Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor Based on rGO/Fe3O4 Composite as Electrocatalyst for Clenbuterol Detection in Doping Analysis

Clenbuterol has anabolic effects as a doping agent and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for use by athletes. If an athlete consumes pork with clenbuterol residues, it may cause a positive urine test result, which will seriously affect the athletic career. In this work, an electrochemical sensor for the detection of clenbuterol was proposed. Two reduced graphene oxide/Fe3O4 (rGO/Fe3O4) nanocomposites were prepared by solvent thermal and hydrothermal methods. Different rGO/Fe3O4 were characterized and compared with FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and Zeta potential meters. The results show that the rGO/Fe3O4 prepared by different methods vary in surface functional groups, Fe3O4 crystal structures and particle sizes, surface morphology and surface charge. The electrode was modified with rGO/Fe3O4 and the detection performance of the sensor for clenbuterol was investigated. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical sensor could linearly detect clenbuterol from 1 mu M - 128 mu M with a detection limit of 120 nM. In addition, this electrochemical sensor has been successfully used for the detection of clenbuterol in swine urine.