Voltammetric performance and application of a sensor for sodium ions constructed with layered birnessite-type manganese oxide

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a carbon paste electrode modified with layered birnessite-type manganese oxide for use as a sodium sensor is described. The effects of powder synthesis process (sol-gel and redox precipitation) for birnessite on the electrochemical activity of the sensor was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The carbon paste electrode modified with birnessite-type manganese oxide that was synthesized by the sol-gel method showed a best electrochemical for sodium ions. The detection is based on the measurement of anodic current generated by oxidation of Mn(III) to Mn(IV) at the surface of the electrode and consequently the sodium ions extraction into the birnessite structure. The best voltammetric response was obtained for an electrode composition of 15% (w/w) birnessite oxide in the paste, a TRIS buffer solution of pH 8.0 and a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹. A sensitive linear voltammetric response for sodium ions was obtained in the concentration range of 7.89 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.49 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with a slope of 37.5 μA L mmol⁻¹ and a detection limit (3σ/slope) of 3.43 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ using cyclic voltammetry. Under the working conditions, the proposed method was successfully applied to determination of sodium ions in urine samples.     

Voltammetry determination of trace manganese with pretreatment glassy carbon electrode by linear sweep voltammetry

This paper described the determination of trace manganese using linear sweep voltammetry at a pretreatment glassy carbon electrode. The glassy carbon electrode pretreated by electrochemical method in the 0.1 mol l⁻¹ NaOH solution greatly improved the electrode responsibility in the determination of manganese(II). The barrier to the detection of low manganese concentration was overcome by means of autocatalytic effect of manganese oxide deposited on the electrode in advance. Under the optimum experiments condition (0.04 mol l⁻¹ NH₃-NH₄Cl buffer solution, pH 9.0), the linear range was 4×10⁻⁸ to 1×l0⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ Mn(II) for linear sweep voltammetry and 1×10⁻⁹ to 4×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ Mn(II) for convolution voltammetry. The relative standard deviation for 2×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ Mn(II) is 3.4%. The proposed method is simple, rapid, sensitive and selective. It had been applied to the determination of trace manganese in samples with satisfactory results.     

Copper(I)-bathocuproine complex as carrier in iodide-selective electrode

A PVC membrane electrode for iodide ions based on Cu(I)-bathocuproine as ionophore in membrane composition is prepared. The electrode exhibits a linear response over a wide concentration range 5.0×10⁻⁶ to 2.0×10⁻¹ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit 1.0×10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹. The proposed membrane electrode shows Nernstian behavior with a slope of −56.8 mV/decade, a fast response time 10 s and a lifetime at least 3 months. Iodide-selective electrode reveals good selectivities for iodide ion over a wide variety of the other anions and can be used in pH range of 3-9. It can also be used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of iodide ion.     

Determination of trace amount of bismuth(III) by adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry at carbon paste electrode

A sensitive method is described for the determination of trace bismuth based on the bismuth-bromopyrogallol red (BPR) adsorption at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The overall analysis involved a three-step procedure: accumulation, reduction, and anodic stripping. Optimal conditions were found to be an electrode containing 25% paraffin oil and 75% high purity graphite powder, a 0.30 mol l⁻¹ HCl solution containing 2.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ BPR as supporting medium; accumulation potential and time, −0.10 V, 3 min; reduction potential and time, −0.35 V, 60 s; scan rate 100 mV s⁻¹; scan range from −0.35 to 0.15 V. It was found that the Bi(III)-BPR complex could be accumulated on the electrode surface during the accumulation period. Then the Bi(III) in the Bi(III)-BPR complex on the CPE surface was reduced to Bi(0) during reduction interval and finally reoxidized during the anodic stripping step for voltammetric quantification. Factors affecting the accumulation, reduction, and stripping steps were investigated. Interferences by other ions were studied as well. The detection limit was found to be 5×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹ with a 3 min accumulation time. The linear range was from 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 5.0×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹. Application of the procedure to the determination of bismuth in water and human hair samples gave good results.     

Voltammetric determination of pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) at a carbon paste electrode modified with vanadyl(IV)-Salen complex

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a carbon paste electrode modified with the N,N-ethylene-bis(salicylideneiminato)oxovanadium(IV) complex [VO(Salen)] as well as its behavior in relation to the oxidation of pyridoxine (Vitamin B₆) are described. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode and the electrooxidation of pyridoxine were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The best voltammetric response was obtained for an electrode composition of 15% (m/m) [VO(Salen)] in the paste, KCl solution of pH 5.5-8.0 and scan rate of 25 mV s⁻¹. A sensitive linear voltammetric response for pyridoxine was obtained in the concentration range of 4.5×10⁻⁴ to 3.3×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ with a slope of 42.5 μA mmol⁻¹ l, and a detection limit (3σ/slope) of 3.7×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ using linear sweep voltammetry. Among several compounds tested only Vitamin B₁ seems to interfere in the analyte signal. The concentrations of pyridoxine in pharmaceutical formulations using the proposed electrode and an official spectrophotometric method based in the reaction with N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine are in agreement at the 95% confidence level and within an acceptable range of error.     

Inhibition biosensor for determination of nicotine

An amperometric nicotine inhibition biosensor has been substantially simplified and used for determination of nicotine in tobacco sample. Besides the use of single enzyme choline oxidase to replace bienzyme, the use of 1,4-benzoquinone as an electron mediator makes it possible to avoid the use of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide sensor as the internal transducer. Choline oxidase was immobilized on the carbon paste electrode through cross-linking with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by glutaraldehyde. In the presence of choline oxidase and its endogenous cofactor flavin-ademine dinneleotide (FAD), choline was oxidized into betaine while FAD was reduced to FADH₂ which subsequently reduced 1,4-benzoquinone into hydroquinone. The later was finally oxidized at a relatively low potential of +450 mV versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Nicotine inhibits the activity of enzyme with an effect of decreasing of oxidation current. The experimental conditions were optimized. The electrode has a linear response to choline within 1.25×10⁻⁴ to 1.25×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹. The nicotine measurements were carried out in 0.067 mol l⁻¹phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 at an applied potential of 450 mV versus SCE. The electrode provided a linear response to nicotine over a concentration range of 2.0×10⁻⁵ to 9.2×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The system was applied to the determination of nicotine in tobacco samples.     

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of trace Te(IV) at a poly(3,3′-diaminobenzidine) film modified gold electrode in flow systems

Electropolymerization of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine on a gold surface gave an adherent, stable film of poly(3,3′-diaminobenzidine) (PDAB). This polymer film retained the complexational functionalities of its monomer, demonstrating preconcentration abilities for several ions, including Se(IV) and Te(IV). In particular, in this work, continuous flow and flow injection methods were developed for the sensitive and selective determination of Te(IV). The optimized method for the continuous flow mode had a detection limit of 5.6×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ for 10 min preconcentration. Typical relative standard deviations for six consecutive determinations were 1.82 and 2.56% for Te(IV) concentrations of 1.0×10⁻⁶ and 5.0×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹, respectively (10 min preconcentration). The method was applied to the determination of Te(IV) in real samples.     

Stripping voltammetric determination of platinum metals at a carbon paste electrode modified with cationic surfactants

In this contribution, a novel method is described for the determination of platinum metals. The procedure developed employs a carbon paste electrode modified in situ with cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium salt type. The pre-concentration step is based on a specific accumulation mechanism involving ion-pair formation; the detection being performed by cathodic scanning in the differential pulse voltammetric mode. Regarding the individual forms of platinum metals, the method has been found convenient for the determination of three heavy platinum metals in the form of Pt(IV), Ir(III) and Os(IV), whereas for the remaining elements (Ru, Rh, and Pd) was almost inapplicable. Platinum metals of the former group can be pre-concentrated in chloride-containing supporting media via PtCl₆²⁻, IrCl₆³⁻ and OsCl₆²⁻ complex anions, the central atom of each species being fairly reducible during the voltammetric scan. Stripping signals for both platinum and iridium were proportional to the concentration in a range of 1-10 × 10⁻⁶ M Pt(IV) and Ir(III); the response for osmium being linear within 0.1-6 × 10⁻⁷ M Os(IV) with a detection limit of about 5 × 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹. During optimisation, special attention was paid to the accumulation mechanism, choice of key experimental conditions, and to interference effects from foreign ions with potentially ion-pairing capabilities (AuCl₄⁻, TlCl₄⁻, CrO₄²⁻, MnO₄⁻, SCN⁻, and I⁻). The method elaborated has been tested on both model solutions and real samples of industrial waste water, showing in both cases satisfactory analytical performance.     

Determination of benorilate in pharmaceutical formulations and its metabolite in urine at carbon paste electrode modified by silver nanoparticles

Benorilate was determined by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using a carbon paste electrode modified by silver nanoparticles in 1.25 × 10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ KH₂PO₄ and Na₂HPO₄ buffer solution (pH = 6.88, 25 °C) .The anodic peak potential was +0.970 V (versus SCE). A good linear relationship was realized between the anodic peak currents and benorilate concentrations in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ with the detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹. The recovery was 95.2-103.6% with the relative standard deviation of 3.6% (n = 9). The pharmaceutical preparations, benorilate tablets samples and its metabolite (salicylic acid) in urine were determined with the desirable results.     

Accumulation and trace measurement of chloroquine drug at DNA-modified carbon paste electrode

The voltammetric behaviour of chloroquine was investigated at carbon paste and dsDNA-modified carbon paste electrodes in different buffer systems over a wide pH range using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Chloroquine was oxidized in the pH range 2.0-11.0 yielding one irreversible main oxidation peak. A second peak was also observed only in the pH range 5.0-7.0. The modification of the carbon paste surface with dsDNA allowed a preconcentration process to take place for chloroquine such that higher sensitivity was achieved as compared with the bare surface. The response was characterized with respect to solution pH, ionic strength, accumulation time and potential, chloroquine concentration, and other variables. Stripping voltammetric response showed a linear calibration curve in the range 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 3.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ at the dsDNA-modified electrode. Application of the modified electrode to serum, without sample pretreatment, resulted in good recovery higher than 95% and the higher standard deviation was 3.0%.     

Voltammetric determination of L-dopa using an electrode modified with trinuclear ruthenium ammine complex (Ru-red) supported on Y-type zeolite

The L-dopa is the immediate precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Unlike dopamine, L-dopa easily enters the central nervous system and is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. A sensitive and selective method is presented for the voltammetric determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical formulations using a carbon paste electrode modified with trinuclear ruthenium ammine complex [(NH₃)₅Ru^IIIORu^IV(NH₃)₄ORu^III(NH₃)₅]⁶⁺ (Ru-red) incorporated in NaY zeolite. The parameters which influence on the electrode response (paste composition, potential scan rate, pH and interference) were also investigated. The optimum conditions were found to an electrode composition (m/m) of 25% zeolite containing 6.7% Ru, 50% graphite and 25% mineral oil in acetate buffer at pH 4.8. Voltammetric peak currents showed a linear response for L-dopa concentration in the range between 1.2×10⁻⁴ and 1.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ (r=0.9988) with a detection limit of 8.5×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The variation coefficient for a 1.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ L-dopa (n=10) was 5.5%. The results obtained for L-dopa in pharmaceutical formulations (tablet) was in agreement with compared official method. In conclusion, this study has illustrated that the proposed electrode modified with Ru-red incorporated zeolite is suitable valuable for selective measurements of L-dopa.     

Bia-amperometric quantification of salbutamol in pharmaceutical products

This paper presents a simple, rapid and reproducible method of analysis of salbutamol in pharmaceutical products, utilizing batch injection analysis (BIA) associated with amperometric detection. A study of salbutamol oxidation demonstrated a strong dependence between electrode fouling and pH. All determinations were done utilizing a glassy carbon electrode in presence of 3.0 mol l⁻¹ NaOH. A large linear dynamic range from 8×10⁻⁷ to 2×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ was obtained by using an injected volume of 100 μl with a detection limit of 2.5×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹. R.S.D. of 0.92% for 50 successive injections of 4×10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ of salbutamol and a sample throughput of 60 samples per hour were achieved. The method was applied for salbutamol quantification in syrups.     

Voltammetric determination of food colorants using a polyallylamine modified tubular electrode in a multicommutated flow system

This work describes the construction of a polyallylamine modified tubular glassy carbon electrode and its application in the electroreduction of food azo colorants (tartrazine, sunset yellow and allura red) by square wave voltammetry. The electrode modification prevented the surface fouling and, simultaneously, enhanced the analytical signal intensity. The developed unit was coupled to a multicommutated flow system which, given the complexity of samples, was designed to allow the implementation of the standard additions method in an automatic way, using only one standard solution.The described method presented a linear range up to about 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ for the referred colorants, with a detection limit of 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ for tartrazine, 3.5 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ for sunset yellow and 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ for allura red. The method was applied in the analysis of these colorants in several food samples, and no statistically significant difference between the results obtained by the proposed and the comparative method (HPLC) was found, at a 95% confidence level. Repeatability in the analysis of samples (expressed in R.S.D.) was about 3% (n = 10).     

Development of an enzymeless biosensor for the determination of phenolic compounds

The construction of amperometric enzymeless biosensors for phenolic compounds determination, using carbon paste electrode modified with copper phtalocyanine (CuPc) and histidine (His), based on the chemistry of the dopamine β-monooxygenase (DβM) enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation of the dopamine and its analogs is shown. The modified carbon paste was evaluated on electrodes constructed in two ways: putting the paste into a cavity of a rotating disk electrode and a platinum slide electrode fixed into a glass tube. The sensor in hydrodynamic conditions presented a linear response range between 30 and 250 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 4.6±0.1 nA l μmol⁻¹ cm⁻² for catechol, response time of 3 s and lifetime of about 50 days when stored at room temperature. The sensor in static conditions showed a linear response range from 40 to 250 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 0.30±0.01 nA l μmol⁻¹ cm⁻² for catechol. The sensors presented the following relative response order for dopamine and some analog species: catechol>dopamine>guaiacol>serotonin>phenol.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric method for chloride determination in natural waters using Hg(SCN)(2) immobilized in epoxy resin

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric method was proposed for the determination of chloride ion in natural waters. The determination of chloride was carried out by reaction with Hg(SCN)₂ immobilized in an epoxy resin bead in a solid-phase reactor (SPR) and the thiocyanate ions released were determined spectrophotometrically at 480 nm after complexing reaction with Fe(III). The analytical curve for chloride was linear in the concentration range from 5.6 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 2.2% for a solution containing 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ (n = 10). The simple manifold allows a routine analytical frequency of 100 determinations per hour. The main advantage of the developed method is the 400% reduction of the Hg waste solution generated when compared to conventional methods for chloride determination based on the same spectrophotometric reaction.     

Stripping voltammetric determination of silymarin in formulations and human blood utilizing bare and modified carbon paste electrodes

Silymarin is one of the most powerful natural substances that have the ability to protect and rebuild the liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin showed two irreversible anodic peaks in buffered solutions (pH 2.5-8.0) at either the bare carbon paste electrode or the montmorillonite-Ca modified carbon paste one. These two peaks have been attributed to oxidation of the two phenolic OH groups at positions C-20 and C-7 of silymarin molecule. A square-wave adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry method was optimized for determination of silymarin utilizing the bare and the modified carbon paste electrodes. The method was fully validated and successfully applied for the determination of silymarin in commercial formulations and human serum without prior extraction utilizing both carbon paste electrodes. Limits of quantitation of 1 × 10⁻⁷ and 7 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ silymarin have been achieved in bulk form or in formulations while 2 × 10⁻⁷ and 8 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ silymarin were achieved in spiked human serum utilizing the bare carbon paste electrode and the modified one, respectively. The two electrodes exhibited excellent selectivity towards silymarin even in the presence of 10²to 10³-fold excess of its co-formulated drugs, common excipients, and common metal ions. The pharmacokinetic parameters of silymarin in plasma of healthy human volunteers were estimated following the administration of a single oral dose of 120 mg silymarin utilizing the modified carbon paste electrode. The estimated pharmacokinetic parameters were favorably compared with those reported in literature.     

Amperometric sensor for nitrite using a glassy carbon electrode modified with alternating layers of iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin and cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine

The development of a highly sensitive amperometric sensor for nitrite using a glassy carbon electrode modified with alternated layers of iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin (FeT4MPyP) and cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (CoTSPc) is described. The modified electrode showed an excellent catalytic activity and stability for the nitrite oxidation decreasing the peak potentials about 200 mV toward less positive values and presenting much higher peak currents than those obtained on the bare GC electrode. A linear response range of 0.2-8.6 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 0.37 μA l μmol⁻¹ and detection limit of 0.04 μmol l⁻¹ were obtained with this sensor. The repeatability of the proposed sensor, evaluated in term of relative standard deviation, was verified to be 1.4% for 10 measurements of 0.2 μmol l⁻¹ nitrite solution. Interference caused by common ions has been investigated in simulated mixtures containing high concentration level of interfering ions and the sensor was found to be tolerant against these ions. The developed sensor was applied for the nitrite determination in water samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a comparative method described in the literature. The average recovery for these samples was 100.1 (±0.7)%.     

An amperometric method for the determination of trace mercury(II) by formation of complexes with l-tyrosine

A selective and sensitive amperometric method of analysis has been developed for determination of the trace amounts of mercury in waters at a platinum electrode based on the effect of the presence of mercury ions on the current due to oxidation of l-tyrosine. A decrease of signal was observed due to the formation of a complex of tyrosine with the Hg(II) ion adsorbed on the electrode surface. Several parameters were varied, such as applied potential, pH and concentration of tyrosine. The calibration plot was linear in the range from 0.02 to 3 μmol l⁻¹ Hg(II) with r=0.997 and the detection limit (3σ) was 0.014 μmol l⁻¹; the relative standard deviation was 2.2%. The study of interferences from other metal ions revealed a good selectivity of this method towards mercury(II). The stoichiometry of the mercury-tyrosine complex was determined to be 1:2 and the formation constant 627±19. Formation of complexes with mercury ions was also demonstrated with several catechol compounds and other amino acids. The method was applied to the analysis of contaminated waters.     

Electrochemical determination of maltol in beverages with glassy carbon electrode and its silica sol-gel modified electrode

The electrochemical behavior of maltol on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was investigated. The results were applied to differential pulse voltammetric determination of maltol in beverages pretreated by ultrafiltration. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linear range is 1×10⁻⁵ to 6×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ maltol and the relative standard deviation for 0.4 mmol l⁻¹ maltol is 0.6% (n=9). The detection limit was 5 μmol l⁻¹. Furthermore, silica sol-gel film on GC electrode could be used as suitable selective membrane, which integrated selective membrane on the electrode and substituted for the pretreatment of ultrafiltration. Under the above conditions, maltol was determined by semi-differential linear sweep voltammetry at a silica sol-gel modified GC electrode in the concentration range of 5×10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹. The detection limit was 2 μmol l⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation for 0.1 mmol l⁻¹ maltol was 0.7% (n=7). The proposed method is of sensitivity, simplicity, rapidness and no contamination. It had been applied to the direct determination of maltol in beverages such as grape wines, drinks and beers without any pretreatment. The results obtained with the present method were satisfactory with those obtained by spectrophotometry. It could be used as a simple and practical method for the determination of the flavor enhancer maltol in beverages.     

p-Dimethylaminobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone: a simple novel selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for mercury(II) in aqueous solution

A novel and simple fluorophore, p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (DMABTS), was prepared in order to find available fluorescent chemosensor for mercuric ion in aquesous solution. DMABTS emitted fluorescence at 448 nm in aqueous solution and its fluorescence intensity was completely quenched upon interaction with Hg²⁺ ions, which should be attributed to the 1:1 complex formation between DMABTS and Hg²⁺. The binding constant of the complex was determined as 7.48 × 10⁶ mol l⁻¹. The linear range of quantitative detection of 0 to 5.77 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ and the detection limit of 7.7 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ for Hg²⁺ in the 6.3 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ DMABTS aqueous solution were obtained from a calibration curve. The coexistence of several transition metal ions and anions did interfere the fluorometric titration of Hg²⁺ ion by less than 4% in the emission change.