Nonenzymatic electrochemical approaches for promethazine monitoring in aquatic media

Abstract

Promethazine hydrochloride (PMH) is a phenothiazine derivative extensively utilized in healthcare settings. Its excessive consumption and continuous release into environmental water bodies can lead to adverse effects on human health and disrupt the equilibrium of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, monitoring PMH levels is essential to maintain therapeutic efficacy and safeguard the well-being of both humans and aquatic life. This study encompasses the synthesis of samarium tungstate nanorods (SmWO) via hydrothermal method, followed by their incorporation into a composite with sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (SmWO/SGCN) using ultrasonication technique. The morphology and physicochemical properties of the synthesized composite were thoroughly examined using various analytical methods. Subsequently, the electrocatalytic activity of the developed sensor was assessed for sensing PMH via voltammetry techniques. Under optimized conditions, the fabricated electrode exhibited an 8.1 nM detection limit with a wide linear range (0.02–199 µM), and high sensitivity (2.349 µA µM−1 cm−2) for PMH detection. The suggested SmWO/SGCN composite electrode shows promising practical potential for detecting PMH in environmental aquatic samples.