Promising post-consumer PET-derived activated carbon electrode material for non-enzymatic electrochemical determination of carbofuran hydrolysate

Sureshkumar Ayyalusamy,Vembu Suryanarayanan,Susmita Mishra

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31627-8

Abstract

In this work, activated carbon (AC) materials, prepared from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottles were used as the sensing platform for the indirect detection of carbofuran. The morphology and surface properties of the PET-derived AC (PET-AC) were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning/transmission electron microscopy (FE-SEM/TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical activity of the PET-AC modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (PET-AC/GCE) was measured by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The enhanced surface area and desirable porosities of PET-AC are attributed for the superior electrocatalytic activity on the detection of carbofuran phenol, where, the proposed sensor shows low detection limit (0.03 µM) and remarkable sensitivity (0.11 µA µM−1 cm−2). The PET-AC/GCE holds high selectivity towards potentially interfering species. It also provides desirable stability, repeatability and reproducibility on detection of carbofuran phenol. Furthermore, the proposed sensor is utilized for the detection of carbofuran phenol in real sample applications. The above mentioned unique properties and desirable electrochemical performances suggest that the PET-derived AC is the most suitable carbonaceous materials for cost-effective and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor.

Highlights

Carbofuran (2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-7-benzofuranyl N-methylcarbamate) is the most extensively used carbamate pesticides in India for agriculture because of its high insecticidal activity
It is apparent that the activated carbon (AC) prepared at low-temperature exhibits type I isotherm with substantial increase in adsorption of adsorbate below the relative pressure (P/P0 < 0.1), and a long plateau at high relative pressures, indicating the presence of microporous structure
Increase of the temperature from 900 to 1000 °C enhances the release of volatile matters from precursor, leading to the creation of new pores as well as widening of existing pores resulting in increment of both surface area and pore volume (Table 1)

Summary

Results and Discussion

Increase of the temperature from 900 to 1000 °C enhances the release of volatile matters from precursor, leading to the creation of new pores as well as widening of existing pores resulting in increment of both surface area and pore volume (Table 1). This effect is associated with the enlargement of both micropores and mesopores. It exhibits two broadened diffraction peaks centered at 24° and 43°, corresponding to the (0 0 2) and (1 0 0) planes, respectively. As the Figure 2. (a) N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, (b) pore size distribution (c) XRD pattern and (d) Raman spectra of the as-prepared PET-AC

Vmicro Vmeso

This work

Conclusions

Additional Information