Total Determination of Estrogenic Phenolic Compounds in River Water Using a Sensor Based on Reduced Graphene Oxide and Molecularly Imprinted Polymer

The contamination of water and wastewater by emerging pollutants, due to the anthropogenic activities, are an environmental problem that generates several negative impacts. In this range of species, steroids have gaining notoriety because their action of endocrine‐disruption. In this work, they are called estrogenic phenolic compounds (EPCs): estrone (E₁), estradiol (E₂), ethinyl estradiol (EE₂) and estriol (E₃), for determination using an electrochemical sensor based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The analytical method developed, allied with the experimental and operational optimizations, proved to be effective for the total quantification of the EPCs in river water. The method shows sensitivity of 1.12 μA/μmol L^?1, detection limit of 26.8 nmol L^?1 and linear range of 0.16–15 μmol L^?1. The similar electrochemical behavior of the four compounds studied (E₁, E₂, EE₂ and E₃) and the efficiency of the modified composite (rGO, MIP) in the fabrication of the sensor resulted in high electrical conductivity and selective adsorptivity, respectively.