Amperometric sulfite sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes/ferrocene-branched chitosan composites

A novel amperometric sensor for the determination of sulfite was fabricated based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/ferrocene-branched chitosan (CHIT-Fc) composites-covered glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was investigated in detail by cyclic voltammetry. The apparent surface electron transfer rate constant (Ks) and charge transfer coefficient (α) of the CHIT-Fc/MWCNTs/GCE were also determined by cyclic voltammetry, which were about 1.93 cm s−1 and 0.42, respectively. The sensor displayed good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of sulfite. The peak potential for the oxidation of sulfite was lowered by at least 330 mV compared with that obtained at CHIT/MWCNTs/GCE. In optimal conditions, linear range spans the concentration of sulfite from 5 μM to 1.5 mM and the detection limit was 2.8 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The proposed method was used for the determination of sulfite in boiler water. In addition, the sensor has good stability and reproducibility.