Designing a heavy metal electrochemical sensor for Pb detection in water—A generalized approach for electrochemical sensing using low‐cost materials

Abstract

This work attempts to design an elemental method for detecting heavy metals in water. The presence of heavy metals in water is a critical issue that needs a check at every level of water consumption. To facilitate the checking, a simple method needs to be identified and developed. Electrochemical sensing is essentially a surface phenomenon and requires a higher surface area for greater accuracy and reliability. We have attempted to use a readily available Cu wire for detecting Pb to 50 μM concentration with 90% reliability. It is important to note that the sensing electrode (Cu wire) utilized for this work has been employed in a facile manner that enhances the ease of use for heavy metal electrochemical sensor. Moreover, post‐usage, the replacement of sensor material for subsequent usage is easy. The low cost and simplicity of the method make it ideal for resource‐constrained environments and portability, resulting in increasing the accessibility of water quality monitoring. The study examines the reliability of a low‐cost electrode for Pb concentration detection in water samples to the concentration of 50 μM using a simple low‐cost electrochemical sensor arrangement.