Abstract:This study combines the use of soil generated electrical signals and linear sweep voltammetry to explore a way to quickly response and identify copper pollution in wetland. Soil was collected in a forest in Nanjing City and flooded to simulate the wetland. The systems for soil to generate electricity were constructed and soil generated voltage data were recorded in time and continuously. Sixty hours after soil started to generate electricity, a volume of 5 ml Cu2+ solution was added into the overlaying water above the flooded soil to stimulate an event of copper pollution in wetland. The designed Cu2+ concentrations of the solution were 300 (T1), 600 (T2), 1 200 (T3) and 2 400 mg/L (T4), respectively. Soil generated voltage showed response immediately after Cu2+ addition, including the sudden decline for T1 and T2 treatments, and quick increase for T3 and T4 treatments. Later the voltage went back to the level before Cu2+ addition. Two hours after Cu2+ addition, a three-electrode mode was set in the flooded soil followed by the LSV to identify copper pollution, and the results showed that single oxidative peak appeared within the range from 0.162 V to 0.182 V in LSV curve and the peak current increased with increasing Cu2+ concentration. In order to interpret the response of soil generated voltage to Cu2+ addition, soil generated current, cathodic potential and impedance were measured before and after copper addition. After the addition of Cu2+, the current of T1 treatment decreased while its cathodic potential was not dramatically changed; the current of T2 treatment did not changed while its cathodic potential increased; the current and cathodic potential increased for both T3 and T4 treatment, and the internal resistance was the lowest for T4 treatment. This study may provide a reference for using soil generated electrical signals to monitor pollution.