Voltammetric determination of mercury (II) in aqueous media using glassy carbon electrodes modified with novel calix[4]arene

A novel calix[4]arene derivative containing benzothiazole group was coated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then applied to the recognition of mercury ion. Cyclic and square wave voltammetric results showed that the modified electrode selectively recognizes Hg2+ ion in aqueous media. A new anodic stripping peak at −0.3 V (vs. Ag/Ag+) can be obtained by scanning the potential from −0.6 to 0.6 V, and the peak currents are proportional to the Hg2+ concentration. The modified electrode in a 0.1 M H2SO4+0.01 M NaCl solution shows linear voltammetric response in the range of 25–300 μg l−1 and detection limit of 5 μg l−1 (ca. 2.5×10−8 M). This modified GCE does not present any significant interference from alkali, alkaline and transition metal ions except for Pb2+, Ag+ and Cu2+ ions. Only 500, 50 and 100-fold molar excess of Pb2+, Ag+ and Cu2+ ions, respectively, can lead to voltammetric response comparable with that of Hg2+. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine mercury in natural water.