Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Chitosan Composite for Adsorption and Electrochemical Determination of Mercury in Real Samples

In this research, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) was synthesized using pyrolysis of melamine and its phase, morphology, composition, and structure were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The modification of carbon paste electrode with g-C 3 N 4 /chitosan composite has been performed using the casting method. Experimental results demonstrated the superb adsorptive properties of g-C 3 N 4 /chitosan composite through Hg(II). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was applied for quantitative determinations. The linear calibration curves is obtained in the ranges of 1.0 × 10 –6 to 8.0 × 10 –5 mol L –1 and 1.0 × 10 –7 to 5.0 × 10 –6 mol L –1 . The proposed protocol can offer a highly selective and sensitive method for the detection of Hg(II) with a detection limit of 1.0 × 10 –8 mol L –1 . Determination of Hg(II) was performed in the presence of Fe(II) and Cu(II). Finally, the modified electrode has been applied for sensitive determination of Hg(II) in real samples.