>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Electrochemical platforms were developed based on pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) modified with electrochemically deposited graphene (EG) sheets and Nafion-graphene (NG) nanocomposites in conjunction with an in situ plated bismuth-film (EG-PG-BiE and NG-PG-BiE). The EG- and NG-PG-BiEs were used as sensing platforms for determining Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). EG sheets were deposited onto pencil graphite electrodes by cyclic voltammetric reduction from a graphene oxide (GO) solution, while a dip coating method was used to prepare the NG-PG-BiE. The GO and graphene, with flake thicknesses of 1.78 (2 sheets) and 2.10 nm (5 sheets) respectively, was characterized using FT-IR, HR-SEM, HR-TEM, AFM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Parameters influencing the electroanalytical response of the EG-PG-BiE and NG-PG-BiE such as, bismuth ion concentration, deposition potential, deposition time and rotation speed were investigated and optimized. The EG-PG-BiE gave well-defined, reproducible peaks with detection limits of 0.19 μg L-1, 0.09 μg L-1 and 0.12 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ respectively, at a deposition time of 120 seconds. The NG-PG-BiE showed similar detection limits of 0.167 μg L-1, 0.098 μg L-1 and 0.125 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ respectively. For real sample analysis, the enhanced voltammetric sensor proved to be suitable for the detection and quantitation of heavy metals below the US EPA prescribed drinking water standards of 5 mg L-1, 5 μg L-1 and 15 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ respectively.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/4829 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Pokpas, Keagan William |
| Contributors | Jahed, N., Iwuoha, Emmanuel |
| Publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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