Selective determination of sucrose based on electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer modified multiwall carbon nanotubes/glassy carbon electrode

A novel and selective electrochemical sensor was successfully developed for the determination of sucrose by integrating electropolymerization of molecularly imprinted polymer with multiwall carbon nanotubes. The sensor was prepared by electropolymerizing of o-phenylenediamine in the presence of template, sucrose, on a multiwall carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode. The sensor preparation conditions including sucrose concentration, the number of CV cycles in the electropolymerization step, pH of incubation solution, extraction time of template from the imprinted film and the incubation time were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A mixture of acetonitrile/acetic acid was used to remove the template. Hexacyanoferrate(II) was used as a probe to characterize the sensor using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Capturing of sucrose by the modified electrode causes decreasing the response of the electrode to hexacyanoferrate(II). Calibration curve was obtained in the sucrose concentration range of 0.01–10.0 mmol L− 1 with a limit of detection 3 μmol L− 1. This sensor provides an efficient way for eliminating interferences from compounds with similar structures to sucrose. The sensor was successfully used to determine sucrose in sugar beet juices with satisfactory results.