A new voltammetric sensor for the determination of sulfite in water and wastewater using modified-multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode

Abstract

The electrochemical response of a modified-carbon nanotubes paste electrode with p-aminophenol was investigated as an electrochemical sensor for sulfite determination. The electrochemical behaviour of sulfite was studied at the surface of the modified electrode in aqueous media using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. It has been found that under the optimum condition (pH 7.0) in cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation of sulfite occurs at a potential about 680 mV less positive than that of an unmodified-carbon nanotubes paste electrode. Under the optimized conditions, the electrocatalytic peak current showed linear relationship with sulfite concentration in the range of 2.0 × 10−7–2.8 × 10−4 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 9.0 × 10−8 mol L−1 sulfite. The relative standard deviations for ten successive assays of 1.0 and 50.0 µmol L−1 sulfite were 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Finally, the modified electrode was examined as a selective, simple and precise new electrochemical sensor for the determination of sulfite in water and wastewater samples.