Application of Electrochemical Sensors in Herbicide Analysis

Herbicides play a pivotal role in modern agriculture by controlling unwanted vegetation, thereby enhancing crop yield and quality. However, the indiscriminate use and improper disposal of herbicides have led to environmental contamination and posed risks to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective methods for herbicide detection and quantification. Electrochemical sensors have emerged as powerful analytical tools for herbicide analysis due to their inherent advantages, such as high sensitivity, selectivity, rapid response, and portability. In this chapter, principles underlying electrochemical sensing techniques, including voltammetry, amperometry, and impedance spectroscopy, have been restated. Subsequently, it delves into the design and fabrication of electrochemical sensors tailored for specific herbicides, highlighting the importance of electrode materials, surface modifications, and immobilization techniques in enhancing sensor performance. The successful deployment of electrochemical sensors for the detection of herbicides such as glyphosate, atrazine, and paraquat is presented, underscoring their versatility and applicability across different herbicide classes. This chapter provides an overview of the recent advances in the application of electrochemical sensors for the detection and quantification of herbicides in various matrices, including water, soil, and food products. Moreover, challenges and future perspectives in the field of electrochemical herbicide analysis are discussed, including the need for standardization, miniaturization, and integration with emerging technologies such as microfluidics and nanomaterials.