Liquid-Phase Electrochemical Determination of Methyl Ethyl Ketone Using CuO/HAp-like Modified PGE

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Abstract
Monitoring of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is essential for industrial safety and biomedical diagnostics, serving as a reliable biomarker for metabolic disorders. Conventional detection techniques require bulky, expensive instrumentation, limiting portable use. In this study, a low-cost and disposable electrochemical sensor was fabricated using a Pencil Graphite Electrode (PGE) modified with a porous Hydroxyapatite-like (HAp-like) interlayer and Copper Oxide (CuO). The HAp-like scaffold minimized the copper agglomeration and increased the electroactive surface area, with SEM and EDX confirming homogeneous CuO distribution. Toward MEK, the sensor exhibited a “signal-off” response, systematically suppressing the anodic peak current. This is consistent with a steric-hindrance mechanism where analyte adsorption blocks interfacial electron transfer. Evaluated via square-wave voltammetry (SWV) in phosphate buffer (PBS, pH 10.0), the sensor demonstrated dual linear ranges (0.1-5.0 mM and 5.0-50 mM) with a 1.04 mM limit of detection. The sensor demonstrated consistent reproducibility with an overall relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.83% (n=15) and an inter-day RSD of 1.94%, while retaining 107.2% of its initial response after a 14-day storage period. Validated in PBS pH 10.0, this CuO/HAp-like/PGE platform is presented as a proof-of-concept for liquid-phase MEK detection, establishing a foundation for future monitoring under simulated physiological conditions.

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