Development and application of a novel electrochemical sensor based on AuNPS and difunctional monomer-MIPs for the selective determination of Tetrabromobisphenol-S in water samples

Tetrabromobisphenol-S (TBBPS) is a Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs). TBBPS in trace quantities is lethal and do not only alter the normal performance of the endocrine system but can directly or indirectly provoke hepatoxicity and carcinogenic diseases. Herein, we fabricate a facile electrochemical sensor and investigate its application towards the determination of TBBPS through imprinting technique. TBBPS imprinting was carried out in the presence of methacrylic acid (MAA) and 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) functional monomers (DiM) over gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the imprinted sensor. Performance was thoroughly investigated using both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The proposed sensor showed detection behavior towards TBBPS in standard solutions with different concentrations range of 0.1 nM-10 nM and with a detection limit of 0.029 nM. The developed MIP(DiM)@AuNPs/CPE sensor had enhanced recognition capacity compared to MIP electrochemical sensors developed with a mono functional monomer (MIP(MoM)@AuNPs/CPE) and non-imprinted sensors. In addition, the low cost; easier preparation; excellent stability; and good selectivity of MIP(DiM)@AuNPs/CPE electrochemical sensor makes it an attractive alternative to high instrumentation detection techniques.