Rapid Electrochemical Screening of Chloramphenicol in Milk Using a Carbon Black Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Abstract Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that poses a significant risk to public health and the environment. Exposure to this compound has been associated with serious adverse effects, including aplastic anemia and genotoxic/carcinogenic concerns. Therefore, the development of a reliable method to detect chloramphenicol in food samples is essential. However, its determination in complex food matrices remains challenging because of possible matrix effects, low analyte concentration, and the need for sensitive and selective methods. To this end, we developed a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor to detect chloramphenicol in milk samples. The sensor was based on the modification of a glassy carbon electrode surface with carbon black. Electroanalytical analyses were performed using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, and the results revealed that the sensor has high sensitivity for chloramphenicol determination. Under optimal conditions, the sensor showed a linear response over the range of 0.05 to 87.0 μmol L⁻ 1 , with a detection limit of 0.0012 μmol L⁻ 1 and a sensitivity of 0.07 μA L μmol⁻ 1 for chloramphenicol detection in Britton–Robinson buffer (0.04 mol L⁻ 1 , pH 7.00). The recovery rates in milk samples ranged from 91.7% to 106.7%. The sensor demonstrated excellent stability and reliability in real sample analyses, highlighting its practicality for chloramphenicol detection in milk samples and supporting further studies aimed at expanding its application to other food matrices.