DETERMINATION OF TRACE LEVELS OF NICKEL(II) BY CYCLIC VOLTAMMETRY WITH SPEs FROM FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract

Detectable nickel ion levels are found in many foods, including cocoa beans, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds, crustaceans, saltwater fishes, and fruits. Itis known that approximately 15% of the human population suffers from an allergy to dietary nickel. In addition to digestive problems, dietary nickel intolerance may lead to diffuse dermatitis and itching, fever, rhinitis, and headaches. In-creased nickel levels can affect liver function leading to hepatic failure. Due to the harmful effects that nickel can have on human health, it is necessary to accurately measure nickel levels in foods and develop efficient detection protocols. The aim of this paper was to develop a chemosensor for the detection of nickel(II) ions in food products and in this case bismuth oxide –SPEs (screen-printed electrodes) and graphene modified SPEs were used with very small amount of dimethylglyoxime and amino acid L-histidine which were deposited. A potentiostat was used to study the electrochemical properties of nickel standard solution with different concentration. The results obtained with AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) reference method for food samples were compared with the results obtained with the developed chemosensor. Based on the results, the developed chemosensor that used bismuth oxide –SPEs with dimethylglyoxime was found efficient, having a linear response over a wide range (1–10 ppm) of nickel concentrations.