Tailoring the electrochemical interface of mesoporous carbon with ubiquinone for detection of parabens in cosmetics

Abstract

Quality assessment of paraben in cosmetic products is in need to avoid and control the deadly side effect caused in humans. Though, there are various studies reported on sensing paraben electrochemically, the use of chemical modifiers is restricted to carbon based materials due to its efficiency but, the mesoporous carbon with high surface area and electron transfer property is hitherto unexplored. Here, we have investigated the sensing of paraben and its derivatives by using ubiquinone (Q10) introduced mesoporous carbon (MPC) via cyclic voltam-metric (CV) and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) techniques. The morphological studies of MPC showed rod shaped structure. The pore size and the pore volume were found to be 3.93 nm and 0.4 cm 3 /g respectively. The fabricated sensor showed good electrocatalytic activity for detecting methyl, ethyl and propyl paraben with the detection limit of 0.26 μM, 0.3 μM and 1.07 μM, respectively. Real time measurements of the modification were further utilized for commercially available cosmetic samples. MP : 0.271 μA/μM EP : 0.216 μA/ μM PP : 0.067 μA/μM Present Work GCE = Glassy carbon electrode, Q10 = Coenzyme Ubiquinone, MWCNT = Multiwalled Carbon nanotubes, MP = Methyl paraben, EP = Ethyl paraben, PP = Propyl Paraben, CPE = Carbon paste electrode, LoD = Lower detection limit, GO = Graphene oxide. ChemistrySelectFull Papers

Ubiquinone electrochemistry in analysis and sensing

“…Kannan et al introduced an electrode based on UQfunctionalized mesoporous carbon on glassy carbon for the detection of methyl, ethyl, and propyl parabens in cosmetic products using CV or DPV. [26] The idea here was that UQ serves as an electron mediator that can help to improve the electrochemical behavior of the target compounds, which are redox-active but do not display ideal electrochemical behaviors. The facilitated electron transfer using UQ as a redox mediator resulted in an oxidation peak at 0.76 V versus Ag|AgCl(sat.…”

“…Interestingly, the fluorescent synthetic analog of UQ designed by Greene et al was able to detect peroxy radicals, again relevant to the detection of reactive oxygen species. [50] The detection of parabens, common ingredients in cosmetic products and an important class of emerging environmental pollutants, was investigated by Kannan et al [26] Using a mesoporous carbon/UQ composite to prepare a modified electrode, the electrocatalytic detection of methyl, ethyl, and propyl parabens was achieved at ca. micromolar concentrations.…”

“…The detection of parabens, common ingredients in cosmetic products and an important class of emerging environmental pollutants, was investigated by Kannan et al. [ 26 ] Using a mesoporous carbon/UQ composite to prepare a modified electrode, the electrocatalytic detection of methyl, ethyl, and propyl parabens was achieved at ca . micromolar concentrations.…”