Detection of paracetamol by a montmorillonite-modified carbon paste sensor: A study combining MC simulation, DFT computation and electrochemical investigations.

This study aims to develop a suitable electrochemical electrode through the incorporation of potassium montmorillonite (MMT)clay into the carbon matrix for the direct and sensitive determination of paracetamol (PAR) in pharmaceutical formulations. Electrochemical characterization of the electrodes involves the use of techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The results reveal that the voltammetric response of PAR is linear over a wide concentration range (1.0-15 μM), with a low detection limit of 0.46 μM. Analytically, PAR recovery results were around 94%, indicating that the developed electrode is highly suitable for PAR detection in pharmaceutical formulation. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) is employed to investigate the reactivity of PAR and explain the interaction process of PAR on the electrode surface at different pH values. A Monte Carlo simulations model is developed to provide a deeper understanding of the adsorption mechanism, particularly to comprehend molecular interactions and preferential orientations of PAR with MMT fractions at the electrode surface. Reduced Density Gradient is calculated and discussed using techniques such as Multiwfn and Visualization of Molecular Dynamics. The developed CPE-MMT sensor provided a simple preparation method, rapid response, high sensitivity, reproducibility, strong selectivity, and extended stability. Moreover, there is a good correlation between most parameters calculated by DFT and experimental results, thereby reinforcing the validity of the theoretical approach in this study.