An electrochemical sensing platform for simultaneous determination of 4-aminophenol and acetaminophen based on KOH-activated lotus leaf-derived carbon

A novel electrochemical sensor based on KOH-activated lotus leaf-derived carbon (KACLL) was developed to determine 4-aminophenol (4-AP) and acetaminophen (AC) simultaneously. The structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of KACLL were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, SEM, EIS, etc. Compared with the unactivated lotus leaf-derived carbon (UCLL), KACLL has a richer pore structure and a larger specific surface area, while showing more excellent electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties. Under optimal experimental conditions, KACLL/GCE demonstrated an excellent linear response for 4-AP and AC concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 140 μmol/L, with detection limits of 0.038 μmol/L and 0.073 μmol/L, respectively. Moreover, the sensor has good stability, selectivity, anti-interference ability and reproducibility. For determining 4-AP and AC in tap water, lake water and artificial urine, the recovery rate was between 95.52% and 105.7%. The developed sensor demonstrates promising prospects for environmental monitoring and public health management.