Determination of trace amounts of copper in tap water samples with a calix[4]arene modified carbon paste electrode by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

A calix[4]arene modified carbon paste electrode was used for trace determination of copper. The study of the preconcentration of copper as well as the other heavy metal ions at the modified electrode, with subsequent measurement by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), indicates the efficient open-circuit accumulation of the analytes onto the electrode. Many parameters such as the composition of the paste, pH, preconcentration time and stirring rate influence the response of the measurement. The procedure was optimized for copper determination. For a 10-minute preconcentration time at pH 6.5 - 7.5, the detection limit (LOD) was 1.1 mu g L-1. The optimized method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in tap water sample by means of standard addition procedure. The copper content of the sample was comparable with the result obtained with AAS method.