Determination of Dopamine in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid Using a Poly(Amidosulfonic Acid) Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with electropolymerized films of amidosulfonic acid in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytical effect on the oxidation of dopamine (DA). In pH 7.0 PBS, the anodic peak current increased linearly with the concentration of DA in the range of 5.0×10^–7 1.0×10^–4moldm^–3, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9932, and a detection limit (S/N=3) of 1.0× 10^–7moldm^–3. The relative standard deviation of 10 successive scans was 2.5% for 1.0×10^–6moldm^–3 DA. The interference of ascorbic acid (AA) with the determination of DA could be eliminated because of the very distinct attracting interaction between DA cations and the negatively poly(amidosulfonic acid) film in pH 7.0 PBS. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility.     

Electrochemical Determination of Ascorbic Acid at γ-MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Modified Carbon Black Microelectrodes

A carbon black microelectrode modified by -MnO₂ has been prepared. The electrocatalytical oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at this microelectrode was investigated. The 2nd-order linear scan voltammograms of AA are recorded from –0.5 to 0.5V (vs. SCE). The relationship between the oxidation peak current of AA and its concentration in the range of 1.0×10^–64.0×10^–3molL^–1 is linear. The detection limit (3) was found to be 6.0×10^–7molL^–1. Also, the determination of AA in samples is evaluated, and the results are satisfactory.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Epinephrine at a Penicillamine Self-Assembled Gold Electrode,and its Analytical Application

The fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of a penicillamine (PCA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were investigated. The self-assembled electrode shows obvious electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). In phosphate buffer (pH 7.73), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.190V with the PCA modified Au electrode. The peak current is proportional to the concentration of EP in the range of 2.0×10^–56.0×10^–4molL^–1 and 5.0×10^–6 2.0×10^–4molL^–1 for cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the detection limits of 1.8×10^–7 and 1.3×10^–7molL^–1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed. The PCA self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode is highly stable and can be applied to the determination of EP in practical injection samples. Application is simple, rapid and produces accurate results.     

Energy Transfer Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for the Determination of Sulfite

A simple and novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) method for the determination of sulfite has been developed based on the energy transfer ECL process. It was found that a weak ECL signal of sulfite was electrochemically generated on a platinum electrode in neutral aqueous solution. The signal was strongly enhanced by rhodamine B as an energy receptor and further enhanced by the neutral surfactant Tween 80. In 0.10M phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.5) containing 2.0×10^–6gmL^–1 rhodamine B and 0.4% (v/v) Tween 80, the ECL response to the concentration of sulfite at a potential of 0.82V was linear over a range of 1.0×10^–7gmL^–1 to 8.0×10^–6gmL^–1, and the detection limit was 5×10^–8gmL^–1. The relative standard deviation (n=11, 1.0×10^–6gmL^–1) was 3.8%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of sulfite in pharmaceutical injections and white sugar samples.     

Electrochemical Study and Selective Determination of Dopamine at a Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube-Nafion Film Coated Glassy Carbon Electrode

A homogeneous and stable suspension of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) was achieved by dispersing MWNT into 0.1% Nafion ethanol solution. A uniform MWNT-Nafion cast film was obtained over a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via solvent evaporation. The electrochemical behavior of dopamine (DA) was examined, and a reversible two-electron redox reaction was observed. In comparison with the bare GCE and the Nafion-modified GCE, the MWNT-Nafion modified GCE shows obvious electrocatalytic activity towards DA. Moreover, the MWNT-Nafion film coated electrode exhibits excellent selectivity towards DA even in the presence of high concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The oxidation peak current was proportional to the concentration of DA over the range of 1×10^–8 to 1×10^–5molL^–1, and a detection limit of 2.5×10^–9molL^–1 was obtained after 2min. of open-circuit accumulation. The dispersion and morphology of MWNT-Nafion film were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transfer (FT) IR spectra.     

Voltammetric Behavior of Dopamine at ct-DNA Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrode

A sub-micrometer thin-layer DNA modified carbon fiber microcylinder electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of ct-DNA at 1.5V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The voltammetric behavior of dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine) was investigated at the modified electrode. It was found that the modified electrode exhibits a highly electrocatalytic activity toward dopamine oxidation. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for determination of dopamine in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution. A linear response of the peak current versus the concentration was found in the range of 4×10^–6 to 10^–4molL^–1 at 10^–4molL^–1 AA (ascorbic acid) coexistence (R=0.9959) and the range of 6×10^–5 to 10^–3molL^–1 at 10^–3molL^–1 AA (R=0.9960). The presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid did not interfere with the determination. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility. This method can be applied to the detection of DA in real samples.     

The Electrochemical Behavior of p-Aminophenol at a ω-Mercaptopropionic Acid Self-Assembled Gold Electrode

A -mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer modified electrode (MPA/SAM/Au) on a gold electrode has been fabricated. The characterization of the MPA/SAM/Au was investigated using attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and A.C. impedance. The electrochemical behaviors of p-aminophenol (p-AP) were studied at the MPA/SAM/Au by cyclic voltammetry and semi-derivative voltammetry (SDV) in BR buffer solution. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity for the redox of p-AP and accelerates the electron transfer rate. The diffusion coefficient (D) is 4.55×10^–6cm²s^–1. The oxidative peak current increases linearly with the concentration of p-AP in the range of 4.0×10^–88×10^–6molL^–1 and 1.0×10^–52×10^–4molL^–1 by square wave voltammetry response, respectively. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) is up to 1.2×10^–8molL^–1. The modified electrode is able to eliminate the interference of p-benzenediol, o-benzenediol and o-AP at a 40-, 90- or 70-fold concentration of p-AP, and it has been satisfactorily used for the determination of the real sample.     

Electrochemical Determination of Cinnamtannin B1 with a Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode

Cinnamtannin B1 (trimeric proanthocyanidin), which is identified and isolated from the effective fraction of the root of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm, is one kind of condensed tannin used as an effective antipyrotic and antitumor agent. Its electrochemical response can be obtained at a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Consequently, an easily performed and sensitive method for the determination of cinnamtannin B1 is developed. The detection limit is estimated to be 1.0×10^–7M with the linear determination range of 2.0×10^–7M to 1.8×10^–6M. Five replicate analyses of 1.0×10^–6M cinnamtannin B1 yields an RSD value of 2.1%. Since the working electrode does not need to be modified with any other species, it is very stable, repeatable and easily treated, and this method therefore potentially useful in real sample analysis.     

Nickel Ion-Selective PVC Membrane Electrode Based on a New t-Octyl-Calix[6]arene Derivative

This study presents a PVC membrane based on 5,11,17,23,29,35-Hexakis-t-octyl-37,38,39,40,41,42-hexakis(N-phenylthiocarbamoylmethoxy)calix[6]arene which is used as an electroactive substance. The electrode reveals a Nernstian response for Ni²⁺ over a wide pH range with a slope of linear portion (5×10^–6–1×10^–2M, R=0.988) of 29.75±0.2mV·decade^–1 at 25°C. The electrodes sensitivity is enhanced upon the introduction of sodium tetraphenylborate into the membrane as a negatively charged lipophilic additive. The selectivity coefficients of various interfering ions were determined using the fixed interference method (FIM). The membrane reveals good selectivity for nickel ions over the other metal ions investigated. The lifetime of this electrode is about one month. This electrode has been applied to the determination of nickel ions in wastewater from the electroplating industry.     

Adsorptive Catalytic Voltammetry of Physcion in the Presence of Dissolved Oxygen at a Carbon Paste Electrode

A novel electroanalytical method for the determination of physcion is described for the first time. Physcion yields an adsorption catalytic voltammetric peak at –0.74V (vs. SCE) in 0.4molL^–1 NH₄Cl–NH₃·H₂O buffer solution (pH 10.5) at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The experimental results indicated that physcion is efficiently accumulated at a CPE by adsorption. In the subsequent potential scan, physcion was reduced to a homologous anthrahydroquinone compound. The compound was then immediately oxidized to physcion by the dissolved oxygen in the solution, and then physcion was again reduced at the CPE. As a result, a cyclic catalytic reaction was established. The second-order derivative peak current is proportional to the physcion concentration in the ranges of 2.0×10^–104.0×10^–9molL^–1 (accumulation 90s) and 4.0×10^–92.0×10^–8molL^–1 (accumulation 60s). The limit of detection is 8×10^–11molL^–1 (S/N=3) for a 120s accumulation time. The method was applied to the direct determination of physcion in the medicinal plant polygonum multiflorum Thumb with satisfactory results.     

Application of L-Cysteine-Capped ZnS Nanoparticles in the Determination of Nucleic Acids Using the Resonance Light Scattering Method

Nanometer-sized L-cysteine-capped ZnS particles were synthesized by a colloidal aqueous method. The functionalized nanoparticles are water-soluble and suitable for biological applications. In Tris-HCl buffer solution, nucleic acids combine with cysteine-capped nano-ZnS particles by intermolecular forces to form larger nanoparticles. There are two resonance light scattering peaks at 304.5nm and 373.8nm, respectively. The enhanced RLS is related to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 0.04 to 1.2µgmL^–1 for calf thymus DNA and 0.2 to 1.0µgmL^–1 for fish sperm DNA. The detection limits (3) are 19ngmL^–1 for calf thymus DNA and 23ngmL^–1 for fish sperm DNA, respectively. Four synthetic samples were analyzed satisfactorily.     

Voltammetric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fenitrothion on a Novel Nano-TiO2 Polymer Film Electrode

A novel nano-TiO₂ polymer modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed for the determination of an organophosphorous pesticide, fenitrothion (-NO₂), in citrate buffer solution. The electrochemical behavior of fenitrothion was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry. An irreversible form, -NO₂, was transformed into a reversible redox couple (-NHOH/-NO), and it can be used to determine trace fenitrothion by square wave voltammetry. The experimental parameters, such as film thickness, pH value, accumulation potential and time were optimized. Interestingly, a cyclic voltammetric scan was observed to be more effective than a constant potential for the accumulation of fenitrothion. A linear response over a fenitrothion concentration of 2.5×10^–8 to 1.0×10^–5M was exhibited, with a detection limit of 1.0×10^–8M (S/N=3). The high sensitivity and selectivity of this film electrode was demonstrated by its practical application to the determination of trace amounts of fenitrothion in lake water and apple samples.     

Photoluminescence of osmocene and decamethylosmocene

Osmocene (and decamethylosmocene) is characterized by a lowest-energy ligand field triplet which occurs at _max=372nm (374nm) in absorption and 567nm (572nm) in emission. This orange–yellow phosphorescence is rather intense at 77K but is also visible at r.t.     

Electrocatalysis of Tryptophan at Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode

Acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to form an MWNT-modified electrode. The electrocatalytic response of the modified electrode towards tryptophan (Trp) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The results demonstrated that the modified electrode exhibited a high degree of catalytic activity towards the oxidation of Trp. An oxidation peak was obtained in Trp solution at the MWNT-modified electrode. Compared with a bare electrode, the peak current had obviously increased, and the peak potential had shifted in a negative direction. However, under the same conditions, no response was observed for other amino acids. The oxidation peak currents were proportional linearly to the concentration of Trp, a property which could be utilized to detect Trp. The determination conditions, such as the concentration, the composition and the pH values of the supporting electrolyte, accumulation time, as well as scan rate etc. were optimized. Under the chosen conditions, the DPV peak current is linear to the concentration of Trp in the range of 2.5×10^–7 to 1.0×10^–4molL^–1, and the detection limit is 2.7×10^–8molL^–1. Moreover, the detection is free of interference from other amino acids. The modified electrode has been successfully applied to determine the concentration of Trp in composite amino acid injections, and it displays excellent repeatability and higher sensitivity.     

Determination of Caffeine Using a Simple Graphite Pencil Electrode with Square-Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

A simple commercial graphite pencil electrode (GPE) was utilized for monitoring caffeine using the square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) method. This method was applied to determine the caffeine levels in several tea samples, which yielded a relative error of 1% in the concentrations. Caffeine was deposited at 0.0V (vs. Ag/AgCl), then reduced at +1.40V to strip it on the GPE. Optimal experimental conditions for the analysis were found to be as follows: pH value of 9 for the medium; deposition potential of 0.0V; deposition time of 120s; SW frequency of 25Hz; SW amplitude of 45mV, and step potential of 6mV. Given these optimum conditions, a linear range was observed within the concentration of 0500mgL^–1. At caffeine concentrations of 50.0, 250.0, and 500.0mgL^–1, the relative standard deviations in measured concentrations (n=12) were 0.19, 0.09, and 0.11%, respectively. The detection limit was found to be 9.2mgL^–1, which is comparable with the result obtained using a carbon paste electrode, equivalent to 8.2mgL^–1.     

Determination of Na,K, Rb and Cs Distribution in Human Brain Using Neutron Activation Analysis

This study aims to investigate the distribution of Na, K, Rb and Cs in human brains (5 individuals, 12 brain parts, mean age: 75 years). Distribution of the trace metals between lipid fraction and brain tissue was investigated in solvent extraction experiments. Determinations were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The present results show a rather non-homogeneous distribution for Na and a relatively uniform distribution for K, Rb and Cs. The mean concentrations found are 7440µgNag^–1 dry weight, 12800µgKg^–1, 14µgRbg^–1 and 50ngCsg^–1. A highly significant positive correlation was found between Rb and Cs. Solvent extraction experiments showed that 19% of Rb and 26% of Cs of the total content is located in lipid fraction.     

Non-Aqueous Capillary Electrophoresis with Indirect Photometric Detection for Direct Analysis of Pb2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ Ions

A new approach, based on non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis separation and indirect photometric detection, was established for the determination of the transition metal ions Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Under optimized conditions, the method produced baseline separation of these three metal ions. The linear range and detection limits were 1050µM, 1.9µM for Cd²⁺; 1050µM, 2.1µM for Zn²⁺; and 20100µM, 3.8µM for Pb²⁺, respectively.     

A Salt-Tolerant Yeast-Based Microbial Sensor for 24 Hour Community Wastewater Monitoring in Coastal Regions

A microbial sensor for rapid determination of the concentration of biodegradable pollutants in wastewater has been developed using the salt-tolerant yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 immobilized by gel entrapment with poly (carbamoyl) sulfonate hydrogel (PCS gel) on a Clark-type oxygen electrode. This sensor needs 5min for every measurement instead of 5 days for BOD₅. The sensor has a linear response of up to 550mgL^–1 BOD with a correlation of coefficient R²=0.9785. The detection limit was calculated to be 2.1mgL^–1 BOD equivalents, and the determination limit was 6.0mgL^–1 BOD equivalents. The high tolerance to salt of the Arxula adeninivorans LS3 strain prevents the inactivation of cells caused by the seawater from affecting the measurements. In a 24-hour comparative study using real wastewater samples from an international college situated in Hong Kong, the microbial sensor showed a very good correlation (R²=0.9134) with the standard BOD₅ method and truly reflected the life cycle of the college people. The microbial sensor allows almost ideal real-time monitoring in water pollution and degradation.     

Determination of Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Beverage and Coffee Samples by Purge-and-Trap On-Line Coupling with a Gas Chromatography-Flame Photometric Detector

A sensitive and fast analytical method using purge-and-trap on-line coupling with gas chromatography was developed for the determination of trace volatile sulfur compounds including dimethyl sulfide (DMS), ethyl-methyl sulfide (EMS), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in beverage and coffee samples. The analytes were purged for 12min from the sample by high purity nitrogen at a flow rate of 35KPa and preconcentrated in the cooled fused-silica capillary trap at –75°C. The NaCl content in the samples was maintained at 10%. The volatile sulfur compounds were separated with an Agilent-6890 gas chromatograph by a suitable temperature program and detected by means of a flame photometric detector (FPD). The detection limits were 80ngL^–1 for DMS, 80ngL^–1 for EMS, and 100ngL^–1 for DMDS, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the determination of volatile sulfur compounds in different beverage and coffee samples.     

Determination of Picogram-Levels of Acetylspiramycin in Human Urine and Serum by Flow Injection Chemiluminescence

A sensitive chemiluminescence method for the determination of acetylspiramycin is presented. It is based on the greatly enhancive effect of acetylspiramycin on the chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in the flow system. The increase in chemiluminescence intensity was linearly proportional to the acetylspiramycin concentration in the range from 10pg·mL^–1 to 2.0ng·mL^–1 (r²=0.9979). The detection limit was 3pg·mL^–1 (3). At a flow rate of 2.0mL·min^–1, the process of determination, including sampling and washing, could be performed in 0.5 min, and the relative standard deviations of seven replicates are less than 5.0%. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of acetylspiramycin in pharmaceutical preparations, human urine and serum without pre-treatment. It was found that the excretive ratio of acetylspiramycin reached its maximum 2.0 hours after having been administered orally, and the excretive ratio in 12.0 hours was 8.4.