Green synthesis of a novel flower-like cerium vanadate microstructure for electrochemical detection of tryptophan in food and biological samples

Abstract

In this present investigation, we introduced a novel electrochemical sensor for the detection of tryptophan (TRP) based on green pompoms flower-like cerium vanadate (CeVO₄). The flower-like CeVO₄ microstructure was prepared by the simple hydrothermal treatment with the assistance of urea for the first time. The as-prepared flower-like CeVO₄ microstructure was characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy studies. The electrochemical properties are evaluated by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). As an electrochemical sensor, the green pompoms flower-like CeVO₄ modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) displayed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the detection of TRP. The obtained electrochemical results revealed that the oxidation of TRP, exhibited a lower potential and higher anodic peak current when compared to unmodified GCE. These results were suggested that the flower-like CeVO₄/GCE have a good electrocatalytic activity towards the TRP oxidation. The flower-like CeVO₄ sensor exhibited the wide linear concentration range and low detection limit of 0.1-94µM and 0.024µM respectively. Finally, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of TRP in real sample analysis such as food and biological samples with satisfied recoveries.

Keywords: Amino acid; Cerium vanadate; Food samples; Green pompoms flower-like; Tryptophan.