High-selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor for butylated hydroxyanisole based on AuNPs–PVP–graphene nanocomposites

•The Au–PVP–graphene (GR) nanocomposite was synthesized via a simple approach.•The enlarged surface area and the enhanced electron rate of composite were discussed.•A sensitive electrochemical sensor of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was built.•The electrochemical reaction mechanism of BHA was proposed.•The saturating absorption capacity at Au–PVP–graphene/GCE was calculated.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and reduced graphene oxide (graphene) composites were synthesized via a simple one-pot approach in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Further, the Au–PVP–graphene nanocomposite was used as a new sensing material for the electrochemical detection of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Because of the greatly enlarged surface area, the enhanced electron transfer rate, and a stronger enrichment of BHA, the sensor based on Au–PVP–graphene modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) displayed highly sensitive electrochemical responses to BHA. Applying linear sweep voltammetry, a good linear relationship of the oxidation peak current with respect to concentrations of BHA across the range of 0.2–100.0 µM and a detection limit of 0.04 µM was achieved. The practical analytical performance of the Au–PVP–graphene/GCE was examined by evaluating detection of BHA in soybean oil and the flour samples. Satisfactory results revealed that this work offered a new way for the sensitive and simple determination of BHA in complex samples.

Graphical abstractA sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the fast determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) based on Au–PVP–graphene nanocomposite was fabricated. The sensor has superior electrocatalytic activity for the redox of BHA due to its large surface, fast electron transfer character and strong enrichment effect on BHA.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide