Plastics have recently become an indispensable part of everyone’s daily life due to their versatility, durability, light weight, and low production costs. The increasing production and use of plastics poses great environmental problems due to their incomplete utilization, a very long period of biodegradation, and a negative impact on living organisms. Decomposing plastics lead to the formation of microplastics, which accumulate in the environment and living organisms, becoming part of the food chain. The contamination of soils and water with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) seriously threatens ecosystems around the world. Their durability and low weight make microplastic particles easily transported through water or air, ending up in the soil. Thus, the problem of microplastic pollution affects the entire ecosystem. Since microplastics are commonly found in both drinking and bottled water, humans are also exposed to their harmful effects. Because of existing risks associated with the PVC microplastic contamination of the ecosystem, intensive research is underway to develop methods to clean and remove it from the environment. The pollution of the environment with plastic, and especially microplastic, results in the reduction of both water and soil resources used for agricultural and utility purposes. This review provides an overview of PVC’s environmental impact and its disposal options.

This paper discusses the electrochemical behavior of antiviral drug Tenofovir (TFV) and its possible applicability towards electroanalytical determination with diverse detection strategies using square-wave voltammetry. Namely, oxidation processes were investigated using glassy carbon electrode with graphene oxide surface modification (GO/GCE), while the reduction processes, related to the studied analyte, were analyzed at a renewable silver amalgam electrode (Hg(Ag)FE). Scanning electron microscopy imaging confirmed the successful deposition of GO at the electrode surface. Catalytic properties of graphene oxide were exposed while being compared with those of bare GCE. The resultant modification of GCE with GO enhanced the electroactive surface area by 50% in comparison to the bare one. At both electrodes, i.e., GO/GCE and Hg(Ag)FE, the TFV response was used to examine and optimize the influence of square-wave excitation parameters, i.e., square wave frequency, step potential and amplitude, and supporting electrolyte composition and its pH. Broad selectivity studies were performed with miscellaneous interfering agents influence, including ascorbic acid, selected saccharides and aminoacids, metal ions, non-opioid analgesic metamizole, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug omeprazole, and several drugs used along with TFV treatment. The linear concentration range for TFV determination at GO/GCE and Hg(Ag)FE was found to be 0.3–30.0 µmol L^–1 and 0.5–7.0 µmol L^–1, respectively. The lowest LOD was calculated for GO/GCE and was equal to 48.6 nmol L^–1. The developed procedure was used to detect TFV in pharmaceutical formulations and patient urine samples and has referenced utilization in HPLC studies.

In this paper, the fabrication, surface characterisation and electrochemical properties of graphite flake (GFPE) and multilayer graphene (MLGPE) paste electrodes are described. The Raman investigations and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze and compare structure of both carbon materials. The electroanalytical performance of both electrodes was examined and compared on the basis of the square-wave and cyclic voltammetric behavior of acetaminophen and model redox systems. Results of those studies revealed that GFPE has a larger electroactive surface area and better conductive properties, whilst MLGPE demonstrate better analytical characteristic in case of acetaminophen (AC) determination. AC determination was developed using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and square wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV). For both working electrodes, the process of accumulation enabled us to obtain an extended linear range and to lower the detection limit. In pharmaceutical formulations, AC was determined with good recovery.

The present paper describes the effect of the concentration of two graphene oxides (with different oxygen content) in the modifier layer on the electrochemical and structural properties of noble metal disk electrodes used as working electrodes in voltammetry. The chemistry of graphene oxides was tested using EDS, FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and combustion analysis. The structural properties of the obtained modifier layers were examined by means of scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry was employed for comparative electrochemical studies.