Voltammetric behavior of L-cysteine in the presence of CPB at a silver electrode

The voltammetric behavior of L-cysteine at a silver electrode is described. L-Cysteine can be anodically accumulated at a silver electrode surface as a sparingly soluble silver salt; at more negative potentials, the insoluble compound is stripped cathodically yielding a small current peak at about –1.10 V (vs. SCE). In the presence of cetyl pyridine bromide (CPB), the stripping peak shifts slightly to a more negative potential, and the peak height increases significantly. Thus, the peak becomes more useful for the determination of L-cysteine. In contrast to other surfactants, CPB can improve the accumulation and stripping of L-cysteine obviously. The voltammetric behavior of cysteamine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid and homocysteine is discussed as well.