Simple and novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of tetracycline based on iron/zinc cations–exchanged montmorillonite catalyst

A simple and novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of tetracycline (TC), a kind of antibiotic that may induce residue in the food chain, was developed by the modification of iron/zinc cation–exchanged montmorillonite (Fe/Zn–MMT) catalyst on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The morphology and the structure of the Fe/Zn–MMT nanomaterial were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The results of electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the sensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation of TC in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The sensor displayed a wide linear range from 0.30 to 52.0 μM and a low detection limit of 0.10 μM by using the derivative differential pulse voltammetry. Moreover, the electrochemical sensor was applied to the detection of TC in feedstuff and meat samples.