Phase Selective Alternating Current Voltammetric Signalling Protocol: Application in Dendritic Co‐polymer Sensor for Anthracene

Abstract

A sensitive anthracene (AN) sensor was developed with a gold electrode modified with a dendritic star‐copolymer film by in situ electrochemical co‐polymerization of generation 3 propylenethiophenoimine and 3‐hexylthiophene. The sensor's {Au/G3PPT‐co‐P3HT: i. e. gold‐generation 3 poly(propylenethiophenoimine)‐co‐poly(3‐hexylthiophene)} analytical response for anthracene was obtained by phase selective alternating current voltammetric (PSACV) signal transduction. An in‐phase angle of 0° yielded the most sensitive stripping signal and produced the best discrimination between the Faradaic and capacitive currents. The PSACV sensor exhibited a linear range (LR) of 3.48–56.4 nmol/L AN and a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.62 nmol/L AN. The LOD is comparable to the value of 4.4 nmol/L AN reported for glassy carbon electrode modified with graphenated polyaniline sensor. The low LOD value suggests that the AN sensor has promise for monitoring compliance to World Health Organisation (WHO) approved limit for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater (3.93 nmol/L). The Au/G3PPT‐co‐P3HT sensor is not as sensitive as gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS/MS) and reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) methods. However, the advantage of the PSACV signalling protocol is that real sample test results indicate that the sensor can be used for the determination of AN in oil‐polluted wastewater.

Properties of Nitrogen-Doped Nano-Crystalline Graphite Thin Films and Their Application as Electrochemical Sensors

“…Based on the data illustrated in Table I, the most facile alteration of the electrode surface is achieved via electropolymerization, thus delivering electrochemically active recognition sites for anthracene. The primary drawback of this approach is confined to the high overpotentials required (⩾0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl) for attaining anthracene electrooxidation, [49][50][51][52][53] which is compensated by attaining a low concentration for the linear working range of as much as ∼3.5 nM of anthracene. 51 Replacing monomeric units with calixarene and using electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) provided a sensitive surface electrode toward anthracene; however, this still required high overpotentials, and a poor linear working range was attained.…”

“…The primary drawback of this approach is confined to the high overpotentials required (⩾0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl) for attaining anthracene electrooxidation, [49][50][51][52][53] which is compensated by attaining a low concentration for the linear working range of as much as ∼3.5 nM of anthracene. 51 Replacing monomeric units with calixarene and using electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) provided a sensitive surface electrode toward anthracene; however, this still required high overpotentials, and a poor linear working range was attained. 54 A more complex mechanism proposed for anthracene sensing is based on the interplay of Cd (II) to Cd (0) reduction at layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in the presence of HO − and adsorbed molecules of anthracene.…”

Recent advances in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food and water

“…This dendrite-based ECS was stable during storage for 30 days at 4 °C and a high recovery (93–107%), repeatability (RSD, 18.1%) and reproducibility (RSD, 6.10%) were reported for its application in oil polluted wastewater. In a later study, the same sensor was used for ANT analysis by using a phase-selective ACV in the linear range of 0.62–10.05 μg/L and LOD of 0.47 μg/L was shown [ 78 ]. Its application in oil polluted wastewater revealed a 95–105% recovery as well as 25.7% RSD for repeatability and 10.4% RSD for reproducibility.…”

Sensor Methods for the Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Industrial Wastewater

“…The increasing number of contaminants in industrial wastewater has raised a severe environmental concern [2]. PAHs (e.g., anthracene) are very harmful to human health and are responsible for various diseases such as lung, lymph, liver, and skin disorders [3].…”