Enterprise AI Analysis
Recent Advances and Emerging Strategies of Electrochemical Sensors for Pesticides and Toxic Metals Detection
By Isabela Jasper, Rebeca da Rocha Rodrigues, Joice Cardoso Florencio, Hannah Sauer, Bruna M. Hryniewicz, Marcio Vidotti
Published: December 1, 2025
One of the biggest environmental challenges of contemporary times is the increasing pollution of air, soil, and water by pesticides and hazardous metals. These contaminants persist in nature, accumulating through food chains, and endangering both ecosystems and human health. Large-scale environmental monitoring is restricted by the high cost, complex operation, and lack of portability of traditional analytical techniques, which are still the gold standard for accurate detection. In recent years, electrochemical sensors have emerged as a viable and powerful alternative. They combine sensitivity, selectivity and affordability with quick and on-site measurements. This review explores the main advances in electrochemical strategies for detecting pesticides and toxic metals, along with potentiometric, amperometric, voltammetric, and impedimetric approaches, as well as new hybrid systems that integrate optical and electrochemical detection. The impact of new materials, such as nanocarbons, metal and metal-oxide nanostructures, conducting polymers, and biofunctional interfaces are specifically highlighted. Combined, these innovations have enabled the creation of devices with ultra-low detection limits, high reproducibility, and the potential for real-time environmental monitoring. The review concludes by emphasizing how these technologies are advancing from laboratory research toward real-world applications, enabling faster, easier, and more sustainable pollutant detection for environmental preservation.
Transforming Environmental Monitoring with Advanced Sensors
The rapid expansion of industrial and agricultural activities has led to widespread environmental contamination by pesticides and toxic metals. Traditional analytical methods are costly and impractical for large-scale, real-time monitoring. Our analysis highlights how advanced electrochemical sensors, leveraging nanotechnology and biofunctional interfaces, are poised to revolutionize pollutant detection by offering portable, affordable, and highly sensitive solutions, crucial for environmental preservation and public health.
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Faster On-Site Analysis
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Lower Detection Limits
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
This section delves into the advancements and strategies for detecting pesticides. It covers the limitations of conventional methods like chromatography, the emergence of electrochemical sensors (potentiometric, amperometric/voltammetric, impedimetric, and opto-electrochemical), and the crucial role of nanomaterials (nanocarbons, metal/metal oxides, conducting polymers) and biofunctional interfaces in enhancing sensor performance, selectivity, and stability for real-world applications.
This section examines the progress in detecting toxic metals, addressing the challenges posed by their persistence and bioaccumulation. It explores how electrochemical sensors, particularly those employing stripping voltammetry and impedimetric techniques, combined with innovative materials such as MXenes, metal/metal oxides, and conducting polymers, are achieving ultra-low detection limits and improved selectivity for real-time, on-site environmental monitoring, offering a viable alternative to traditional laboratory methods.
Picogram/L
Achieved Detection Limits
Electrochemical sensors are demonstrating unparalleled sensitivity, capable of detecting pesticide and toxic metal residues in the picogram per liter range. This pushes the boundaries of environmental monitoring, allowing for early and precise identification of contaminants even at minute concentrations. This significant leap in sensitivity is critical for managing pollutants that pose serious threats at trace levels due to their persistence and bioaccumulative nature.
Electrochemical Sensing Process
Sample Preparation
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Analyte Interaction with Electrode
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Electrical Signal Generation
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Signal Processing & Analysis
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Data Interpretation
The core of electrochemical sensing involves a series of steps from sample interaction to signal interpretation. This streamlined process allows for rapid and accurate detection of target pollutants, moving from complex laboratory procedures to simplified on-site analysis. The integration of advanced materials significantly enhances each stage, from improved adsorption to efficient electron transfer, culminating in a robust and reproducible electrical signal directly correlated to contaminant concentration.
| Feature | Conventional Methods | Electrochemical Sensors |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | High (instrumentation, reagents, staff) | Low (disposable devices, simpler setup) |
| Portability | Limited (Lab-based infrastructure) | High (Handheld, field-deployable) |
| Sample Prep | Time-consuming, complex (derivatization, extraction) | Minimal, rapid (simple filtration/dilution) |
| Detection Speed | Slow (multi-hour runs) | Fast (real-time, minutes) |
| Multi-Analyte Detection | Yes, but complex setup & data analysis |
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| Selectivity | High (chromatographic separation, specific reagents) |
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| Stability & Lifetime | High (established laboratory protocols) | Needs optimization for long-term field use; material degradation is a challenge |
Electrochemical sensors offer distinct advantages over conventional analytical methods, particularly in terms of cost, portability, and detection speed. While traditional techniques excel in ultimate accuracy and multi-analyte resolution in laboratory settings, electrochemical sensors are designed for rapid, on-site screening with minimal sample preparation. The ongoing advancements aim to bridge the performance gap, making them increasingly reliable for regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring in diverse real-world matrices.
On-Site Glyphosate Detection
A portable electrochemical sensor for glyphosate in water, offering rapid detection and high stability using a urease-functionalized ammonium ion-selective electrode.
Challenge: Traditional methods for glyphosate detection are expensive and time-consuming, hindering on-site and real-time monitoring. Specifically, the need for stable, selective, and portable detection in complex environmental samples remained a significant challenge.
Solution: Researchers developed an ammonium ion-selective electrode combined with a urease-functionalized membrane. To enhance stability and conductivity, urease was conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and immobilized in a biocomposite matrix of agarose and guar gum, leveraging their non-toxic and biocompatible properties.
Results: The biosensor successfully demonstrated a linear working range of 0.5 ppm to 50 ppm and a detection limit (LOD) of 0.5 ppm. It exhibited high selectivity, even in the presence of other pesticides like hexaconazole and paraquat, and showed excellent stability for up to 180 days. This indicates its strong potential for future low-cost and portable field-deployable devices.
This case study exemplifies the practical application of electrochemical sensing, moving from laboratory concept to a field-ready prototype. By addressing critical limitations of traditional methods, this innovative biosensor offers a sustainable and efficient solution for monitoring a widespread agricultural pollutant, contributing significantly to food and environmental safety initiatives.
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