Electrochemical oxidation and sensing of para benzoquinone using a novel SPE based disposable sensor

Para-benzoquinone (PBQ) is an emerging micro-contaminant owing to its chronic toxicity to plants and animals as well as its potential to induce cytotoxicity in primary rat hepatocytes and kidney cell injury. Hence, it is of utmost importance to monitor this contaminant in industrial wastewater and groundwater. In this article, we devised a unique disposable sensor that is based on a screen-printed electrode using MnO₂@Co-Ni MOFs/fMWCNTs nanocomposite and is able to detect PBQ. The as-produced nanocomposite was prepared via ultrasonic assisted reflux condition and thoroughly examined by several physicochemical characterisation methods such as SEM, EDX, TEM, Raman, AFM, UV-visible, and FT-IR. Moreover, electrochemical methods like CV, DPV, EIS, and chronoamperometry were used for detecting PBQ on MnO₂@Co-Ni MOFs/fMWCNTs/SPCE. Sensor performance has been investigated thoroughly and optimized to enhance the analytical potential of the fabricated sensor. DPV analysis was done on MnO₂@Co-Ni MOFs/fMWCNTs that exhibit high selectivity, low peak potential, a broader linear detection range (0.005 mM-30 mM), and a LOD of 0.0027 ± 0.0005 mM. The designed electrode has shown remarkable reproducibility and excellent repeatability, with relative standard deviations of 0.12%, and 0.17%, respectively. Additionally, MnO₂@Co-Ni MOFs/fMWCNTs/SPCE have been used to analyse PBQ in industrial wastewater samples, and the results have shown a significant level of recovery between 96.91 and 105.67%. Moreover, the PBQ sensor displays high applicability and was verified via the use of HPLC techniques. This disposable sensor is quick, easy, and cost-effective, so it can be useful in the future for analysing other phenolic contaminants present in environmental samples.