A Novel Electrochemiluminescence Sensor for Sensitive Determination of Carbaryl Based on Solid Phase Microextraction at NH2–Graphene–Nafion Modified Electrode

Abstract

Sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection and solid phase microextraction (SPME) using a NH2–graphene–Nafion modified glassy carbon electrode was developed for carbaryl. The NH2–graphene was synthesised and characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The main parameters that affect the extraction efficiencies, such as the buffer and sample pH, and extraction time were investigated and optimised. The introduction of NH2–graphene into Nafion improves the conductivity of the film because of its electrical conductivity. The electrode enables the determination of carbaryl in the range from 5 × 10–4 to 10 μg mL–1, and the limit of detection was 2 × 10–4 μg mL–1 at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The ECL intensity retained 97 % of its initial response current after storage for 10 days, indicating a good storage stability of the sensor. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra-assay and inter-assay were found to be 3.5 and 5.3 %, respectively, indicating an acceptable reproducibility. Furthermore, the ECL sensor was successfully applied to the selective and sensitive quantitative determination of carbaryl in river samples, the recoveries of carbaryl ranged from 99.0 to 108.0 %, and the RSDs were less than 5.0 %, which shows good reproducibility and high precision of analysis.