Electropolymerized poly(methylene blue)-modified graphite electrode for phosphate detection

Original scientific paper

Authors

  • Ana Lucia Ferreira de Barros Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Physics (LaFEA), Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET/RJ), Av. Maracanã, 229, 20270-110, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7023-8282
  • Leandro Marques Samyn Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Physics (LaFEA), Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET/RJ), Av. Maracanã, 229, 20270-110, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0733-4172
  • Vernan Lima Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Physics (LaFEA), Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET/RJ), Av. Maracanã, 229, 20270-110, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0557-499X
  • Rajendran Suresh Babu Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Physics (LaFEA), Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET/RJ), Av. Maracanã, 229, 20270-110, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7747-4138

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3226

Keywords:

Electroanalysis, indirect sensing, electrochemical sensor, redox-active polymer, environmental monitoring

Abstract

A graphite electrode modified with an electropolymerized poly(methylene blue) (PMB) film was prepared and evaluated as an electroanalytical platform for phosphate detection in aqu­eous media. The PMB layer was deposited on graphite by potentiodynamic electro-poly­me­rization via cyclic voltammetry and characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electro­che­mical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infra­red spec­tro­scopy. Compared to the bare graphite electrode, the modified surface exhibited impro­ved interfacial electrochemical properties and an increased electroactive surface area. The elec­troanalytical response toward phosphate was investigated using differ­en­tial pulse voltam­metry (DPV), chronoamperometry and CV, revealing a linear response in the concen­tra­tion range from 50 to 475 mM, as determined from DPV and chronoampero­metric measu­re­ments. The modified electrode showed good reproducibility, low interference from common inor­ga­nic ions, and satisfactory performance in real water samples, with recovery values close to 100 %. These results demonstrate that the PMB-modified graphite electrode constitutes a sim­ple and reliable electroanalytical approach for phosphate determination in environmental samples.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] S. B. Adeloju, Progress and recent advances in phosphate sensors: A review, Talanta 114 (2013) 191-203. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2013.03.031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2013.03.031

[2] J. Heisler, P. M. Glibert, J. M. Burkholder, D. M. Anderson, W. Cochlan, W. C. Dennison, Q. Dortch, C. J. Gobler, C. A. Heil, E. Humphries, A. Lewitus, R. Magnien, H. G. Marshall, K. Sellner, D. A. Stockwell, D. K. Stoecker, M. Suddleson, Eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: A scientific consensus, Harmful Algae 8 (2008) 3-13. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2008.08.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2008.08.006

[3] O. Kanoun, T. Lazarević-Pašti, I. Pašti, S. Nasraoui, M. Talbi, A. Brahem, A. Adirayu, E. Sheremet, R. D. Rodriguez, M. B. Ali, A. Al-Hamry, A review of nanocomposite-modified electrochemical sensors for water quality monitoring, Sensors 21(12) (2021) 4131. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21124131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s21124131

[4] L. S. Clesceri, A. E. Greenberg, A. D. Eaton, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, USA, 1998. ISBN 0-87553-207-1

[5] A. M. Nightingale, A. D. Beaton, M. C. Mowle, Trends in microfluidic systems for in situ chemical analysis of natural waters, Sensors and Actuators Bl 221 (2015) 1398-1405. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2015.07.091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2015.07.091

[6] C. Slater, J. Cleary, K. T. Lau, D. Snakenborg, B. Corcoran, J. P. Kutter, D. Diamond, Validation of a fully autonomous phosphate analyser based on a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip, Water Science and Technology 61 (2010) 1811-1818. https,//dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.069

[7] S. C. Mukhopadhyay, A. Mason, Eds., Smart Sensors for Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring, Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, 2013, pp. 25-44. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37006-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37006-9

[8] M. Bowden, D. Diamond, Determination of phosphorus in a microfluidic manifold demonstrating long-term reagent lifetime and chemical stability using a colorimetric method, Sensors and Actuators B 90 (2003) 170-174. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4005(03)00024-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4005(03)00024-8

[9] D. Thouron, R. Vuillemin, X. Philippon, A. Lourenço, C. Provost, A. Cruzado, V. Garçon, An autonomous nutrient analyzer for oceanic long-term in situ biogeochemical monitoring, Analytical Chemistry 75 (2003) 2601-2609. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac020696+ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ac020696+

[10] A. H. Barnard, B. Rhoades, C. Wetzel, A. Derr, J. Zaneveld, C. Moore, C. Koch, I. Walsh, Real-time and long-term monitoring of phosphate using the in situ CYCLE sensor, OCEANS 2009 Conference Proceedings, Bremen, Germany, 2009, pp. 1-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.23919/OCEANS.2009.5422184 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23919/OCEANS.2009.5422184

[11] S. Berchmans, T. B. Issa, P. Singh, Determination of inorganic phosphate by electroanalytical methods: A review, Analytica Chimica Acta 729 (2012) 7-20. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2012.03.060 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2012.03.060

[12] W. L. Cheng, J. W. Sue, W. C. Chen, J. L. Chang, J. M. Zen, Activated nickel platform for electrochemical sensing of phosphate, Analytical Chemistry 82 (2010) 1157-1161. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac9025253 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ac9025253

[13] A. T. Lawal, S. B. Adeloju, Polypyrrole based amperometric and potentiometric phosphate biosensors: A comparative study B, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 40 (2013) 377-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2012.08.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2012.08.012

[14] R. C. H. Kwan, H. F. Leung, P. Y. T. Hon, J. P. Barford, R. Renneberg, A screen-printed biosensor using pyruvate oxidase for rapid determination of phosphate in synthetic wastewater, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 66 (2005) 377-383. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-004-1701-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-004-1701-8

[15] L. Torrezani, A. A. Saczk, M. F. de Oliveira, N. R. Stradiotto, L. L. Okumura, Voltammetric determination of phosphate in Brazilian biodiesel using two different electrodes, Electroanalysis 23 (2011) 2456-2461. https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201100333 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201100333

[16] X. Lin, X. Wu, Z. Xie, K. Y. Wong, PVC matrix membrane sensor for fluorescent determination of phosphate, Talanta 70 (2006) 32-36. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.01.026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.01.026

[17] G. Zhang, B. Lu, Y. Wen, L. Lu, J. Xu, Facile fabrication of a cost-effective, water-soluble, electrosynthesized poly(9-aminofluorene) fluorescent sensor for selective detection of Fe(III) and inorganic phosphates, Sensors and Actuators B 171-172 (2012) 786-794. https://dx.doi.org/10.1B. 016/j.snb.2012.05.072 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.05.072

[18] S. Cinti, D. Talarico, G. Palleschi, D. Moscone, F. Arduini, Novel reagentless paper-based screen-printed electrochemical sensor to detect phosphate, Analytica Chimica Acta 919 (2016) 78-84. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2016.03.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2016.03.011

[19] J. G. Manjunatha, Highly sensitive polymer based sensor for determination of the drug mitoxantrone, Journal of Surface Science and Technology 34(1-2) (2018) 74-80. https://doi.org/10.18311/jsst/2018/15838 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/jsst/2018/15838

[20] K. Bhimaraya, J. G. Manjunatha, K. P. Moulya, A. M. Tighezza, M. D. Albaqami, M. Sillanpää, Detection of levofloxacin using a simple and green electrochemically polymerized glycine layered carbon paste electrode, Chemosensors 11(3) (2023) 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11030191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11030191

[21] N. S. Prinith, J. G. Manjunatha, N. Hareesha, Electrochemical validation of L-tyrosine with dopamine using composite surfactant modified carbon nanotube electrode, Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society 18 (2021) 3493-3503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-021-02283-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-021-02283-z

[22] J. G. Manjunatha, Fabrication of efficient and selective modified graphene paste sensor for the determination of catechol and hydroquinone, Surfaces 3(3) (2020) 473-483. https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces3030034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces3030034

[23] P. A. Pushpanjali, J. G. Manjunatha, N. Hareesha, An overview of recent developments of carbon-based sensors for the analysis of drug molecules, Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering 11 (2021) 161-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.5599/jese.999 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.999

[24] M. P. Amaral, R. S. Babu, L. M. Samyn, A. L. F. de Barros, Electrosynthesis of polyfilm-modified graphite electrode and its application towards determination of thymine, Materials Research 28 (2025) e20250163. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-MR-2025-0163 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2025-0163

[25] M. P. do Amaral, R. S. Babu, L. M. Samyn, A. L. F. de Barros, Simultaneous and selective electrochemical determination of adenine and guanine using a poly(brilliant cresyl blue)-modified electrode, Materials Letters 405 (2026) 139731. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139731 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139731

[26] H. B. F. M. Nelissen, D. K. Smith, Synthetically accessible, high-affinity phosphate anion receptors, Chemical Communications 44 (2007) 3039-3041. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/b706227c DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b706227c

Published

23-02-2026

Issue

Section

Electroanalytical chemistry

How to Cite

Electropolymerized poly(methylene blue)-modified graphite electrode for phosphate detection: Original scientific paper. (2026). Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, 16, Article 3226. https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3226

Funding data