Direct Determination of Paracetamol in Environmental Samples Using Screen‐printed Carbon/Carbon Nanofibers Sensor – Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Abstract

The paper describes the first electrochemical method (differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry, DPAdSV) using a screen‐printed sensor with a carbon/carbon nanofibers working electrode (SPCE/CNFs) for the direct determination of low (real) concentrations of paracetamol (PA) in environmental water samples. By applying this sensor together with DPAdSV, two linear PA concentration ranges from 2.0×10−9 to 5.0×10−8 mol L−1 (r=0.9991) and 1.0×10−7–2.0×10−6 mol L−1 ( r=0.9994) were obtained. For the accumulation time of 90 s, the limit of detection was 5.4×10−10 mol L−1. Moreover, the SPCE/CNFs sensor and the DPADSV procedure for PA determination are potentially applicable in field analysis. The process of PA adsorption at the SPCE/CNFs surface was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and theoretical studies. In the theoretical study of the interaction of CNF and PA, the first species was modelled by graphene‐like clusters containing up to 37 rings. It was found that the preferable orientation of PA is parallel to the carbon surface with the binding energy of about −68 kJ/mol calculated by symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). Both the selectivity and the accuracy of the developed sensor for real sample analysis were also investigated using Polish river and sea samples.

Simultaneous Analysis of Paracetamol and Diclofenac Using MWCNTs-COOH Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode and Pulsed Potential Accumulation

“…However, for the individual PA determination, the SPCE/CNFs should be used. These results perfectly confirm our previous research already described in the literature [ 2 , 4 ]. In the next step of the experiments, attempts were made to explain these differences between the size of PA and DF signals at the electrodes.…”

“…A slight difference in the peak current of PA at the SPCE/CNFs and SPCE/MWCNTs-COOH (5.8 µA vs. 5.0 µA, respectively) is owing to the fact that the SPCE/CNTs surface better facilitates the adsorption of PA. The electrochemical oxidation process of PA at the SPCE/CNFs surface is purely adsorption-controlled [ 2 ]. However, the goal of this work was to show the voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous analysis of DF and PA, and thus the SPCE/MWCNTs-COOH was chosen for further electrochemical study.…”

“…PA is recommended by the World Health Organization as one of the basic drugs in the treatment of pain during cancer. In addition, it is used for headaches, including migraine, earaches, toothaches, menstruation, and neuralgia, as well as rheumatic, myofascial, bone, postoperative, and other pains [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Screen-printed electrodes are cheap and ready-made systems with various modifications, and they are easily available commercially. Purchased electrochemical sensors do not require additional modifications; are immediately ready for use; and are characterized by high selectivity, sensitivity, and reproducibility [ 2 , 4 ].…”

A Screen-Printed Sensor Coupled with Flow System for Quantitative Determination of a Novel Promising Anticancer Agent Candidate

“…While the potential does not significantly affect the EIMTC signal, mixing of the solution prior the SWV curves registration (open circuit potential) is very important. As can be seen in Figure 4 D, the I p value of 2.0 × 10 −7 mol L −1 EIMTC reached maximum at the solution mixing time ( t ) of 45 s. It is connected with the facilitated diffusion of EIMTC molecules to the electrode surface during solution mixing [ 17 ].…”