Lab-Made Electrochemical System with Flexible rGO/PAni Electrode for Selective Multiclass Pharmaceutical Detection

The development of efficient analytical procedures for environmental applications increasingly relies on electrochemical techniques and their associated systems, which are prized for their high sensitivity, moderate cost, and portability. To overcome the limitations of conventional electrochemical setups, this study introduces an alternative lab-made electrochemical cell design incorporating a flexible reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PAni) composite electrode. The free-standing nanocomposite electrodes based on rGO/PAni, characterized by their high electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and large surface area, were strategically chosen to enhance the electrode performance. This thick, malleable, and easy-to-handle film provides a satisfactory fit with an alternative lab-made electrochemical cell. As a proof-of-concept, this system was successfully applied to the simultaneous detection of multiclass pharmaceutical contaminantsacetaminophen, salicylic acid, and norfloxacinrecognized as emerging environmental pollutants in groundwater samples. The adaptable nature and advantageous properties of the rGO/PAni-based working electrode, coupled with the optimized lab-made cell configuration, demonstrate the potential of this alternative electrochemical system for selective environmental electroanalysis.