Electrochemical Sensors Based on Modification of Carbon Fiber Microelectrode by Nickel Phthalocyanine Polymer for 3-Methyl-4-Nitrophenol Analysis in Water

3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP) is the main by-product of the organophosphate insecticide fenitrothion (FT), used in locust control. MNP is highly toxic because it is an endocrine disruptor and then may cause adverse in the biological systems. Then, it is necessary to develop analytical methods for determination of this pollutant in the environment. In this sense, we reported herein the development of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP), one of the metabolites of fenitrothion (FT), by using naked and modified carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) by nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine polymer (CFME/p-NiTSPc). The voltammogram showed that MNP presents one irreversible anodic peak corresponding to the oxidation of the phenol group at 0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl. The effect of pH of the buffer on the peak current and SWV parameters such as frequency, scan increment and pulse amplitude were investigated in order to optimize the electrochemical response of the sensor. The obtained results lead to the following optimum value: pH = 6; frequency = 25 Hz, pulse amplitude = 50 mV, scan increment = 10 mV. With these optimum values, the calibration curves show that the peak current varied linearly upon MNP concentration leading to a limit of detection (LoD) for naked CFME close to 3 μg/L whereas for CFME modified by p-NiTSPc, it reaches 0.75 μg/L. This results prove that the presence of p-NiTSPc increasing the sensitivity of the sensor could be used to monitor 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol residue in real matrix.

• 3-Methyl-4-Nitrophenol
• Carbon Fiber Microelectrode
• Nickel Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine Film
• Cyclic Voltammetry
• Square Wave Voltammetry

1. Introduction

The relentless pursue of improving productivity and agricultural products quality has led man to a massive use of pesticides. Thus, according to the United Nations Organization statistics Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in Burkina Faso over 500 tons of pesticides are used each year since 2010 [1] . Among them, fenitrothion, an organophosphate insecticide is widely used in cotton cultivation in the north of Burkina Faso in the fight against locust attack. It is well-known that it possesses some toxicity because it acts as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and its residues and metabolites are present in food chain and environment [2] [3] [4] [5] . Thus, to limit the impact of pesticides on the environment and human health, analytical techniques have been developed to detect their presence and quantify pesticide residues in waters, soils, foods. The commonly used analytical methods are the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography (GC) or coupled techniques GC-MS and ELISA [3] [4] [6] [7] . However, these techniques require means huge, skilled technicians, very long analysis time, a step of sample pretreatment and they are not suitable for analysis of organophosphate pesticides due to their instability. Simple and advantageous alternatives are electrochemical techniques due to their low cost, high sensitivity and specificity and they do provide fast and reliable analysis [2] [3] [4] [8] [9] . Several studies reported that organophosphate compounds can be detected electrochemically using CFME [5] [10] [11] and CFME modified by use of polymers, enzymes and mercury to improve their sensitivity and selectivity [6] [7] [12] [13] . In previous work, we report the use of CFME modified by nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine polymer (p-NiTSPc) film for methylparathion and its metabolite p-nitrophenol in water [7] . We report herein the electrochemical modification of CFME by p-NiTSPc for the detection 3-methyl-para-nitrophenol (MNP), one of the stable by-product of fenitrothion in water.

2. Experimental

2.1. Apparatus and Chemicals

All electrochemical measurements were performed using a portable potentiostat (Palmsens) controlled by software and obtained through International Foundation for Science (IFS) individual grant.

3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP), as a powder with analytical grade, was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, and a stock solution (5 mg/L) was prepared in distilled water. Phosphate buffer solution (PBS) 0.2 M was used as supporting electrolyte and prepared by mixing appropriate amounts of potassium phosphate monobasic (KH₂PO₄) and potassium phosphate dibasic (K₂HPO₄) in MilliQ water. NiTSPc monomers were purchased by Sigma and used as received.

Platinum electrode (250 µm) and Ag/AgCl/KCl 1 M were used as counter and reference electrodes respectively. The working electrode was a naked carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) (diameter Φ = 12 µm) or modified by p-NiTSPc film (p-NiTSPc/CFME) and all chemical are purchasing from Sigma Aldrich and are used without further purification.

2.2. Analytical Procedure

Electrochemical behavior of MNP at naked and modified carbon fiber microelectrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Square wave voltammetry, which is well-known to be more sensitive has been used to analyze the amount of MNP in aqueous samples by following the irreversible oxidation peak. Phosphate buffer at pH 6 containing 2 mM of Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ was scanned in cyclic voltammetry (CV) for electrochemical characterization of the performance of naked and modified working electrodes.

2.3. Electrochemical Modification of CFME

Prior to modification the working electrode was cleaned electrochemically in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ with ethanol (1:1, v/v) by performing 10 cyclic voltammograms at the scan rate 50 mV/s. After cleaning, the working electrode was modified following the method already reported [14] . Shortly: electropolymerization is first initiated by performing 5 cyclic voltammograms in 0.1 M aqueous NaOH in the potential range 0 to 1.3 V and at the scan rate 100 mV/s. The p-NiTSPc is electrodeposited by performing 50 cyclic voltammograms in 2 mM NiTSPc aqueous solution prepared in NaOH 0.1 M, in the same potential range. After the polymerization, the modified electrode is cleaned in distillated water and a cyclic voltammogram is performed in NaOH 0.1 M aqueous solution to highlight the effectiveness of the modification which will be confirmed by the presence of a reversible peak at 0.4 V vs ECS corresponding to the redox couple Ni^III/Ni^II.

2.4. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) Images of the CFME

SEM experiments were performed on CFME and CFME modified with p-NiTSPc (CFME/p-NiTSPc) using a JEOL type JSM-6301F (SCIAM, Angers university). Images obtained were from secondary electrons under 3 - 5 keV with magnifications situated between 3000 and 5000. Figure 1 shows the surface morphology of the CFME and CFME/p-NiTSPc.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. Voltammetric Behavior of MNP on CFME

Cyclic voltammogram of 30 mg/L of MNP in PBS 0.2 M pH 6 at the scan rate of 50 mV/s is presented in Figure 2.

As it is illustrated on Figure 2, one can observe that MNP presents one

ireversible oxidation peak at around 0.90 V versus Ag/AgCl/KCl 1 M in comparison with the blank. This peak could be assigned to the oxidation of the phenol group and the irreversibility is due to the existence of chemical reaction following the electron transfer. This result is in agreement with the literature data [5] [7] .

When cyclic voltammetry is realized on FT during scanning potential in cathodic domain (Figure 3), one can observe the presence of an irreversible peak at −0.79 V vs Ag/AgCl/KCl 1 M corresponding to 4 electrons transfer to nitro group [3] [4] [9] [15] . This result agrees with previous work on the electrochemical detection of methylparathion and its metabolite [7] .

During the reverse scan, one may note the presence of reversible peak at −0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl/KCl 1 M corresponding to the oxidation/reduction of hydroxylamine electrogenerated to nitroso group and this agrees with the literature [4] . Due to the presence of nitro group on MNP, the electrochemical behavior in cathodic domain indicates (figure not shown) that MNP exhibits one irreversible peak corresponding in comparison with the literature, to electron transfer on nitro group.

Based on these results, on may conclude that FT and its metabolite MNP could be differentiate in anodic domain by the oxidation of phenol group. To improve the detection of the residues of MNP in environment, we carried out by square wave voltammetry (SWV), the effects some parameters such as the pH value and the electrochemical parameters of the method on the electrochemical oxidation of MNP using naked and modified CFME.

3.2. Optimum Conditions for Analytical Method

To optimize the electrochemical response of MNP by square wave voltammetry (SWV), the effect of pH of the buffer and the electrochemical parameters method (SWV) such as frequency, pulse increments and pulsation were investigated. Figure 4 represents the voltammograms of MNP on naked CFME using different pH’s value of PBS.

As illustrated on Figure 4, one can note that the anodic peak potential shifts to cathodic values when the pH increases from 2 to 7. The representation of the

peak potential upon pH value shows a linear decrease of the oxidation peak potential with the increase of the pH value from 2 to 7 (Figure 5). This behavior could be explained by the deprotonation of phenol group upon the increase of the pH. The slope of the straight line close to 57 mV per decade of pH agrees of one proton transferring, leading to the production of phenolate ions, more rich

in electrons than phenol and therefore more easily oxidable. This result agrees with the literature [16] . Moreover, in the range of pH 8 to 11, the peak potential remains constant (Figure 5) and this could be explained by the electron transfer on phenolate derivatives as reported elsewhere [16] . From these data, one can determine the acidity constant of MNP which is close to pKa = 7.49. Furthermore, the representation of peak current vs. pH (figure not shown) showed that the peak current presents a maximum at pH 6.

The optimum parameters for determination of the electrochemical response of MNP by poising the optimum pH value on CFME have been determined by using SWV. The optimum values obtained are a frequency of 25 Hz, a pulse amplitude of 50 mV and a scan increment of 10 mV. Therefore, these optimum values are being used in the rest of the work.

3.3. SWV for the Quantitative Analyzes of MNP on CFME

Figure 6(a) shows square wave voltammograms of MNP in a concentration range 10 µg/L to 1 mg/L using the optimum parameters and the pH value of 6. One can note that the peak current increase upon the increase of the concentration according to literature [8] . The representation of peak current intensity vs. concentration is illustrated on Figure 6(b). It is clear that the peak current is a linear function of concentration. Thus, in a concentration range 10 to 100 µg/L the relationship obtained is with regression coefficient r² = 0.984, while in a concentration range 100 µg/L to 1 g/L the relationship is with regression coefficient

r² = 0.995. Electrochemical method sensitivity was evaluated by calculating the LoD and LoQ and the values obtained were respectively 3 µg/L and 10 µg/L.

3.4. Improving Sensitivity of CFME by Modification with p-NiTSPc

In order to improve the sensitivity CFME was modified with p-NiTSPc as previously described. Figure 7 shows voltammogram of modification process. It can be observed with cycle number that on the one hand, oxidation current of front solvent increases and on the other hand, from the third cycle, begins to appear of a pair of peaks at around 0.5 V, where the intensities increase according to the number of cycles. According to the work reported by Ordaz and coworkers [17] , the first stage is the oxidation of the OH⁻ anions of the solution beyond 1 V to produce OH^. radicals which lead to the functionalization of the electrode surface. This stage is followed by the formation of oxo bridges with the NiTSPc macro complex (second stage). Thus, the immobilized complex is electroactive due to the presence of cation Ni(II) and give rise to the appearance of a redox pair, visible from the third cycle of the potential sweep to around 0.5 V, when enough film is formed on the surface of the electrode (third stage).The film thus formed continues to grow by the oxidation of new OH⁻ anions of the solution, producing new layers by means of oxo bridges (fourth stage), this being demonstrated, with the general growth of the peaks observed on the voltammogram of Figure 7. To demonstrate catalytic effect of p-NiTSPc, CV was performed in 2 mM aqueous solution using CFME and CFME/p-NiTSPc and the voltammogram obtained are illustrated on Figure 8. It can be seen in this picture that the resulting signal with CFME/p-NiTSPc is more intense than that obtained with CFME.

As with the CFME, effect of pH on peak current intensity and peak potential and SWV parameters were investigated with CFME/p-NiTSPc and the results are similar to that obtained previously. Current peak is maximum at pH 7 and the optimum parameters obtained for determination of MNP on CFME/p-NiTSPc are frequency = 25 Hz, pulse amplitude = 50 mV, scan increment = 10 mV (data not showed). In such optimal conditions, SW voltammograms of MNP for different concentration using CFME/p-NiTSPc are presented in Figure 9(a). Exploitation of results (Figure 9(b)) brings up two regions were peak current increases linearly with concentration, as observed previously on CFME. Thus, in a concentration range 10 to 100 µg/L the relationship obtained is with regression coefficient r² = 0.988, while in concentration range 100 µg/L to 1 mg/L the relationship is with regression coefficient r² = 0.995. Establishing a comparison between results obtained with CFME and CFME/p-NiTSPc, it is observed that the slope of calibration curve obtained with CFME/p-NiTSPc is more pronounced than that obtained with CFME in the two concentration ranges. The LoD was calculated and value obtained is 0.75 µg/L. Thus, when comparing slope of analytical curves or LoDs, one can note clearly that sensitivity of CFME was increased by modification with p-NiTSPc.

In addition, we studied the reproducibility and stability of the sensor and the obtained results (Data not shown) shown that these sensors remained reproducible and stable. Indeed after 4 weeks of storage in laboratory temperature (25˚C), it lost only 5% of its response.

4. Conclusion

MNP determination was performed using SWV and following the oxidative peak current of phenol group at naked CFME and modified CFME with p-NiTSPc. The effects of pH and SWV parameters (frequency, scan increment and pulse amplitude) were investigated and the pKa was estimated. Peak current varied linearly with concentration in two regions for both sensors. The LoD calculated for MNP on CFME is 3 µg/L. This value is reduced to 0.75 µg/L with the CFME/p-NiTSPc. This results show that modification with p-NiTSPc has increased sensor sensitivity and can be used for determination of MNP in natural waters.

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank International Science Program (ISP) for supporting financially this work through African Network of Electroanalytical Chemists (ANEC).

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