Ratiometric Electrochemical Sensor Applying SWCNHs/T-PEDOT Nanocomposites for Efficient Quantification of <i>Tert</i>-Butylhydroquinone in Foodstuffs

Abstract

Tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a phenolic substance that is commonly employed to prevent food oxidation. Excessive or improper utilization of this antioxidant can not only impact food quality but may also pose potential risks to human health. In this study, an ultrasensitive, stable, and easily operable ratiometric electrochemical sensor was successfully fabricated by combining the tubular (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (T-PEDOT) with single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) for the detection of TBHQ antioxidants in food. The SWCNHs/T-PEDOT nanocomposite fabricated through ultrasound-assisted and template approaches was employed as the modified substrate for the electrode interface. The synergistic effect of SWCNHs and T-PEDOT, which possess excellent electrical conductivity and catalytic properties, enabled the modified electrode to showcase remarkable electrocatalytic performance towards TBHQ, with the redox signal of methylene blue serving as an internal reference. Under optimized conditions, the SWCNHs/T-PEDOT-modified electrode demonstrated good linearity within the TBHQ concentration range of 0.01–200.0 μg mL−1, featuring a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.005 μg mL−1. The proposed ratiometric electrochemical sensor displayed favorable reproducibility, stability, and anti-interference capacity, thereby offering a promising strategy for monitoring the levels of TBHQ in oil-rich food products.

Keywords

• <i>Tert</i>-butylhydroquinone
• ratiometric electrochemical sensor
• SWCNHs
• T-PEDOT