Synthesis of graphene oxide-wrapped core-shell structured carbon sphere@Al2O3 as electrode material for voltammetric determination of butylated hydroxyanisole in food products

Here, we report a graphene oxide-wrapped core-shell structured carbon sphere@Al2O3 composite (CS@Al2O3@GO) as the electrode material for sensitive determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The core-shell structured CS@Al2O3 was synthesized through a solution-based approach by using glucose and metal salts as precursors via a simple one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. Then, the CS@Al2O3 was amino-functionalized and wrapped by conductive graphene oxide (GO) sheets through the electrostatic interaction. As a result, the CS@Al2O3@GO endowed the modified electrode fast electron transfer rate and high electrocatalytic activity toward BHA oxidation. Under the optimal conditions, the oxidation current increased linearly with the concentration of BHA in the range of 0.2 similar to 200 mu M with the detection limit and quantification limit of 41 and 136.7 nM using differential pulse voltammetry. The presented method was also demonstrated for the determination of BHA in food samples with satisfactory results.