An Electrochemical Sensor Based on Au Nanoparticles for Rapid Determination of Nitrofurazone in Aquaculture Seawater

We have developed an electrochemical sensor for the rapid detection of nitrofurazone (NFZ) in aquaculture seawater, utilizing a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Compared to the unmodified electrode, the modified electrode exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity than the GCE and could be used efficiently for the detection of NFZ. It was found that the AuNPs modified electrode exhibited a higher specific surface area, as determined by scanning electron microscopy characterization. The effects of various parameters, including the number of electrodeposition cycles for modified electrode preparation and the pH of the electrolyte for NFZ detection were optimized. Under optimized experimental conditions, the peak current and concentration of NFZ exhibited a linear relationship in the range of 3 to 100 μM when analyzed using square wave voltammetry (SWV), with a limit of detection of 0.24 μM. The proposed sensor was successfully utilized for the detection of NFZ in aquaculture seawater. The spiked recoveries ranged from 96.35 to 107% (RSD < 4.13%), indicating that the method demonstrates satisfactory accuracy and performance for detecting NFZ in real seawater.