Simultaneous Electrochemical Determination of Hydroquinone and Bisphenol A using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Silver Nanoparticles

In this paper, a rapid and sensitive modified electrode for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and bisphenol A (BPA) is proposed. The simultaneous determination of these two compounds is extremely important since they can coexist in the same sample and are very harmful to plants, animals and the environment in general. A carbon paste electrode (CPE) was modified with silver nanoparticles (nAg) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The PVP was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent of nAg from silver nitrate in aqueous media. The nAg‐PVP composite obtained was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and UV‐vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of HQ and BPA at the nAg‐PVP/CPE was investigated in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ B−R buffer (pH 6.0) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The results indicate that the electrochemical responses are improved significantly with the use of the modified electrode. The calibration curves obtained by SWV, under the optimized conditions, showed linear ranges of 0.09–2.00 μmol L⁻¹ for HQ (limit of detection 0.088 μmol L⁻¹) and 0.04–1.00 μmol L⁻¹ for BPA (limit of detection 0.025 μmol L⁻¹). The modified electrode was successfully applied in the analysis of water samples and the results were comparable to those obtained using UV‐vis spectroscopy.     

Resolution of a Mononitrophenol Isomers Mixture by Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry

The high resolution second order voltammetric technique, Differential Alternative Pulse Voltammetry (DAPV), was applied for the simultaneous quantification of the mononitrophenol (NP) isomers. Complete resolution of the three isomers was achieved at concentration ratios as high as 1 : 5, employing the corresponding anodic and cathodic peaks appeared on the DAPV curve. The working glassy carbon electrode was modified by a nanocomposite of graphite nanopowder and Au nanoparticles to increase the sensitivity. The linear concentration range was found to be extended up to 125 μmol L^?1 for both the m‐NP and p‐NP isomers, while the o‐NP isomer presented calibration plot of two linear sections: up to 100 μmol L^?1 and up to 225 μmol L^?1. The LOD was found to be as low as 1.5 μmol L^?1, 2.5 μmol L^?1, and 0.5 μmol L^?1 for o‐NP, m‐NP, and p‐NP, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by quantification of spiked tap waters samples. No interference was observed from a range of phenolic compounds such as phenol, 4‐aminophenol, 4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, and resorcinol.     

A Novel Sensor Based on Manganese azo‐Macrocycle/Carbon Nanotubes to Perform the Oxidation and Reduction Processes of Two Diphenol Isomers

The present work describes the development of a selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor for simultaneous determination of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ), based on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with manganese phthalocyanine azo‐macrocycle (MnPc) adsorbed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Scanning electron microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy were used to characterize the composite material (MnPc/MWCNT) on the glassy carbon electrode surface. The modified electrode showed excellent electrochemical activity towards the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of CC and HQ. On the MnPc/MWCNT/GC electrode, both CC and HQ can generate a pair of quasi‐reversible and well‐defined redox peaks. Under optimized experimental and operational conditions, the cathodic peak currents were linear over the range 1–600 µmol L^?1 for both CC and HQ, with limits of detection of 0.095 and 0.041 µmol L^?1, respectively. The anodic peak currents were also linear over the range 1–600 µmol L^?1 for both CC and HQ, with limits of detection of 0.096 and 0.048 µmol L^?1, respectively. The proposed method was effectively applied for the simultaneous detection of hydroquinone and catechol in water samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a comparative method described in the literature.     

A MnOOH‐Polyaniline Nanocomposite Modified Gold Electrode for Electrochemical Sensing of Nitrite

A novel non‐enzymatic nitrite sensor was fabricated by immobilizing MnOOH‐PANI nanocomposites on a gold electrode (Au electrode). The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM ) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR ). The electrochemical results showed that the sensor possessed excellent electrocatalytic ability for NO₂⁻ oxidation. The sensor displayed a linear range from 3.0 μmol•L⁻¹ to 76.0 mmol•L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.9 μmol•L⁻¹ (S/N = 3), a sensitivity of 132.2 μA •L•mol⁻¹•cm⁻² and a response time of 3 s. Furthermore, the sensor showed good reproducibility and long‐term stability. It is expected that the MnOOH‐PANI nanocomposites could be applied for more active sensors and used in practice for nitrite sensing.     

Covalent modification of a glassy carbon electrode with penicillamine for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol

A simple and highly selective electrochemical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC) at a glassy carbon electrode covalently modified with penicillamine (Pen). The electrode is used for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of HQ and CC and shows an excellent electrocatalytical effect on the oxidation of HQ and CC upon cyclic voltammetry in acetate buffer solution of pH 5.0. In differential pulse voltammetric measurements, the modified electrode was able to separate the oxidation peak potentials of HQ and CC present in binary mixtures by about 103 mV although the bare electrode gave a single broad response. The determination limit of HQ in the presence of 0.1 mmol L⁻¹ CC was 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹, and the determination limit of CC in the presence of 0.1 mmol L⁻¹ HQ was 6.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of HQ and CC in a water sample. It is simple and highly selective.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of 2,4-Dichlorophenol by Laponite Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

A laponite modified carbon paste electrode was prepared, characterized and applied for the 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) voltammetric determination. It takes advantage of the ability of laponite to adsorb phenols, as well as of its availability and very low cost. Kinetic and equilibrium data for 2,4-DCP adsorption by laponite in aqueous dispersions demonstrated that the adsorption process obeyed a pseudo first order kinetic model and was consistent with the formation of adsorbed multilayers on a surface with heterogeneous pore distribution. The composite paste electrode exhibited a heterogeneous surface with 65 % increased surface area and 27 % enhanced catalytic activity compared to the unmodified one. The adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of 2,4-DCP at an electrode with an optimized graphite:laponite ratio of 55 : 15 w% using a 3 min accumulation time at pH 5.5 was found to be suitable for its quantification in the linear concentration range extended up to 50 μmol L⁻¹ with a sensitivity of 0.56 μA L μmol⁻¹ and a LOD of 0.2 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N=3).The 2,4-DCP electrochemical response was not affected by the presence of some structurally similar phenols, like catechol and p-nitrophenol, while resorcinol, 2-chlorophenol, and 4-chlorophenol presented interferences. The results were validated by 2,4-DCP determination in spiked tap water.     

Simultaneous Determination of Catechol and Hydroquinone on Nano-Co/L-Cysteine Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this study, a novel and highly sensitive electrochemical method for simultaneous determination of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ) was developed, which worked at GCE modified with Nano cobalt (Nano-Co) by electrodeposition and L-Cysteine by electrochemical polymerization. The Nano-Co/L-Cysteine GCE was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), SEM and EIS. The excellent conditions have been selected including supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation time and scan rate. The calibration curves of were obtained that the linear regression equation was I=0.0734c+6×10⁻⁶ in the range of 5.8 μM to 103 μM (R²=0.9942) for CC and the linear regression equation was I=0.0566c+5×10⁻⁶ in the range of 5.8 μM to 100 μM (R²=0.9967) for HQ. The obtained detection limits of CC and HQ both were 6×10⁻⁷ M. The modified electrode was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of CC and HQ in water samples.     

Development of a Sensor Based on Modified Carbon Paste with Com Iron(III) Protoporphyrin Immobilized on SiNbZn Silica Matrix for L‐tryptophan Determination

In this work, SiO₂/Nb₂O₅/ZnO prepared by the sol‐gel processing method was used as substrate base for immobilization of the protoporphyrin‐IX ion. Iron(III) ion was inserted into the porphyrin ring (SiNbZn‐PPFe). A simple square wave voltammetry method based on a composite sensor carbon paste electrode of this material,designed as EPC‐SiNbZn‐PPFe, was developed and validated successfully for the determination of L‐tryptophan (Trp). The optimum conditions were obtained by using sensor modified with 18.00 mg SiNbZn‐PPFe material, 12.00 mg graphite powder and 6.0 μL mineral oil and phosphate buffer 0.3 mol L⁻¹ pH 7.0. The sensitivity of the sensor was found to be 0.523 AL mol ⁻¹, linear range from 10 to 70 μmol L⁻¹ and limit of detection of 3.28 μmol L⁻¹. Therefore, the developed method was successfully applied for the Trp determination in real samples of pharmaceutical formulation and can be used for routine quality control pharmaceutical formulations containing Trp.     

Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Methyl Parathion at Activated Carbon Nanopowder Modified Electrode

An activated carbon nanopowder modified glassy carbon electrode (AC-GCE) was constructed for the sensitive determination of methyl parathion by adsorptive differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The simple and rapid modification procedure included only drop-coating the electrode surface with a laponite stabilized activated carbon nanopowder suspension and drying. The modifier high adsorption ability, combined with its large electroactive surface area allowed a 30-fold signal increase to be achieved, compared to bare GCE. Under optimized experimental conditions (activated carbon to laponite ratio, pH and accumulation time), the AC-GCE exhibited a linear response to methyl parathion in two concentration ranges: from 0.01 μmol L⁻¹ to 1 μmol L⁻¹ and from 1 μmol L⁻¹ to 6 μmol L⁻¹. The LOD of 2.5 nmol L⁻¹ (S/N=3) achieved fitted with regulatory norms. It was demonstrated that the as-prepared AC-GCE is suitable for routine real samples analysis.     

Electrodetermination of Gallic Acid Using Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrodes and N-Octylpyridinium Hexafluorophosphate

In this work, the determination of gallic acid was performed using surface-renewable carbon paste electrodes fabricated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and a mixture of N-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (OPyPF₆) ionic liquid with mineral oil (MO) as binder. This system shows remarkable amperometric sensor characteristics and promotes a better electronic transfer. An electroanalytical study of gallic acid shows a linear range from 4.98±0.25 to 74.1±2.2 μmol L⁻¹, with R²=0.9958 and an experiment a limit of detection of 2.70±0.08 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N=3), and a sensitivity of 0.029 μA μmol⁻¹ L.     

Electrochemical sensing platform based on the use of ZnONPs and MWCNTs as CPE modifiers for a selective and sensitive determination of polyamine spermine in the urine sample

A simple electroanalytical procedure has been developed for the determination of polyamine spermine using the ZnONPs-MWCNTs-CPE sensor. Spermine has been irreversibly oxidized on a modified electrode at a potential of +0.92 V versus Ag/AgCl (KCl, 3.5 mol L⁻¹). The developed sensor demonstrated a respective linear response in borate buffer pH 8.5 from 2 μmol L⁻¹ to 100 μmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.300 μmol L⁻¹ and quantification limit of 0.998 μmol L⁻¹. The proposed sensor showed high reproducibility (RSD = 2.58 %), stability, robustness, and no obvious interference effects of several inorganic ions and organic molecules. The obtained results demonstrated excellent performance during the determination of the spermine in human urine samples with satisfactory recovery results (98.41–101.34 %), offering promising opportunities for practical clinical analysis.     

Simultaneous Determination of Lipophilic Vitamin Esters Using Square-wave Voltammetry at the Glassy Carbon Electrode

Simple and rapid voltammetric method for simultaneous determination of all-trans-retinyl acetate (RAc) or all-trans-retinyl palmitate (RPa) and α-tocopheryl acetate (α-TOAc) has been proposed. The respective method was based on the anodic oxidation of the compounds of interest by square-wave voltammetry in acetone with 0.1 mol L⁻¹ LiClO₄ at the glassy carbon electrode. The procedure was also beneficial with respect to simple dissolution of sample directly in the supporting electrolyte. The all-trans-retinyl acetate could be quantified in two linear ranges (3.1–140 μmol L⁻¹ and 140–400 μmol L⁻¹) and α-tocopheryl acetate in linear range 5.3–400 μmol L⁻¹ with detection limits of 0.9 μmol L⁻¹ RAc (or 0.8 μmol L⁻¹ RPa) and of 1.6 μmol L⁻¹ α-TOAc. Selected commercial cosmetic products were analysed achieving satisfactory recoveries.     

Electrochemical Sensing Platform Based on Lotus Stem-derived Porous Carbon for the Simultaneous Determination of Hydroquinone,Catechol and Nitrite

A simple and highly selective electrochemical sensor based on carbonized lotus stem (CLS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), and nitrite (NT) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry (AMP) methods. The CLS was characterized by the methods including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectrum, FT-IR spectrum and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method was used to evaluate the pore structure and surface area of CLS. The oxidation peaks for HQ (116.2 mV), CC (220.1 mV), and NT (818.9 mV) were well separated under optimized conditions, which improved their simultaneous determination. The CLS modified electrode showed a good linear range between 1.0×10 ⁻⁶ to 7.0×10 ⁻⁴ M for HQ, and the detection limit was calculated as 0.15 μM. For CC the linear relationship was 1.0×10 ⁻⁶ to 3.0×10 ⁻³ M with the detection limit of 0.11 μM. For NT the linear relationship was 5.0×10 ⁻⁷ to 4.0×10 ⁻³ M with the detection limit of 0.09 μM. The results indicated that the intrinsic structure of natural biomass can be expected to design porous carbon for electrochemical sensors.     

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.     

AgNP-decorated SBA-15 for MWCNT Paste Modified Electrode: A Sensor for Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Paracetamol and Sulfamethoxazole

A new electrochemical sensor based on a carbon nanotube paste electrode modified with a Santa Barbara Amorphous material (SBA-15) decorated with silver nanoparticles, namely CNT/SBA/Ag-PE, was developed. It was successfully applied for individual and simultaneous determination of both paracetamol (PC) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) medicines. The electrode exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.12–110 μmol L⁻¹ for paracetamol and 0.06–70 μmol L⁻¹ for sulfamethoxazole, and detection limits of 38 and 19 nmol L⁻¹, respectively. The proposed sensor offered high sensitivity, fast response time and the potential for detecting both drugs simultaneously. The CNT/SBA/Ag-PE enabled the simultaneous determination of PC and SMZ in urine samples with high recovery rates.     

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.     

Determination of Creatinine in Urine by Voltammetry and Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Functionalized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Copper

A square-wave voltammetric method was developed for the determination of creatinine using glassy carbon electrode functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and doped with copper. Since the creatine-creatinine balance is dependent on pH, the linear responses at either pH 4.0 or 7.0 were evaluated allowing versatility in application, covering analyte concentration from limit of quantification (0.3 μmol L⁻¹) up to 1.200 μmol L⁻¹ (pH 4) or 660 μmol L⁻¹ (pH 7). Electrode is simple to prepare and robust for routine analysis and it was used for the determination of creatinine in urine after simple thin-layer separation procedure to avoid interference from creatine.     

Application of a Tetraamino Cobalt(II) Phthalocyanine Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode for the Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of L-Dopa in Pharmaceutical and Biological Samples

A novel synthesized tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine monomer was used for the fabrication of a sensor by electrochemical polymerization. A disposable electrochemical sensor based on the use of a screen printed carbon electrode covered with an electropolymerized film of tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine for the determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical tablets and biological samples was described. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed for the characterization of the bare and modified electrode. For the electrochemical detection of L-dopa differential pulse voltammetry was used. The proposed method exhibits a good response towards electrooxidation of L-dopa in the linear concentration range: from 0.1 to 1000.0 μmol L⁻¹ in BRB pH=2.0, with a detection limit of 0.03 μmol L⁻¹ and from 1 to 1000 μmol L⁻¹ in PBS pH=7.4, with a detection limit of 0.33 μmol L⁻¹. Due to the fact that the developed sensor was applied in two different types of real samples, two buffer media were used, BRB pH=2.0 for pharmaceutical and urine samples and PBS pH=7.4 for whole blood samples. The proposed pCoTAPc/SPCE was successfully applied for the determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical tablets, urine and in whole blood samples with satisfactory results.     

Voltammetric Detection of Captopril in a Commercial Drug Using a Gold-Copper Metal-organic Framework Nanocomposite Modified Electrode

We report the application of an electrochemical sensor based on gold-copper metal-organic framework immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to the detection of captopril (CAP), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed that the joint action of gold nanoparticles and copper-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Cu−BTC) enhanced the electrochemical response to the Cu-captopril complex that is adsorbed onto the surface of the electrode. Release of gold nanoparticles from Au@Cu−BTC not only increased the conductivity of the electrode but also provided a more favorable environment for the deposition of reduced Cu that is catalytically renewed on the electrode surface. The anodic current of the Cu^(II)−CAP oxidation peak varied linearly within two concentration ranges, namely 0.5 to 7.0 μmol L⁻¹ and 10 to 2500 μmol L⁻¹, with a limit of detection of 0.047 μmol L⁻¹. The mean recovery for the determination of captopril in commercial tablets was 100.3 % suggesting that the method has considerable potential for future industrial applications.     

Carbon‐nanotube Modified Screen‐printed Electrode for the Simultaneous Determination of Nitrite and Uric Acid in Biological Fluids Using Batch‐injection Amperometric Detection

A portable electroanalytical system applied for rapid and simultaneous determination of uric acid (UA) and nitrite (NIT) in human biological fluids (urine, saliva and blood) is reported. The system is based on batch‐injection analysis with multiple‐pulse amperometric (BIA‐MPA) detection using screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes. Sample dilution in optimized electrolyte (0.1 mol L⁻¹ Britton‐Robinson buffer pH 2) followed by injection of 100 μL on the electrode surface using an electronic micropipette is performed. UA is detected at +0.45 V and both UA+NIT at +0.70 V. Linear calibration plots for UA and NIT were obtained over the range of 1–500 μmol L⁻¹ with detection limits of 0.05 and 0.06 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. For comparison, a differential‐pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was optimized, and linear calibration plots for UA and NIT were obtained over range of 1–30 μmol L⁻¹ and 1–40 μmol L⁻¹ with detection limits of 0.1 and 0.3 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. BIA‐MPA is highly precise (RSD<1.3 %), fast (160 h⁻¹) and free from sample‐matrix interferences as recovery values ranged from 77 to 121 % for spiked samples (short contact time of sample aliquot with SPE). Contrarily, recovery tests conducted using DPV did not provide adequate recovery values (>150 %), probably due to the longer contact time of the SPE with the biological samples during analysis leading to a severe interference of sample matrices.