Thin Film Electrode for Trace and Efficient Detection of Triclosan: Stability of Electrode and Real Matrix Analyses

Triclosan (TCS) is widely detected in water environments and it poses serious environmental concerns. Composite material, 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane grafted chitosan, is synthesized for the development of thin film glassy carbon electrode (TFGCE) for the efficient and stable detection of TCS in aqueous medium. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed the performance of the composite TFGCE. The TF composite material significantly enhanced the electroactive surface area of TFGCE and decreased the charge transfer resistance compared to the glassy carbon electrode. Triclosan was detected at a low level using the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry and the practical detection limit and the limit of quantification were 9.49 and 31.65 & mu;g/L, respectively. Various co-existing ions (Cl-, NO3-, Na+, Mg2+, and etc.) did not affect triclosan detection. The TFGCE showed stability in the repeated and prolonged operations by achieving very high percentage recovery. The TFGCE proved fairly good implications in the trace triclosan detection from the spiked real groundwater and river water samples.

Automated summary

Composite material was synthesized for the efficient and stable detection of triclosan in water. The performance of the composite electrode was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Triclosan could be detected at low levels with high percentage recovery in real groundwater and river water samples using the developed electrode.