Development of a 3-D-printable device for continuous measuring of heavy metal ion concentrations

Three-dimensional (3-D) printing offers the potential to create a range of tailored devices within many different industrial facilities. In this article, devices were designed and fabricated using 3-D printing to house electrodes for the testing of heavy metal concentration in hazardous fluids, particularly for biological samples such as urine or blood. The devices, connected to a syringe pump, were shown to be able to be operated without leaking. Proof of concept experiments were performed using Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) methods, demonstrating that the devices are able to be used for quick, cheap testing, showing the potential of the technique as a more hygienic analysis technique than conventional ASV with an immediacy that standard techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) do not offer. With further development and validation, 3-D-printed ASV techniques may provide a robust, reliable and affordable solution for heavy metal concentration detection in remote locations