Abstract:
Important resource for supporting life in all ecosystems, water is daily
affected by the anthropogenic pressures which will impose serious repercussions
over its quality. For this reason, at global level several regulations were adopted in
order to reduce the pollution, but also to improve the quality of water.
With all this, in the last years, the occurrence in water of a new class of
emerging pollutants - pharmaceuticals was revealed by several studies. Their
detection mainly through chromatographic methods is quite laborious and timeconsuming.
In this context, an alternative to classical methods is developed by
employing the applications of electroanalysis.
The aim of this study consisted of the development of fast and low-cost
individual/simultaneous procedure for pharmaceuticals detection in aqueous
solutions using electrochemical techniques and carbon-based electrode materials.
In addition, similar procedures for the detection of specific anions in water by using
the same carbon-based electrode materials were developed.
Several types of composite electrodes based on carbon nanofiber and
carbon nanotube were prepared. The morphostructural, electrical and
electrochemical characterization of these electrodes showed a great potential for
electroanalytical applications. The electrochemical behaviour of each target analyte
on the composite electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry in the presence of
various concentration ranges. Based on the best sensitivity and lowest potential
detection value, it was selected the electrode materials for
voltammetric/amperometric detection schemes. The individual/simultaneous
detection protocols for target pharmaceutical compounds, i.e., fluoxetine,
naproxen, tetracycline, and for sulfide and nitrite anions were developed in relation
with the electrode material and the electrochemical technique. The obtained
results are very promising and constitute the first step for developing in-situ or infield
detection applications.
