A mercury film electrode was used to determine direct and simultaneously Pb(II) (at -410 mV) and Cu(II) (at -100 mV) in biodiesel by anodic stripping voltammetry. A linear response was obtained for Pb(II) and Cu(II) in the 2.00 x 10 (8)-1.00 x 10 (7) mol L-1 concentration range and detection limits were 2.91 x 10 (9) mol L-1 and 4.69 x 10 (9) mol L-1 for Pb(II) and Cu(II), respectively, with recovery around of 100.0%. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.