Electrochemical gold electrode system for lead detection in solanum tuberosum: design, construction, and environmental validation

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural products represents a critical environmental and public health concern worldwide. Lead (Pb) poses severe risks due to its bioaccumulative nature and toxic effects even at low concentrations. In regions near mining activities, such as Junín (Peru), Solanum tuberosum the world’s third most important food crop becomes a potential pathway for Pb exposure in human diets. Conventional analytical techniques (AAS, ICP-MS) provide high precision but require costly infrastructure, specialized personnel, and are unsuitable for decentralized field monitoring. This study presents the design and construction of a portable electrochemical system based on a gold (Au) working electrode for Pb detection in Solanum tuberosum. The device employs a three-electrode configuration (Au working electrode, Ag/AgCl reference, graphite counter-electrode) coupled with Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV). Sample preparation involved alkaline digestion with NaOH, and calibration was carried out using Pb standard solutions. Validation was performed by comparison with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results demonstrate the feasibility of an accessible, sensitive, and low-cost sensor capable of detecting Pb in potato samples with reproducibility comparable to conventional laboratory methods. The system successfully integrated electrochemical, electronic, and computational components into a functional prototype, ensuring stable data acquisition and visualization. This approach highlights the potential of portable electrochemical platforms to strengthen food safety monitoring and environmental surveillance in vulnerable agricultural communities.