Direct electrochemical detection of pirimicarb using graphene oxide and ionic liquid composite modified by gold nanoparticles

Carbamate pesticide residue assessments are important for water and environmental quality. An eco-friendly electrochemical sensor for direct determination of pirimicarb (PMC) based on graphene oxide (GO) and Ionic liquid (IL) composites decorated with gold nanoparticles has been developed. The resulting AuNPs@GO/IL@SPCE sensor was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The electrode's electrochemical characteristics were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The impact of different modifier materials on the sensor performance and its stability was investigated systematically using a combination of experimental and theoretical studies. Under optimal conditions, the AuNPs@GO/IL@SPCE is used for sensitive detection of PMC in a concentration range from 50–1500 µM with a detection limit of 4.49 µM. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits excellent selectivity towards tested interfering species, reproducibility, and stability. Finally, the PMC detection in groundwater and surface water was achieved using the developed sensor with a 97.38 − 103.36 % recovery. © 2024 The Authors