Document Type
Honors Thesis
Publication Date
Fall 8-2012
Abstract
This research project was done to develop a chemical sensor for detection of a specific pesticide, a chlorinated herbicide called alachlor. Alachlor is an herbicide used to kill broadleaf weeds that grow mainly in corn, peanuts, and soybeans. The purpose of this project was to develop an environmentally friendly sensor in the form of an electrode that will be able to detect alachlor in aqueous samples. The way this was done was by using an electrochemical instrumentation technique called cyclic voltammetry. Polyaniline, a conducting polymer, was grown on a platinum substrate and the resulting electrode was cycled in various concentrations of alachlor in aqueous buffered samples at pH 4. By monitoring the current produced from the polymer on the metal substrate, a change in electrical current from interaction with the herbicide signaled its detection. Through additional instrumentation by SEM and FTIR it was suggested that a chemical reaction was responsible for the change in current produced by polyaniline.
Recommended Citation
Conner, Todd M., "Development of Pesticide Sensing Polyaniline Electrode Through Detection of Alachlor By Cyclic Voltammetry" (2012). Honors College. 242.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/242