Molecularly imprinted polypyrrole-based electrochemical sensor for furaldehydes determination in Italian honey samples

The increasing need for rapid and cost-effective methods to quantify furan compounds in food has spurred the development of in-field analysis techniques. Addressing this demand, we present a novel, low-cost disposable sensor for the direct voltammetric detection of key furanic aldehydes – 2-furaldehyde (2-FAL), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF), and 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde (5-MFAL) – in Italian honey samples. Our approach utilizes a screen-printed voltammetric cell with a carbon-ink working electrode modified by an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polypyrrole film (e-MIP), with 2-FAL as the template. The electropolymerization conditions for the e-MIP film were optimized using a Face-centered Central Composite Design. The sensor’s analytical performance was evaluated using square wave voltammetry (SWV) in 2-FAL standard aqueous solutions (0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 8), and its applicability was demonstrated by quantifying furaldehydes in real honey samples via the standard additions method. Interference and recovery tests confirmed the sensor’s good performance, suggesting its potential for routine furaldehyde analysis in this food matrix.