Electro-generated poly (cysteine) film as a sensor platform towards the simultaneous electroanalysis of hydrazine and hydroxylamine

Hydrazine and hydroxylamine are toxic and mutagenic molecules which are in the top list of environmental pollutants. The present study details the electro-generation of polycysteine onto the pencil graphite surface and its effective utilization towards the simultaneous electroanalysis of hydrazine and hydroxylamine. Morphological, structural and electrochemical features of the developed electrode was characterized using FE-SEM analysis, IR spectroscopic analysis and cyclic voltammetry respectively. Being electroactive both hydrazine and hydroxylamine was found to undergo an irreversible oxidation at the polymer film modified electrode at potentials +0.271 V and +0.748 V respectively in the differential pulse voltammetric profiles. The polymer film casted electrode could resolve the peaks of hydrazine and hydroxylamine and measure the analytes in phosphate buffer medium with a linearity of 0.1–55 mM and 0.05–40 mM respectively. The sensor was found to show anti-interference activity towards other possibly existing ions in the water samples. Real sample testing was carried out using lake water and tap water samples in the locality. [Display omitted] •Electro-generated environmentally benign Poly (Cysteine) film.•Simultaneous electroanalysis of hydrazine and hydroxylamine.•Wide linearity of 0.1–55 mM for hydrazine and 0.05–40 mM for hydroxylamine.•Real sample testing carried out in lake water and tap water samples.