Electrocatalytic oxidation of zearalenone on cobalt phthalocyanine-modified screen-printed carbon electrode

The intake of food contaminated with zearalenone may prompt fertility disorders. Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) could afford electrocatalytic efficiently toward a large number of analytes. In this regard, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were utilized to examine the anodic behavior of zearalenone on cobalt CoPC-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (CoPC-SPCE). The results demonstrated that the CoPC-SPCEs had excellent electrocatalytic activity, involving the Co2+/Co3+ redox couple, toward the electrochemical oxidation of zearalenone. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the CoPC-SPCE exhibited a well-defined anodic peak in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.4 at a potential of ~ 0.534 V versus Ag pseudo-ref. electrode for the oxidation of zearalenone. After optimization of the experimental conditions, a linear calibration curve over zearalenone concentration range 25-400 ng cm(-3) with detection limit of 0.15 ng cm(-3) was achieved. The CoPC-SPCEs accomplished excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for the voltammetric determination of zearalenone in the presence of other mycotoxins. It was satisfactorily determined in food samples. Graphic abstract