Abstract
A simple, inexpensive, rapid, and label-free detection of phenylarsine oxide (PAO) in the field is a significant and unmet need because of its fatally acute and chronic effects on human health. A simple, fast, sensitive, and relatively low-cost arsenic detection system with an eco-friendly sensor could fill this gap. To monitor arsenic in situ, a reliable, portable impedimetric electrochemical sensor is the most suitable platform, which is real-time, fast, low-cost, and easy to design and use and has high sensitivity at low detection limits in the nanogram per mL range. The detection system in this study has a patent-applied green sensor with minimum harm to nature and the potential to dissolve in nature. The electrode containing 15 mL of distilled water (DIW) + 2 g gelatin + 1.75 g glycerol was determined to be the most suitable for determining the amount of inorganic arsenic in the range of 1-100 ng/mL using a gelatin-based solid electrochemical sensor enriched with 2-mercaptoethanol. Impedance measurements were performed to analyze the stability of the sensor in both deionized water and drinking water, as well as for arsenic detection. Among the procedures examined, the procedure prepared with 15 mL DIW + 2 g glycerol + 1.75 g gelatin resulted in the best stability in aqueous medium and in sensitivity with resistance changes (-ΔR ct (%)) of 12% (±0.62%), 26% (±2.3%), and 40% (±3.8%) for the concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL PAO in drinking water, respectively. With this detection methodology, there is the potential to detect not only arsenic but also other heavy metals in waters and different biomarkers in human fluids.