Electrochemical Determination of Chloramphenicol in Milk and Eye-drop Using Easily Activated Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes

An analytical method that offers fast response with a cheap instrument and simple sample preparation is an ideal technique that is required in scientific analysis. Electrochemical sensing is an analytical method that suits the above criteria to determine various samples using different electrode material. Detection of chloramphenicol in agricultural products and drug samples using cheap electrode materials is highly required due to its wide application in agriculture. In this study a cost-effective activated SPCE was made electrochemically to determine chloramphenicol in eye-drop and pasteurized milk. The activation of the SPCE was straightforward and done by cycling 0.5 M KOH using LSV techniques. Surface imaging, spectroscopy, and electrochemical analyses showed that there is an effective formation of new functional groups during the activation. The activated SPCE gave a higher peak current for Chloramphenicol during the CV and SWV study using PBS pH 6.5 compared to that of the bare one. Utilizing the optimal SWV conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.05‒100 µM with quite a small detection limit of 20 nM. In addition to the high sensitivity, stability, and remarkable recovery, the excellent reproducibility makes the activated SPCE applicable in real sample analysis.