A disposable electrochemical sensor for vanillin detection

A disposable electrochemical sensor was developed for the detection of vanillin in vanilla extracts and in commercial products. An analytical procedure based on square-wave voltammetry (SWV) was optimised and a detection limit of 0.4 microM for vanillin was found. A relative standard deviation of 2% was calculated for a vanillin concentration of 100 microM. The method was applied to the determination of vanillin in natural concentrated vanilla extracts and in final products such as yoghurt and compote. The obtained results were compared with those provided by a reference method based on HPLC. The electrochemical behaviour of other compounds (vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, etc.), generally present in natural oleoresins, were also studied, to check for interferences with respect to the vanillin voltammetric signal.