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Molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting tetrabromobisphenol A in indoor dust and water

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Abstract

The gradual emissions of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) from the primitive recycling of E-waste create human health threats, which urgently require to develop an efficient, rapid yet simple detection method. The present study conducts a highly sensitive molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor (MIPES) containing molecularly imprinted (MI)-TiO2, Au, and reduced graphene oxide for the trace detection of TBBPA in indoor dust and surface water from an E-waste recycling area. The photocurrent response is used to evaluate the sensing performance of the MIPES toward TBBPA detection. The working potential for amperometry is 0.48 V. The wavelength range for photoelectrochemical detection is 320–780 nm. The sensor shows a detection range of 1.68 to 100 nM with a low limit of detection of 0.51 nM (LOD = 3 sb/S) and a limit of quantification of 1.68 nM (LOQ = 3.3 LOD). In addition, the MIPES sensor exhibits rapid, excellent reproducibility, selectivity, and long-term stability toward TBBPA detection. The relative standard deviation of three measurements for real samples is less than 7.0%, and the recovery range is 90.0–115%. The surface of molecular imprinting contributes to the high charge separation and sensing photocurrent response of TBBPA, which is confirmed by single-particle photoluminescence spectroscopy. The present study provides a new facile sensor with highly sensitive yet rapid response to detect environmental pollutants in E-waste by using the MIPES.

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Funding

This work has been supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2020B1515020038) and the Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program of Guangdong Province (2019QN01L148).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Li, Jiayue Hu, Lixi Zeng & Mingshan Zhu

  2. Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, People’s Republic of China

    Zaizhu Lou

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  1. Zhi Li
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  2. Jiayue Hu
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  4. Lixi Zeng
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Correspondence to Mingshan Zhu.

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Li, Z., Hu, J., Lou, Z. et al. Molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting tetrabromobisphenol A in indoor dust and water. Microchim Acta 188, 320 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-04980-1

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