Electroimmobilization of MAO into a Polypyrrole Film and Its Utilization for Amperometric Flow Detection of Antidepressant Drugs

The preparation of a biosensor based on the enzymatic immobilization in polypyrrole polymer for the detection of antidepressant drugs is described. The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) was immobilized by electropolymerization of pyrrole around a platinum electrode, at a constant potential of +0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in such a way to obtain a membrane thickness, which was constant and equal to 100 mC/cm². The biosensor was obtained from a 0.1 M KCl saline solution containing pyrrole at a concentration equal to 0.4 M and 2.5 mU/mL of MAO. The biosensor was adapted to a continuous flow injection analysis system (FIA) with the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide produced by enzymatic reaction carried out at a potential of +0.7 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), pH 7.4 and temperature of 37 °C. In optimized flow conditions, the biosensor presented an analytical response for fluoxetine in the interval between 0.67 and 4.33 mM, with a detection limit of 0.10 mM. The analytical use of the biosensor developed was evaluated through analysis of commercial pharmaceutical products containing fluoxetine, available on the Portuguese market. The amperometric flow results obtained do not differ significantly from the values resulting from analysis of the same products by the method proposed by the US Pharmacopeia, with sampling rates of 20–25 samples/hour.     

Flow injection,amperometric determination of ethanol in wines after solid-phase extraction

Ethanol in wines was determined by flow injection analysis with an amperometric detector using an oxidized nickel wire. Solid-phase extraction with a strong anion exchanger was used to remove interferences such as organic acids from the matrix, and the residue of the extraction was injected directly into the FIA system. The recoveries of ethanol from wines spiked with standards ranged from 101% to 103%. The response of the nickel electrode to ethanol is dependent on the applied potential and the pH of the carrier. The optimal conditions for the detection of ethanol were an applied potential of +0.60 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in a carrier of 100 mM sodium hydroxide solution. The electrode exhibited a linear response from 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻³ M, with a detection limit of 1 × 10⁻⁶ M. The method was demonstrated by the determination of ethanol in wines.     

Determination of ascorbyl 6-palmitate in food matrices by amperometric flow injection analysis

In this paper a rapid method based on a FIA (flow injection analysis) system with amperometric detection for the evaluation of ascorbyl 6-palmitate in foods is described. The selectivity of the proposed method is related to the low anodic potential applied to the working glassy carbon electrode (+0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) that leaves out interferences from ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. By flow injection analysis, under optimised conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range 0-20 mg l(-1) and the detection limit was 0.2 mg l(-1).     

Electropolymerised o-phenylenediamine film as means of immobilising lactate oxidase for a L-lactate biosensor

The immobilisation of L-lactate oxidase at a platinum electrode was achieved by entrapping the enzyme within an o-phenylenediamine film at 0.65 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Anodic detection of the product of the enzymatic reaction, i.e., hydrogen peroxide, at 0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was employed for the quantification of L-lactate using amperometric batch and flow injection methods. This technique allows the enzyme to be entrapped in a strongly adherent thin membrane. The sensor exhibits a very fast response time, an active enzyme loading of 5 mU/cm(2) electrode surface, and high sensitivity with a detection limit of 2.46 x 10(-7)M. A sample throughput of 180/hr, precision of 3.53% for 25 injections and linearity up to 1.5mM were obtained in flow injection analysis studies. The one-step procedure for sensor preparation requires 20 min, and the discriminative properties of the polymer film show great promise as a means of excluding interfering compounds commonly found in serum.     

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.     

Cyclopentanone thiosemicarbazone, a new complexing agent for copper determination in biological samples by adsorptive stripping voltammetry.

A selective and sensitive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of trace amounts of copper(II) with cyclopentanone thiosemicarbazone (CPTSC) is presented. The method is based on the adsorptive accumulation of the resulting copper-CPTSC complex on a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by the stripping voltammetric measurements at the reduction current of the adsorbed complex at -0.37 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The optimal conditions for the stripping analysis of copper include pH 9.3, deposition time of 120 s, and a deposition potential of -0.1 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The peak current is linearly proportional to the copper concentration over a range 3.14 x 10(-9) M to 1.57 x 10(-6) M with a limit of detection of 1.57 x 10(-9) M. The technique has been applied to the determination of copper in biological samples, like urine and whole blood.     

Alcohol biosensor based on alcohol dehydrogenase and Meldola Blue immobilized into a carbon paste electrode

A yeast alcohol dehydrogenase amperometric carbon paste-based biosensor, with Meldola Blue as a mediator and a dialysis membrane with a very small molecular weight cut-off for protection, is described. The influence of membrane pore size on the stability and overall kinetics of the biosensor is shown using cyclic voltammetry and stationary potential measurements. The operating potential is + 50 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, KCl sat. reference electrode. Application of this device to the determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages was achieved successfully. In these kinds of samples and at this working potential no interferences were found.     

Differential amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide in honeys using flow-injection analysis with enzymatic reactor

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) present in honey was rapidly determined by the differential amperometric method in association with flow-injection analysis (FIA) and a tubular reactor containing immobilized enzymes. A gold electrode modified by electrochemical deposition of platinum was employed as working electrode. Hydrogen peroxide was quantified in 14 samples of Brazilian commercial honeys using amperometric differential measurements at +0.60V vs. Ag/AgCl((sat)). For the enzymatic consumption of H2O2, a tubular reactor containing immobilized peroxidase was constructed using an immobilization of enzymes on Amberlite IRA-743 resin. The linear dynamic range in H2O2 extends from 1 to 100 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), at pH 7.0. At flow rate of 2.0 mL min(-1) and injecting 150 microL sample volumes, the sampling frequency of the 90 determinations per hour is afforded. This method is based on three steps involving the flow-injection of: (1) the sample spiked with a standard solution, (2) the pure sample and (3) the enzymatically treated sample with peroxidase immobilized. The reproducibility of the current peaks for hydrogen peroxide in 10(-5) mol L(-1) range concentration showed a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) better than 1%. The detection limit of this method is 2.9 x 10(-7) mol L(-1). The honey samples analyses were compared with the parallel spectrophotometric determination, and showed an excellent correlation between the methods.     

A sensitive mercury (II) sensor based on CuO nanoshuttles/poly(thionine) modified glassy carbon electrode

Shuttle-like copper oxide (CuO) was prepared by a hydrothermal decomposition process. The resulting material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was then immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with a film of poly(thionine). A pair of well-defined and reversible redox peaks for Hg(II) was observed with the resulting electrode in pH 7.0 solutions. The anodic and cathodic peak potentials occurred at 0.260 V and 0.220 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The modified electrode displayed excellent amperometric response to Hg(II), with a linear range from 40 nM to 5.0 mM and a detection limit of 8.5 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The sensor exhibited high selectivity and reproducibility and was successfully applied to the determination of Hg(II) in water samples.     

Indirect determination of tetrahydroborate (BH(-)(4)) by gas-diffusion flow injection analysis with amperometric detection

A rapid, indirect gas-diffusion flow injection analysis (FIA) method with amperometric detection has been developed for the selective and sensitive determination of tetrahydroborate (BH(-)(4)). The injected analyte reduces arsenic(III) to arsine. The arsine formed diffuses through the PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane and is quantified amperometrically at a platinum working electrode. The precision of the technique was better than a relative standard deviation of 2.1% at 60 muM levels and better than 0.5% at 0.1 mM, with a throughput of 60 samples/hr. The detection limit of the method was found to be 1 muM (1.5 ng BH(-)(4)) with a linear range up to 1 mM. The dynamic range extends over five orders of magnitude in BH(-)(4) concentration. The effects of working potential, concentration of As(III) and HCl in the reagent stream, type and flow rate of the acceptor solution, temperature and interferents on the FIA signals were studied.     

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.     

Sub-millimolar determination of formalin by pulsed amperometric detection

Formalin, formaldehyde in the presence of methanol, was determined by pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). A triple waveform using E_det=−0.3 V (t_det=30 ms), E_oxd=+0.8 V (t_oxd=200 ms), and E_red=−0.8 V (t_red=350 ms) versus Ag/AgCl was applied at a Au electrode for detection in a flow injection (FI) system. The approach was rapid and yielded a sub-millimolar detection limit (0.0129 mM) with a dynamic range up to 100 mM. A precision of 8.8% R.S.D. at 1.0 mM for two hundred repetitive injections by the FI-PAD was obtained, whereas holding at a constant potential (−0.3 V versus Ag/AgCl) for anodic oxidation of formaldehyde caused the response to decrease dramatically after a few measurements. The method developed was used to analyze the formalin contents of water from rinsed samples of vegetables and fruit and ice-melt from seafood, and the method showed good agreement with the liquid chromatography (LC) method.     

Electrochemical determination of minoxidil in different pharmaceutical formulations by flow injection analysis.

The electrochemical behavior and amperometric-FIA quantification of minoxidil at a glassy carbon electrode is described. The procedure is based on electrochemical oxidation at 0.800 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/NaCl(3 M) in a phosphate buffer solution. Minoxidil was determined over the range 1 x 10(-7) - 1 x 10(-4) M. Different analytical parameters and electrode stability were analyzed to obtain the best electrode performance. The optimal conditions were: working potentials, 0.800 V; flow rate, 0.74 mL min(-1); and solution pH 7.0. This system allowed a sampling rate of 120 samples per hour without any pretreatment. The proposed method was used for minoxidil quantification in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. The accuracy of FIA-amperometric method was established by a comparison with the conventional UV determination technique using a paired t-test indicating the absence of systematic errors.     

Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Detection of Arsenic(III) at Gold Nanoparticle‐Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes Prepared by Electrodeposition in the Presence of Various Additives

The simple, fast and highly sensitive anodic stripping voltammetric detection of As(III) at a gold (Au) nanoparticle‐modified glassy carbon (GC) (nano‐Au/GC) electrode in HCl solution was extensively studied. The Au nanoparticles were electrodeposited onto GC electrode using chronocoulometric technique via a potential step from 1.1 to 0 V vs. Ag|AgCl|NaCl (sat.) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ containing Na[AuCl₄] in the presence of KI, KBr, Na₂S and cysteine additives. Surfaces of the resulting nano‐Au/GC electrodes were characterized with cyclic voltammetry. The performances of the nano‐Au/GC electrodes, which were prepared using different concentrations of Na[AuCl₄] (0.05–0.5 mM) and KI additive (0.01–1.0 mM) at various deposition times (10–30 s), for the voltammetric detection of As(III) were examined. After the optimization, a high sensitivity of 0.32 mA cm^?2 μM^?1 and detection limit of 0.024 μM (1.8 ppb) were obtained using linear sweep voltammetry.     

Study of the voltammetric behaviour of metam and its application to an amperometric flow system

The electrochemical behaviour of the pesticide metam (MT) at a glassy carbon working electrode (GCE) and at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) was investigated. Different voltammetric techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV), were used. An anodic peak (independent of pH) at +1.46 V vs AgCl/Ag was observed in MT aqueous solution using the GCE. SWV calibration curves were plotted under optimized conditions (pH 2.5 and frequency 50 Hz), which showed a linear response for 17–29 mg L⁻¹. Electrochemical reduction was also explored, using the HMDE. A well defined cathodic peak was recorded at −0.72 V vs AgCl/Ag, dependent on pH. After optimizing the operating conditions (pH 10.1, frequency 150 Hz, potential deposition −0.20 V for 10 s), calibration curves was measured in the concentration range 2.5×10⁻¹ to 1.0 mg L⁻¹ using SWV. The electrochemical behaviour of this compound facilitated the development of a flow injection analysis (FIA) system with amperometric detection for the quantification of MT in commercial formulations and spiked water samples. An assessment of the optimal FIA conditions indicated that the best analytical results were obtained at a potential of +1.30 V, an injection volume of 207 μL and an overall flow rate of 2.4 ml min⁻¹. Real samples were analysed via calibration curves over the concentration range 1.3×10⁻² to 1.3 mg L⁻¹. Recoveries from the real samples (spiked waters and commercial formulations) were between 97.4 and 105.5%. The precision of the proposed method was evaluated by assessing the relative standard deviation (RSD %) of ten consecutive determinations of one sample (1.0 mg L⁻¹), and the value obtained was 1.5%.     

Supported liquid membranes for the determination of vanillin in food samples with amperometric detection

A supported liquid membrane system has been developed for the extraction of vanillin from food samples. A porous PTFE membrane is impregnated with an organic solvent, which forms a barrier between two aqueous phases. The analyte is extracted from a donor phase into the hydrophobic membrane and then back extracted into a second aqueous solution, the acceptor. The determination (100–1400 μg ml⁻¹ vanillin) was performed using a PVC-graphite composite electrode versus Ag/AgCl/3MKCl at +0.850 V placed in a wall-jet flow cell as amperometric detector. The solid sample is directly placed in the membrane unit without any treatment, and the analyte was extracted from the sample, passes through the membrane and conduced to the flow cell by the acceptor stream. The limit of detection (3σ) was 44 μg ml⁻¹. The method was applied to the determination of vanillin (9–606 μg g⁻¹) in food samples.     

Study on Cobalt–PTFE Composite-Plated Electrode and Its Electrochemical Properties

A procedure for preparing cobalt–poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) composite-plated electrodes on a cobalt matrix was investigated. By means of a scanning electron microscope, we observed that the surfaces of composite-plated electrodes were smooth and uniform, and the particles of PTFE were embedded in the plated layer. These facts were proved by XPS.The electrochemical responses of alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol were studied by chronoamperometry in order to compare with works which had been done before.The composite-plated electrode as a detector was also used in flow injection analysis (FIA). We studied the responses of vitamin, amino acid, monosaccharide, etc. At the optimum potential (0.5–0.6 V vs SCE), the calibration curve was established, Michaelis' constant was estimated, and the linear response range was found for each mentioned compounds. The detection limit was lower in FIA than in chronoamperometry.     

Carbon Nanotube‐Adsorbed Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes as Coating for Electrochemical Sensors for Sulfhydryl Compounds

A new method to modify electrodes with carbon nanotubes (CNT) was developed. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were adsorbed on the electrospun nylon‐6 nanofibrous membranes (Ny‐6‐NFM) and used as a coating to modify conventional glassy carbon electrodes. The modified electrode was designed for the amperometric detection of sulfhydryl compounds with the potential held at +0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The modified electrode showed a linear response for cysteine up to 0.4 mM (R²=0.997), with a sensitivity of 5.1 µA/mM and a detection limit of 15 µM. Other sulfhydryl compounds showed similar results. After use, the Ny‐6‐NFM was easily peeled off, leaving the bare electrode surface back to its original electrochemical behaviour. This is the first attempt to use a disposable membrane functionalized with MWNT for electroanalytical purposes.     

Selective determination of trace copper(II) by cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry with a naphthol-derivative Schiff's base

A selective and sensitive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of trace amounts of copper(II) with a recently synthesized naphthol-derivative Schiff's base (2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]bis(1-naphthalene)) is presented. The method is based on adsorptive accumulation of the resulting copper-Schiff's base complex on a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by the stripping voltammetric measurement at the reduction current of adsorbed complex at -0.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The optimal conditions for the stripping analysis of copper include pH 5.5 to 6.5, 8 microM Schiff's base and an accumulation potential of -0.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCI). The peak current is linearly proportional to the copper concentration over a range 2.3-50.8 ng ml(-1) with a limit of detection of 1.9 ng ml(-1). The accumulation time and RSD are 90 s and (3.2-3.5)%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of copper in some analytical grade salts, tap water, human serum and sheep's liver.     

银掺杂聚L-酪氨酸修饰电极同时测定多巴胺、肾上腺素和抗坏血酸

用循环伏安法制备银掺杂聚L-酪氨酸修饰玻碳电极,研究了多巴胺、肾上腺素和抗坏血酸在其电极上的电化学行为,建立了同时测定多巴胺、肾上腺素和抗坏血酸的新方法。当3种组分共存时,在磷酸盐缓冲溶液(pH6.0)中,扫描速率为140mV/s,多巴胺和肾上腺素在修饰电极上分别产生还原峰,峰电位分别为0.198和-0.205V,多巴胺和肾上腺素氧化峰重叠,峰电位为0.313V(vs.Ag/AgCl);抗坏血酸产生一个氧化峰,峰电位0.108V(vs.Ag/AgCl)。多巴胺和肾上腺素的ΔEpc=0.403V,抗坏血酸的氧化峰与多巴胺和肾上腺素的ΔEpa=0.205V,用还原峰和氧化峰可同时测定多巴胺、肾上腺素和抗坏血酸,3种组分同时测定的线性范围分别为5.0×10-6～1.0×10-4mol/L,8.0×10-6～1.0×10-4mol/L和3.0×10-5～1.0×10-3mol/L;检出限分别为5.0×10-7,8.0×10-7和5.0×10-6mol/L。本方法用于人尿液中多巴胺、肾上腺素和抗坏血酸的同时测定,结果满意。