Sensitive electrochemical detection of bisphenol A in aqueous samples using CuWO4/f-MWCNT nanocomposites

• A novel electrochemical sensor, CWO-f-MWCNT/GCE was fabricated for BPA detection. • Synergism of CWO and f-MWCNT enhanced electrochemical performance of the sensor. • The sensor exhibited a limit of detection of 40 nM. • Good recovery results manifested the practical feasibility of the sensor. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one among the most ubiquitous Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) used in the production of food packaging cans, bottles, plastic containers, and toys. It is also an endocrine disruptor released extensively into the environment due to its indiscriminate use. BPA is associated with reproductive disorders and cardiovascular issues. Thus, a sensitive, quantitative and qualitative method for estimation of BPA is necessary for ensuring food and water safety. To tackle the issue, an innovative CuWO 4 /f-MWCNT nanocomposite was introduced to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for application in real world samples. The nanocomposite was synthesized by a simple ultrasonication method and characterized by SEM, FE-TEM, XRD, FT-IR, EDX, and XPS techniques. The composite CuWO 4 /f-MWCNT/GCE exhibits superior sensitivity for the BPA sensing due to the synergistic effect between CuWO 4 and f-MWCNT. By harnessing the unhindered electron flow, superior stability and excellent selectivity offered by the strong interaction between CWO and f-MWCNT, the sensor exhibits a limit of detection (LOD) of 40 nM and a wide linear dynamic range of 0.05 µM to 160 µM. The sensor reported exceptional stability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations of 2.5 % and 1.9 % respectively. In addition, the electrochemical sensor was highly selective for detecting BPA even in presence of 100 folds concentration of other interfering species. The excellent precision of CuWO 4 /f-MWCNT/GCE in the evaluation of BPA in mineral water, pond water and carbonated drink samples reveals its feasibility in sensing BPA in real samples for food and water safety in the future.