Traces of copper(II) can be determined by adsorptive stripping voltammetry using 2-carboxy-2’-hydroxy-5’- sulfoformazyl benzene (Zincon) as complex forming reagent. First in phosphate buffer pH 6.4, copper(II)-Zincon complex was adsorbed on carbon paste electrode (CPE) with an accumulation potential of 0.6 V. Following this, adsorbed complex was oxidized and detected by differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) scan from 0.6 to 1.0 V. The effective parameters in sensor response were examined. The detection limit (DL) of copper(II) was 1.1 mg/L and relative standard deviations (RSDs) for 10 and 200 mg/L Cu(II) were 1.81 and 1.03%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear for 2 – 220 mg/L copper(II). The resulting CPE does not use mercury and therefore, has a positive environmental benefit. The method, which is reasonably sensitive and selective, has been successfully applied to the determination of trace amount of copper in water and human hair samples.
