A New Electrochemical Sensor Based on Carbon Black Modified With Palladium Nanoparticles for Direct Determination of 17α‐Ethinylestradiol in Real Samples

Abstract

Electrochemical sensors to quantify concentrations of emerging pollutants have attracted great attention from the industry and scientific community. Nanomaterials such as carbon black have been applied in sensors to identify substances that are toxic to the environment and human health due to their excellent electroanalytical properties. The aim of the study was to develop a novel electrochemical sensor for the endocrine disruptor hormone determination. To our knowledge, for the first time the synthesis of material based on carbon black containing immobilized palladium nanoparticles, with the application for the hormone ethinylestradiol, is reported in the literature. The material was synthesized, characterized, and applied to the determination in tap water and human urine of the synthetic hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), which is currently considered an emerging pollutant. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of the sensors were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in sodium phosphate buffer solution at pH 5.0 allowed the generation of a method to quantify the concentration of 17αethinylestradiol in a linear range of 0.5-119.0 μmol L À 1 , obtaining 81.0 nmol L À 1 of calculated limit of detection (LOD). The system was efficient in detecting 17αethinylestradiol in real urine samples and showed no interferences for ascorbic acid, uric acid, progesterone, and dopamine. It is noteworthy that the results obtained showed good recovery values, considering that the urine samples were not previously treated or pre-concentrated, which suggests the development of an electrochemical sensor that works in situ and in real time to monitor relevant substances in the control clinical and environmental, with the possibility of point-of-care analyses.

Recent Advances on Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)

“…However, a higher amount of EE2 intake can cause sexual abnormalities, decrease fertility, and cause cancer [110]. Carbon black-supported palladium nanoparticles (CB/Pd NPs) were synthesized for the electrochemical detection of EE2 [111]. The synergistic effect of CB and Pd NPs enhanced the electrooxidation of EE2.…”

Development of Poly(L-arginine)/PSSA/QDs Modified Biosensor for Simultaneous Detection of Different Glucocorticoids in Wastewater

“…Whereas, above mentioned methods are mainly time-consuming and expensive. 24 Moreover, LC and UPLC-MS, the most frequently used methods, require large amounts of organic solvents which is environmental unfriendly. 25 Compared with these methods, electrochemical sensor method can provide a simple, artificial intelligent, miniaturized and inexpensive platform for the detection of target analytes and be more easily performed in the field.…”