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Bolaños-Méndez D, Alvarez-Paguay J, Fernández L, Saavedra-Alulema PF, Veloz-Romero MS, Espinoza-Montero PJ. An inexpensive paracetamol sensor based on an acid-activated carbon fiber microelectrode. Chemosphere 2024; 346:140586. [PMID: 37939931 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol, a contaminant of emerging concern, has been detected in different bodies of water, where it can impact ecological and human health. To quantify this paracetamol, electroanalytical methods have gained support. Thus, the present study developed a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method for paracetamol quantification using a carbon fiber microelectrode based on commercial carbon fiber. To improve the carbon fiber microelectrode's paracetamol sensitivity and selectivity, it was subjected to an activation process via electrochemical oxidation in an acid medium (H2SO4 or HNO3), using 20 consecutive cycles of cyclic voltammetry. The treated (activated) carbon fiber microelectrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques, including chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The H2SO4-activated carbon fiber microelectrode exhibited enhanced figures of merit, with a linear dynamic range of paracetamol detection from 0.5 to 11 μmol L-1 and a limit of detection of 0.21 μmol L-1 under optimized conditions. The method was optimized by quantifying paracetamol in commercial pharmaceutical tablets, spiked running tap water, and river water (Pita River, Quito, Ecuador, latitude -0.364955°, longitude -78.404538°); the respective recovery values were 102.89, 103.93, and 112.40%. The results demonstrated an acceptable level of accuracy and the promising applicability of this carbon fiber microelectrode as a sensor to detect paracetamol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Bolaños-Méndez
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Quito, 170525, Ecuador
| | - Jocelyne Alvarez-Paguay
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Quito, 170525, Ecuador
| | - Lenys Fernández
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Quito, 170525, Ecuador.
| | | | - Moris S Veloz-Romero
- Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Quito, 170129, Ecuador
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Vásquez-Velarde M, Fernández L, Bolaños-Méndez D, Burbano-Erazo H, Alvarez-Paguay J, Carrera P, Espinoza-Montero PJ. Evaluation of a gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon-fiber microelectrode to quantify mercury in canned tuna sold in Ecuador. Chemosphere 2023; 338:139483. [PMID: 37454989 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Seafood consumption is the primary exposure route for trace metals like mercury. Accordingly, canned tuna meat has been focused on by researchers because of the potential bioaccumulation of high amounts of mercury. This study aimed to test a novel and reliable electroanalytical method employing a working electrode consisting of gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon microfibers to quantify total mercury in canned tuna samples. Determination was achieved via differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The proposed method had a limit of detection of 3.9781 ± 0.0001 μg L-1 and a limit of quantification of 33.6634 ± 0.0001 μg L-1, with a sensitivity of 0.3275 nA μg L-1. The modified electrode was evaluated in samples taken from three canned tuna brands sold in the Sangolquí parish in Rumiñahui, Ecuador. These brands, coded A, B, and C, represent 47.92%, 27.08%, and 11.98% of all canned tuna sold in the Ecuadorian market, respectively. The resulting respective total mercury concentrations were 0.5999 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; 0.9387 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; and 0.3442 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1 for A, B, and C. Method accuracy was determined through the recovery percentages of ≥98%, which indicated acceptable accuracy for the final optimized method. Mean mercury concentrations for all samples did not represent a carcinogenic risk for consumers. However, the values obtained for potential no-carcinogenic risk and daily consumption rate suggest that consumers of tuna canned in water, particularly brand C, may be at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Vásquez-Velarde
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito 17 01 21-84, Ecuador
| | - Lenys Fernández
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito 17 01 21-84, Ecuador.
| | - Diego Bolaños-Méndez
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito 17 01 21-84, Ecuador
| | - Harold Burbano-Erazo
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito 17 01 21-84, Ecuador
| | - Jocelyne Alvarez-Paguay
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito 17 01 21-84, Ecuador
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Cisneros-León DG, Espinoza-Montero PJ, Bolaños-Mendez D, Alvarez-Paguay J, Fernández L, Saavedra-Alulema PF, Lopez K, Astorga D, Piñeiros JL. Electrochemical degradation of surfactants in domestic wastewater using a DiaClean ® cell equipped with a boron-doped diamond electrode. Front Chem 2023; 11:900670. [PMID: 37179778 PMCID: PMC10167046 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.900670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Treating domestic wastewater has become more and more complicated due to the high content of different types of detergents. In this context, advanced electro-oxidation (AEO) has become a powerful tool for complex wastewater remediation. The electrochemical degradation of surfactants present in domestic wastewater was carried out using a DiaClean® cell in a recirculation system equipped with boron-doped diamond (BDD) as the anode and stainless steel as the cathode. The effect of recirculation flow (1.5, 4.0 and 7.0 L min-1) and the applied current density (j = 7, 14, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mA cm-2) was studied. The degradation was followed by the concentration of surfactants, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity. pH value, conductivity, temperature, sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, and chlorides were also evaluated. Toxicity assays were studied through evaluating Chlorella sp. performance at 0, 3, and 7 h of treatment. Finally, the mineralization was followed by total organic carbon (TOC) under optimal operating conditions. The results showed that applying j = 14 mA cm-2 and a flow rate of 1.5 L min-1 during 7 h of electrolysis were the best conditions for the efficient mineralization of wastewater, achieving the removal of 64.7% of surfactants, 48.7% of COD, 24.9% of turbidity, and 44.9% of mineralization analyzed by the removal of TOC. The toxicity assays showed that Chlorella microalgae were unable to grow in AEO-treated wastewater (cellular density: 0 × 104 cells ml-1 after 3- and 7-h treatments). Finally, the energy consumption was analyzed, and the operating cost of 1.40 USD m-3 was calculated. Therefore, this technology allows for the degradation of complex and stable molecules such as surfactants in real and complex wastewater, if toxicity is not taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana G. Cisneros-León
- Escuela de Ciencia Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Diego Bolaños-Mendez
- Escuela de Ciencia Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Lenys Fernández
- Escuela de Ciencia Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Kelly Lopez
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Diana Astorga
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - José Luis Piñeiros
- Escuela de Ciencia Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
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Alvarez-Paguay J, Fernández L, Bolaños-Mendez D, González G, Espinoza-Montero PJ. Evaluation of an electrochemical biosensor based on carbon nanotubes, hydroxyapatite and horseradish peroxidase for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbsr.2022.100514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Fernández L, Alvarez-Paguay J, González G, Uribe R, Bolaños-Mendez D, Piñeiros JL, Celi L, Espinoza-Montero PJ. Electrochemical Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Based on Prussian Blue Electrochemically Deposited at the TiO2-ZrO2–Doped Carbon Nanotube Glassy Carbon-Modified Electrode. Front Chem 2022; 10:884050. [PMID: 35864867 PMCID: PMC9294385 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.884050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this investigation, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) electrochemical sensor was evaluated. Prussian blue (PB) was electrodeposited at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with titanium dioxide– and zirconia-doped functionalized carbon nanotubes (TiO2.ZrO2-fCNTs), obtaining the PB/TiO2.ZrO2-fCNTs/GC-modified electrode. The morphology and structure of the nanostructured material TiO2.ZrO2-fCNTs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, the specific surface area was determined via Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Titania-zirconia nanoparticles (5.0 ± 2.0 nm) with an amorphous structure were directly synthesized on the fCNT walls, aged during periods of 20 days, obtaining a well-dispersed distribution with a high surface area. The results indicated that the TiO2.ZrO2-fCNT–nanostructured material exhibits good electrochemical properties and could be tunable by enhancing the modification conditions and method of synthesis. Covering of the nanotubes with TiO2-ZrO2 nanoparticles is one of the main factors that affected immobilization and sensitivity of the electrochemical biosensor. The electrode modified with TiO2-ZrO2 nanoparticles with the 20-day aging time was superior regarding its reversibility, electric communication, and high sensitivity and improves the immobilization of the PB at the electrode. The fabricated sensor was used in the detection of H2O2 in whey milk samples, presenting a linear relationship from 100 to 1,000 μmol L−1 between H2O2 concentration and the peak current, with a quantification limit (LQ) of 59.78 μmol L−1 and a detection limit (LD) of 17.93 μmol L−1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenys Fernández
- Escuela De Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- *Correspondence: Lenys Fernández, ; Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero,
| | | | - Gema González
- Yachay Tech University, School of Physical Sciences and Nanotechnology, Urcuqui, Ecuador
- Instituto Venezolano De Investigaciones Científicas, Centro De Ingeniería Materiales y Nanotecnología, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Rafael Uribe
- Departamento De Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Diego Bolaños-Mendez
- Escuela De Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - José Luis Piñeiros
- Escuela De Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Luis Celi
- Departamento De Física, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero
- Escuela De Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- *Correspondence: Lenys Fernández, ; Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero,
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