Development of electrochemical sensor for quantification of organophosphates in soil samples

This study presents the development of nanohybrid-based working electrodes. Developed electrodes were utilized for the electrochemical detection of organophosphates extracted from soil samples of selected vegetable crops. Synthesized hexagonal boron nitride-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanohybrids, with polyvinyl butyral binder in N-methylpyrrolidone, were used to modify the surface of a stainless-steel plate, which acted as the working electrodes in electrochemical investigations. The electrochemical behavior of organophosphates was analyzed through cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and quantified using differential pulse voltammetry at optimal pH in 0.1 M KCl. The LOD and LOQ values for profenofos were estimated to be as 2.28 ng/dm3 and 6.91 ng/dm3, respectively, while chlorpyrifos exhibited improved LOD and LOQ values as 2.08 ng/dm3 and 6.31 ng/dm3, respectively. This work successfully develops promising electrode materials for electrochemical sensing, offering highly sensitive, selective, and reproducible detection of organophosphates in vegetable crop soil samples with nanomolar-level precision.