Novel electrochemical sensor based on nylon 6,6-modified graphite HB pencil electrode for chlorothalonil determination by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry

Abstract

Mercury-based electrode was the choice of electrode material for many years, and it has been extensively used in voltammetry studies. Nonetheless, alternative electrode materials are highly preferred in voltammetry studies due to the toxicity of mercury. This work introduces a novel green sensor, nylon 6,6-modified graphite HB pencil electrode (Nyl-MHBPE) as electrochemical method for chlorothalonil determination by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV). The Nyl-MHBPE was significantly improved electroactivity towards the reduction of chlorothalonil, under the optimal conditions (at pH 8.0). It was clearly observed that nylon 6,6 revealed as an efficient modifier for enhancing stripping signal for voltammetric analysis. Moreover, the developed sensor showed great feature such as a remarkably low detection limit in nanomolar level (0.94 × 10−8 M) with a linear range from 1 to 26 × 10−7 M. It presented excellent repeatability with high sensitivity and selectivity. Besides, analysis of chlorothalonil in real water samples was successfully carried out with good recovery values (92.5–103%) and relative standard deviation (RSD) values < 2.2%. The performance of Nyl-MHBPE was also compared to bare pencil electrode (HBPE). Another significant feature of this work is that the conductivity properties of the Nyl-MHBPE were superior as compared to hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The present study provides admirable merits that make the Nyl-MHBPE selected as a promising electrochemical sensor to perform routine analysis of chlorothalonil.