Optimization of an Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Imidacloprid Based on β‐cyclodextrin Electropolymerization on Glassy Carbon Electrode

An electrochemical sensor based on electropolymerization of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for the determination of imidacloprid (IMP). That insecticide is the most commonly used insecticides globally and has been related to the death of bee colonies around the world are imperative. So the development of a simple, cheap and sensitive method for IMP determination is essential. This work aims the modification of a GCE by β‐CD film. The analytical response obtained with GCCE/β‐CD in the presence of the IMP showed an increase in the peak current variation of 947 % in relation to the bare GCE, indicating that the analyte was encapsulated in the β‐CD increasing the detection sensitivity. The followed experimental conditions were optimized: potential range (−1.3 to 0.9 V), presence or absence of dissolved oxygen (presence) and stirring during the electropolymerization (with agitation), number of cycles (5 scans), electrolyte pH (pH=5.0), scan rate (100 mV s⁻¹) and concentration of β‐CD (6 mol L⁻¹). The optimization promoted a peak current variation increase of 57 %, developing a more sensitivity methodology.