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Additive-manufactured sensors for biofuel analysis: copper determination in bioethanol using a 3D-printed carbon black/polylactic electrode

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Abstract

We show that fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D-printed electrodes can be used for quality control of fuel bioethanol. 3D-printing using carbon black/polylactic acid (CB-PLA) filaments resulted in conductive and biodegradable electrodes for biofuel analysis. As a proof-of-concept, copper determination in fuel bioethanol was performed, as such ions catalyse oxidation processes during storage and transport. Square-wave anodic-stripping voltammetry (SWASV) of copper was achieved after sample dilution in 0.1 mol L−1 HCl as supporting electrolyte (resulting in 30:70% v/v ethanol:water). The linear responses were in the range between 10 and 300 μg L−1 (R = 0.999), inter-day precision was lower than 8% (n = 10, for 20 μg L−1) and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) using 180 s as deposition time were 0.097 μg L−1 and 0.323 μg L−1, respectively. Recovery values between 95 and 103% for the analysis of bioethanol spiked with known amounts of copper were obtained. These results show great promise of the application of 3D-printed sensors for the quality control of biofuels.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by CNPq/TWAS (137634/2017-0), CNPq (427731/2018-6, 307172-2017-0 and 465389/2014-7 - INCTBio), FAPEMIG (PPM-00640-16) and CAPES (001 and 23038.007073/2014-12 Pró-Forense 25/2014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38408-100, Brazil

    Afonso F. João, André L. Squissato, Eduardo M. Richter & Rodrigo A. A. Muñoz

  2. Department of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Púnguè, PO BOX 323, Chimoio, Mozambique

    Afonso F. João

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  1. Afonso F. João
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  2. André L. Squissato
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Correspondence to Rodrigo A. A. Muñoz.

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João, A.F., Squissato, A.L., Richter, E.M. et al. Additive-manufactured sensors for biofuel analysis: copper determination in bioethanol using a 3D-printed carbon black/polylactic electrode. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 2755–2762 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02513-y

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