Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with the Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode for Trace Metal Detection in Soil Samples

The widely spread use of the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for multi-ion analysis is primarily ascribed to following reasons: (i) excellent reproducibility owing easy renewal surface avoiding any hysteresis effect (i.e., a new identical generated each measurement be accomplished); (ii) wide cathodic potential window originating from passive hydrogen evolution and solvent electrolysis; (iii) ability form amalgams with many redox-active metal ions; (iv) achievement (sub)nanomolar limits detection. On other hand, main controversy HMDE usage high toxicity level mercury, which has motivated scientific community question whether deserves continue being used despite its unique capability multi-metal In this work, simultaneous determination Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ using investigated as model system evaluate features technique. analytical benefits in terms linear range response, reproducibility, limit detection, proximity ideal redox behavior ions time are herein demonstrated compared electrodes proposed literature less-toxic alternatives HMDE. results have revealed that largely superior reported methods several aspects and, moreover, it displays accuracy when simultaneously analyzing such complex matrix digested soils. Yet, more efforts required towards definitive replacement electroanalysis field, elegant approaches already literature.