Author(s)

Ahmed Abu Ismaiel, Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua, Rozita Yusoff

Chemical Engineering Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A new modified palm shell activated carbon paste electrode based on 1,13-Bis(8-quinolyl)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxat-ride-cane ,8,8-(1,4,7,10,13-Pentaoxatridecylene)-diquinoline (Kryptofix^?5) and plasticizing agent was prepared and studied as Hg2+ selective electrode. The best performance was observed with the electrode composition having the iono-phore-palm shell activated carbon-plasticizer composition 10%:50%:40% with Nernstian response over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^–8 - 1.0 × 10^–2 M with a slope of 42 ± 1.5 mV per decade of concentration. The detection limit as determined from the calibration plot is 1.0 × 10^–7 M. The proposed electrode shows good selectivity for Hg(II) with interfering ions. The response time of the electrode is fast (≤10 s), and can be used in the pH range of 3 - 11. The electrode was used to determine mercury in drinking water.

Palm Shell Activated Carbon; Kryptofix^®5; Ion Selective Electrode; Mercury

A. Ismaiel, M. Aroua and R. Yusoff, "Potentiometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Mercury (II) in Water Sample Using a New Modified Palm Shell Activated Carbon Paste Electrode Based on Kryptofix 5," American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 3 No. 12, 2012, pp. 859-865. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2012.312113.