Electrochemical detection of aqueous nitrite based on poly(aniline-co-o-aminophenol)-modified glassy carbon electrode

Nitrite is a common contaminant in drinking water and groundwater with high environmental and health risks. Electrochemical sensing method is a selective and easy technique to detect nitrite in water. In this study, we report a research about a poly(aniline-co-o-aminophenol)-modified glassy carbon electrode (PAOA/GCE) for aqueous nitrite detection. With stable redox activity and conductivity in a wide pH range compared with polyaniline, PAOA is suitable to be used as electrode material in a neutral medium. The PAOA/GCE was prepared by cyclic voltammogram method by electrochemical copolymerization of o-aminophenol and aniline. SEM and FT-IR results proved the formation of PAOA, and the electrode exhibited higher responses toward nitrite oxidation compared with polyaniline-modified GCE and bare GCE. We also studied the impact of scan rate, pH, and temperature on nitrite detection. The PAOA/GCE could be used in a wide pH range from 2 to 8 and used to detect nitrite in the linear range from 5.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?3 M with the detection limit of 2 × 10^?6 M. Its excellent reproducibility, stability, and anti-interference ability make it a promising electrode in detecting aqueous nitrite in drinking water and groundwater.