Copper oxide micro-particles immobilised oil diatomite surface were prepared by coating diatomite from the solution of copper(II) salts under the room conditions followed by a thermal transformation or sintering at the two different temperatures (900 degrees C and 1100 degrees C). The purpose of these investigations was to develop a method for detection and identification of copper on a modified diatomite. Characterisation of copper-modified diatomite was performed by the abrasive stripping voltammetry and compared with the X-ray diffraction on powder (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. XRD results obtained at different sintering temperatures reveal formation of mixtures of phases with tenorite (CuO) and cuprite's (Cu2O) structures. Microstructure of the copper-modified diatomite changes at applied sintering temperatures, as can be seen by SEM, while rising of sintering temperature increases agglomeration. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.