An electrochemical strategy for toxic ractopamine sensing in pork samples; twofold amplified nano-based structure analytical tool

Determination of food toxic compounds is one of the significant strategies for investigating food quality. The presence research introduces an electrochemical approach for toxic ractopamine sensing using a gold electrode amplified with gold nanoparticles (Au-Nps/AuME). The oxidation signal of ractopamine was investigated at the surface of Au-Nps/AuME, and results showed a 2.36-fold amplification in current and reducing 100 mV in oxidation potential compare to the pristine gold electrode. The redox reaction of ractopamine shows a pH dependence behavior with two electrons and two protons. Furthermore, the scan rate and chronoamperometric investigation showed a diffusion coefficient of 1.0 × 10−6 cm2/s to the oxidation reaction of ractopamine at the surface of Au-Nps/AuME. Analytical investigation showed a linear dynamic range of 0.1–380 µM for sensing of ractopamine using square wave voltammetric technique. Also, Au-Nps/AuME could be used to measure ractopamine in food samples such as pork samples with a recovery range of 98.3–103.9% and a detection limit of 50 nM.