Voltammetric determination of copper in water samples using a Schiff base/carbon nanotube-modified carbon paste electrode

In the present study, a novel Schiff base modified multiwalled carbon nanotube paste sensor was developed for the determination of trace amounts of copper in environmental samples. It is based on the encapsulation of the C24H30N6 Schiff base onto multiwalled carbon nanotube paste electrode. The operating conditions regarding supporting electrolytes, deposition time and applied potential on the sensitivity of electrode were established and optimized in detail. The working curve was linear in the concentration range of 0.09-340 mu g L-1. The relative standard deviation for 3 replicate determination of the 30 mu g L-1 Cu(II) was 1.47%. The detection limit and quantification limit were 0.01 and 0.06 mu g L-1, respectively. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of copper in the river and city water. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.