Flow-through chronoamperometric sensor based on pillar[3]arene[2]quinone derivative for nitrophenol determination and its application in a model effluent

Electrochemical flow-through sensor based on pillar[3]arene[2]quinone (P[3]A[2]Q) derivative was developed. Nitrophenol determination was based on P[3]A[2]Q redox current changes. Also, the shift of cathodic potential was observed compared to nitrophenol reduction current registration directly. Using carbon black (CB) as a matrix for macrocycle implementation provided the sensor stability in the flow when it was applied with a 3D printed flow-through cell. CB and macrocycle were drop casted from the same aliquot providing one-step modifying layer production by the principle of “one-pot synthesis”. The flow-through chronoamperometric sensor designed allowed determining mononitrophenols in the concentration range of 1 nM – 0.1 mM with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nM. The linear concentration range of 10 nM – 0.1 mM with LOD of 2 nM was obtained for 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,6-dinitrophenol and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. The sensor proposed was tested with a model effluent sample, and sufficient recovery about 98±1% was obtained.