A novel voltammetric amaranth sensor based on screen printed electrode modified with polypyrrole nanotubes

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Azo dyes are widely used in textiles but pose significant human health and environmental risks.
• Amaranth, a common azo dye, requires sensitive detection methods due to its toxicity.
• Existing detection methods for amaranth may lack sensitivity or practicality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical sensor for the sensitive and accurate detection of amaranth.
• To utilize polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy NTs) modified screen-printed electrodes (SPE) for enhanced sensing capabilities.
• To validate the sensor's performance in real-world food sample analysis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy NTs) using pyrrole monomer oxidation with iron (III) chloride and methyl orange as a structure-guiding agent.
• Modification of screen-printed electrodes (SPE) with the synthesized PPy NTs to create the PPy NTs/SPE sensor.
• Electrochemical characterization and performance evaluation of the sensor for amaranth detection under optimized conditions.

Main Results:

• The developed PPy NTs/SPE sensor demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity for amaranth detection.
• The sensor exhibited a broad linear dynamic range from 0.03 μM to 290.0 μM.
• A low limit of detection (0.01 μM) was achieved, indicating high sensitivity.
• Successful determination of amaranth in real food samples with acceptable recovery rates.

Conclusions:

• The PPy NTs/SPE sensor is a highly effective tool for sensitive and selective amaranth detection.
• This sensor shows great promise for routine monitoring of amaranth contamination in food products.
• The developed electrochemical approach offers a practical and reliable method for azo dye analysis.