Assessing the Electrochemical Performance of a Novel Low-Cost Screen-Printed Electrode Based on Apis mellifera Beeswax Modified with Vulcan@Chitosan Used for Acetominophen Detection

Abstract

The present work reports the development of a highly sensitive electrochemical platform, constructed using screen printed electrode based on Apis mellifera beeswax (SPWE) – employed as substrate, and its application for acetaminophen (AC) detection. The sensor was produced using graphite ink and varnish glass solubilized in acetone. The SPWE was modified with a dispersion of chitosan (0.5% m/v) − functionalized Vulcan XC72R carbon black (Vulcan@Chitosan). Electrochemical characterization was performed using cyclic voltammetry (−0.7 to +0.8 V vs. pseudo-graphite) and chronoamperometry in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ KCl in the presence of 1.0 mmol L⁻¹ [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻/[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻. Through the application of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using 0.1 mol L⁻¹ PBS at pH 6.5, the proposed SPWE/Vulcan@Chitosan sensor was found to exhibit significant improvements in current response relative to the AC electrochemical detection. The sensor exhibited linear dynamic range of 0.05 to 4.0 μmol L⁻¹ (n= 3), with R²= 0.992 and theorical LOD of 0.013 μmol L⁻¹ (RSD= 3.80%). The AC detection was conducted in real matrices of river water, synthetic urine and synthetic saliva using the DPV technique yielded a mean recovery rate of 103% (RSD= 3.52%), exhibiting a high degree of accuracy. The SPWE/Vulcan@Chitosan electrochemical platform demonstrated high stability, good reproducibility and satisfactory repeatability; the current responses were not affected by the reutilization of the beeswax substrate for the production of new electrode. The findings of this study show that the proposed modified electrode is a simple, low-cost sensing device which has proven to be highly efficient when applied for the AC detection in different matrices.