A novel strategy for the detection of tert-butylhydroquinone based on graphene quantum dots and silver nanoparticle modified glass carbon electrode

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were synthesized by a facile one-step wet chemically derived from carbon fibers. A novel, sensitive, simple, and convenient method for the detection of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) was established based on GQDs and silver nanoparticle (AgNP) modified electrode. The modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance toward the electrochemical detection of TBHQ. Meanwhile, a possible reaction mechanism related to the oxidation of TBHQ was proposed. The electron transfer number and electron transfer coefficient were found to be 3.05 and 0.40. The surface concentration of TBHQ on GQD/AgNP-modified electrode was calculated as 2.62 x 10^-10 mol cm^-2. Under the optimum conditions, a good linear relationship between peak current and the concentration of TBHQ was obtained in the range of 0.15-300 μmol L^-1 with a detection limit of 0.07 μmol L^-1 (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully applied for the detection of TBHQ in edible vegetable oil. (author)