SENSOR ELETROQUÍMICO À BASE DE NiAlPO-5 PARA DETERMINAÇÃO DE Cu2+ EM ETANOL COMBUSTÍVEL

Abstract

Zeolites are microporous inorganic materials with a variety of applications in several areas of science and engineering. Their physical and chemical properties are attributed to the large internal surface area, and the chemical and hydrothermal stability, which are induced by the existence of well defined channels and/or cavities. These structural characteristics promote the use of zeolites as catalysts, molecular sieves, ion exchangers and, more recently, as electrochemical sensors. Taking in consideration these premises, this work describes the development of an electrochemical sensor obtained from the modification of the polyurethane graphite composite electrode with NiAlPO-5, a nickel-modified AFI aluminophosphate, and its application for determination of Cu2+ in ethanol biofuel. The synthesis of the aluminophosphates were conducted by the hydrothermal method and the obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopy. After synthesis and characterization, materials were used as modifiers (10%) in GPU electrodes in order to compare the performance of the unmodified and modified electrodes by Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry. The results showed that the incorporation of Ni to the material structure promotes an improvement in the electrical properties and analytical properties of the electrode. The analytical response of the sensor in the copper ion determination showed that the NiAlPO-5 electrode is more sensitive in terms of peak current than the electrolyte based on AlPO-5 only. The best response was obtained with the Ni/Al ratio of 0.5 on the NiAlPO-5 sensor. The experimental conditions of potential and deposition time, pulse amplitude, step potential, frequency and pH were optimized in an electrochemical cell containing 2 mL of ethanol, 8 mL of HCl 0.1 mol L-1 and Cu2+ concentration of 2.5×10-7 mol L-1. GPU/NiAlPO-5 modified sensor was then evaluated for electroanalytical determination of Cu2+ in ethanol biofuel samples presenting a linear response for Cu2+. Good results were obtained for the limit of detection (9.44×10-9 mol L-1), accuracy (recovery of 115%) and precision (RSD of 5.92%).