Gold–Copper Film Electrode for Voltammetry Determination of Mercury in Water

Abstract

Gold-copper film electrode prepared in situ on carbon paste solid disk substrate (Au–CuF/CPE) was studied as a working electrode. The factors influencing mercury stripping peak currents, such as $C_{\text{Au}\left(\text{III}\right)}$ (0.20 mg/L), $C_{\text{Cu}\left(\text{II}\right)}$ (0.05 mg/L), type of acids and their concentration (HClO4, 0.005 M), deposition potential (-800 mV) for Au–CuF/CPE, deposition time (180 s), and interferents, were investigated and optimized. The method has a low limit of detection of 0.13 μg/L and is not affected significantly by the examined ions/substance. It was applied to detect the concentration of Hg in real water samples and is promising for practical usage.