A simple and easy method was implemented for the contemporary detection of cadmium (Cd²⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) ions using 1,3,6,8-pyrenetetrasulfonic acid sodium salt-functionalized carbon nanotubes nanocomposites (PyTS–CNTs). The morphology and composition of the obtained PyTS–CNTs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental results confirmed that the fabricated PyTS–CNTs exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity for metal ion-sensing owing to the insertion of sulfonic acid groups. For Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, some of the electrochemical sensing parameters were evaluated by varying data such as the PyTS–CNT quantity loaded on the pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE), pH of the acetate buffer, deposition time, and deposition potential. These parameters were optimized with differential pulse anodic sweeping voltammetry (DPASV). Under the optimal condition, the stripping peak current of the PyTS–CNTs/Nafion/PGE varies linearly with the heavy metal ion concentration, ranging from 1.0 μg L⁻¹ to 90 μg L⁻¹ for Cd²⁺ and from 1.0 μg L⁻¹ to 110 μg L⁻¹ for Pb²⁺. The limits of detection were estimated to be approximately 0.8 μg L⁻¹ for Cd²⁺ and 0.02 μg L⁻¹ for Pb²⁺. The proposed PyTS–CNTs/Nafion/PGE can be used as a rapid, simple, and controllable electrochemical sensor for the determination of toxic Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺.

Almond shell-based charcoal was prepared by carbonizing almond shells in a nitrogen atmosphere. Nanoporous carbon (NPC) was formed via activating the obtained charcoal using potassium hydroxide as an activating agent, followed by the synthesis of nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon (N-NPC) via a hydrothermal reaction using urea as the nitrogen source. The obtained N-NPC possessed a large surface area (1075 m² g⁻¹), narrow pore-size distribution (1–2 nm) and nitrogen content reaching 2.23 wt%. Using N-NPC with Nafion to modify a glassy carbon electrode, a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was fabricated for the determination of Pb(II) in aqueous solutions with differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The peak current of Pb(II) showed linearity over concentrations from 2.0 to 120 μg L⁻¹ and the detection limit (S/N = 3) was estimated to be 0.7 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II), which was 15-fold lower than the guideline value of drinking water given by the World Health Organization (WHO). The experimental data indicated that this easy and low-cost method is an accurate and fast method for the detection of trace Pb(II).

Carbon matrix materials are regarded as one of the most important electrode materials for heavy metal detection. But even so, optimization procedures of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) for tracing Cd(II) and Pb(II) remains challenging. Here, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers (N-PCNFs) were investigated as a new electrode material for determining the concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II). By optimizing electrochemical conditions such as deposition potential, deposition time, pH of buffer solution, and quantity of N-PCNFs loaded on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the linear response curves of Cd(II) and Pb(II) could be obtained. Due to the unique structural feature and N content, the N-PCNFs possess excellent detection limits of 0.8 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) and 0.3 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) (S/N = 3). To manifest the practical use of the sensor platform the concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in normal tap and waste water were monitored. According to the ICP-MS results, the calculated recovery (97.0–107%) indicates that N-PCNFs have potential as a candidate material to monitor the concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in practical samples.