Electrochemical stripping analysis, a powerful technique for real-time controlling of environment pollution from heavy metals

The real-time controlling of environmental pollution from heavy metals is of a greatimportance. Although several instruments and technologies are already available for laboratory use up todate there is not still any fast and low cost device that can solve such a problem fulfilling all the necessarycriteria for the in-situ and long-term monitoring of heavy metals in waters. The application ofelectrochemical stripping analysis for heavy metal analysis using a flow through system will be shown.The detection system is based on screen-printed electrodes (SPE) which allow an easy electrochemicalstripping ensuring a high sensitivity in detection of heavy metal traces and allowing an in-situ control ofwater pollution. The results obtained for the measurements of lead, cadmium and copper including theresponse stability will be shown. Concentrations up to few ppb have been possible to be detected withSPEs immersed up to a 2 week monitoring period. The mentioned electrochemical detection system isunder further development for its future integration into a complex microanalyser that aims to be withinterest in the future for water risk management in Europe in the framework of WARMER, a FP6European project.