All-Solid-State PVC Membrane Ag+-Selective Electrodes Based on Diaza-18-Crown-6 Compounds

Two diaza-crown ether compounds were synthesized and evaluated as Ag⁺-selective carriers in polyvinylchloride (PVC) membrane electrodes of solid-state type. The all-solid-state PVC membrane electrode based on N,N-Dibenzyl-dibenzo-diaza-18-crown-6 exhibited a super-Nernstian response (75±10mV per decade) over the concentration range of 1×10^–1 to 7×10^–6M of Ag⁺ ion and a detection limit of 3×10^–6M, at a wide range of pH (pH 4–7). The response time of the electrode was fast (less than 10s), and it can be used for three months without any significant deviation in potential. The proposed all-solid-state PVC membrane electrodes revealed high selectivity toward Ag⁺ ion with respect to alkali, alkaline earth, heavy and transition metal ions. A flow-through cell of all-solid-state PVC membrane Ag⁺-selective electrode based on N,N-Dibenzyl-dibenzo-diaza-18-crown-6 has also been prepared and applied for flow-injection analysis of Ag⁺ ion in solution.     

Chemically modified electrode for the detection of carbohydrates

A nickel-catalysed chemically modified electrode is described which seems to represent a convenient compromise between ease of preparation, reproducibility, precision and detection limits for the determination of carbohydrates in biological matrices.     

Direct electrochemical assay of glucose using boron-doped diamond electrodes

We report linear sweep and square wave voltammetric studies on glucose oxidation at boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes in an alkaline medium in efforts to evaluate the techniques for electrochemically assaying glucose. The bare BDD electrode showed good linear responses to glucose oxidation for a concentration range from 0.5 to 10 mM glucose, which well encompasses the physiological range of 3-8 mM. The BDD electrodes did not experience interferences from ascorbic acid or uric acid during glucose detection. This method, when applied to real blood samples, gave results similar to those obtained by a commercial glucose monitor.     

Characterization of etched electrochemical detection for electrophoresis in micron inner diameter capillaries

An enhanced etched electrochemical (EC) detection technique has been developed for CE in micron inner diameter capillaries. The design improvements allow for better alignment between the capillary bore and the electrode. This new method involves utilizing a carbon fiber microelectrode and etching both the carbon fiber and the detection end of a micrometer-sized inner diameter capillary to limit dead volume and analyte diffusion at the amperometric EC detector. To understand the factors affecting enhanced detector efficiency, a detailed examination of the relationship between detector design and performance has been completed by exploring the effects of varying electrode diameter, tip shape, and size, in addition to the etch length of the capillary outlet. The enhanced detection provides peak efficiencies as high as 75000 theoretical plates and estimated detection limits as low as 40 nM for dopamine. This etched detection method should further facilitate volume-limited sample analysis by CE.     

Copper Solid Amalgam Electrodes

This work describes the behavior of copper solid amalgam electrodes (CuSAE). The applied potential range has been compared with that of the silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE) and the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). In 0.05 M tetraborate buffer the applicable potential range of CuSAE is+0.945 V to ?1.75 V excluding ?0.2 V to ?0.5 V, where the anodic oxidation of copper occurs. CuSAE does not need other than electrochemical pre‐treatment, which has been documented by the evaluated repeatability of eleven voltammetric curves of Cd²⁺ (0.1 ppm), Pb²⁺ (0.1 ppm) and Mn²⁺ (0.5 ppm). The obtained results showed that CuSAE could substitute the solid copper, amalgamed copper or liquid copper amalgam electrodes, and can be applied for the study of systems needing an addition of Cu²⁺ ions into the measured solution.     

A study of bismuth-film electrodes for the detection of trace metals by anodic stripping voltammetry and their application to the determination of Pb and Zn in tapwater and human hair

This work reports the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) at the low μg l⁻¹ concentration levels by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) on a bismuth-film electrode (BFE) plated in situ. The metal ions and bismuth were simultaneously deposited by reduction at −1.4 V on a rotating glassy carbon disk electrode. Then, the preconcentrated metals were oxidised by scanning the potential of the electrode from −1.4 to 0 V using a square-wave waveform. The stripping current arising from the oxidation of each metal was related to the concentration of each metal in the sample. The parameters for the simultaneous determination of the three metals were investigated with the view to apply this type of voltammetric sensor to real samples containing low concentrations of metals. Using the selected conditions, the limits of detection were 0.2 μg l⁻¹ for Cd and for Pb and 0.7 μg l⁻¹ for Zn at a preconcentration time of 10 min. Finally, BFE's were successfully applied to the determination of Pb and Zn in tapwater and human hair and the results were in satisfactory statistical agreement with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).     

Study on Electrochemiluminesce of Ru(bpy3)2+ Immobilized in a Titania Sol‐Gel Membrane

The immobilization of tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II), Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, at a glassy carbon electrode was achieved by entrapping the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in a vapor deposited titania sol‐gel membrane. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of the immobilized Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ was studied. The Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ modified electrode showed a fast ECL response to both oxalate and proline. The ECL intensity was linearly related to concentrations of oxalate and proline over the ranges from 20 to 700 μmol L^?1 and 20 to 600 μmol L^?1, respectively. The detection limits for oxalate and proline at 3σ were 5.0 μmol L^?1 and 4.0 μmol L^?1, respectively. This electrode possessed good precision and stability for oxalate and proline determinations. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence mechanism of proline system was discussed. This work provided a new way for the immobilization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and the application of titania sol‐gel membrane in electrogenerated chemiluminescence.     

Diamond paste-based electrodes for determination of Cr(III) in pharmaceutical compounds

A new class of monocrystalline diamond paste-based electrodes is proposed for the determination of chromium(III) at trace levels in vitamins. Three types of monocrystalline diamond—natural diamond 1 (natural diamond), synthetic diamond 50 (synthetic-1), and synthetic diamond 1 (synthetic-2)—were used for electrode construction. The linear concentration ranges are between 10^–10 and 10^–8; 10^–9 and 10^–7, and 10^–10 to 10^–8 mol L^–1, with limits of detection of 10^–12, 10^–12, and 10^–11 mol L^–1, when natural diamond, synthetic-1, and synthetic-2, respectively, are used as electrode materials. For electrodes based on natural diamond and synthetic-1 it was found that Cr(III) yields a peak at about +0.275±0.015 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) within a predetermined positive potential range situated between +0.4 and +0.2 V, while for the electrode based on synthetic-2 the peaks are found at +0.300±0.015 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The proposed method is reliable for the determination of chromium(III) at trace levels in two vitamin tablets (RSD<0.2%).     

Characteristics of Subtractive Anodic Stripping Voltammetry of Lead,Cadmium and Thallium at Silver‐Gold Alloy Electrodes

Silver‐gold alloy electrodes have been studied for the purpose of the quantitative determination of heavy metals by subtractive anodic stripping voltammetry, (SASV). The results have been compared with those obtained with the silver and gold electrodes. The 50/50 a/o Ag/Au alloy electrode is the most suitable for quantifying thallium in the presence of lead and cadmium. The separation of its peak from those of lead and cadmium is 200 mV, which is about twice the separation obtained on the pure metal electrodes and is also better than on mercury. The silver electrode is suitable for the simultaneous determination of thallium, lead and cadmium. The peaks of lead and cadmium overlap on the 50/50 alloy. Pure silver or pure gold can be used for simultaneous quantification of these two metals. The use of gold for quantifying lead and cadmium is more limited because the peak potential of cadmium is shifted in the negative direction as its concentration increases and at [Cd²⁺]>200 nM, the two peaks merge. SASV enables correction for background currents and is of utmost importance for obtaining well‐defined peaks. The peaks of lead, cadmium and thallium appear over a relatively narrow potential range (ca. 200 mV) on all the electrodes presented in this work. For this reason, the quantifying of a peak is based on the derivative at the inflection point of only one of its branches (ascending or descending). All SASV measurements were carried out without removal of oxygen.     

Permselectivities and ion-exchange properties of organically modified sol—gel electrodes

Sol—gel films prepared from organosilanes containing acidic/basic sites have been investigated as permselective and ion-exchange coatings for electroanalytical and bioanalytical investigations. When a glassy carbon electrode was modified with a sol—gel film fabricated from 3-aminopropyl-methyl-diethoxysilane (silane—NH₂), excellent permselectivity and anion-exchange properties were obtained. For a pH 7.4, 1 mM potassium ferricyanide solution, an eight-fold increase in current was observed after the electrode was immersed in solution for 10min whereas complete suppression of the electrochemical response for ruthenium hexaamine and methyl viologen was observed. Sol—gel films fabricated from trimethoxysilylpropyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid (silane—(COOH)₃) exhibited nearly complementary behavior. An approximately 10-fold increase in current was observed for pH 7.4, 1 mM ruthenium hexaammine solutions and complete suppression of the potassium ferricyanide response was observed. These ion-exchange properties can be attributed to the strong electrostatic interactions between the acid/basic functional group in the matrix and the highly charged analyte molecules. When glassy carbon electrodes were modified with diethyl-(triethoxysilypropyl) malonate (silane—(COOEt)₂), the films did not exhibit distinct ion-exchange properties but rather suppressed the reduction of potassium ferricyanide. The observed permselectivity results from the electron dense carbonyl group and/or hydrolyzed ester functionalities in the film.