Development of a Molecularly Imprinted Pencil Graphite Electrode for the Voltammetric Detection of Hg2+ Ions

Authors

Mehmet Karagözlü, Dina El Miari, Mariam Moghazi, S. Aşır, Ilgım Göktürk, Fatma Yılmaz, Adil Denizli, Deniz Türkmen

Published

ACS Omega 2026

DOI

10.1021/acsomega.5c07433

Citations

1

Abstract

The ability to detect trace amounts of mercury has become critical due to its possible severe toxic effects on both humans and the environment when exposed to unsafe amounts. This study focuses on developing a novel mercury detection technique using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) with a pencil graphite electrode modified with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP-PGE). The amino acid-based N-methacryloyl-(L)-cysteine methyl ester (MAC) monomer was used for the imprinting process of Hg2+ ions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy equipped with an attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), contact angle (CA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the electrochemical sensors. The obtained results revealed that the voltammetric detection method using MIP-PGE was able to accurately detect Hg2+ in both aqueous solutions and real samples for different concentrations, with an acceptable linear relationship. This novel sensor demonstrated low detection and quantification limits of 0.188 nM and 0.570 nM, respectively. The produced sensor offers rapid, simple, and cost-effective detection of Hg2+ ions.

Related research

Biosensors

Cite this article

BibTeX

@article{mehmet2026,
  title   = {Development of a Molecularly Imprinted Pencil Graphite Electrode for the Voltammetric Detection of Hg2+ Ions},
  author  = {Mehmet Karagözlü and Dina El Miari and Mariam Moghazi and S. Aşır and Ilgım Göktürk and Fatma Yılmaz and Adil Denizli and Deniz Türkmen},
  journal = {ACS Omega},
  doi     = {10.1021/acsomega.5c07433},
  year    = {2026}
}

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