Advancements in Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Environmental Pollutants: A Review

Electrochemical methods provide a sustainable, effective, and adaptable solution for detecting pollutants in various ecological and industrial environments. This review examines the principles, operational mechanisms, and progress in different electrochemical sensors, such as potentiometric, conductometric, amperometric, and photoelectrochemical sensors. These sensors exhibit remarkable sensitivity and selectivity, allowing for the identification of pharmaceutical contaminants, agricultural pesticides, industrial emissions, and biological pollutants at minimal concentrations. Significant developments comprise molecularly imprinted sensors for drugs like losartan and remdesivir, inkjet-printed nitrate sensors for soil analysis, and carbon-nanostructured potentiometric sensors for heavy metals, including mercury and cadmium. Moreover, advancements like photoelectrochemical sensors that employ materials like BiVO4 and SiO2/WO3 appear promising for identifying pesticides and food impurities through enhanced light-based techniques. Although there are obstacles such as expenses and scalability, the incorporation of renewable energy and innovative nanomaterials improves the practicality of these methods, facilitating sustainable and accurate pollutant tracking.