Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-10-2019

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to develop a method for detection of arsenite, As (III), using a thin film of gold (Au) vapor deposited onto carbon paper as an electrode. Currently, availability of drinking water arsenic (As) concentration information for rural communities is diminished due to high cost per sample analysis and limited access to analytical laboratories which can accurately determine concentrations near the 10 maximum contaminant level (MCL) set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The use of a minimal amount of gold aids in decreasing the cost of an electrode. However, the electrode must remain capable of reliably detecting below the MCL. The results from this work indicate that vapor deposition of Au onto carbon can be an effective method which can be used to accomplish both of these goals. Linear stripping voltammetry showed a linear correlation between the peak area of the current vs. potential sweep curve, and the As (III) in solution. Thus, the use of Au vapor-deposition on to carbon as an electrode represents a promising technology for detection of arsenite in contaminated waters.

Keywords

Arsenic Contamination in Water, Electrochemical Sensor, Gold Electrode, Trace Concentration Detection

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jose M. Cerrato

Second Committee Member

Fernando Garzón

Third Committee Member

Kerry J. Howe

Fourth Committee Member

Abdul-Mehdi Ali

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