Facile preparation of molecularly imprinted polypyrrole-graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite film modified electrode for rutin sensing

•A netlike graphene-MWCNTs composite was prepared by in situ hydrothermal process.•A MIP was supported on the composite for RT detection.•The obtained modified electrode had high sensitivity and selectivity to RT.•The RT in buckwheat tea and orange juice was determined.

In this paper, a novel molecularly imprinted composite film modified electrode was presented for rutin (RT) detection. The modified electrode was fabricated by electropolymerization of pyrrole on a graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite (G-MWCNTs) coated glassy carbon electrode in the presence of RT. The netlike G-MWCNTs composite, prepared by in situ hydrothermal process, had high conductivity and electrocatalytic activity. At the resulting MIP/G-MWCNTs/GCE electrode RT could produce a sensitive anodic peak in pH 1.87 Britton-Robinson buffer solution. The factors affecting the electrochemical behavior and response of RT on the modified electrode were carefully investigated and optimized. Under the selected conditions, the linear response range of RT was 0.01–1.0 μmol L−1 and the detection limit (S/N=3) was 5.0 nmol L−1. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of RT in buckwheat tea and orange juice samples, and the recoveries for standards added were 93.4–105%.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideThe novel rutin imprinted polypyrrole-graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite film coated glassy carbon electrode shows high sensitivity and selectivity to rutin.