre-existing method and a different interpretation for the electroactive species. The main findings are that optimum sensitivity is obtained at 0.3–142.5 ng/mL and 0.065–60.0 ng/mL for copper and cadmium, respectively, that the complexes responsible for adsorption on the electrode are CuLu and CdLu, and that the sensitivity of the method is much improved in the absence of dissolved oxygen. The limit of detection of the method was 0.011 ± 0.001 ng/mL for Cu(II) and 0.013 ± 0.001 ng/mL for Cd(II). The interference of some common ions: Cr(III), Fe(III), Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mo(II) was studied. It was concluded that application of this method for the determination of Cu(II) and Cd(II) in groundwater, soil and Alhagi maurorum plants led to satisfactory results.