Development of 2-aminobenzoic Acid as a Complexing Ligand for Simultaneous Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Trace Copper, Lead and Cadmium

Abstract In this study, 2-aminobenzoic acid (ABA) has been used as a complexing ligand for metal ions simultaneous determination by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (AdCSV). This selective and sensitive method was based on Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions + ABA adsorptive accumulation, by hanging them onto a mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by their reduction through differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPSCV). Experimental parameters, such as pH, ABA concentration, accumulation time, potential and scan rate, were examined. Under the optimized conditions, linear calibration curves were established for Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations, in the ranges from 5 to 120, 5 to 150 and 5 to 120 ng/mL-1, respectively. Detection limits (LODs) of 2.05, 1.78 and 2.26 ng/mL-1 were obtained for Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively. The proposed method was applied for the determination of these elements in tap and industrial waste water, as real samples.