Modification of Glassy Carbon Electrode Using Microcrystalline Cellulose-Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid for the Detection of Lead and Cadmium Ions

There is a greater need for the identification and monitoring of metal contaminants as a result of the growing hazard that heavy metal contamination of water poses to the environment. In this work, microcrystalline cellulose was functionalised with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and the product analysed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The functionalised microcrystalline cellulose-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was employed to modify the glassy carbon electrode. Detection for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions was determined using square wave anodic stripping voltammetric analysis at square wave potential scan of -1.0 V to -0.2 V, and deposition potential of -1.0 V in 0.1M acetate buffer for 240 sec. Higher current response of Pb2+ was obtained at -0.6 V and that of Cd2+ at -0.8V. Limit of detection for Pb2+  was 1.8 ppb (MCC-EDTA GCE) and 5.0 ppb (MCC-GCE) , while that of Cd2+  was 7 ppb (MCC-EDTA GCE) and 10 ppb (MCC-GCE), these indicate MCC EDTA GCE has higher sensitivity towards detection of the metal ions and selectivity of modifiers for detection of Pd2+ and Cd2+ was achieved successfully.