Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Enhanced Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive and Selective Captan Detection in Fruit Sample

In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was designed for the selective, rapid, and sensitive electrochemical detection of Captan, a pesticide. The sensor was fabricated by electropolymerizing <i>o</i>-phenylenediamine (<i>o</i>-PD) onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in the presence of Captan as the template molecule, using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to facilitate template removal and reattachment, optimize experimental conditions, and evaluate sensor performance. A ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox indicator monitored each stage of the experiment via DPV. The MIP@<i>o</i>-PD/GCE sensor demonstrated a linear response to Captan within the concentration range of 1 × 10^-14 to 9 × 10^-14 M under optimal conditions, making it suitable for quantifying Captan in apples. To verify its applicability, the sensor was successfully tested on apple samples. Additionally, potential interference was evaluated by comparing its response to KCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄, Ascorbic acid, glucose, and KNO₃. The imprinting factor was used to demonstrate the selectivity of the proposed sensors using structurally similar compounds to Captan.