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The negative impacts of microplastics on the environment and human health cannot be unnoticed. Several classes of emerging pollutants with endocrine-disrupting properties such as bisphenol A and its analogs, phthalates, among others, have been reported to migrate out of plastics entering the aquatic environment. Thus, this review aims to draw attention to the significant potential of the boron-doped diamond electrode to contribute to the implementation of mitigation actions for microplastic pollutants. The latest studies in the two main fields of the use of the boron-doped diamond electrode, that is, treatment of wastewater by electrochemical oxidation and a as sensor for pollutants monitoring, are herein reviewed and their main findings highlighted., T.M.B.F. Oliveira and F.W.P. Ribeiro thank FUNCAP (Proc. BP4-0172-00111.01.00/20 and BP4-0172-00150.01.00/20), CNPq (Proc. 308108/2020-5, 420261/2018-4, and 406135/2018-5), and UFCA for their financial support. S. Morais acknowledges UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 fundings and PTDC/ASP-PES/29547/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029547) funded by FEDER funds through the POCI and by National Funds through FCT. P. de Lima-Neto and A.N. Correia gratefully thank CNPq (proc. 408626/2018-6, 304152/2018-8, 305136/2018-6, and 405596/2018-9) and FCT/Funcap (proc. FCT-00141-00011.01.00/18).

A bi-enzymatic biosensor (LACC–TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE) for carbamates was prepared in a single step by electrodeposition of a hybrid film onto a graphene doped carbon paste electrode (GPE). Graphene and the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were morphologically characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler velocimetry. The electrodeposited hybrid film was composed of laccase (LACC), tyrosinase (TYR) and AuNPs entrapped in a chitosan (CS) polymeric matrix. Experimental parameters, namely graphene redox state, AuNPs:CS ratio, enzymes concentration, pH and inhibition time were evaluated. LACC–TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE exhibited an improved Michaelis–Menten kinetic constant (26.9 ± 0.5 M) when compared with LACC–AuNPs–CS/GPE (37.8 ± 0.2 M) and TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE (52.3 ± 0.4 M). Using 4-aminophenol as substrate at pH 5.5, the device presented wide linear ranges, low detection limits (1.68 × 10 − 9 ± 1.18 × 10 − 10 –2.15 × 10 − 7 ± 3.41 × 10 − 9 M), high accuracy, sensitivity (1.13 × 10 6 ± 8.11 × 10 4 –2.19 × 10 8 ± 2.51 × 10 7 %inhibition M − 1 ), repeatability (1.2–5.8% RSD), reproducibility (3.2–6.5% RSD) and stability (ca. twenty days) to determine carbaryl, formetanate hydrochloride, propoxur and ziram in citrus fruits based on their inhibitory capacity on the polyphenoloxidases activity. Recoveries at two fortified levels ranged from 93.8 ± 0.3% (lemon) to 97.8 ± 0.3% (orange). Glucose, citric acid and ascorbic acid do not interfere significantly in the electroanalysis. The proposed electroanalytical procedure can be a promising tool for food safety control.

A novel enzymatic biosensor for carbamate pesticides detection was developed through the direct immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase on graphene doped carbon paste electrode functionalized with Prussian blue films (LACC/PB/GPE). Graphene was prepared by graphite sonication-assisted exfoliation and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Prussian blue film electrodeposited onto graphene doped carbon paste electrode allowed considerable reduction of the charge transfer resistance and of the capacitance of the device. The combined effects of pH, enzyme concentration and incubation time on biosensor response were optimized using a 23 full-factorial statistical design and response surface methodology. Based on the inhibition of laccase activity and using 4-aminophenol as redox mediator at pH 5.0, LACC/PB/GPE exhibited suitable characteristics in terms of sensitivity, intra- and inter-day repeatability (1.8–3.8% RSD), reproducibility (4.1 and 6.3% RSD), selectivity (13.2% bias at the higher interference:substrate ratios tested), accuracy and stability (ca. twenty days) for quantification of five carbamates widely applied on tomato and potato crops. The attained detection limits ranged between 5.2×10−9 mol L−1 (0.002 mg kg−1 w/w for ziram) and 1.0×10−7 mol L−1 (0.022 mg kg−1 w/w for carbofuran). Recovery values for the two tested spiking levels ranged from 90.2±0.1 (carbofuran) to 101.1±0.3% (ziram) for tomato and from 91.0±0.1% (formetanate) to 100.8±0.1% (ziram) for potato samples. The proposed methodology is appropriate to enable testing pesticide levels in food samples to fit with regulations and food inspections.