MWCNT–CTAB modified glassy carbon electrode as a sensor for the determination of paracetamol

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of paracetamol (PCM) was developed by constructing a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multiwalled carbon nanotube–cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (MWCNT–CTAB). Modification improves the redox kinetics of PCM with increased current intensity. A similar modification at CTAB modified GCE did not result in an impressive charge transfer. The detection limit of PCM was determined from a differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) study and found to be 4.82 × 10⁻⁹ M with a linear dynamic range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ M to 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. The interference studies showed that the modified electrode exhibits excellent selectivity in the presence of a large excess of interferents and the response is fast, stable, reliable, resistant to biofouling and can be applied for real sample analysis in medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. Kinetic parameters were determined using electrochemical approaches. The practical analytical application of this electrode was demonstrated by measurement of the PCM content in a PYREMOL 650 tablet and real sample analysis.