Electrochemical determination of paraquat in citric fruit based on electrodeposition of silver particles onto carbon paste electrode

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on poly(3-aminobenzoic acid)/graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles modified screen printed carbon electrode for paraquat detection

Herein, a modified screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) based on a composite material, graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles (GO-AuNPs), and poly(3-aminobenzoic acid)(P3ABA) for the detection of paraquat (PQ) is introduced. The modified electrode was fabricated by drop casting of the GO-AuNPs, followed by electropolymerization of 3-aminobenzoic acid to achieve SPCE/GO-AuNPs/P3ABA. The morphology and microstructural characteristics of the modified electrodes were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for each step of modification. The composite GO-AuNPs can provide high surface area and enhance electroconductivity of the electrode. In addition, the presence of negatively charged P3ABA notably improved PQ adsorption and electron transfer rate, which stimulate redox reaction on the modified electrode, thus improving the sensitivity of PQ analysis. The SPCE/GO-AuNPs/P3ABA offered a wide linear range of PQ determination (10-9-10-4 mol/L) and low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.45 × 10-9 mol/L or 0.116 µg/L, which is far below international safety regulations. The modified electrode showed minimum interference effect with percent recovery ranging from 96.5% to 116.1% after addition of other herbicides, pesticides, metal ions, and additives. The stability of the SPCE/GO-AuNPs/P3ABA was evaluated, and the results indicated negligible changes in the detection signal over 9 weeks. Moreover, this modified electrode was successfully implemented for PQ analysis in both natural and tapped water with high accuracy.

A Label-Free Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on Zn/Fe Bimetallic MOF Derived Nanoporous Carbon for Ultra-Sensitive and Selective Determination of Paraquat in Vegetables

Paraquat (PQ) has high acute toxicity, even at low concentrations. For most people, the main pathway of exposure to PQ is through the diet. Therefore, the development of simple and efficient methods for PQ testing is critical for ensuring food safety. In this study, a new electrochemical detection strategy for paraquat is proposed based on the specific binding of PQ to its nucleic acid aptamer. Firstly, the Zn/Fe bimetallic ZIF derived nanoporous carbon (Zn/Fe-ZIF-NPC) and nickel hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles (NiHCF-NPs) were sequentially modified onto the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). NiHCF-NPs served as the signal probes, while Zn/Fe-ZIF-NPC facilitated electron transfer and effectively enhanced the sensing signal of NiHCF-NPs. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were then electrodeposited on the NiHCF-NPs/Zn/Fe-ZIF-NPC/GCE and then the thiolated aptamer was assembled on the AuNPs/NiHCF-NPs/Zn/Fe-ZIF-NPC/GCE via Au-S bonding. When incubated with PQ, the formation of PQ–aptamer complexes delayed the interfacial electron transport reaction of NiHCF-NPs, which caused a decrease in the current signals. As a result, simple and highly sensitive detection of PQ can be readily achieved by detecting the signal changes. A linear range was obtained from 0.001 to 100 mg/L with a detection limit as low as 0.34 μg/L. Due to the recognition specificity of the aptamer to its target molecule, the proposed method has excellent anti-interference ability. The prepared electrochemical aptasensor was successfully used for PQ assay in lettuce, cabbage and agriculture irrigation water samples with recoveries ranging from 96.20% to 104.02%, demonstrating the validity and practicality of the proposed method for PQ detection in real samples.

Fast, sensitive and selective simultaneous determination of paraquat and glyphosate herbicides in water samples using a compact electrochemical sensor

We report a new ready-to-use sensor for simultaneous determination of paraquat (PQ) and glyphosate (GLY) based on a graphite screen-printed electrode modified with a dual-molecularly imprinted polymer coated on a mesoporous silica-platinum core. Amino-mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-NH2) were first synthesized by a simple co-condensation method using tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. PtNPs were then decorated on the surface of MSN-NH2 by chemical reduction. Finally, the dual-MIP was successfully coated on the MSN-PtNP core. This 3D-surface-imprinting strategy enhances the conductivity and monodispersity of the MSN-PtNPs@d-MIP. Quantitative analysis was performed by differential pulse voltammetry with an oxidation current appearing at -0.95 V for PQ and +0.97 V for GLY. The dual-MIP sensor shows good linear calibration curves in the range of 0.025-500 μM for both analytes with detection limits of 3.1 nM and 4.0 nM for PQ and GLY, respectively. The dual-MIP sensor shows high selectivity and specificity, attributed to the increased affinity of the imprinted cavities formed on the polymer film for the target PQ and GLY molecules. The proposed dual-MIP sensor was successfully applied to detect PQ and GLY concentrations simultaneously in water samples. The ready-to-use dual-MIP sensor is well suited for water-quality control and on-site applications without sophisticated instrumentation.

Extraction and determination of flubendiamide insecticide in food samples: A review

Flubendiamide (FBD) is the first commercially available phthalic acid diamide that targets ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in insects, which play a major role in lepidoptera control. However, excessive use of FBD can influence the quality of treated products leading to toxic effects on human health. The availability of rapid and convenient methods for evaluating FBD amount in the environment is necessary. Therefore, analytical methods were developed for the determination of residues of FBD and its metabolite desiodo in different food matrices like tomato, cabbage, pigeon pea, apple, chilli and rice. The current review carries forward methods for FBD residues analysis in foods by using several chromatographic techniques including sample preparation steps. The comparison between the different methods employed for quantitative and qualitative analysis of food quality and safety is also discussed. Liquid chromatography (LC) is the predominant analytical method for assessing the quality of foods treated with FBD. Studies related to LC coupled multichannel detector (Ultraviolet (UV), Mass spectrometry (MS)) are also applied to detect pesticide residues. Extraction and clean up steps are essential to obtain reliable results. Moreover, this review reports the allowed limits of residues for the safety of consuming products treated with FBD.

Silver Inkjet-Printed Electrode on Paper for Electrochemical Sensing of Paraquat

The use of fully printed electrochemical devices has gained more attention for the monitoring of clinical, food, and environmental analytes due to their low cost, great reproducibility, and versatility characteristics, serving as an important technology for commercial application. Therefore, a paper-based inkjet-printed electrochemical system is proposed as a cost-effective analytical detection tool for paraquat. Chromatographic paper was used as the printing substrate due its sustainable and disposable characteristics, and an inkjet-printing system deposited the conductive silver ink with no further modification on the paper surface, providing a three-electrode system. The printed electrodes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry. The proposed sensor exhibited a large surface area, providing a powerful tool for paraquat detection due to its higher analytical signal. For the detection of paraquat, square-wave voltammetry was used, and the results showed a linear response range of 3.0–100 μM and a detection limit of 0.80 µM, along with the high repeatability and disposability of the sensor. The prepared sensors were also sufficiently selective against interference, and high accuracy (recovery range = 96.7–113%) was obtained when applied to samples (water, human serum, and orange juice), showing the promising applicability of fully printed electrodes for electrochemical monitoring.

Electrochemical sensors for improved detection of paraquat in food samples: A review

Paraquat (1,10-dimethyl-4,40-dipyridinium chloride), also known as methyl viologen, is widely used as a quaternary ammonium herbicide (broadleaf weed killer) all over the world owing to its excellent effect in plant cells for crop protection and horticultural use. However, it is dangerous because of its high acute toxicity even at low concentrations. Its detection in the environment is therefore necessary. As a consequence of its widespread usage, it causes genotoxic, teratogenic as well as other environmental and ecological adverse impacts. Exposure to PQ leads to a high mortality rate because no specific drug is effective for treatment. Excessive consumption of PQ can cause cellular damage and necrosis in the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. The diversity and sensitivity of the analyses currently required have forced the experimenter to use more advanced and efficient techniques, which can provide qualitative and quantitative results in complex environments. Electrochemical methods generally meet these criteria while offering other advantages to achieve excellent accuracy and fast handling. This paper provides an overview of the determination of PQ using electrochemical methods combined with several modified electrodes in food samples, including milk, apple juice, tomato juice, and potato juice. Emphasis was placed on the most relevant modifiers used to generate high selectivity and sensitivity such as noble metals, metallic nanoparticles, polymers, biomolecules, clay, and apatite minerals. Comprehensively, it is strongly convincing that the synergy between the sensor substrate and the modifier architecture gives the electrodes a high capacity to detect paraquat in complex matrices such as food. In line with the context, information's on the mechanism of electrooxidation or reduction of PQ has been reported with the discussion of some future prospects and some insights. To the best of our knowledge, there is no review article relating the electrochemical determination of paraquat.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on Au nanoparticles/8-aminoquinoline functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite for paraquat detection

In this paper, a novel electrochemical sensor based on Au nanoparticles/8-aminoquinoline functionalized graphene oxide (AuNPs/GAQ) nanocomposite was developed and tested for the first time for detection of paraquat (PQ). The morphology and composition of AuNPs/GAQ nanocomposite were characterized by various techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were utilized to investigate the electrochemical performances of AuNPs/GAQ nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode. The obtained modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards detection of PQ. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed sensor showed low detection limit (6 nM, S/N = 3), wide linear range (0.02-24 μM), high selectivity and good stability. In addition, it was successfully applied for detection of PQ in natural water samples with satisfactory results.

Voltammetric determination of nitro compound 4-nitroaniline in aqueous medium at chitosan gelified modified carbon paste electrode (CS@CPE)

A sensitive, selective and reproducible electrochemical method has been established for the electroanalysis of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) using a carbon paste electrode modified with a chitosan solution gelled in acetic acid (CS@CPE). The modified electrode was then characterized spectroscopically using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In addition, the electrochemical and interfacial characteristics of the as-prepared modified electrode were assessed by potentiodynamic cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was additionally used to deduce the trace amounts of (4-NA) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) of pH7.0 as an ideal electrolyte. Under optimized conditions, the peak current of 4-NA increased linearly with the increasing 4-NA concentration over the range of 0.1μM to 0.1Mm. The calibration curve presents two linear ranges of current versus 4-NA concentration with a detection limit of 93.4nM (3sb/B). The repeatability of the current peak registered at CS@CPE was performed at a level of 0.5μM 4-NA employing one sensor on the same day for eight measurements. The relative standard deviation was 3.5%.

Mesoporous Silica Thin Films for Improved Electrochemical Detection of Paraquat

An electrochemical method was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of the herbicide paraquat in aqueous samples using mesoporous silica thin film modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Vertically aligned mesoporous silica thin films were deposited onto GCE by electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA). Cyclic voltammetry revealed effective response to the cationic analyte (while rejecting anions) thanks to the charge selectivity exhibited by the negatively charged mesoporous channels. Square wave voltametry (SWV) was then used to detect paraquat via its one electron reduction process. Influence of various experimental parameters (i.e., pH, electrolyte concentration, and nature of electrolyte anions) on sensitivity was investigated and discussed with respect to the mesopore characteristics and accumulation efficiency, pointing out the key role of charge distribution in such confined spaces on these processes. Calibration plots for paraquat concentration ranging from 10 nM to 10 μM were constructed at mesoporous silica modified GCE which were linear with increasing paraquat concentration, showing dramatically enhanced sensitivity (almost 30 times) as compared to nonmodified electrodes. Finally, real samples from Meuse River (France) spiked with paraquat, without any pretreatment (except filtration), were analyzed by SWV, revealing the possible detection of paraquat at very low concentration (10-50 nM). Limit of detection (LOD) calculated from real sample analysis was found to be 12 nM, which is well below the permissible limits of paraquat in drinking water (40-400 nM) in various countries.

Ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensing of acetaminophen and codeine in biological fluids using CuO/CuFe2O4 nanoparticles as a novel electrocatalyst

Copper ferrite–copper oxide (CuO-CuFe₂O₄) nanoparticles as a semiconductor composite with p–n junction were synthesized by co-precipitation reaction. Then, a novel CuO-CuFe₂O₄ carbon paste modified electrode was fabricated which displays an effectual electrocatalytic response to the oxidation of acetaminophen (AC) and codeine (CO). A linear range of 0.01–1.5 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.06–10.0 μmol L⁻¹ with the detection limits of 0.007 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.01 μmol L⁻¹ were achieved for AC and CO, respectively. The practical usage of the proposed sensor revealed reasonable results for quantification of AC and CO in biological fluids.

Voltammetric sensor for tartrazine determination in soft drinks using poly ( p -aminobenzenesulfonic acid)/zinc oxide nanoparticles in carbon paste electrode

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and p-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (p-ABSA) were used to fabricate a modified electrode, as a highly sensitive and selective voltammetric sensor, for the determination of tartrazine. A fast and easy method for the fabrication of poly p-ABSA (Pp-ABSA)/ZnO NPs-carbon paste electrode (Pp-ABSA/ZnO NPs-CPE) by cyclic voltammetry was used. By combining the benefits of Pp-ABSA, ZnO NPs, and CPE, the resulted modified electrode exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic activity in terms of tartrazine oxidation by giving much higher peak currents than those obtained for the unmodified CPE and also other constructed electrodes. The effects of various experimental parameters on the voltammetric response of tartrazine were investigated. At the optimum conditions, the sensor has a linear response in the concentration range of 0349–5.44 μM, a good detection sensitivity (2.2034 μA/μM), and a detection limit of 80 nM of tartrazine. The proposed electrode was used for the determination of tartrazine in soft drinks with satisfactory results.

Sequential injection differential pulse voltammetric method based on screen printed carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotube/Nafion for sensitive determination of paraquat

The screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with various nanoparticles has been studied for using as a working electrode in voltammetric technique. The electrochemical behavior of paraquat on different electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and then differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been employed for trace analysis of paraquat based on redox reaction which the peak current was directly proportional to the concentration of paraquat in the solution. The SPCE modified with carbon nanotube dispersed in Nafion and ethanol (SPCE-CNT/Nafion) gave the best result. Sequential injection-differential pulse voltammetric (SI-DPV) method has been developed for more automated analysis and to reduce chemical consumption. The parameters affecting the SI-DPV system such as step potential, modulation amplitude, flow rate, and concentration of sodium chloride as an electrolyte were studied to improve the sensitivity. Under the optimum condition of the system, i.e., Nafion concentration of 1% (w/v), volume of CNT suspension of 2µL, flow rate of 100µLs^-1, step potential of 5mV, modulation amplitude of 100mV and concentration of sodium chloride of 1M, a linear calibration graph in the range of 0.54-4.30µM with a good R² of 0.9955 and a limit of detection of 0.17µM (0.03mgL^-1) were achieved. The proposed system shows high tolerance to some possible interfering ions in natural water, surfactant, and other pesticides. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 4.2% for 11 replicate measurements with the same electrode. The reproducibility for the preparation of 7 modified electrodes was 2.3% RSD. Recoveries of the analysis were obtained in the range of 82-106%. The developed system can be conveniently applied for analysis without pretreatment of the samples.

Validation and assessment of matrix effect and uncertainty of a gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry method for pesticides in papaya and avocado samples

In this paper a method of using the “quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe” (QuEChERS) extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection (GC–MS) was developed for the analysis of five frequently applied pesticides in papaya and avocado. The selected pesticides, ametryn, atrazine, carbaryl, carbofuran, and methyl parathion, represent the most commonly used classes (carbamates, organophosphorous, and triazines). Optimum separation achieved the analysis of all pesticides in < 6.5 minutes. Validation using papaya and avocado samples established the proposed method as linear, accurate, and precise. In this sense, the correlation coefficients were > 0.99. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) in papaya ranged from 0.03 mg/kg to 0.35 mg/kg and from 0.06 mg/kg to 0.75 mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile for avocado, LOD values varied from 0.14 mg/kg to 0.28 mg/kg and LOQ values ranged from 0.22 mg/kg to 0.40 mg/kg. Recoveries obtained for each pesticide in both matrices ranged between 60.6% and 104.3%. The expanded uncertainty of the method was < 26% for all the pesticides in both fruits. Finally, the method was applied to other fruits.