This paper presents a low-cost disposable sensor for gallic acid (GA) detection in non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages using a screen-printed cell (SPC) whose working electrode (in graphite) is modified with electrosynthesized molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (eMIP). Our preliminary characterization of the electrochemical process shows that gallic acid (GA) undergoes irreversible oxidation at potentials of about +0.3 V. The peak potential is not affected by the presence of the eMIP film and alcohol percentages (ethanol) up to 20%. The GA determination is based on a differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis leveraging its oxidation peak. The calibration data and the figures of merit of the analytical method (LOD, LOQ, and linear range) are calculated. To validate the feasibility of the sensor's application for the dosing of GA in real matrices, some non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are analyzed. The results are then compared with those reported in the literature and with the total polyphenol content determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. In all cases, the concentrations of GA align with those previously found in the literature for the beverages examined. Notably, the values are consistently lower than the total polyphenol content, demonstrating the sensor's selectivity in discriminating the target molecule from other polyphenols present.
Keywords: differential pulse voltammetry; electroanalysis; electrosynthesized molecularly imprinted polypyrrole; gallic acid; polyphenols; screen-printed electrodes.