ELECTROCHEMICAL QUANTIFICATION OF AGROCHEMICALS IN VEGETABLES AND EFFLUENTS USING ENZYMATIC BIOSENSORS

• Grant number: 23/18039-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Andreia de Araújo Morandim
• Grantee: Luiza Pereira Alves da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro Universitário FEI (UNIFEI). Campus de São Bernardo do Campo. São Bernardo do Campo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the increase in population, it has become necessary to intensify agricultural production to meet the demand for food. In this context, agrochemicals have helped in the production process. However, with this increase in the application of chemical compounds, often without the necessary control, there is an increase in their accumulation of food and water from rivers and lakes. Therefore, there is a need to control this accumulation of agrochemicals quickly, efficiently, straightforwardly, and cheaply. In this context, using biosensors has proved to be a promising alternative. To contribute to the studies being carried out, this study will evaluate the efficiency of using enzymatic biosensors produced using acetylcholinesterase and laccase (both commercial). To this end, when quantifying agrochemicals (carbendazim and permethrin) using the laccase biosensor, solutions of the same will be used in different concentrations as well as the compound that will lead to the change in potential, ABTS. In the case of the biosensor produced with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, ABTS will be replaced by acetylcholine. In both cases, quantification will be possible due to the inhibition of the enzyme by the agrochemicals and, therefore, a change in the potential of the reaction being analyzed. The tests will be carried out using cyclic and square pulse voltammetry. The influence of temperature and pH on the quantification of the agrochemical will be evaluated, initially in a synthetic medium and then in an extract obtained from cabbage contaminated with the agrochemicals, separately, to validate the efficiency of the biosensors in quantifying these compounds in vegetables. Synthetic effluents will also be evaluated using the same procedures described.