Bismuth-film-plated carbon paste electrodes

In this preliminary note, carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) plated with a bismuth film are presented. The bismuth film can be generated onto the carbon paste surface either from an external plating solution or in situ; the latter being performed in two ways: (i) as a spike of the Bi³⁺ ions to the solution or (ii) via modifying the carbon paste with solid bismuth oxide (5% m/m). As shown on selected examples, bismuth-film-plated CPEs exhibit a good performance in voltammetric stripping analysis of some heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, and Zn.     

Glassy carbon paste electrodes

A new carbon composite electrode material, based on mixing glassy carbon (GC) microparticles with an organic pasting liquid is described. The resulting glassy carbon paste electrode (GCPE) combines the electrochemical properties of GC with the various advantages of composite electrodes. Glassy carbon pastes (GCPs) offer high electrochemical reactivity, a wide accessible potential window, a low background current, and are inexpensive, easy to prepare, modify, and renew. The new material has a lower double-layer capacitance and a higher heterogeneous rate constant (for ferricyanide) compared to conventional carbon pastes (CPs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicate significant differences in the structure of GCPE and carbon paste electrode (CPE). Factors influencing the electrode kinetics of GCPE surfaces are discussed. The electrochemical properties and advantages of GCPE should be of broad utility in electroanalysis.     

Zeolite-modified solid carbon paste electrodes

New zeolite-modified carbon-based electrodes are described. They are based either on the physical anchoring of zeolite particles on the surface of solid carbon paste (the viscosity of which can be tuned by temperature change or controlled dissolution by an organic solvent), or on the dispersion of zeolite particles in the bulk of a carbon paste matrix containing solid paraffin as a binder. Both these systems display superior electrochemical performance in comparison to corresponding "classical" zeolite-modified carbon paste electrodes using mineral oil as binder. These well-described composites usually suffer from poor mechanical stability in stirred media as well as memory effects due to significant ingress of the external solution into the bulk electrode. Advantages of the zeolite-modified solid carbon paste electrodes are reported mostly on the basis of two electroanalytical applications: the voltammetric detection of Cu²⁺ ions after accumulation by ion exchange at open circuit, and the indirect amperometric detection of non-electroactive species (i.e. Na⁺) in flow injection analysis.     

Voltammetric determination of Celiptium with carbon paste and lipid-modified carbon paste electrodes

The electrooxidation of the antitumour drug 2-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium (Celiptium) was investigated by cyclic, differential-pulse and adsorptive voltammetry at carbon paste (CPE) and lipid-modified carbon paste electrodes (LM-CPE). The influence of the paste composition, i.e., the ratio of graphite to binder, was studied in order to elucidate the nature of the accumulation process at the surface of the CPE. The electrode surface coverage at saturation was calculated. A.c. measurements at the CPE and at the LM-CPE during the accumulation of Celiptium demonstrated an increased differential double layer capacity of the LM-CPE. The influence of several parameters that affect the adsorptive step at the CPE was investigated, such as pH, ionic strength and interfering ions. Improved signals were obtained at the CPE and the detection limit in 0.1 M sodium perchlorate (t_acc.=3 min) was found to be 2 × 10^?10 M. Measurements of the drug in dilute standard serum samples were done using the medium-exchange technique.     

Voltammetric study of glibenclamide at carbon paste and Sephadex-modified carbon paste electrodes

The oxidative behaviour of the antidiabetic agent glibenclamide on a bare carbon paste electrode (CPE) and a Sephadex-modified carbon paste electrode (SMCPE) was explored by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The analysis procedure consisted of an open circuit accumulation step in stirred sample solution of Britton-Robinson buffer (0.04 mol L^–1, pH 2.0). This was followed by medium exchange to a clean solution of Britton-Robinson buffer (0.04 mol L^–1, pH 5.0), and subsequently an anodic potential scan was effected to obtain the voltammetric peak. The glibenclamide oxidation peak current obtained by DPV was proportional to the concentration of the glibenclamide in the range of 1.0×10^–9 mol L^–1 to 5.0×10^–8 mol L^–1 for 180 s accumulation time, with a detection limit of 4.0×10^–10 mol L^–1. A method was developed for the determination of glibenclamide in formulation and spiked human serum. Moreover, the proposed procedure was used to estimate the serum concentrations after oral administration of a 5 mg tablet of glibenclamide to three diabetic subjects.     

Metallic impurity free carbon nanotube paste electrodes

Electrodes modified with carbon nanomaterials find wide ranging applications in electrochemistry such as in energy generation and storage through to applications in electroanalysis. A substantial limitation is the presence of metallic impurities which vary between batches and can produce erroneous results. Consequently we have explored the electrochemical properties of metallic impurity free carbon nanotube paste electrodes using potassium ferrocyanide and hydrogen peroxide as model compounds. In terms of the latter utilising cyclic voltammetry, a linear range from 0.75 to 3 mM with a limit of detection of 0.19 mM is possible using the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen peroxide while using the electrochemical reduction of the target analyte, a linear range from 0.5 to 249 mM is possible with a detection limit of 0.43 mM.The ultra-small size of the carbon nanotubes and fabrication methodology result in a tightly bound carbon nanotube electrode surface which does not exhibit thin-layer behaviour resulting in highly reproducible electrodes with the %RSD found to be 5.5%. These analytical ranges, detection limits and reproducibility are technologically useful.The carbon nanotubes utilised are completely free from metallic impurities and do not require lengthy processing to remove impurities and consequently have no variation in the purity of the nanomaterial between batches as is commonly the case for other available carbon nanotube material. The impurity free nature of this nanomaterial allows for highly reproducible and intelligent sensors based on carbon nanotubes to be understood and realised for the first time.     

Detection of homocysteine at carbon nanotube paste electrodes

The use of a carbon-nanotube paste (CNTP) electrode provides an effective means for the determination of homocysteine. A decrease of ca. 120 mV in the overpotential for the oxidation of homocysteine compared to a traditional carbon paste electrode, is reported along with greatly enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics. The analytical parameters have been assessed with a linear range from 5 to 200 μM and a detection limit of 4.6 μM. Furthermore, the generic nature of this increased reactivity of the CNTP surface towards thiol moieties has been demonstrated with cysteine, glutathione and n-acetylcysteine, providing a greatly enhanced electrochemical response compared to the carbon paste electrode.     

Bioelectrochemical studies on catalase modified glassy carbon paste electrodes

The enzyme catalase (EC: 1.11.1.6) has been covalently coupled onto the surface of glassy carbon (GC) powder matrix using a 16 atom spacer arm. The enzyme coupled powder was made into a paste electrode that was used to study the electrochemical properties. Standard electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and flow injection analysis studies were carried out using this paste electrode. The cyclic voltammogram of the modified paste exhibited a clear increase in the reduction peak at −180 mV in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The potential at which maximum Faradaic activity was observed was determined using differential pulse voltammetry, which showed a clear peak at −100 mV. This potential was used to monitor the response of the electrode to varying substrate concentrations using a home made setup for flow injection analysis. A linear increase in the current values in the range 0.1–1 mM hydrogen peroxide concentration was observed in our system.     

PVC-碳糊修饰电极的研制

研制了二茂铁修饰PVC-碳糊电极，采用循环伏安法研究了在pH7．4 KH2PO4-Na2HPO4缓冲溶液中该修饰电极的电化学特性和该修饰电极对抗坏血酸和邻苯二酚的电催化作用，测定结果具有较好的灵敏度和线性关系。研制了α-安息香肟修饰PVC-碳糊电极，研究了该电极对铜(Ⅱ)的特殊选择性。同时初步探讨了电极与铜(Ⅱ)的反应机理。     

Biomass-modified carbon paste electrodes for monitoring dissolved metal ions

Electrodes were prepared by incorporating dried, nonliving biomass of a common lichen, Ramalina stenospora, and Sphagnum (peat) moss in carbon paste. The electrodes were tested on solutions containing Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions by immersing the electrode in the solution for selected periods of time to accumulate ions. Following this the electrode was connected to a potentiostat and the applied voltage scanned from −1.0 to +0.5 V vs. SCE. Any adsorbed metal ions were stripped back into solution at the appropriate oxidizing voltage. The ratio of biomass to mineral oil to graphite has been found to be crucial to electrode performance. Different ratios of the three components using the lichen Ramalina stenospora were evaluated for maximum electrode performance. Only two electrode compositions gave a good electrode response for lead. Electrodes containing peat moss were superior in performance to lichen-containing electrodes for lead. Electrodes based on the lichens Cladina evansii and Letharia vulpina, the marine algae Ulva lactuca and Sargassum fluitans, the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, and the aquatic plant Eichhornia crassipes did not respond to lead at all. All functioning electrodes studies showed a poor response toward copper(II) ions.     

Amperometric detection of glucose using self-catalytic carbon paste electrodes

The analytical detection of d-glucose by means of self-catalytic carbon paste electrodes is described. In the construction of these electrodes, carbon powder has been modified with the redox liquid n-butylferrocene, which simultaneously serves both to help bind the paste together whilst also acting as a mediator in the enzymatic oxidation of d-glucose by glucose oxidase. The sensor then functions by monitoring the electrochemical oxidation of the constituent n-butylferrocene itself. Through testing in model glucose solutions, the electrodes were found to yield a linear response over a d-glucose concentration range of 2-20 mM. They were also successfully employed in the determination of d-glucose levels in a spiked blood sample, giving a detection limit of 0.8 mM (based on the 3sigma criterion).     

Adsorptive stripping behaviour of mitoxantrone on carbon paste electrodes

The electrooxidation of mitoxantrone (MXT) on carbon paste electrodes was studied using voltammetric techniques in adsorption conditions. The analyte was accumulated at the working electrode (a carbon paste electrode) under precisely controlled mass-transport conditions and stripped electrochemically in the same solution. An electrode pretreatment is proposed which shows good reproducibility of the analytical signal (0.81%). The stripping step was studied with alternating current voltammetry providing a linear response in the concentration range 5 x 10(-11) to 7 x 10(-10)M in aqueous samples. Finally, a method using the medium exchange and AC phase-selective adsorptive stripping voltammetry technique was proposed for MXT analysis in urine samples.     

Perspectives of carbon paste electrodes in stripping potentiometry.

The testing of various types of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) for their use in stripping potentiometry was carried out by means of specially proposed procedures and by using various model analyte systems. CPEs containing three different pasting liquids (paraffin oil, silicone oil, tricresyl phosphate) were tested as supports for mercury- and gold films, and as substrates for electrolytic, adsorptive, ion-pair forming, and extractive accumulation. Test measurements in organic solvent-containing media and studies of some irreversible electrochemical reactions were performed as well. Individual examples to be studied allowed one to formulate and outline some perspectives of CPEs in potentiometric stripping analysis and related constant current stripping analysis.     

Some observations on carbon paste electrodes in ac voltammetry

Phase-sensitive alternating current (a.c.) voltammetric techniques were used to examine the background current at carbon paste electrodes. Several different mulling agents were used for the pastes. The available potential span depends on the mulling agent; paraffin oil gives the largest span. Peaks in the background current obtained by cyclic a.c. voltammetry are attributed to current arising from surface functional groups. Chemical or electrochemical oxidation of the electrode surface enhanced the peak current. Little evidence of this current could be found in d.c. cyclic voltammograms because it is obscured by charging current. The anodic potential limit is determined by these surface currents. On the cathodic side, dissolved oxygen is reduced in a process which produced two peaks in the a.c. scan. It was shown that the second peak is due to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water and a method for the quantitation of H₂O₂ was developed which had a detection limit of a few mg l^?1.     

Electrochemical behaviour of drugs at lipid modified carbon paste electrodes

Mixing carbon paste with a charged lipid, in an appropriate ratio, permitted us to prepare a modified electrode whose surface exhibits interesting characteristics of the constituting lipid. Two negatively charged phospholipids have been selected, namely: asolectin and cardiolipin. By investigating the electrooxidation of several drugs which are known to interact strongly with the lipid component of cellular membranes (adriamycin, epirubicin and promethazine) it was possible to demonstrate markedly different behaviour at the lipid modified carbon paste electrode (LMPCE) depending on the pH of the solution. By analysing the results of linear scan, ac and adsorptive voltammetry and by taking into account literature data on drug-membrane interactions, it was possible to postulate a model of the LMCPE interface with thin layers of lipids covering the graphite particles. The differential capacity measurements as a function of time (fixed potential) and in the presence of increasing amounts of drugs enabled us to point out profound increases in the capacity of the LMCPE in the presence of adriamycin and epirubicin. In addition, the more negatively charged the lipids were, the higher was the capacity increase.     

Electrochemical studies on reconstituted horseradish peroxidase modified carbon paste electrodes

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a heme protein that acts specifically on H(2)O(2) as the electron acceptor. Hemin (Ferriprotoporhyrin-IX) is the prosthetic group of the enzyme. A direct molecular wire to the redox center of the enzyme is expected to enhance the electrochemical response of the enzyme. Native HRP was immobilized onto the surface of glassy carbon (GC) matrix using a 16-atom spacer arm. We have also immobilized the redox center of the enzyme (hemin) through one of the propionate groups onto the surface of glassy carbon matrix using an 11-atom spacer arm with amino terminus. Apoperoxidase was isolated according to the Teale's method and was allowed to reconstitute with the hemin-bound matrix for enzyme reconstitution. The HRP paste and reconstituted-HRP (rec-HRP) paste electrodes were used to study the electrochemical response to substrate H(2)O(2) using electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry (CV) and flow injection (FI) studies. Flow injection studies using HRP paste electrode showed a linearity from 25 to 200 microM H(2)O(2). The rec-HRP paste showed approximately 100 times increase in the electron transfer rates compared to native HRP paste, and substrate linearity from 25 to 100 microM was observed.     

Voltammetric studies of indigo adsorbed on pre-treated carbon paste electrodes

The adsorptive behaviour of indigo on the surface of pre-treated carbon paste electrodes (CPE) has been studied in various aqueous media at different pH, by cyclic (CV) and alternating current voltammetry (ACV). Cyclic voltammograms of this molecule are characterised by two main electrodic processes in the potential range from −0.7 V to +0.9 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/sat. KCl), which are reversible in the pH range of 3–11, these being irreversible when both are recorded at pH 1. The first one at pH 1 becomes purely reversible when the applied potential range is from −0.2 V to +0.2 V and constitutes the best analytical signal. Due to these electrodic features a significant increase in sensitivity was achieved when the signal was recorded by alternating current voltammetry. Indigo was quantified by CV and ACV, in 0.1 M HClO₄ pH 1 and 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.2 solutions. Limits of detection in the sub-nanomolar range were achieved for a 5-min accumulation time by ACV. These data provides useful information about the suitability of this electrodic process as a detection scheme in the development of alkaline phosphatase (AP) based voltammetric affinity devices, in which indigo is generated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the 3-indoxyl phosphate substrate.     

Amperometric biosensors for glucose based on carbon paste modified electrodes

The modification of carbon-paste electrodes by incorporation of the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOD) is described. The resulting probes can be operated as amperometric glucose sensors in the presence or absence of a mediator (1,1'-dimethylferrocene) mixed into the paste. Extended linear calibration ranges have been obtained up to 90 and 5OmM glucose respectively. The electrode responses were rapid, reaching steady-state values within 30-40 sec. Advantages of using a GOD-paste formulation are suggested. Plasma glucose assays were correlated with spectrophotometric determinations based on glucose oxidase (y = 1.07x - 0.16, r = 0.973, n = 17).