Fast simultaneous electrochemical detection of tetracycline and fluoxetine in water

The electrochemical methods-based protocol for simultaneous detection of tetracycline (TC) from antibiotics class and fluoxetine (FXT) from anti-depressive pharmaceuticals class, which belongs to emerging pollutants from water, was developed in this study using carbon nanofiber-epoxy composite electrode (CNF). The electrochemical behaviour of each pharmaceutical on CNF was considered the basis for simultaneous detection of both pharmaceuticals from water. TC electrooxidation on CNF occurred in two steps and, consequently, two detection potentials are considered. FXT electrooxidation occurred in one step that is overlaid to the first step of TC detection, this step being considered as cumulative for both pharmaceuticals. Each electrochemical method of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential-pulsed voltammetry (DPV) allowed detecting cumulative presence of TC and FXT at the detection potential ranged between 0.65 and 0.815 V vs. SCE and the selective detection of TC at the detection potential ranged between 0.956 and 1.14 V vs. SCE. The electroanalytical parameters related to the lowest limit of detection and sensitivity recommended this electrode to exhibit the potential for practical applications in the electrochemical detection of certain pharmaceuticals as emerging pollutants from water.