3D-printed electrodes and electrochemical cell for sulfamethoxazole quantification

Pereira M.V.; Villanueva W.F.R.; Datti E.; Fernandes-Junior W.S.; Janegitz B.C.; Bonacin J.A. · Materials Science and Engineering: B (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119214

Resumen

In recent years, antibiotics and other pharmaceutical compounds have been identified as emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the detection of antibiotics in wastewater and other water bodies is crucial for monitoring the extent of contamination, assessing their potential impacts on human and environmental health, and developing effective strategies for their removal and control. In this study, we exploited additive manufacturing to design and fabricate an electroanalytical device (electrodes and electrochemical cell, using a polymeric matrix of polylactic acid and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, respectively) for detecting sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in real water samples. The 3D-printed working electrode underwent an activation process. After activation, characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) revealed that the surface underwent modification, becoming more irregular and rougher, which contributed to better electrochemical activity. The electrochemical cell was applied to the detection of SMX, in a linear range of 0.5–50 μmol L−1. A good linear correlation was observed between the peak current and SMX concentration, as evidenced by the R2 value of 0.998, which confirmed a good fit of the data obtained. Furthermore, the limits of detection and quantification were 0.16 and 0.54 μmol L−1, respectively. The electrochemical system was applied to detect SMX in real water samples using square wave voltammetry (SWV) with the addition and recovery method. The recovery values obtained were 80.0 to 106%, indicating that the developed electrochemical system presented a satisfactory application for SMX detection. Therefore, the proposed electrochemical cell is an efficient alternative for antibiotic detection.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano