Bisphenol S (BPS) is one of the most commercially widespread representatives of persistent and mobile chemicals (PMCs) of general concern due to a wide range of negative health and environmental impacts. The research trend in the field of PMC in recent years is not directed towards classic chromatographic methods for the determination of bisphenols, but towards faster, simpler, and portable methods of determination, such as electrochemical sensors. In this master's thesis, the electrochemical detection of BPS was performed on commercial screen-printed electrodes of two types - carbon-based (SPE-C) and single-walled carbon nanotube-based (SPE-SWCNT). The electrodes were used without further modifications.
In the first part, the electrodes were used for cyclic voltammetry measurements. They were suitable for the determination of BPS in a wide concentration range (1–400 μM) with a low detection limit (0.73 μM for SPE-C and 0.87 μM for SPE-SWCNT) and a reproducible response to BPS over the course of 16 measurements on one electrode. Using cyclic voltammetry combined with high-resolution liquid chromatography, the mechanism of BPS oxidation on both types of electrodes was investigated.
In the second part, the electrodes were used for the simultaneous detection of bisphenol S and bisphenol A (BPA) using differential pulse voltammetry. With both sensors it was possible to distinguish between BPS and BPA. Using SPE-C improved the sensitivity and detection limit of BPS (0.37 μM), while the detection limit on SPE-SWCNT (1.57 μM) was higher than with cyclic voltammetry detection.
In the third part, cyclic voltammetry on SPE-C was used to analyse 11 real thermal paper samples. The correctness of the obtained results was verified by high-resolution liquid chromatography. The results of electrochemical detection were in good agreement with the results of liquid chromatography, which confirms that the investigated electrodes are suitable for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of bisphenol S in thermal paper.
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