A novel high selective and sensitive para-nitrophenol voltammetric sensor, based on a molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon paste electrode

By using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a recognition element, the design and construction of a high selective voltammetric sensor for para-nitrophenol was formed. Para-nitrophenol selective MIP and a non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were synthesized, and then used for carbon paste (CP) electrode preparation. The MIP-CP electrode showed greater recognition ability in comparison to the NIP-CP It was shown that electrode washing after para-nitrophenol extraction led to enhanced selectivity, without noticeably decreasing the sensitivity. Some parameters affecting sensor response were optimized and a calibration curve was plotted. A dynamic linear range of 8 x 10(-9) to 5 x 10(-6) mol L-1 was obtained. The detection limit of the sensor was calculated as 3 x 10(-9) mol L-1. Thus, this sensor was used successfully for the para-nitrophenol determination in different water samples. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.