Hydroxyapatite Wrapped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Ionic Liquid Composite Electrode: A High Performance Sensor for Trace Determination of Lead Ions

A nanocomposite consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes wrapped with hydroxyapatite (HA/MWCNTs) was used in the construction of a new composite paste electrode using an ionic liquid as the binder. The stable surface in aqueous solutions as well as the high sorptive behaviors towards heavy metal ions and the favorable charge transfer make the electrode highly efficient especially for stripping or adsorptive analysis. The analysis of Pb2+ as a model of heavy metal ions has been performed. Good sensitivity, detection limit, selectivity and reproducibility were obtained for the suggested sensor. The linear range of the electrode response covered four orders of magnitude (1nM-10 mu M), in two linear ranges. The obtained detection limit for Pb2+ was 2x10(-11)M.