Single-walled carbon nanotubes hybrid carbon materials sensor for simultaneous detection of chloramphenicol and furazolidone in food samples

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) sensors known for its sensitivity, fast response and ability to operate at room temperature. However, obtaining high sensitivity, reproducibility, stability, selectivity and cost effective SWCNT based sensors for detection of antibiotics in different environment remains challenging. In this work, we have fabricated a highly sensitive single-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon material paste electrode modified (nanotubes/MCPE) and used it to electrochemically detect antibiotics (CP, FZ) and potassium ferrocyanide K₄ [Fe (CN)₆]. The electrochemical sensing parameters, including variations in scan rates, sensing, and electrode surface area, were determined. The nanotubes-modified electrode exhibited better sensing properties as compared to the unmodified electrode. The modified electrode demonstrated distinct electrochemical sensing towards individual and simultaneous detection of CP and FZ. The nanotubes/MCPE shows diffusion-controlled electron transfer process with wide linear concentration range from 50 to 750 µM for CP and 50 to 400 µM for FZ, with a low limit of detection of 13.71 nM for CP and 9.51 nM for FZ, and a high sensitivity of 2.420 µA. µM^− 1.cm^− 2 for CP and 3.487µA. µM^− 1.cm^− 2 for FZ. The electron transfer properties of SWCNT, CP, and FZ are computed using density functional theory the results are in good agreement with experimental results. Additionally, the developed SWCNT-based sensor exhibits remarkable repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and satisfactory recovery results for CP and FZ detection in honey and milk samples.