Population exposure to perfluorinated compounds is less well known. These products are found in a myriad of products ranging from food packaging to flame retardant foams, household cleaners and shampoos. Perfluorinated compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other fluorinated compounds constitute pollutants for our living environment. At tiny doses, they are suspected of increasing the risk of fertility disorders or even infertility, reduction in the quantity and quality of sperm, and genetic abnormalities.
The development of electrochemical sensors for the immediate detection of these compounds is therefore necessary to prevent any risk of contamination that could lead to irreparable damage.
This work involved the development of an electrochemical sensor capable of detecting perfluorooctanoic acid at low concentrations. To do this, a carbon paste electrode modified by phyllanthus amarus was developed. This was characterized by electrochemical methods in the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The electrochemical methods used are cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. Certain electrochemical parameters such as the influence of the PFOA concentration, the detection limit, the influence of pH, were studied.