Abstract
Selenite (Se4+), a significant source of water pollution above the permissible limits, is considered a valuable metal by environmentalists. In this study, we described a novel electrochemical sensor that utilized a carbon paste electrode (CPE) that was modified using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and poly(1-aminoanthraquinone) (p-AAQ) for finding Se4+ in water samples. Electrochemical quantification of Se4+ depends on the formation of a selective complex (piaselenol) with p-AAQ. In this work, we prepared a CPE modified by physical embedding of MWCNTs and 1-aminoanthraquione (AAQ), while the polymer film was formed by anodic polymerization of AAQ by applying a constant potential of 0.75 V in 0.1 M HCl for 20 s followed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) from −0.2 to 1.4 V for 20 cycles. The modified CPE was used for differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of Se4+ in 0.1 M H2SO4 from 0 to 0.4 V with a characteristic peak at 0.27 V. Further, the proposed sensor was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The analytical conditions regarding the electrode performance and voltammetric measurements were optimized, with the accumulation time and potential, supporting electrolyte, differential-pulse period/time, and amplitude. The EIS results indicated that the p-AAQ/MWCNTs-modified CPE sensor (p-AAQ/MWCNTs/CPE) that also exhibited low charge-transfer resistance (Rct) toward the anodic stripping of Se4+, exhibited good analytical performance toward different concentrations of Se4+ in a linear range of 5–50 μg L−1 Se4+ with a limit of determination (LOD) of 1.5 μg L−1 (3σ). Furthermore, differential-pulse voltammetry was employed to determine different concentrations of Se4+ in a linear range of 1–50 μg L−1 Se4+, and an LOD value of 0.289 μg L−1 was obtained. The proposed sensor demonstrated good precision (relative standard deviation = 4.02%) at a Se4+ concentration of 5 μg L−1. Moreover, the proposed sensor was applied to analyze Se4+ in wastewater samples that were spiked with Se, and it achieved good recovery values.
Highlights
Nowadays, environmentalists have developed a tremendous interest in the dual role of Se
P-AAQ was prepared on the surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV); the value of the applied potential for the desired time could be determined from the rst scan of CV in the electropolymerization process
The results indicated the enlargement of the surface area via incorporations of p-AAQ and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in CPE
Summary
Environmentalists have developed a tremendous interest in the dual role of Se (a vital and simultaneously toxic element depending on its concentration in the environment and different organisms). The toxicity of Se depends mainly on its chemical form. Elemental Se0 exerts only minimum toxicological consequences on most organisms. Both selenite (Se4+) and selenate (Se6+), inorganic water-soluble species, are highly toxic to nonaccumulators because they can be absorbed by plants. The organic forms of Se are less-toxic than the inorganic ones. Notwithstanding, Se functions as a vital element in low concentrations; it is pivotal to normal growth and development processes and functions as a defense agent against infections and cancerous diseases.[1]
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