High-selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor for butylated hydroxyanisole based on AuNPs–PVP–graphene nanocomposites.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and reduced graphene oxide (graphene) composites were synthesized via a simple one-pot approach in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Further, the Au–PVP–graphene nanocomposite was used as a new sensing material for the electrochemical detection of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Because of the greatly enlarged surface area, the enhanced electron transfer rate, and a stronger enrichment of BHA, the sensor based on Au–PVP–graphene modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) displayed highly sensitive electrochemical responses to BHA. Applying linear sweep voltammetry, a good linear relationship of the oxidation peak current with respect to concentrations of BHA across the range of 0.2–100.0 µM and a detection limit of 0.04 µM was achieved. The practical analytical performance of the Au–PVP–graphene/GCE was examined by evaluating detection of BHA in soybean oil and the flour samples. Satisfactory results revealed that this work offered a new way for the sensitive and simple determination of BHA in complex samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]