Electrocatalytic and Sensors Properties of Natural Smectite Type Clay towards the Detection of Paraquat Using a Film-Modified Electrode

Abstract

In this study, a low-cost and sensitive voltammetric method was developed for the determination of paraquat (PQ2+). This was achieved by coating a glassy carbon electrode with a purified fraction of a smectite-type clay, which was then used to accumulate paraquat by an ion exchange process. The electronanalytical procedure involves two steps: the chemical preconcentration of paraquat under open-circuit conditions in an aqueous medium, followed by the voltammetric detection of the preconcentrated pollutant in a medium containing permanganate ions which significantly improved through its catalytic action the electrode response. A systematic study of the experimental conditions (pH of the accumulation and detection media, permanganate concentration in the detection medium, clay content of the coating, potential and duration of the electrolysis step) on the stripping response were examined in detail. After optimization, a linear calibration curve for paraquat was obtained in the concentration range from 1.6 to 2.8 μM, leading to a detection limit of 3.8 × 10–9 mol·L–1 (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of paraquat in spring water.