Gel-Integrated Microelectrode Arrays for Direct Voltammetric Measurements of Heavy Metals in Natural Waters and Other Complex Media

On-field high-resolution quantification of the cobalt fraction available for bio-uptake in natural waters using antifouling gel-integrated microelectrode arrays

We report the optimization, characterization, and validation of Adsorptive Square Wave Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry on antifouling gel-integrated microelectrode arrays for autonomous, direct monitoring of cobalt(II) metal species. Detection is accomplished by complexation with an added nioxime ligand. The limit of detection established for a 90 s accumulation time was 0.29 ± 0.01 nM in freshwater and 0.27 ± 0.06 nM in seawater. The microelectrode array was integrated in a submersible probe to automatically dose the complexing agent nioxime and realize an integrated sensing system. For the first time ever, the potentially bioavailable Co(II) fraction was determined in La Leyre River-Arcachon Bay continuum, enabling to evaluate the potential ecotoxicological impact of freshwater-carried Co(II) in the Arcachon Bay. The measured potentially bioavailable Co(II) concentrations were hazardous for aquatic biota along the continuum. The electrochemical Co(II) data were compared to ICP-MS data in various fractions to determine spatial Co(II) speciation.

Electroanalytical Trace Metal Cations Quantification and Speciation in Freshwaters: Historical Overview, Critical Review of the Last Five Years and Road Map for Developing Dynamic Speciation Field Measurements

An historical overview covering the field of electroanalytical metal cations speciation in freshwaters is presented here, detailing both the notable experimental and theoretical developments. Then, a critical review of the progress in the last five years is given, underlining in particular the improvements in electrochemical setups and methodologies dedicated to field surveys. Given these recent achievements, a road map to carry out on-site dynamic metal speciation measurements is then proposed, and the key future developments are discussed. This review shows that electroanalytical stripping techniques provide a unique framework for quantitatively assessing metals at trace levels while offering access to both thermodynamic and dynamic features of metal complexation with natural colloidal and particulate ligands.

On-Chip Antifouling Gel-Integrated Microelectrode Arrays for In Situ High-Resolution Quantification of the Nickel Fraction Available for Bio-Uptake in Natural Waters

We aimed to monitor in situ nickel (Ni(II)) concentrations in aquatic systems in the nanomolar range. To achieve this, we investigated whether an analytical protocol for the direct quantification of cobalt (Co(II)) using adsorptive cathodic sweep voltammetry (Ad-CSV) on antifouling gel-integrated microelectrode arrays (GIME) we recently developed is also suitable for direct Ni(II) quantification. The proposed protocol consists of the reduction of the complex formed between Ni(II) (or Ni(II) and Co(II)) and nioxime adsorbed on the surface of the GIME-sensing element. The GIME enables to (i) avoid fouling, (ii) control the metal complex mass transport and, when interrogated by Ad-CSV, (iii) selectively determine the dynamic (kinetically labile Ni-nioxime) fraction that is potentially bioavailable. The nioxime concentration and pH were optimized. A temperature correction factor was determined. The limit of detection established for 90 s of accumulation time was 0.43 ± 0.06 in freshwater and 0.34 ± 0.02 nM in seawater. The sensor was integrated in a submersible probe in which the nioxime-containing buffer and the sample were mixed automatically. In situ field measurements at high resolution were successfully achieved in Lake Geneva during a diurnal cycle. The determination of the kinetically labile Ni-nioxime fraction allows one to estimate the potential ecotoxicological impact of Ni(II) in Lake Geneva. Additional Ni fractions were measured by ICP-MS and coupled to the in situ Ad-CSV data to determine the temporal Ni(II) speciation.

ISIDORE, a Probe for In Situ Trace Metal Speciation Based on the Donnan Membrane Technique and Electrochemical Detection Part 2: Cd and Pb Measurements during the Accumulation Time of the Donnan Membrane Technique

The Donnan membrane technique (DMT), in which a synthetic or natural solution (the "donor") is separated from a ligand-free solution (the "acceptor") by a cation-exchange membrane, is a recognized technique for measuring the concentration of a free metal ion in situ, with coupling to electrochemical detection allowing for the quantification of the free metal ion directly on site. However, the use of the DMT requires waiting for the free metal ion equilibrium between the donor and the acceptor solution. In this paper, we investigated the possibility of using the kinetic information and showed that non-equilibrium experimental calibrations of Cd and Pb with the ISIDORE probe could be used to measure free metal concentrations under conditions of membrane-controlled diffusion transport. The application of this dynamic approach made it possible to successfully determine the concentration of free Cd in synthetic and natural river samples. Furthermore, it was found that the determination of free Cd from the slope was not affected by the Ca concentration ratio between the acceptor and donor solution, as opposed to the traditional approach based on Donnan equilibrium. This ISIDORE probe appears to be a promising tool for determining free metal ions in natural samples.

Advanced multichannel submersible probe for autonomous high-resolution in situ monitoring of the cycling of the potentially bioavailable fraction of a range of trace metals

We report here on the development and application of a submersible, compact, low power consumption, integrated multichannel trace metal sensing probe (TracMetal). This probe is unique in that it allows high-resolution, simultaneous in-situ measurements of the potentially bioavailable (so-called dynamic) fraction of Hg(II), As(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II). The TracMetal incorporates nanostructured Au-plated and Hg-plated gel-integrated microelectrode arrays. In addition to be selective to the fraction of metal potentially bioavailable, they offer protection against fouling and ill-controlled convective interferences. Sensitivities in the low pM for Hg(II) and sub-nM for the other target trace metals is achieved with precision ≤ 12%. The TracMetal is capable of autonomous operation during deployment, with routines for repetitive measurements (1-2 h^-1), data storage and management, data computer visualization, and wireless data transfer. The system was successfully applied in the Arcachon Bay, to study the temporal variation of the dynamic fraction of the trace metals targeted. The in situ autonomous TracMetal measurements were combined with in situ measurements of the master bio-physicochemical parameters and sample collection for complementary measurements of the dissolved metal concentrations, organic matter concentrations and proxy for biological activities. The integration of all data revealed that various biotic and abiotic processes control the temporal variation of the dynamic fractions of the target metals (Me_dyn). The difference in the percentage of the dynamic forms of the metals studied and the short-term processes influencing their variation highlight the TracMetal potentiality as metal bioavailability-assessment sentinel to achieve comprehensive environmental monitoring of dynamic aquatic systems.

In Situ Voltammetric Sensor of Potentially Bioavailable Inorganic Mercury in Marine Aquatic Systems Based on Gel-Integrated Nanostructured Gold-Based Microelectrode Arrays

The development and field validation of newly designed nanostructured gold-plated gel-integrated microelectrode (Au-GIME) arrays applied to the direct in situ square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) quantification of the potentially bioavailable inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) species in the coastal area are presented. The Au-GIME consists of arrays of 100-500 interconnected iridium (Ir)-based microdisks that are electroplated with renewable Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) or Au nanofilaments (AuNFs) and covered with an agarose gel. The gel protects the sensor surface from fouling and ensures that mass transport of analytes toward the sensor surface is by pure diffusion only and therefore independent of the ill-controlled convective conditions of the media. The responses of these sensors to direct SWASV measurements of inorganic Hg(II) at near-neutral pH were investigated first in synthetic media and then in UV-irradiated marine samples. The analytical responses were found to be correlated to the number of interconnected microelectrodes and the morphology of the nanostructured Au deposits and independent of the media composition for chloride concentration ≥0.2 M (salinity S ≥ 13) and pH ranging from 7 to 8.5. The AuNF-GIMEs have detection and quantification limits at a low pM level, fulfilling the requirement of sentinel tools for real-time monitoring of the dynamic fraction of Hg(II) in coastal area. The AuNF-GIMEs were incorporated in an in-house advanced multichannel sensing probe for remote in situ high-resolution trace metal monitoring. Field evaluation and validation were successfully performed as a part of a field study in Arcachon Bay (France), from which environmental data are presented. This work marks the first time that an autonomous electrochemical sensing probe successfully measures Hg(II) and its hourly temporal variation in situ without chemical modification of the sample.

Redox Recycling Amplification Using an Interdigitated Microelectrode Array for Ionic Liquid-Based Oxygen Sensors

A new design for a membrane-free gas sensor modified with a thin layer of ionic liquid is described. The new approach uses miniaturized interdigitated microelectrodes for detecting gases having reversible electrochemistry, for example, dioxygen. Analyte molecules are reduced on the first working electrode, creating an intermediate species (e.g., superoxide, O₂^•-, from dioxygen) that can be reoxidized back to the original molecule at the second working electrode. The loop of redox reactions enhances the measured current, leading to high sensitivity (3.29 ± 0.06 nA cm^-2 ppm^-1) and low detection limit (LOD = 174 ppm). The gas sensor design was demonstrated to monitor typical concentrations of oxygen with good accuracy and precision. The enhancement in the current is characteristic only of gas molecules with reversible electrochemistry, which indicates that the proposed gas sensor can analyze these molecules with greater sensitivity over those with irreversible electrochemistry.

A brief review on recent developments of electrochemical sensors in environmental application for PGMs

This study offers a brief review of the latest developments and applications of electrochemical sensors for the detection of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) using electrochemical sensors. In particular, significant advances in electrochemical sensors made over the past decade and sensing methodologies associated with the introduction of nanostructures are highlighted. Amongst a variety of detection methods that have been developed for PGMs, nanoparticles offer the unrivaled merits of high sensitivity. Rapid detection of PGMs is a key step to promote improvement of the public health and individual quality of life. Conventional methods to detect PGMs rely on time-consuming and labor intensive procedures such as extraction, isolation, enrichment, counting, etc., prior to measurement. This results in laborious sample preparation and testing over several days. This study reviewed the state-of-the-art application of nanoparticles (NPs) in electrochemical analysis of environmental pollutants. This review is intended to provide environmental scientists and engineers an overview of current rapid detection methods, a close look at the nanoparticles based electrodes and identification of knowledge gaps and future research needs. We summarize electrodes that have been used in the past for detection of PGMs. We describe several examples of applications in environmental electrochemical sensors and performance in terms of sensitivity and selectivity for all the sensors utilized for PGMs detection. NPs have promising potential to increase competitiveness of electrochemical sensors in environmental monitoring, though this review has focused mainly on sensors used in the past decade for PGMs detection. This review therefore provides a synthesis of outstanding performances in recent advances in the nanosensor application for PGMs determination.

ISIDORE, a probe for in situ trace metal speciation based on Donnan membrane technique with related electrochemical detection part 1: Equilibrium measurements

This work presents the development of a new probe (ISIDORE probe) based on the hyphenation of a Donnan Membrane Technique device (DMT) to a screen-printed electrode through a flow-cell to determine the free zinc, cadmium and lead ion concentration in natural samples, such as a freshwater river. The probe displays many advantages namely: (i) the detection can be performed on-site, which avoids all problems inherent to sampling, transport and storage; (ii) the low volume of the acceptor solution implies shorter equilibration times; (ii) the electrochemical detection system allows monitoring the free ion concentration in the acceptor solution without sampling.

Carbon dots rooted agarose hydrogel hybrid platform for optical detection and separation of heavy metal ions

A robust solid sensing platform for an on-site operational and accurate detection of heavy metal is still a challenge. We introduce chitosan based carbon dots rooted agarose hydrogel film as a hybrid solid sensing platform for detection of heavy metal ions. The fabrication of the solid sensing platform is centered on simple electrostatic interaction between the NH3+ group present in the carbon dots and the OH- groups present in agarose. Simply on dipping the hydrogel film strip into the heavy metal ion solution, in particular Cr6+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Mn2+, the strip displays a color change, viz., Cr6+→yellow, Cu2+→blue, Fe3+→brown, Pb2+→white, Mn2+→tan brown. The optical detection limit of the respective metal ion is found to be 1 pM for Cr6+, 0.5 μM for Cu2+, and 0.5 nM for Fe3+, Pb2+, and Mn2+ by studying the changes in UV-visible reflectance spectrum of the hydrogel film. Moreover, the hydrogel film finds applicability as an efficient filtration membrane for separation of these quintet heavy metal ions. The strategic fundamental feature of this sensing platform is the successful capability of chitosan to form colored chelates with transition metals. This proficient hybrid hydrogel solid sensing platform is thus the most suitable to employ as an on-site operational, portable, cheap colorimetric-optical detector of heavy metal ion with potential skill in their separation. Details of the possible mechanistic insight into the colorimetric detection and ion separation are also discussed.

Direct arsenic(iii) sensing by a renewable gold plated Ir-based microelectrode

A renewable gold-plated iridium-based microelectrode was developed, characterized and successfully applied to the direct voltammetric quantification of arsenite in freshwater samples.

Partitioning of humic acids between aqueous solution and hydrogel. 2. Impact of physicochemical conditions

The effects of the physicochemical features of aqueous medium on the mode of partitioning of humic acids (HAs) into a model biomimetic gel (alginate) and a synthetic polyacrylamide gel (PAAm) were explored. Experiments were performed under conditions of different pH and ionic strength as well as in the presence or absence of complexing divalent metal ions. The amount of HA penetrating the gel phase was determined by measuring its natural fluorescence by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In both gel types, the accumulation of HA was spatially heterogeneous, with a much higher concentration located within a thin film at the gel surface. The thickness of the surface film (ca. 15 μm) was similar for both types of gel and practically independent of pH, ionic strength, and the presence of complexing divalent metal ions. The extent of HA accumulation was found to be dependent on the composition of the medium and on the type of gel. Significantly more HA was accumulated in PAAm gel as compared to that in alginate gel. In general, more HA was accumulated at lower background salt concentration levels. The distribution of different types of HA species in the gel body was linked to their behavior in the medium and the differences in physicochemical conditions inside the two phases.

Arrays of microelectrodes: technologies for environmental investigations

Within this work it is our intention to provide an overview of the use of arrays or microelectrodes in the characterisation of environmental samples. Electrochemical methods are often a relatively simple and inexpensive alternative to spectroscopic or chromatographic methods for the analysis of a wide range of analytes. Arrays of microelectrodes display a number of advantages over simple planar macroelectrodes and the reasons for this will be detailed within this work. We will also describe some of the most common methods for constructing microarrays. The application of these arrays for analysis of environmental samples such as soil and water for heavy metal contamination has been the major focus of research in this field and comprises much of this review. However other systems will also be detailed such as determination of various anions or other samples such as pesticides.

How to overcome inter-electrode variability and instability to quantify dissolved oxygen, Fe(II), mn(II), and S(-II) in undisturbed soils and sediments using voltammetry

BACKGROUND

Although uniquely capable of measuring multiple redox constituents nearly simultaneously with no or minimal sample pretreatment, voltammetry is currently underutilized in characterizing redox conditions in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Investigation of undisturbed media such as pore water requires a solid-state electrode, and such electrodes can be difficult to fabricate reproducibly. An approach to determine the concentrations of electroactive constituents using indirectly calibrated electrodes has been developed, but the protocol for and accuracy of this approach-the pilot ion method-has not been documented in detail.

RESULTS

A detailed procedure for testing electrode quality is provided, and the application and limitations of the pilot ion method have been documented. To quantify Fe(II) and Mn(II), subtraction of non-linear baseline functions from voltammetric signals produced better calibration curves than did linear baselines, enabled lower detection limits and reliable deconvolution of overlapping signals, and was successfully applied to sediment pore water signals. We observed that electrode sensitivities often vary by tens of percent, and that the sensitivity declines over time. The ratio of calibration slopes of Mn(II) to Fe(II) varied by no more than 11% from one Hg/Au electrode to another and Fe(II) concentrations predicted by the Mn(II) pilot ion were, on average, 13% different from their actual values. However, concentration predictions by the pilot ion method were worse for less than 15 μM Fe(II) (46% different on average). The ratio of calibration slopes of Mn(II) to S(-II) varied by almost 20% from one Hg/Au electrode to another, and S(-II) predicted concentrations were as much as 58% different from their actual values. These predictions of Fe(II) and S(-II) concentrations indicate that the accuracy of the pilot ion method depends on how independent calibration slope ratios are from the electrode used. At medium-to-high concentration for the ocean, naturally derived dissolved organic carbon did not significantly affect the baseline-corrected electrode response of Mn(II) and Fe(II), but did significantly affect the response of S(-II).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite their intrinsic variability, Hg/Au electrodes fabricated by hand can be used to quantify O2, S(-II), Fe(II), and Mn(II) without calibrating every electrode for every constituent of interest. The pilot ion method can achieve accuracies to within 20% or less, provided that the underlying principle-the independence of slope ratios-is demonstrated for all voltammetric techniques used, and effects of the physicochemical properties of the system on voltammetric signals are addressed through baseline subtraction.

A multi-channel bioluminescent bacterial biosensor for the on-line detection of metals and toxicity. Part I: design and optimization of bioluminescent bacterial strains

This study describes the construction of inducible bioluminescent strains via genetic engineering along with their characterization and optimization in the detection of heavy metals. Firstly, a preliminary comparative study enabled us to select a suitable carbon substrate from pyruvate, glucose, citrate, diluted Luria-Bertani, and acetate. The latter carbon source provided the best induction ratios for comparison. Results showed that the three constructed inducible strains, Escherichia coli DH1 pBzntlux, pBarslux, and pBcoplux, were usable when conducting a bioassay after a 14-h overnight culture at 30 °C. Utilizing these sensors gave a range of 12 detected heavy metals including several cross-detections. Detection limits for each metal were often close to and sometimes lower than the European standards for water pollution. Finally, in order to maintain sensitive bacteria within the future biosensor-measuring cell, the agarose immobilization matrix was compared to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Agarose was selected because the detection limits of the bioluminescent strains were not affected, in contrast to PVA. Specific detection and cross-detection ranges determined in this study will form the basis of a multiple metals detection system by the new multi-channel Lumisens3 biosensor.

Decrease of labile Zn and Cd in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulating Thlaspi caerulescens with time

By using a rhizobox micro-suction cup technique we studied in-situ mobilization and complexation of Zn and Cd in the rhizosphere of non-hyperaccumulating Thlaspi perfoliatum and two different Thlaspi caerulescens ecotypes, one of them hyperaccumulating Zn, the other Zn and Cd. The dynamic fraction (free metal ions and small labile complexes) of Zn and Cd decreased with time in the rhizosphere solution of the respective hyperaccumulating T. caerulescens ecotypes, and at the end of the experiment, it was significantly smaller than in the other treatments. Furthermore, the rhizosphere solutions of the T. caerulescens ecotypes exhibited a higher UV absorptivity than the solution of the T. perfoliatum rhizosphere and the plant-free soil. Based on our findings we suggest that mobile and labile metal-dissolved soil organic matter complexes play a key role in the rapid replenishment of available metal pools in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulating T. caerulescens ecotypes, postulated earlier.

Immobilizing enzymes onto electrode arrays by hydrogel photolithography to fabricate multi-analyte electrochemical biosensors

This paper describes a biomaterial microfabrication approach for interfacing functional biomolecules (enzymes) with electrode arrays. Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel photopatterning was employed to integrate gold electrode arrays with the enzymes glucose oxidase (GOX) and lactate oxidase (LOX). In this process, PEG diacrylate (DA)-based prepolymer containing enzyme molecules as well as redox species (vinylferrocene) was spin-coated, registered, and UV cross-linked on top of an array of gold electrodes. As a result, enzyme-carrying circular hydrogel structures (600 microm diameter) were fabricated on top of 300 microm diameter gold electrodes. Importantly, when used with multiple masks, hydrogel photolithography allowed us to immobilize GOX and LOX molecules on adjacent electrodes within the same electrode array. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were used to characterize biosensor electrode arrays. The response of the biosensor array was linear for up to 20 mM glucose with sensitivity of 0.9 microA cm(-2) mM(-1) and 10 mM lactate with sensitivity of 1.1 microA cm(-2) mM(-1). Importantly, simultaneous detection of glucose and lactate from the same electrode array was demonstrated. A novel strategy for integrating biological and electrical components of a biosensor described in this paper provides the flexibility to spatially resolve and register different biorecognition elements with individual members of a miniature electrode array. Of particular interest to us are future applications of these miniature electrodes for real-time monitoring of metabolite fluxes in the vicinity of living cells.

In situ monitoring of the diurnal cycling of dynamic metal species in a stream under contrasting photobenthic biofilm activity and hydrological conditions

The diurnal evolution of the dynamic fraction, i.e., the potentially bioavailable fraction, of Cd, Cu, and Pb in a small river impacted by mining and smelting waste was studied in situ, under contrasting biofilm activity and hydrological conditions, using an automated voltammetric analyzer. The in situ, near real-time measurements revealed persistent dynamic metal species diurnal cycles. These cycles were affected mainly by the biochemical conditions rather than hydrological conditions. The data obtained from the in situ measurements, coupled with complementary laboratory analyses, revealed that various processes control the diurnal dynamic metal species cycles in the studied site; the trends of the diurnal cycles of the dynamic metal species can be different from those observed for the dissolved metal species measured in filtered samples. Moreover, the dynamic fraction of a given cationic metal can show diurnal cycles with opposite trends depending on the environmental conditions. All these findings highlight the interest and importance of automated, continuous measurements of specific relevant environmental metal fractions, compared to punctual weekly or monthly traditional sampling strategies of total dissolved metal analysis, to allow more appropriate water quality control and reliable assessment of metal ecotoxicological impact.

Microelectrode arrays for electrochemistry: approaches to fabrication

Microelectrode arrays have unique electrochemical properties such as small capacitive-charging currents, reduced iR drop, and steady-state diffusion currents. These properties enable the use of microelectrode arrays and have captured much interest in the field of electrochemistry. Techniques for the fabrication of such arrays are reviewed. The relative features and merits of different techniques are also discussed.

Donnan effects in metal speciation analysis by DET/DGT

Cross-linked polyacrylamide gels have found wide application in analytical techniques, such as diffusional equilibration in thin film (DET) and diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT). In these applications, the assumption is made that the gel matrix is effectively uncharged and chemically inert with respect to the species of interest. Recent data has shown significant nonideal behavior at low ionic strengths, which strongly suggests a finite structural charge within the gel matrix. The present investigation explores the possible ramifications of fixed charged sites within the gel on metal speciation analysis by DET and DGT. The results indicate that structural charge within the gel layer will give rise to different DET equilibrium concentrations than in the sample because of Donnan partitioning. The steady-state diffusion of ions through a diffusive gel (DGT) is also influenced by the gel charge, but the net effect will depend on the details of the speciation. The results indicate that for submillimolar ionic strength solutions the quantitative interpretation of DGT data benefits from combination with DET.

Metal solubility and speciation in the rhizosphere of Lupinus albus cluster roots

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of root exudation of organic acid anions on the speciation of major and trace metal cations in the rhizosphere of Lupinus albus cluster roots. Plants were grown in rhizoboxes containing repacked weakly acidic loam. Bulk soil solutions and, during the lifetime of cluster roots, rhizosphere solutions were collected using micro suction cups. During organic acid anion exudation bursts, metals in the rhizosphere of cluster roots were strongly mobilized. The concentrations of dissolved organic carbon derived from soil organic matter increased parallel to organic acid anions. Speciation calculations revealed that, during exudation, Al, Ca, Mn, and Zn in the cluster root rhizosphere were mainly bound with citrate, while Cu and Pb were always strongly bound to soil-derived dissolved organic matter. Our results indicate that cluster root exudation led on one hand to direct mobilization and complexation of metals like Al, Fe, and Zn by citrate and on the other hand to the mobilization of soil organic matter which complexes and solubilizes Cu and Pb.

Spatially and temporally resolved single-cell exocytosis utilizing individually addressable carbon microelectrode arrays

We report the fabrication and characterization of carbon microelectrode arrays (MEAs) and their application to spatially and temporally resolve neurotransmitter release from single pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The carbon MEAs are composed of individually addressable 2.5-mum-radius microdisks embedded in glass. The fabrication involves pulling a multibarrel glass capillary containing a single carbon fiber in each barrel into a sharp tip, followed by beveling the electrode tip to form an array (10-20 microm) of carbon microdisks. This simple fabrication procedure eliminates the need for complicated wiring of the independent electrodes, thus allowing preparation of high-density individually addressable microelectrodes. The carbon MEAs have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy, steady-state and fast-scan voltammetry, and numerical simulations. Amperometric results show that subcellular heterogeneity in single-cell exocytosis can be electrochemically detected with MEAs. These ultrasmall electrochemical probes are suitable for detecting fast chemical events in tight spaces, as well as for developing multifunctional electrochemical microsensors.

Voltammetric procedure for trace metal analysis in polluted natural waters using homemade bare gold-disk microelectrodes

Voltammetric procedures for trace metals analysis in polluted natural waters using homemade bare gold-disk microelectrodes of 25- and 125-microm diameters have been determined. In filtered seawater samples, square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) with a frequency of 25 Hz is applied for analysis, whereas in unfiltered contaminated river samples, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) gave more reliable results. The peak potentials of the determined trace metals are shifted to more positive values compared to mercury drop or mercury-coated electrodes, with Zn always displaying 2 peaks, and Pb and Cd inversing their positions. For a deposition step of 120 s at -1.1 V, without stirring, the 25-microm gold-disk microelectrode has a linear response for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn from 0.2 microg L(-1) (1 microg L(-1) for Mn) to 20 microg L(-1) (30 microg L(-1) for Zn, Pb and 80 microg L(-1) for Mn). Under the same analytical conditions, the 125-microm gold-disk microelectrode shows linear behaviour for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn from 1 microg L(-1) (5 microg L(-1) for Cd) to 100 microg L(-1) (200 microg L(-1) for Pb). The sensitivity of the 25-microm electrode varied for different analytes from 0.23 (+/-0.5%, Mn) to 4.83 (+/-0.9%, Pb) nA L micromol(-1), and sensitivity of the 125-microm electrode varied from 1.48 (+/-0.7%, Zn) to 58.53 (+/-1.1%, Pb nA L micromol(-1). These microelectrodes have been validated for natural sample analysis by use in an on-site system to monitor Cu, Pb and Zn labile concentrations in the Deûle River (France), polluted by industrial activities. First results obtained on sediment core issued from the same location have shown the ability of this type of microelectrode for in situ measurements of Pb and Mn concentrations in anoxic sediments.

Comparison of analytical techniques for dynamic trace metal speciation in natural freshwaters

Several techniques for speciation analysis of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Ni are used in freshwater systems and compared with respect to their performance and to the metal species detected. The analytical techniques comprise the following: (i) diffusion gradients in thin-film gels (DGT); (ii) gel integrated microelectrodes combined to voltammetric in situ profiling system (GIME-VIP); (iii) stripping chronopotentiometry (SCP); (iv) flow-through and hollow fiber permeation liquid membranes (FTPLM and HFPLM); (v) Donnan membrane technique (DMT); (vi) competitive ligand-exchange/stripping voltammetry (CLE-SV). All methods could be used both under hardwater and under softwater conditions, although in some cases problems with detection limits were encountered at the low total concentrations. The detected Cu, Cd, and Pb concentrations decreased in the order DGT > or = GIME-VIP > or = FTPLM > or = HFPLM approximately = DMT (>CLE-SV for Cd), detected Zn decreased as DGT > or = GIME-VIP and Ni as DGT > DMT, in agreement with the known dynamic features of these techniques. Techniques involving in situ measurements (GIME-VIP) or in situ exposure (DGT, DMT, and HFPLM) appear to be appropriate in avoiding artifacts which may occur during sampling and sample handling.

Dynamic speciation analysis and bioavailability of metals in aquatic systems

Dynamic metal speciation analysis in aquatic ecosystems is emerging as a powerful basis for development of predictions of bioavailability and reliable risk assessment strategies. A given speciation sensor is characterized by an effective time scale or kinetic window that defines the measurable metal species via their labilities. Here we review the current state of the art for the theory and application of dynamic speciation sensors. We show that a common dynamic interpretation framework, based on rigorous flux expressions incorporating the relevant diffusion and reaction steps, is applicable for a suite of sensors that span a range of time scales. Interpolation from a kinetic spectrum of speciation data is proposed as a practical strategy for addressing questions of bioavailability. Case studies illustrate the practical significance of knowledge on the dynamic features of metal complex species in relation to biouptake, and highlight the limitations of equilibrium-based models.

Donnan effects in the steady-state diffusion of metal ions through charged thin films

The steady-state diffusion of metals ions through thin films with fixed charged groups was investigated using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) measurements. Copolymers of acrylamide and sodium acrylate cross-linked with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide were used as diffusive gels. The rate of diffusion of cadmium ions through the gels was measured by determining the mass of cadmium bound to a backing chelex resin after a known deployment time. Variation of the ionic strength as well as the fixed charge density and the thickness of the gel layer allowed evaluation of the impact of the Donnan partitioning and the diffusion layer in solution on the observed steady-state flux of ions through the layer. The results underscore that, as the Donnan partitioning increases, the impact of the diffusion layer in solution becomes more significant. At modest Donnan potentials, Donnan partitioning controls the net flux of metal ions, whereas at conditions of increasing Donnan potential, i.e., at decreasing ionic strength, the flux is increasingly limited by diffusion in solution. An analytical expression is developed to describe the influence of Donnan partitioning on the observed steady-state flux of metal ions.

Implementation of Multichannel Sensors for Remote Biomedical Measurements in a Microsystems Format

A novel microelectronic "pill" has been developed for in situ studies of the gastro-intestinal tract, combining microsensors and integrated circuits with system-level integration technology. The measurement parameters include real-time remote recording of temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. The unit comprises an outer biocompatible capsule encasing four microsensors, a control chip, a discrete component radio transmitter, and two silver oxide cells (the latter providing an operating time of 40 h at the rated power consumption of 12.1 mW). The sensors were fabricated on two separate silicon chips located at the front end of the capsule. The robust nature of the pill makes it adaptable for use in a variety of environments related to biomedical and industrial applications.