Cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of β-cyfluthrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, using polished silver solid amalgam electrode

Pesticide residues and their detection techniques in foods using sensors- a review

The use of pesticides in agricultural produce is continuously increasing and it raises the question of whether the food is safe or not. Only 0.1% of the sprayed pesticide reaches its target and the rest acts as a contaminant in soil and the environment, thus contaminating the future foods as well. The pesticide residue management is gaining attention as pesticide poisoning account for more than 3.5% of total deaths. The use of pesticides needs to be checked and applied in a controlled manner. Easy and rapid methods for the quantification of pesticides in foods need to be developed. In the present review, details about pesticides have been described in the first part. Secondly, the techniques and recent developments for the detection of pesticides have been summarized and finally, the emerging challenges and future perspectives for pesticide handling has been discussed with special emphasis on the use of Nano-sensors for pesticide detection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-06116-8.

A review of emerging techniques for pyrethroid residue detection in agricultural commodities

Pyrethroid pesticides are essential for modern agriculture, helping to control pests and protect crops. However, due to growing concerns about their potential impact on human health and the environment, reliable detection methods are essential to ensure food safety. In this literature review, we explore the techniques used over the past decade to detect pyrethroid residues in agricultural products. Until now, various methods have been developed for detecting pyrethroid pesticides, ranging from conventional analytical approaches to innovative approaches. The conventional analytical approaches include gas, liquid, and supercritical fluid chromatography, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whereas innovative approaches refer to various optical-based and electrochemical-based sensors. For each method, we evaluate its strengths, limitations, and practical applications. Recent innovations are highlighted, focusing on sensitivity, selectivity, and practical applicability. By summarizing the current state of research, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, providing insights into the evolving technology and strategy for detecting pyrethroid residue.

Voltammetric determination of sulfur in biodiesel microemulsion using a silver solid amalgam electrode

Monitoring sulfur in biodiesel is of fundamental importance because even in low concentrations, it can harm the operation of the engine parts and increase the emission of toxic gases and particulate material. Hence, a simple, quick and sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) method based on a silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE) was developed to determine sulfur in biodiesel. The novel electrochemical method was evaluated through the linear sweep adsorptive stripping voltammetry (LSAdSV), square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) and differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV) in a NH₃/NH₄⁺ buffer solution (pH 9.0), containing Na₂SO₃. The method was applied in biodiesel microemulsion samples under optimal conditions. To this end, a ternary phase diagram was constructed, employing three components: biodiesel/propan-1-ol/buffer solution. The microemulsion with the best response was found to be 25% NH₃/NH₄⁺ buffer (pH 9.0), 5.0% biodiesel and 70% propan-1-ol. The method reached a detection limit in the order of 10^-7 mol L^-1 of sulfur, and recovery values between 80% and 116%. The method was applied in the determination of sulfur in biodiesel, and the amount in the samples was found to be below the value stipulated by the regulatory agencies. The method can be a promising alternative for determining sulfur in the microemulsion of biodiesel, with the ability to provide a fast response regarding the quality of this biofuel.

Recent Advances in the Recognition Elements of Sensors to Detect Pyrethroids in Food: A Review

The presence of pyrethroids in food and the environment due to their excessive use and extensive application in the agriculture industry represents a significant threat to public health. Therefore, the determination of the presence of pyrethroids in foods by simple, rapid, and sensitive methods is warranted. Herein, recognition methods for pyrethroids based on electrochemical and optical biosensors from the last five years are reviewed, including surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), chemiluminescence, biochemical, fluorescence, and colorimetric methods. In addition, recognition elements used for pyrethroid detection, including enzymes, antigens/antibodies, aptamers, and molecular-imprinted polymers, are classified and discussed based on the bioreceptor types. The current research status, the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods, and future development trends are discussed. The research progress of rapid pyrethroid detection in our laboratory is also presented.

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

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.