Nitrophenol sensors have garnered interest in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, environment safety and explosives. Various methods have been proposed to detect 4-nitrophenol, but nitrophenol isomers such as 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol have been comparatively less studied. For the first time, the present work explores graphitic nanocarbon, i.e., carbon black (CB) interface for sensing of DNP. Two reduction potentials were noted at − 0.48 and − 0.64 V for o-NO2 and p-NO2 moieties, respectively, at CB/GCE. At the same time, bare GCE (glassy carbon electrode) shows a single reduction potential at − 0.7 V. The electrocatalytic effect and adsorption ability of the interface was studied from the DNP concentration effect. Scan rate and pH studies suggest that the CB acquires four electrons for NO2 reduction by the diffusion phenomenon. A broad detection range of 10–250 μM DNP with a very low detection limit of 0.13 (o-form) and 0.15 μM (p-form) was achieved using the CB interface. The real-time applicability of the fabricated sensor was evaluated using commercially available beverages with excellent recovery values. The stability, repeatability and reproducibility of the CB interface were successfully confirmed. Comparison of the sensing parameters of the developed sensor with those reported in literature reveals excellent detection limit and response time for the CB-interfaced DNP sensor, indicating its potential for environmental and commercial applications.

The removal characteristics of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) from an aqueous solution by commercial Wood-based Activated Carbon (WAC) have been studied. The effects of various experimental parameters were investigated using a batch adsorption technique. The adsorption capacity of 2,4-DNP by WAC increased with a decrease in the dosage and particle size of WAC, temperature and the initial pH of the solution, and increased with an increase in the initial concentration of the solution. The adsorption equilibrium data were best described by the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities of 2,4-DNP by WAC were 573.07 mg/g at 293 K, 500.00 mg/g at 313 K, and 476.19 mg/g at 333 K, decreasing with increasing temperature. The kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model, and the results of the intra-particle diffusion model suggested that the adsorption process was mainly controlled by particle diffusion. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption of 2,4-DNP by WAC was an endothermic and spontaneous process.

Dinitrophenol is preventing cells from making energy for growth and it has been suggested that pH may be important in mitigating effects of uncouplers. The effect of pH on toxicity of dinitrophenol at high concentration was investigated, over a pH range of 5.7 to 8.7. DNP inhibition was found to be strongly dependent on mixed liquor pH. The DNP degradation rate was highest in the pH range of 7.0 to 7.8; at pH 6.0 degradation of 0.41 mM dinitrophenol was significantly inhibited; at pH <5.7, dinitrophenol degradation was completely inhibited after approximately 25% of the dinitrophenol was degraded. However no significant effect of pH variation was seen on glucose uptake by the activated sludge mixed culture.