A Review of Nanocomposite-Modified Electrochemical Sensors for Water Quality Monitoring

Abstract

Electrochemical sensors play a significant role in detecting chemical ions, molecules, and pathogens in water and other applications. These sensors are sensitive, portable, fast, inexpensive, and suitable for online and in-situ measurements compared to other methods. They can provide the detection for any compound that can undergo certain transformations within a potential window. It enables applications in multiple ion detection, mainly since these sensors are primarily non-specific. In this paper, we provide a survey of electrochemical sensors for the detection of water contaminants, i.e., pesticides, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus, water hardeners, disinfectant, and other emergent contaminants (phenol, estrogen, gallic acid etc.). We focus on the influence of surface modification of the working electrodes by carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanostructures, imprinted polymers and evaluate the corresponding sensing performance. Especially for pesticides, which are challenging and need special care, we highlight biosensors, such as enzymatic sensors, immunobiosensor, aptasensors, and biomimetic sensors. We discuss the sensors’ overall performance, especially concerning real-sample performance and the capability for actual field application.

Enhanced Nitrite Detection by a Carbon Screen Printed Electrode Modified with Photochemically-Made AuNPs

“…2 ) is one of the most common inorganic nitrogenous compounds found in the environment and is widely used as a food additive and preservative [1], as well as nitrogenbased fertilizers utilized in agriculture [2,3]. Nonetheless, nitrite has been classified as a hazardous species due to its toxicity to humans.…”

Efficient Preparation of a Nonenzymatic Nanoassembly Based on Cobalt-Substituted Polyoxometalate and Polyethylene Imine-Capped Silver Nanoparticles for the Electrochemical Sensing of Carbofuran

“…To date, various electrochemical sensing techniques have been designed for the detection of toxic amounts of pesticide residues from the environment or agricultural products. 2 − 5 These methods have emerged as potential alternates for traditional detection techniques which are considered as time-consuming, expensive, laborious, requiring highly trained persons to operate the highly sophisticated instruments, and are limited in centralized laboratories such as mass spectrometry (MS), liquid chromatography–MS, gas chromatography–MS, HPLC, electrophoresis, and so forth owing to their inexpensiveness, rapidity, lack of sample pretreatment steps, simple design, easy handling, and feasibility of on-site detection of pesticides. 6 , 7 The electrochemical methods have usually based on targeting a nervous system enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is inhibited by the action of OP and CB pesticides.…”

“…Therefore, the development of precise and rapid techniques for the sensitive detection of pesticide residues from air, food, or water is an important focus of modern research to ensure food safety. To date, various electrochemical sensing techniques have been designed for the detection of toxic amounts of pesticide residues from the environment or agricultural products. − These methods have emerged as potential alternates for traditional detection techniques which are considered as time-consuming, expensive, laborious, requiring highly trained persons to operate the highly sophisticated instruments, and are limited in centralized laboratories such as mass spectrometry (MS), liquid chromatography–MS, gas chromatography–MS, HPLC, electrophoresis, and so forth owing to their inexpensiveness, rapidity, lack of sample pretreatment steps, simple design, easy handling, and feasibility of on-site detection of pesticides. , The electrochemical methods have usually based on targeting a nervous system enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is inhibited by the action of OP and CB pesticides. − The enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors can be reliable tools for on-site monitoring of pesticides if they could be miniaturized in the form of a portable measuring device. However, the use of enzymes is critical because of its low stability, storage requirements, and optimum conditions such as pH, temperature, and so forth.…”

Editorial to the Special Issue SELSA: “Sensors for Environmental and Life Science Applications”

“…Three reviews point out the role of electrochemical sensors for water quality monitoring [ 2 ] with nanostructured highly sensing layers. It has been demonstrated that polymer imprinting technology enhances selectivity of the electrochemical and impedimetric sensors of metal ions, Cr(VI), pesticides, and bacteria [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Three reviews point out the role of electrochemical sensors for water quality monitoring [ 2 ] with nanostructured highly sensing layers. It has been demonstrated that polymer imprinting technology enhances selectivity of the electrochemical and impedimetric sensors of metal ions, Cr(VI), pesticides, and bacteria [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. In the domain of electrochemical sensors, much hope is now placed on carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) for their ease of preparation, high surface area, and versatility.…”