Designing a heavy metal electrochemical sensor for Pb detection in water—A generalized approach for electrochemical sensing using low-cost materials

Abstract

This work attempts to design an elemental method for detecting heavy metals in water. The presence of heavy metals in water is a critical issue that needs a check at every level of water consumption. To facilitate the checking, a simple method needs to be identified and developed. Electrochemical sensing is essentially a surface phenomenon and requires a higher surface area for greater accuracy and reliability. We have attempted to use a readily available Cu wire for detecting Pb to 50 μM concentration with 90% reliability. It is important to note that the sensing electrode (Cu wire) utilized for this work has been employed in a facile manner that enhances the ease of use for heavy metal electrochemical sensor. Moreover, post-usage, the replacement of sensor material for subsequent usage is easy. The low cost and simplicity of the method make it ideal for resource-constrained environments and portability, resulting in increasing the accessibility of water quality monitoring. The study examines the reliability of a low-cost electrode for Pb concentration detection in water samples to the concentration of 50 μM using a simple low-cost electrochemical sensor arrangement.