Electrochemical Detection of Fenthion Insecticide in Olive Oils by a Sensitive Non-Enzymatic Biomimetic Sensor Enhanced with Metal Nanoparticles

Abstract

Fenthion, an organophosphate insecticide, is a cholinesterase inhibitor and is highly toxic. An electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer is developed here for its detection. For this purpose, 2-aminothiophenol mixed with gold nanoparticles was immobilized on screen-printed gold electrodes. The FEN pattern was then fixed before being covered with 2-aminothiophenol. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods were used for the electrochemical characterization. The low detection limit was 0.05 mg/Kg over a range of 0.01–17.3 µg/mL. The sensor was successfully applied for the determination of FEN in olive oil samples with high recovery values.