ItemArticle

Electrochemical Detection of Tartrazine via MIL-100(Fe)/MWCNTs Nanocomposite: Integrated Experimental and Computational Insights

Title
Electrochemical Detection of Tartrazine via MIL-100(Fe)/MWCNTs Nanocomposite: Integrated Experimental and Computational Insights
Creator
Mthiyane, Thethiwe Promise; Uwaya, Gloria Ebube; Kanchi, Suvardhan; Bisetty, Krishna
Description
Excessive consumption of synthetic food colourants such as tartrazine (TZ) poses significant health risks, highlighting the need for sensitive detection methods for food safety applications. Here, we report a binder-free electrochemical sensor based on synergistic integration of iron-based metalorganic framework MIL-100(Fe) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The nanocomposite leverages MIL-100's high porosity and accessible Fe3? sites combined with MWCNT's superior conductivity, achieving an 11-fold enlarged electroactive surface area (0.786 cm2) and 19-fold enhanced exchange current density. Under optimized conditions using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the sensor exhibited a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.11?M, a wide linear range (0.9 to 7.5?M, R2 = 0.9891), and excellent selectivity over amaranth (AM) and common interferents. Mechanistic studies revealed adsorption-controlled, one-electron/one-proton irreversible oxidation with ultralow charge transfer resistance (0.073 k?). The sensor demonstrated robust performance with excellent repeatability (RSD = 2.11%), reproducibility (RSD = 4.11%), and stability (> 98% retention, 14days). Real-sample analysis of fruit juices and sweets yielded satisfactory recoveries (85.63118.39%, RSD < 2.17%) without pre-treatment. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations substantiated the selectivity mechanism, revealing stronger TZ adsorption sites relative to AM on the MIL-100(Fe)/MWCNTs nanocomposite. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations yielded valuable insights into the electronic properties and solvation behaviour of the isolated TZ, the MIL-100(Fe) fragment, and their composite (MIL-100(Fe)/TZ) system in aqueous environments. This integrated experimental-computational approach establishes a rational framework for developing next-generation MOF-based electrochemical sensors with predictable performance for food safety monitoring. The Author(s) 2026.
Source
Food Analytical Methods;Volume;19;Issue;7;Article No.;214;
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Springer
Subject
Amaranth; DFT/DMol3; Electrochemical sensing and MIL?100(Fe); Tartrazine
Coverage
Mthiyane T.P., Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P. O Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Uwaya G.E., Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P. O Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Kanchi S., Department of Chemistry, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, 560029, India, Centre for Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, 560 029, India; Bisetty K., Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P. O Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
Rights
All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 19369751;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Mthiyane, Thethiwe Promise; Uwaya, Gloria Ebube; Kanchi, Suvardhan; Bisetty, Krishna, “Electrochemical Detection of Tartrazine via MIL-100(Fe)/MWCNTs Nanocomposite: Integrated Experimental and Computational Insights,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22006.

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