MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles synthesis and characterization: application to trace level mercury(II) measurement from waste water samples

The magnesium ferrite nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode has been fabricated and applied in the trace level quantification of Hg²⁺ by differential pulse stripping voltammetry technique. The MgFe₂O₄ particles were prepared by a simple nitrate-sucrose solution combustion synthetic route and characterized through XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, BET and XPS techniques. The MgFe₂O₄ modified glassy carbon electrode has been characterized voltammetrically using standard redox couple i.e. [Fe(CN)₆]^4/3− along with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental parameters such as nature of electrolyte, deposition potential and deposition time were optimized. The fabricated sensor showed excellent signal intensity and stability towards Hg²⁺ measurement at trace level. The sensor showed linearity in the concentration range 2–120 ppb with very low detection limit of 0.037 ppb. (paper)