Molecularly imprinted polyaniline/carbon nanotube–modified pencil graphite electrode for selective detection of bisphenol A in various aquatic matrices

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been suspected of being ecotoxic for the last few years, even though it has been in use for almost 100 years. It has had time to accumulate at all ecosystem levels via numerous pathways. As BPA is an endocrine disruptor, exposure to it even at low concentrations presents significant health risks. Therefore, it is essential to promptly and accurately detect this hazardous chemical compound in various water sources. In this work, the selective detection of BPA in various aquatic matrices has been studied using the analytical method of square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV). This method involves the use of a pencil graphite electrode that was coated with molecularly imprinted electropolymerized polyaniline and was modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as a working electrode. The procedures were detailed and explained, with electrochemical indication exhibited during the imprinting and modification of the electrode. Furthermore, the electrode was characterized throughout the process. For the application of the obtained sensor, the imprinting enhanced the material’s affinity for BPA relative to other competing molecules and selectivity experiments revealed only minor interference from other molecules in the detection of BPA molecules. Under optimal conditions, the sensor could operate linearly over the concentration range from 5.0 to 438.0 µM, with a detection limit of 4.61 µM (S/N = 3.3). The prepared sensor has effectively detected traces of BPA molecules in various real aqueous matrices, demonstrating their practical use in environmental monitoring.