Response surface methodology optimization for enhancing the analytical performance of a hanging mercury drop electrode for imidacloprid

• Published in: Results in Chemistry 2024-01, Vol.7, p.101480, Article 101480
• Main Authors: Betancourth, Jessica Moreno, Pfaffen, Valeria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical performance; Hanging mercury drop electrode; Imidacloprid; Response surface methodology for process optimization; Square wave voltammetry; Statistical modeling
• ISSN: 2211-7156; 2211-7156
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2024.101480

[Display omitted] We introduce an innovative approach to enhance the quantification of the pesticide imidacloprid (IMD) using square wave voltammetry (SWV) with a mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Through systematic factorial designs, we meticulously adjusted both the chemical and instrumental parameters of SWV, with a particular focus on optimizing the peak reduction current. Using response surface methodology (RSM) provided comprehensive insights into the system behavior. The optimal conditions were found at a pH of IMD solution of 7.45, Accumulation Potential (Eacc) of −0.70 V, Accumulation Time (tacc) of 46.45 s, Frequency (F) of 200 Hz, Amplitude (Esw) of 0.090 V, and Step (dE) of 0.0080 V. With these optimized parameters, we constructed a calibration curve spanning a concentration range from 0.5 to 5.0 × 10-7 mol/L. The method exhibited a remarkably low limit of detection (LOD) at 3.65 × 10-8 mol/L and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5.01 × 10-8 mol/L. Subsequently, we rigorously assessed the methodology's effectiveness by quantifying IMD in various water samples from the Córdoba area, achieving consistently near 100 % recovery values.