Silver-filled MWCNT nanocomposite as a sensing element for voltammetric determination of sulfamethoxazole

Here, we introduce a new electrode based on Silver-filled multi-walled carbon nanotube (Ag-MWCNT) and methyltrioctyl ammonium chloride (MTOAC) for highly sensitive voltammetric measurement of Sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The electrode showed an electrocatalytic activity as it led to the diminution of the overpotential and an increase in peak current for SMX oxidation in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0). Analysis of surface topography and electrochemical properties of the modified electrode was examined by TEM, EDX and EIS, respectively. Electrochemical performance of the modified electrode was investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques for determination of SMX in aqueous solution. In addition, the oxidation process was found to be dependent on the pH of the buffer solution. Under optimal conditions, a linear relationship between the oxidation current and SMX concentration was found in a range 0.05-70 μM (R² = 0.997) with a detection limit of 0.01 μM after 2 min of accumulating time. The electrode was successfully used to quantify SMX in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine by DPV.