Voltammetric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Melatonin and Pyridoxine in Dietary Supplements Using a Cathodically Pretreated Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

The simultaneous voltammetric determination of melatonin (MT) and pyridoxine (PY) has been carried out at a cathodically pretreated boron‐doped diamond electrode. By using cyclic voltammetry, a separation of the oxidation peak potentials of both compounds present in mixture was about 0.47 V in Britton‐Robinson buffer, pH 2. The results obtained by square‐wave voltammetry allowed a method to be developed for determination of MT and PY simultaneously in the ranges 1–100 μg mL⁻¹ (4.3×10⁻⁶–4.3×10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹) and 10–175 μg mL⁻¹ (4.9×10⁻⁵–8.5×10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹), with detection limits of 0.14 μg mL⁻¹ (6.0×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹) and 1.35 μg mL⁻¹ (6.6×10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹), respectively. The proposed method was successfully to the dietary supplements samples containing these compounds for health‐caring purposes.     

DPV and SWV Determination of Estrone Using a Cathodically Pretreated Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

Voltammetric methods for estrone determination were developed using a cathodically pretreated BDD electrode with DPV or SWV. Analytical curves were obtained for estrone concentrations from 0.20 or 0.10 to 2.0 µmol L^?1, for DPV or SWV, with detection limits of 0.20 and 0.10 µmol L^?1, respectively. The SWV method was successfully applied in estrone recovery studies in different water matrices. Additionally, these recovery results were reasonably similar to those attained using HPLC/UV‐vis. Comparatively to other electroanalytical methods based on different carbon electrodes, the here‐reported novel methods yield very good results, being adequate for estrone determination in environmental samples.     

Simultaneous Square‐Wave Voltammetric Determination of Paracetamol,Caffeine and Orphenadrine in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Cathodically Pretreated Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

An electroanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PAR), caffeine (CAF), and orphenadrine (ORPH) using the square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and a cathodically pretreated boron‐doped diamond electrode was developed. The method exhibits linear responses to PAR, CAF, and ORPH in the concentration ranges 5.4×10^?7–6.1×10^?5 M, 7.8×10^?7–3.5×10^?5 M, and 7.8×10^?7–3.5×10^?5 M, respectively, with detection limits of 2.3×10^?7 M, 9.6×10^?8 M, and 8.4×10^?8 M, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of these analytes in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Benzene,Toluene and Xylenes (BTX) in Water Using a Cathodically Pre‐treated Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

An electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) in water was developed using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). The determination of BTX was carried out using a cathodically pre‐treated boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDD) using 0.1 mol L^?1 H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. In the SWV measurements using the BDD, the oxidation peak potentials of the total xylenes‐toluene and toluene‐benzene couples, present in ternary mixtures, display separations of about 100 and 200 mV, respectively. The attained detection limits for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and total xylenes were 3.0×10^?7, 8.0×10^?7 and 9.1×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The recovery values taken in ternary mixtures of benzene, toluene and total xylenes in aqueous solutions are 98.9 %, 99.2 % and 99.4 %, respectively.     

Oxidation Behavior of Insecticide Azoxystrobin and its Voltammetric Determination Using Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

Electrochemical oxidation of azoxystrobin, a systemic fungicide commonly used in agriculture to protect a wide variety of crops, was investigated using cyclic voltammetry with a boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDDE) in aqueous buffer solutions. Two pH independent irreversible anodic current peaks controlled mostly by diffusion were observed in wide pH range (2 to 12) at potentials +1600 mV and +2150 mV vs. saturated silver‐silver chloride electrode. Mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation was proposed and supported with high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of azoxystrobin solutions electrolyzed on carbon fiber brush electrode. The main product of the first two‐electron oxidation step was identified as methyl 2‐(2‐{[6‐(2‐cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin‐4‐yl]oxy}phenyl)‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐oxopropanoate. An analytical method for the determination of azoxystrobin in water samples and pesticide preparation by differential pulse voltammetry with BDDE was developed. The method provides a wide linear dynamic range (3.0×10^?7 to 2.0×10^?4 mol L^?1) with limit of detection 8×10^?8 mol L^?1. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by the addition and recovery method with recoveries ranging from 96.0 to 105.8 %. Interference study proved sufficient selectivity of the developed voltammetric method for the azoxystrobin determination in presence of azole fungicides as well as pesticides used to prevent the same crops.     

Selective Determination of Verapamil in Pharmaceutics and Urine Using a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode Coupled to Flow Injection Analysis with Multiple‐pulse Amperometric Detection

This work presents a simple and low‐cost method for fast and selective determination of Verapamil (VP) in tablets and human urine samples using a boron‐doped diamond working electrode (BDD) coupled to a flow injection analysis system with multiple pulse amperometric detection (FIA‐MPA). The electrochemical behaviour of VP in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ sulfuric acid showed three merged oxidation peaks at around +1.4 V and upon reverse scan, one reduction peak at 0.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The MPA detection was performed applying a sequence of three potential pulses on BDD electrode: (1) at +1.6 V for VP oxidation, (2) at +0.2 V for reduction of the oxidized product and (3) at +0.1 V for cleaning of the working electrode surface. The FIA system was optimized with injection volume of 150 μL and flow rate of 3.5 mL min⁻¹. The method showed a linear range from 0.8 to 40.0 μmol L⁻¹ (R>0.99) with a low limit of detection of 0.16 μmol L⁻¹, good repeatability (RSD<2.2 %; n=10) and sample throughput (45 h⁻¹). Selective determination of VP in urine was performed at+0.2 V due to absence of interference from ascorbic and uric acids in this potential. The addition‐recovery tests in both samples were close to 100 % and the results were similar to an official method.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Trace Level Ricin in Castor Seeds Using a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

Ricin, (Ricinus communis agglutinin, RCA) is one of the most poisonous of naturally occurring substances and has great potential for bioterrorism because no antidote exists. Fast detection at low concentrations is a challenge, and vital to the development of proper countermeasures. In this study, a square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SWAdSV) method for determining RCA using a cathodically polarized boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode is presented. An irreversible electrochemical RCA oxidation peak was identified on the BDD electrode by different voltammetric techniques using both direct and adsorptive stripping modes. An adsorption‐controlled (slope log Ip vs log v of 0.80) pH‐dependent process was observed. For values of 1.0≤pH≤9.0, the numbers of protons and electrons associated with the oxidation reaction were estimated (ca. 1.0) by differential pulse voltammetry. The RCA oxidation step may correspond to the oxidation of tryptophan amino acid residues, and occurs in a complex mechanism. The excellent analytical performance of the cathodically polarized BDD electrode in combination with the stripping mode ramp was verified with RCA by using a short deposition time in an open circuit potential (120 s). Under optimized analysis conditions, a linear response in the range of (3.3–94.0)×10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ (r²=0.9944) and a limit of detection of 6.2×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ were estimated. This LOD is lower than several methods found in the literature. For example, it is 168 times lower than that obtained by using square wave voltammetric with a glassy carbon electrode. Moreover, an even lower LOD might be achieved by using the SWAdSV method with a higher pre‐concentration time. In addition, trace levels of RCA were successfully determined in different castor seed cultivars with an overall average recovery from 99.2±1.6 % for the three different RCA‐A concentration levels. The high accuracy of the analytical data highlights the use of the proposed method for determining RCA in other samples.     

Electroanalytical Determination of N‐Nitrosamines in Aqueous Solution Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

The electrochemical methods cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry were applied to develop an electroanalytical procedure for the determination of N‐nitrosamines (N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine and N‐nitrosodiethylamine) in aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical behaviors of N‐nitrosamines on boron‐doped diamond electrodes. It was observed an irreversible electrooxidation peak located in approximately 1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for both N‐nitrosamines. The optimal electrochemical response was obtained using the following square‐wave voltammetry parameters: f=250 Hz, E_sw=50 mV and E_s=2 mV using a Britton–Robinson buffer solution as electrolyte (pH 2). The detection and quantification limits determined for total N‐nitrosamines were 6.0×10^?8 and 2.0×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively.     

First Electroanalytical Methodology for the Determination of Hordenine in Dietary Supplements using a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

The present work describes the first electrochemical investigation and a simple, rapid and modification‐free electroanalytical methodology for quantification of hordenine (a potent phenylethylamine alkaloid) using a boron‐doped diamond electrode. At optimized square‐wave voltammetric parameters, the observed oxidation peak current in 0.1 M HClO₄ at +1.33 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) increased linearly from 5.0 to 100 μg mL^?1 (3.0×10^?5–6.1×10^?4 M), with detection limit of 1.3 μg mL^?1 (7.8×10^?6 M). The applicability of the developed method was tested with the determination of hordenine in the commercial dietary supplement formulations.     

Simultaneous Determination of Caffeine,Ibuprofen, and Paracetamol by Flow‐injection Analysis with Multiple‐pulse Amperometric Detection on Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

This work presents a simple, fast and low‐cost method for the simultaneous determination of three drugs by flow‐injection analysis with multiple‐pulse amperometric (MPA) detection using a wall‐jet flow cell with a boron‐doped diamond electrode. The amperometric determination of caffeine (CF), ibuprofen (IB) and paracetamol (PC) was performed by the application of a four‐potential waveform using the MPA technique. PC is oxidized at E₁ (1.20 V/70 ms) and thus selectively detected; PC and CF are oxidized at E₂ (1.49 V/40 ms); PC, CF and IB are oxidized at E₃ (1.70 V/70 ms); and E₄ (1.80 V/100 ms) is applied for electrode cleaning. The subtraction of currents obtained at the different potentials did not provide accurate determinations of CF and IB, thus it was required to investigate correction factors to determine CF and IB without the interference from PC and CF using the respective amperometric signals obtained at E₂ and E₃. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of three drugs in pharmaceutical samples with low generation of residues and a high analytical frequency (150 h^?1) in comparison with HPLC‐DAD method.     

A Novel Strategy for Quantifying Clopidogrel Using Square‐wave Voltammetry and a Boron‐doped Diamond Film

The voltammetric behavior of clopidogrel bisulfate (CLO), an antiplatelet agent, was investigated for the first time in the literature on a cathodically pretreated boron‐doped diamond electrode (CP‐BDDE) using cyclic (CV) and square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). It was observed an anodic peak for CLO, suitable for analytical purposes, at about 1.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L^?1 KCl)) by CV in Britton‐Robinson buffer solution (pH 5.0). On the physical‐chemical characterization of the interface phenomena, it was proved that electrode reaction of the analyte was controlled by a diffusion process. At optimized square‐wave parameters (pulse amplitude of 60 mV, frequency of 30 Hz and scan increment of 3 mV), the obtained analytical curve was linear for the CLO concentration range from 0.60 to 60.0 μmol L^?1, with a detection limit of 0.60 μmol L^?1. The simple, rapid and greener analytical method, based on CP‐BDDE electrochemical sensor, was successfully applied in real samples (pharmaceuticals and urine).     

Determination of Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate in Water by Anodic Voltammetry Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

An electrochemical study was made of the anodic behavior of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC) using a boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDDE) in sodium sulfate supporting electrolyte. This paper presents a new alternative for the electroanalytical determination of DEDTC in protic media, using cyclic voltammetry or chronoamperometry. Linear plots of current vs. concentration correlated with anodic stepwise oxidation were obtained in delimited potential ranges with very good correlation coefficients.     

The Performance of Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode for the Determination of Ramipril and its Association with Hydrochlorothiazide

The voltammetric behavior of ramipril (RMP), an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor, was investigated for the first time in the literature on a boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDDE) using cyclic (CV) and square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Its behavior was also considered in the presence of a thiazide diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), for the simultaneous determination. The performance of BDDE and glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was compared, since RMP provides a high oxidation potential. It was observed that the anodic peak potentials for HCTZ and RMP at the BDDE were 1.23 and 1.67 V (vs . Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L^‐1 KCl)) by CV in BR buffer solution (pH 2.0), respectively. The influence of supporting electrolyte, pH and scan rate in the current response of these both drugs was examined to select optimum experimental conditions. By this way, the determination of RMP and its association with HCTZ using SWV and a BDDE was successfully applied in real samples (single and combined dosage forms), with results in close agreement at 95% confidence level with those obtained using high‐performance liquid chromatography.     

Determination of Amlodipine and Atenolol by Batch Injection Analysis with Amperometric Detection on Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

This work describes the sequential determination of amlodipine (AML) and atenolol (ATN) by batch injection analysis (BIA) with pulsed amperometric detection (BIA‐PAD). Boron doped diamond (BDD) was used as working electrode. AML was detected at +1.00 V and ATN at +1.65 V. The proposed BIA method is simple, robust, precise (RSD <3.2 %; n=10), presents high analytical frequency (>70 injections h^?1), generates reduced volume of waste (without use of organic solvent) and requires minimal sample manipulation (dissolution and dilution in electrolyte). The limits of detection were 0.074 and 0.073 µmol L^?1 for AML and ATN, respectively. The results obtained with the proposed BIA method were compared to those obtained by HPLC and similar results were obtained (at 95% of confidence level).     

Simple and Fast Determination of Warfarin in Pharmaceutical Samples Using Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode in BIA and FIA Systems with Multiple Pulse Amperometric Detection

This paper proposes the use of the boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDDE) in flow and batch injection analysis (FIA and BIA) systems with multiple‐pulse amperometric (MPA) detection for the determination of warfarin (WA) in pharmaceutical formulations. The electrochemical behavior of WA obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer shows an irreversible oxidation process at +1.0 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The MPA was based on the application of two sequential potential pulses as a function of time on BDDE: (1) for WA detection at +1.2 V/100 ms and; (2) for electrode surface cleaning at −0.2 V/200 ms. Both hydrodynamic systems (FIA‐MPA and BIA‐MPA) used for WA determination achieved high precision (with relative standard deviations around 2 %, n =10), wide linear range (2.0−400.0 μmol L⁻¹), low limits of detection (0.5 μmol L⁻¹) and good analytical frequency (94 h⁻¹ for FIA and 130 h⁻¹ for BIA). The WA determination made by the proposed methods was compared to the official spectrophotometric method. The FIA‐MPA and BIA‐MPA methods are simple and fast, being an attractive option for WA routine analysis in pharmaceutical industries.     

Electroanalysis of Gallic and Ellagic Acids at a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode Coupled with High‐performance Liquid Chromatography

Electrochemistry of gallic acid (GA) and ellagic acid (EA) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using a bare boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode. CVs indicate that the electro‐oxidation of both GA and EA are quasi‐reversible processes. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a BDD electrode poised at+1.4 V offers the limit of detection (LOD, S/N=3) of 60 and 200 nM for GA and EA, respectively. The optimized method was then applied to the detection of both acids in Islay, Highland and Scotch whiskeys, with the highest concentrations found in a 14‐year‐old Highland whiskey.     

Simultaneous Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Caffeine in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

A cathodically pretreated boron‐doped diamond electrode was used for the simultaneous anodic determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and caffeine (CAF) by differential pulse voltammetry. Linear calibration curves (r=0.999) were obtained from 1.9×10^?5 to 2.1×10^?4 mol L^?1 for AA and from 9.7×10^?6 to 1.1×10^?4 mol L^?1 for CAF, with detection limits of 19 μmol L^?1 and 7.0 μmol L^?1, respectively. This method was successfully applied for the determination of AA and CAF in pharmaceutical formulations, with results equal to those obtained using a HPLC reference method.     

Simultaneous Determination of Caffeine and Acetylsalicylic Acid in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Film Electrode by Differential Pulse Voltammetry

This work presents a simple, fast and low‐cost method for simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), without alkaline hydrolysis and caffeine (CF) in pharmaceutical formulations using a boron‐doped diamond as the working electrode through differential pulse voltammetry. A good repeatability was reached for 20 measurements, with a low relative standard deviation of less than 1.0 %. The calibration curves presented a great linear correlation coefficient for both drugs (R=0.999) with a limit of detection of 1.6×10^?7 mol L^?1 for CF and 2.3×10^?7 mol L^?1 for ASA. The system was validated in comparison with the official method.     

Sensitive Determination of the Diquat Herbicide in Fresh Food Samples on a Highly Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

The highly boron‐doped diamond electrode (HBDD) combined with square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used in the development of an analytical procedure for diquat determination in potato and sugar cane samples and lemon, orange, tangerine and pineapple juices. Preliminary experiments realised in a medium of 0.05 mol L^?1 Na₂B₄O₇ showed the presence of two voltammetric peaks around ?0.6 V and around ?1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl^? 3.0 mol L^?1, where the first peak could be successfully used for analytical proposes due the facility in the electrode surface renovation. After the experimental and voltammetric optimisation, the calculated detection and quantification limits were 1.6×10^?10 mol L^?1 and 5.3×10^?10 mol L^?1 (0.057 µg L^?1 and 0.192 µg L^?1, respectively), which are lower than the maximum residue limit established for fresh food samples by the Brazilian Sanitary Vigilance Agency. The proposed methodology was used to determine diquat residues in potato and sugar cane samples and lemon, orange, tangerine and pineapple juices and the calculated recovery efficiencies indicated that the proposed procedure presents higher robustness, stability and sensitivity, good reproducibility, and is very adequate for diquat determination in complex samples.     

A Simple Approach to Simultaneous Electroanalytical Quantification of Acetaminophen and Tramadol Using a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode in the Existence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

The present work describes the individual, selective and simultaneous quantification of acetaminophen (ACP) and tramadol hydrochloride (TRA) using a modification‐free boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode. Cyclic voltammetric measurements revealed that the profile of the binary mixtures of ACP and TRA were manifested by two irreversible oxidation peaks at about +1.04 V (for ACP) and +1.61 V (for TRA) in Britton‐Robinson (BR) buffer pH 3.0. TRA oxidation peak was significantly improved in the presence of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), while ACP signal did not change. By employing square‐wave stripping mode in BR buffer pH 3.0 containing 8×10^?4 mol L^?1 SDS after 30 s accumulation under open‐circuit voltage, the BDD electrode could be used for quantification of ACP and TRA simultaneously in the ranges 1.0–70 μg mL^?1 (6.6×10^?6–4.6×10^?4 mol L^?1) and 1.0–70 μg mL^?1 (3.3×10^?6–2.3×10^?4 mol L^?1), with detection limits of 0.11 μg mL^?1 (7.3×10^?7 mol L^?1) and 0.13 μg mL^?1 (4.3×10^?7 mol L^?1), respectively. The practical applicability of the proposed approach was tested for the individual and simultaneous quantification of ACP and/or TRA in the pharmaceutical dosage forms.