Development of Bio-inspired Composite Materials for the Detection of Traces of Silver Present in Water: Use of Taguchi Methodology to Design Low-cost Carbon Paste Electrodes.

Carbon Paste Electrodes (CPE) modified with Grapefruit-Peels (GP) functionalized with Urea (GPU) and, Melamine (GPM) were designed for the detection of Ag+ in water. Taguchi L-9 methodology was used to determine the optimal graphite-Active material ratio. The best electrochemical response was for CPE-GPU with an 80 : 20 ratio. The results obtained showed a linear detection range between 0.5 to 28 mu g L-1, with a detection limit of 0.73 mu g L-1 and a limit of quantification of 1.04 mu g L-1. Attributable to CPE-GPU characteristics: electroactive surface area 0.175 cm(2), roughness factor 3.87, resistance 0.09 omega and, mostly -NH2 groups on its surface. The composite material offers a viable option to be used for the determination of silver traces in situ in industrial processes.

Automated summary

Carbon Paste Electrodes modified with Grapefruit-Peels functionalized with Urea and Melamine were designed for detecting Ag+ in water, achieving an optimal ratio of 80:20. The electrodes exhibited a linear detection range and low detection limits, making them a viable option for industrial processes.