Adsorptive Voltammetric Study of Thorium–Alizarin Complexon Complex at a Carbon Paste Electrode

A new sensitive adsorptive voltammetric procedure is described for trace measurement of thorium. It is based on the cathodic stripping peak of the thorium–alizarin complexon (ALC) complex at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The complex of Th(IV) with alizarin is adsorbed at a CPE in a mixed buffer solution (pH 5.0) which consists of 0.1mol·L^–1 sodium acetate and 0.04mol·L^–1 potassium biphthalate, yielding a sensitive cathodic voltammetric peak corresponding to the reduction of alizarin in the complex at –0.57V (vs. SCE). The second-order derivative peak current of the complex is linearly dependent upon the concentration of Th(IV) over the range of 3.0×10^–9 8.0×10^–7mol·L^–1. The detection limit is 1.0×10^–9mol·L^–1 for 180s accumulation. The molar ratio of each component in the complex was estimated as n_Th(IV):n_ALC=1:1 by a continuous variation method. The electrode processes of the Th(IV)–alizarin complex at a CPE were investigated. The procedure was successfully applied to the trace determination of thorium in ore and clay samples.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Direct Determination of L-Tyrosine by Square Wave Voltammetry at Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes

The electrochemical behavior of L-tyrosine was investigated at a multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode. L-tyrosine itself showed a poor electrochemical response at the bare glassy carbon electrode; however, a multi-wall carbon nanotubes film fabricated on the glassy carbon electrode can directly enhance the electrochemical signal of L-tyrosine when applying cyclic voltammetry and square wave stripping voltammetry without any mediator. Cyclic voltammetry was carried out to study the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of L-tyrosine, which shows a totally irreversible process and an oxidation potential of 671 mV at the modified electrode and 728 mV at the bare electrode, ΔE_p = 57 mV. The anodic peak current linearly increases with the square root of scan rate in the low range, suggesting that the oxidation of L-tyrosine on the multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified electrode is a diffusion-controlled process. The square wave stripping voltammetry currents of L-tyrosine at the multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified electrodes increased linearly with the concentration in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶–5.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit was 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The method is simple, quick, sensitive and accurate.     

Preconcentration and voltammetric determination of the herbicide metamitron with a silica-modified carbon paste electrode

A carbon paste electrode incorporating silica (Si-MCPE) was fabricated to accumulate Metamitron at the electrode surface. Several electroanalytical techniques were used to explore its reductive behaviour. The results indicate that the system is irreversible and fundamentally controlled by adsorption. The adsorptive stripping response has been evaluated with respect to accumulation time, deposition potential, scan rate, pH and other variables, using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) as redissolution techniques. In both cases a voltammetric peak is obtained, at –0.542 V (DPV) and –0.421 V (SWV) in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 1.9). The detection limits were 3.66 × 10^–1 M and 4.22 × 10^–9 M for AdS-DPV and AdS-SWV, respectively. Under optimum conditions the Metamitron reduction peak gave two linear regions in the range from 4.0 × 10^–9 M to 8.0 × 10^–8 M by means of AdS-DPV, with a coefficient of variation of 2.19% (n = 10) for 1 × 10^–8 M herbicide solution. A method was developed for determination of Metamitron in soils, with a recovery of 98.8% and a coefficient of variation of 5.26% (0.01 g/g of soil).     

Application of a Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode in Anodic Stripping Voltammetry for Determination of Trace Amounts of 6-Benzylaminopurine

Carbon nanotubes were modified on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GC) and initially applied in semi-derivative anode stripping voltammetry for the determination of 6-benzylaminopurine. The experiments demonstrated that the presence of the carbon nanotube greatly increased the current of the oxidation peak of benzylaminopurine. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and semi-derivative voltammetry were used in a comparative investigation into the electrochemical oxidation of benzylaminopurine with the modified electrode. Studies on the effect of pH on the peak current and potential were carried out over the pH range of 9.013.0 with the NH₃–NH₄Cl buffer solution. A pH of 10.0 was chosen as the optimum pH. Other experimental parameters, such as film thickness, accumulation potential, temperature etc. were optimized. The anodic peak current was found to be linearly related to the concentration of benzylaminopurine over the range of 4.0×10^–8 to 1.0×10^–5mol·L^–1 with a detection limit of 5.0×10^–9mol·L^–1 in an accumulation time of 5min. Interferences of some inorganic and organic species on the response have been studied.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Thorium with Disodium Salt of Arsenazo-III in Perchloric Acid

A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of thorium using 0.04% Arsenazo-III in a 2M perchloric acid solution. Absorbance was measured in 1 cm cell and the complex has a sensitive absorption peak at 654 nm. The complex is formed instantly in perchloric acid and remains stable for 45 minutes with constant absorbance. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 1–60 g·g^–1 of thorium concentration with a molar absorptivity at 654 nm = 3.07·10⁵ M^–1·cm^–1 at 24±2°C. The foreign ions interference in thorium determination have been checked. The cations were tested at >60-fold excess of thorium, Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) interfere negatively, whereas only Ce(III) has increased the absorbance. Among the anions, cyanide, phosphate, thiocyanate and acetate at 150-fold excess of thorium cause significant interference. However, thorium can bedetermined in the presence of nitrate, chloride, oxalate, tartrate, ascorbate, thiosulphate and citrate. The method has been applied on certified reference material for thorium determination after extractive separation and the result was found in good agreement with the certified value. The method has been also applied successfully to determine thorium at g·g^–1 level in local ore samples with a precision of ±0.04%.     

Linear scan stripping voltammetry of copper(II) at the chemically modified carbon paste electrode

A new chemically modified electrode (CME), -benzoinoxime (CUPRON) modified carbon paste electrode, for determining copper(II) is reported because of its excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The electrode is made by mixing a quantity of CUPRON (25%, w/w) with graphite powder (50%, w/w) and paraffin oil (25%, w/w). The CME preferentially deposits copper from the pH 8.5 NH₃-NH₄Cl buffer solution containing copper(II) under an open circuit and most of metal ions do not interfere with the measurements. The detection limit (S/N of three) for determining Cu(II) is 3 × 10^–10 g/ml after 10 min accumulation in fast linear scan stripping voltammetric measurement. Linear calibration curves are obtained for Cu(II) concentration ranged from 1 × 10^–8 M to 1 × 10^–6 M. The response can be maintained with relative standard deviation of 6.0% in a 5 × 10^–6 M Cu(II) solution after eight accumulation/measurement/ regeneration cycles at the same electrode surface. The effect resulted from carbon paste preparation, reduction potential, electrode renewal, electrolyte and solution pH, preconcentration time, concentration dependence, possible interference and other variables has been evaluated. As for application, the CME demonstrates its high sensitivity and copper-selectivity in complex composition samples, such as anodic mud and polluted water.     

Electrochemical behavior and determination of epinephrine at a mercaptoacetic acid self-assembled gold electrode

The electrochemical behavior of epinephrine (EP) at a mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode was studied. The MAA/Au electrode is demonstrated to promote the electrochemical response of epinephrine by cyclic voltammetry. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed. The diffusion coefficient D of EP is 6.85 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹. In 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH 7.20), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.177 V, and the peak current is proportional to the concentration of EP in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁵–2.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁷–1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit is 5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The modified electrode is highly stable and can be applied to the determination of EP in practical injection samples. The method is simple, quick, sensitive and accurate.     

Application of a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Poly(Glutamic Acid) in Caffeic Acid Determination

Glassy carbon electrodes were coated with films of poly(glutamic acid) (PG), and the modified electrode proved to be very effective in the oxidation of caffeic acid. The performance of the film was also tested with ascorbic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid and chlorogenic acid. At pH 5.6, all the hydroxycinnamic acids yield a higher peak current intensity when oxidized after incorporation in the PG-modified electrode, and only the oxidation of ascorbic acid exhibits overpotential reduction. At pH 3.5 only caffeic and chlorogenic acid are incorporated in the modified electrode and exhibit a well-defined oxidation wave at +0.51 V and +0.48 V, which is the base for their determination. Linear calibration graphs were obtained from 9 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 4 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ caffeic acid by linear voltammetric scan and from 4 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ by square wave voltammetric scan. The method was successfully applied to the determination of caffeic acid in red wine samples without interference from other hydroxycinnamic acids or ascorbic acid.     

Electrochemistry of electropolymerized tetra (p-aminophenyl)porphyrin nickel film electrode and catalytic oxidation of acetaminophen

A polymer film of tetra(p-aminophenyl) porphyrin nickel was obtained at a glassy carbon electrode by a cyclic voltammetric method. Cyclic voltammograms of the film electrode exhibited two stable redox waves with anodic peak potential at 0.43V and cathodic peak potential at 0.30 V in 0.5M NaOH aqueous solution. The electrocatalytic characteristics of the film electrode were studied by cyclic voltammetry, a. c. impedance analysis and other methods. The oxidation peak current increased linearly with the addition of acetaminophen to the aqueous NaOH medium in the range 1 × 10^–6–2 × 10^–4 M acetaminophen. The performance of the electrode was verified by the determination of acetaminophen in a paracetamol preparation.     

The aggregation ofn-dodecanephosphonic acid in water

Several techniques were employed to study the aggregation ofn-Dodecanephosphonic Acid (DPA) in water. At 22°C, the solubillity of DPA increases, probably due to the formation of small premicellar aggregates. The CMC is (5.4±2.4) ×10^–4 mol·dm^–3 and the solubility reaches the CMC value at 26°C. At 30°C and at a concentration of about 9×10^–3 mol·dm^–3, a lamellar mesophase appears. Both micelles and liquid crystal lamellae are almost uncharged. Their polar heads have strong hydrogen bonds between them. The ionization of DPA molecules in micelles and mesophase structures is strongly reduced in comparison with monomerically dissolved molecules.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of mercury using multi-walled carbon nanotubes film coated glassy carbon electrode

An electrochemical method for the determination of trace levels of mercury based on a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is described. In 0.1 mol L^–1 HCl solution containing 0.02 mol L^–1 KI, Hg²⁺ was firstly preconcentrated at the MWNT film and then reduced at –0.60 V. During the anodic potential sweep, reduced mercury was oxidized, and then a sensitive and well-defined stripping peak at about –0.20 V appeared. Under identical conditions, a MWNT film coated GCE greatly enhances the stripping peak current of mercury in contrast to a bare GCE. Low concentrations of I^– remarkably improve the determining sensitivity, since this increases the accumulation efficiency of Hg²⁺ at the MWNT film coated GCE. The stripping peak current is proportional to the concentration of Hg²⁺ over the range 8×10^–10–5×10^–7 mol L^–1. The lowest detectable concentration of Hg²⁺ is 2×10^–10 mol L^–1 at 5 min accumulation. The relative standard deviation (RSD) at 1×10^–8 mol L^–1 Hg²⁺ was about 6% (n=10). By using this proposed method, Hg²⁺ in some water samples was determined, and the results were compared with those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The two results are similar, suggesting that the MWNT-film coated GCE has great potential in practical analysis.     

纳米氧化铜修饰的苯巴比妥分子印迹传感器的制备及其电化学性能

为了改善分子印迹传感器的灵敏度, 在四丁基高氯酸铵的支持电解质溶液中, 以甲基丙烯酸为功能单体, 马来松香丙烯酸乙二醇酯为交联剂在纳米氧化铜修饰过的玻碳电极上电聚合了一种苯巴比妥(PB)识别性能的分子印迹传感膜. 采用循环伏安(CV)法、差分脉冲伏安(DPV)法及交流阻抗(EIS)法对这种纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能进行了研究, 结果显示纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能完全不同. X射线衍射(XRD)证实纳米粒子为氧化铜. 采用扫描电镜(SEM)对纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器的形貌进行分析, 发现纳米氧化铜分散在电极表面, 改善了修饰印迹传感器的识别点. 差分脉冲伏安法(DPV)表明苯巴比妥的浓度在1.0×10^-8-1.8×10^-4 mol·L^-1 范围内呈现良好的线性关系(线性相关系数R=0.9994); 检出限2.3×10^-9 mol·L^-1 (信噪比(S/N)=3). 研究结果表明纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器具有较高灵敏度及选择性. 此印迹传感器能用于实际样品中苯巴比妥的检测, 加标回收率在95.0%-102.5%.     

Polarographic and voltammetric determination of trace amounts of 2-nitronaphthalene

The polarographic behaviour of 2-nitronaphthalene was investigated by DC tast polarography (DCTP) and differential pulse polarography (DPP), both at a dropping mercury electrode, and differential pulse voltammetry and adsorptive stripping voltammetry, both at a hanging mercury drop electrode. Optimum conditions have been found for the determination of 2-nitronaphthalene by the given methods in the concentration ranges of 2×10^–6–1×10^–4, 2×10^–7–1×10^–4, 1×10^–8–1×10^–4 and 2×10^–9–1×10^–8 M, respectively. Practical applicability of these techniques was demonstrated by the determination of 2-nitronaphthalene in drinking and river water after its preliminary separation and preconcentration using liquid–liquid and solid-phase extraction with limits of determination of 3×10^–10 M (drinking water) and 3×10^–9 M (river water).     

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.     

Studies on the voltammetric behaviour of salicyl fluorone and gallium-salicyl fluorone complex

In the NH₄Cl supporting electrolyte, within the pH range from 1 to 5, an irreversible adsorptive reducing wave of salicyl fluorone(SAF) was obtained. The electrode process was verified as follow: On the surface of mercury electrode, the adsorption of SAF obeys Frumkin isotherm.In 0.2 mol/l potassium hydrogen phthalate/HCl buffer solution, at pH 3.0, the sensitive adsorptive complex wave of Ga-SAF was obtained by linear sweep voltammetry. The composition of the electroactive complex was determined as Ga:SAF = 11. The peak height of the complex is proportional to the concentration of Ga(III) in the range of 1.5 × 10^–9 to 6.0 × 10^–7 mol/l, the detection limit is 1.0× 10^–9 mol/l. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of gallium content in aluminium alloys.     

Voltammetric Sensor for the Determination of Parathion Using an Electropolymerized Poly(Carmine) Film Electrode

A voltammetric sensor for the determination of parathion has been developed based on the use of a poly(carmine) film electrode. The reduction of parathion at the poly(carmine) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear scan voltammetry (LSV). Parathion yields a well-defined reduction peak at a potential of −0.595 V on the poly(carmine) modified GCE in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Compared with that on a bare GCE, the reduction peak current of parathion is significantly enhanced. All the experimental parameters are optimized for the determination of parathion. The reduction peak current is linear with the parathion concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit is 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of cobalt in the presence of dimethylglyoxime and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

A sensitive procedure for determination of micro-traces of Co(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry is proposed. The procedure exploits the enhancement of the cobalt peak obtained by use of the system Co(II)–dimethylglyoxime–piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)–cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Using the optimized conditions, a detection limit (based on the 3 criterion) for Co(II) of 1.2×10^–11 mol L^–1 (0.7 ng L^–1) was achieved. The calibration plot for an accumulation time of 30 s was linear from 5×10^–11 to 4×10^–9 mol L^–1. The procedure was validated by analysis of certified reference materials and natural water samples.     

Adsorption voltammetry of the zirconium-alizarin red S complex at a multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode

We used a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a working electrode and studied the electrochemical behavior of zirconium-alizarin red S complex on it. It was found that the modified electrode exhibited a significant catalytic effect toward the reduction of free alizarin red S and the complex. The second derivative linear scan voltammograms of the complex were recorded by a polarographic analyser from 0 to −1000 mV (vs. SCE), and it was found that the complex can be adsorbed on the surface of the modified electrode, yielding a peak at about −470 mV, corresponding to the reduction of alizarin red S in the complex. The linear range was found to be 2.0 × 10⁻¹¹–8.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) for 3 min accumulation. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of zirconium in the ore samples. Correspondence: Pei-Hong Deng, Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang Hunan 421008, P.R. China     

Electrochemical behavior of dopamine at a quercetin-SAM-modified gold electrode and analytical application

A stable quercetin–thioglycolic acid-modified gold electrode (Qu–TCA/Au) was prepared as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and its electrochemical behavior was investigated by electrochemical methods. In 0.05-M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) quercetin exhibits quasi-reversible signals at the Qu–TCA/Au electrode. The stability of the quercetin-modified gold electrode is very good. The quercetin self-assembled monolayer is an effective mediator for the oxidation of dopamine, which was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Ascorbic acid does not interfere with determination of dopamine at an electrode modified with a mixture of quercetin–thioglycolic acid and quercetin–11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. This modification allows dopamine to be determined in the presence of ascorbic acid in the range from 3×10^–5 to 3×10^–4 M. The detection limit is 1×10^–6 M. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was employed to study the electrochemical performances of the modified gold electrode indicating different feedback modes at differently modified surfaces.     

Electrochemical sensor of nitrite based on an inorganic film modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrocatalysis of nitrite in solutions at an inorganic film modified glassy carbon electrode was studied. The modifier was an electrodeposited thin inorganic film of the copper-heptacyanonitrosylferrate (CuHNF). Cyclic voltammetry of the modified electrode in a nitrite solution revealed that both oxidation and reduction of nitrite were catalyzed and the electrocatalytic currents were controlled by the diffusion of nitrite. Voltammetric and amperometric responses were investigated. When applied as an amperometric sensor in a flow injection system, the modified electrode permitted detection at — 0.55 V, over 500 mV lower than at the naked electrode surface. A linear response range extending from 1 × 10^–6 to 1 × 10^–3 M nitrite was obtained, with a detection limit of 3 × 10^–7 M. The relative standard deviation for 50 repetitive injections with a 5 × 10^–5 M nitrite solution was less than 4%. The procedure was applied to the determination of nitrite in saliva and nitrate.