Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Electroinactive Surfactants

Under the influence of previously published and some new theoretical results, potential‐ dependent adsorption and desorption of model electroinactive surfactants Triton X‐100 (T‐X‐100 or polyethylene glycol p‐(1,1,3,3‐tetramethylbutyl)‐phenyl ether) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) were studied by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Although (according to the theory) the resulting current – potential curve should consist of two highly separated peaks, only desorption signal could be seen on each experimentally obtained voltammogram, most probably because of the limitations concerning the available potential range. Different properties of the recorded peak are in good agreement with the theory indicating that square‐wave voltammetry could be treated as a potential tool for tensammetric studies of electroinactive surface active substances.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry: A Review on the Recent Progress

A review on the recent progress of square‐wave voltammetry is presented, covering the period of the last five years. The review addresses the new theoretical development of the technique as well as its application for mechanistic purposes, electrode kinetic measurements, biochemical and analytical applications. Besides, a few novel methodological modifications are proposed that might expand the scope and application of the technique.     

Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry of Uracil. Experimental and Theoretical Study Under Conditions of Square‐Wave Voltammetry

The electrode mechanism of uracil at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is studied under cathodic stripping square‐wave voltammetric mode owing to the cathodic dissolution of a sparingly soluble compound formed between the electrode material and uracil. The experimental results can be partly explained in the light of the recent theory for cathodic stripping processes of insoluble salts under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry. It is established that the electrode reaction is complicated by attractive interactions between the deposited species of the insoluble compound. To elucidate the electrode mechanism completely a novel theoretical model is developed considering adsorption of the reacting analyte and lateral interactions between species of the insoluble compound. With the help of numerical simulations the effect of interactions is studied in detail, emphasizing the properties of the response that can be used as diagnostic criteria for recognition of the type of interaction forces. Theoretically predicted voltammetric properties agree well with the experimental results enabling clarification of the complex electrode mechanism of uracil at HMDE.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetric Determination of Paraquat at Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Hydroxyapatite

The voltammetric behavior of paraquat was investigated at hydroxyapatite‐modified carbon paste electrode HAP‐CPE in K₂SO₄. A method was developed for the detection of the trace of this herbicide, based on their redox reaction. The reduction peaks of paraquat were observed around ?0.70 V and ?1.00 V (vs. SCE) in square‐wave voltammetry. Experimental conditions were optimized by varying the accumulation time, apatite loading and measuring solution pH. Calibration plots were linear under the optimized parameters over the herbicide's concentration range 8–200×10^?7 mol L^?1, with a detection and quantification limits about 1.5×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 6.4 10^?8 mol L^?1, respectively.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Epigallocatechin Gallate Using Square‐Wave Voltammetry

Electrochemical oxidation of (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main monomer flavanol found in green tea, has been investigated over a wide pH range at a glassy‐carbon electrode using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Square‐wave voltammograms of (?)‐epigallocatechin (EGC) and gallic acid have been studied as well. The I–E profile of EGCG, i.e. the oxidation potentials and the current responses of the first and the second peak, is pH dependent. The oxidation of EGCG is a quasireversible process over the studied pH range, which was also confirmed by the non‐linear relationship between the peak currents and squre root of frequency. The best SWV responses for EGCG were obtained at pH 2.0, frequency of 100 Hz, step of 2 mV and amplitude of 50 mV. Under these conditions, linear responses for EGCG were obtained for concentrations from 1×10^?7 M to 1×10^?6 M, and calculated LOD and LOQ for the first oxidation peak were 6.59×10^?8 M and 2.19×10^?7 M, respectively. The proposed electroanalytical procedure was applied for the determination of EGCG content in green tea. Developed SWV methodology represents a potential analytical tool in determination of catechins in tea samples.     

An Experimental Investigation of Quasireversible Maximum of Azobenzene on Mercury Electrode by Fourier Transformed Square‐Wave Voltammetry

An experimental investigation of quasireversible maximum (QRM) of azobenzene on mercury electrode by two methods, i.e., traditional square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and fast Fourier transformed square‐wave voltammetry (FT‐SWV), was presented, and the influence factors on QRM of FT‐SWV were discussed. The results show that the rate constants derived from FT‐SWV agree with that of derived from traditional SWV with acceptable differences, showing a sound verification that the rate constants derived from FT‐SWV were reliable. In addition, some theoretical predictions on FT‐SWV were experimentally confirmed through the characterization of strongly adsorbed azobenzene on mercury film electrode. As a result, FT‐SWV is further proved to be a powerful technique in kinetic studies of the surface adsorbed processes.     

Determination of Trace Manganese by Square‐Wave Stripping Voltammetry

A novel method of determining trace manganese by square‐wave stripping voltammetry with simultaneous plating mercury electrode is described in this paper. Well‐defined stripping peaks of manganese are obtained in H₃BO₄‐NaOH buffer (pH 8.0) and peak currents are in good linear relationship with manganese concentrations in two ranges: from 0.36 nM to 36 nM and from 73 nM to 909 nM. The obtained detection limit is 0.18 nM and relative standard deviation is 2.3% (n=7) under a predeposition time of 90 s. This proposed method has been used for the determination of trace manganese in real plasma samples with satisfiable results and good matching with the results of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Determination of Rutin in Green Tea Infusions Using Square‐Wave Voltammetry with a Rigid Carbon‐Polyurethane Composite Electrode

This paper presents a comparative study on the electrochemical behavior of the flavonoid rutin on a rigid carbon‐polyurethane composite electrode and on a glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical oxidation reaction of rutin was found to be quasireversible and affected by adsorption on the electrode surface. A square‐wave voltammetric method was developed for determination of rutin in green tea infusion samples using the RCPE electrode and data treatment by a deconvolution procedure. The detection limit achieved in buffered solutions was 7.1×10^?9 mol L^?1 using the RCPE and 1.7×10^?8 mol L^?1 using the GC electrode the average reproducibility for five determinations being 3.5%.     

Trace Determination of Chromium by Square‐Wave Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry on Bismuth Film Electrodes

This works reports the use of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) for the trace determination of chromium on a rotating‐disk bismuth‐film electrode (BFE). During the reductive accumulation step, all the chromium species in the sample were reduced to Cr(III) which was complexed with cupferron and the complex was accumulated by adsorption on the surface of a preplated BFE. The stripping step was carried out by using a square‐wave (SW) potential‐time voltammetric signal. Electrochemical cleaning of the bismuth film was employed, enabling the same bismuth film to be used for a series of measurements in the presence of dissolved oxygen. The experimental variables as well as potential interferences were investigated and the figures of merit of the method were established. Using the selected conditions, the 3σ limit of detection for chromium was 100 ng L^?1 (for 120 s of preconcentration) and the relative standard deviation was 3.6% at the 2 μg L^?1 level (n=8). Finally, the method was applied to the determination of chromium in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Quasi‐Reversible CE Reactions at Spherical Microelectrodes

A mathematical model for the CE mechanism in which the chemical together with the electrochemical reactions are quasi‐reversible at the surface of spherical macro and micro‐electrodes is presented for the case of square‐wave voltammetry. The analysis of voltammometric responses considers the influence of rate and equilibrium constants, together with the electrode radius, and their dependence on the square‐wave frequency (f). Both kinetics and the sphericity effect act synergistically on the electrochemical response. Also, the apparent electrode sphericity and the reversibility of the chemical as well as the electrochemical reactions are jointly affected by the variation of f. Disregarding the sphericity contribution in the calculation of kinetic parameters at a microelectrode may introduce errors even higher than one order of magnitude. The model allows the analysis of a more realistic and complex electrochemical system that requires not only the dependence of experimental responses on f, but also their fit with theoretical voltammograms, in order to provide some useful mechanistic information. Finally, concentration profiles are also studied to realize how the chemical contribution is buffering the absences of oxidized species at the electrode surface, and how those profiles are modified for the case of spherical macro and micro‐electrodes.     

Study of the Electrochemical Behavior and Sensitive Detection of Pesticides Using Microelectrodes Allied to Square‐Wave Voltammetry

This work describes the application of gold and carbon fiber microelectrodes allied to square‐wave voltammetry for the study of the electrochemical behavior of the organophosphorous insecticides (methyl parathion and dichlorvos) and bipyridilium herbicides (paraquat and diquat), and the development of the sensitive methodology for their analytical determinations in natural water samples. The microelectrodes were lab‐made constructed and their electrochemical behavior was characterized by measuring the electrochemical response with a solution of potassium ferricyanide. The experimental and voltammetric conditions to obtain the best analytical signal, in terms of intensities and profile of the peak voltammetric, for four pesticides were optimized and the results were used to evaluate the type of the electrochemical redox process and to appraise the number of electrons covered in each reduction process that occurred for pesticides and also, to propose a possible redox mechanism for a reduction process of pesticides at microelectrodes. Analytical curves were constructed and presented the linear relationships between the peak currents and the concentration of pesticides, for this, the detection limits for pure water (laboratory samples) for four pesticides were calculated and presented values under 15 μg L^?1, lower than maximum limit for drinking water (100 μg L^?1) permitted by Brazilian Council for groundwater, indicating that the methodology could be employed to analyze those pesticides in natural water samples.     

Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination and Application of Square‐Wave Voltammetry of yRNA on a CPB‐Cellulose Modified Electrode

Electrochemical behavior of remarkably low levels of Ribonucleic acid yeast (yRNA) is studied through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and kinetic parameters of the electrochemical reaction have also been calculated through square‐wave voltammetry (SWV), based on immobilization of yRNA on the surface of a CPB‐cellulose modified electrode. YRNA/ CPB‐cellulose/ITO conductive glass electrode is demonstrated by Infrared reflect (IR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The oxidation peak potential of yRNA shifts negatively with increasing pH. The peak currents decrease gradually in successive scans and no corresponding reduction peaks occur, indicating that oxidation process of yRNA is completely irreversible. Variables influencing DPV response of yRNA, such as pH, pulse amplitude and electrolyte concentration, are explored and optimized. Peak currents are proportional to the concentration of yRNA in the range of 0.1 μg mL^?1–1.0 μg mL^?1, and the linear regression coefficient equals 0.9923. The detection limit for yRNA is 1.0×10^?10 g mL^?1. Interferences of L ‐cysteine, L ‐alanine, Hemoglobin, Uridine 5′‐monophosphate, Guanosine 5′‐monophosphate, Adenosine 5′‐triphosphate and some metal ions (Co³⁺, Cr³⁺, Ni²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, etc) are negligible. The methods adopted here are more sensitive and selective than currently applied techniques and overcome the drawback of absorption spectroscopy arising from a strong interference due to other UV‐absorbing substances.     

A Study of Nickel Electrodeposition on Paraffin‐Impregnated Graphite Electrode

The aim of the present work was to elucidate the mechanism of electrolytic deposition of Ni on paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrode (PIGE). This process is influenced by H₂ evolution, which occurs in the same potential region. On the basis of the results obtained by linear and cyclic voltammetry, elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) was used to evaluate both processes. H₂ Evolution alone was studied in sulfate supporting electrolyte, and the previously suggested mechanism for this process according to Volmer–Heyrovsky was confirmed by EVLS. It was found that both the Ni²⁺ concentration and pH affect the polarization behavior of PIGE significantly. Two separated cathodic peaks were observed at low Ni²⁺ and high H⁺ concentrations, and the separation was better at higher scan rates. EVLS confirmed the most‐probable mechanism of Ni deposition as being controlled by slow transfer of the first electron under formation of [NiOH]⁺ as an intermediate. EVLS also indicated slow reduction of H⁺ preceding the reduction of Ni²⁺. The same was confirmed by studying the anodic dissolution at different switching potentials. The results were complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Oxidation of Protopine at a Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode Using Cyclic and Square‐Wave Voltammetry

This paper describes oxidation of the isoquinoline alkaloid, protopine (PR) at a pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) using cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry. In the alkaline range (pH 7.5–10.5) of a Britton–Robinson (B–R) buffer, a PR oxidation can be observed as a well‐developed voltammetric peak around +0.9 V (vs. Ag|AgCl|3 M KCl). With increasing pH of the B–R buffer, the PR peak is shifted to less positive potentials. The acquired voltammetric data suggest that PR strongly adsorbs onto the surface of the pyrolytic graphite where it is subjected to irreversible electrochemical oxidation in its uncharged free (tricyclic) base form. The results are discussed in connection with the electrochemical oxidation of other isoquinoline alkaloids and the potential applications of these data.     

Sensitive Detection of Capsaicin by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry at a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode in the Presence of Sodium Dodecylsulfate

In the present paper, a sensitive electroanalytical methodology for the determination of capsaicin using adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) at a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode is presented. The voltammetric results indicate that in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) the BDD electrode remarkably enhances the oxidation of capsaicin which leads to an improvement of the peak current with a shift of the peak potential to less negative values. A linear working range of 0.05 to 6.0 µg mL^?1 (0.16–20 µM) with a detection limit of 0.012 µg mL^?1 (0.034 µM) has been obtained using BDD electrode by AdSV.     

Determination of Melatonin Hormone in Bulk Form,Tablets and Human Serum by Square‐Wave Cathodic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

Melatonin hormone plays an important role in many distinct physiological functions. A fully validated, sensitive and reproducible square‐wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure was described for determination of melatonin in bulk form, tablets and human serum. The procedure was based on the reduction of the adsorptive hormone onto a hanging mercury drop electrode. Reduction behavior of melatonin was studied in both Britton‐Robinson (pH 2–11) and acetate (4.5–5.5) buffers. Acetate buffer of pH 5.0 was found reasonable as a supporting electrolyte for assay of the drug. The square‐wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammogram of melatonin showed a single well‐defined peak at ?1.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl_s) using an accumulation potential of ?0.65 V. This peak may be attributed to the reduction of C?O double bond of the amide functional group of the reactant molecule. A mean recovery for 1×10^?8 M melatonin in bulk form followed 30 s accumulation of 98.87%±0.78 and a detection limit of 3.13×10^?10 M were achieved. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the determination of the drug in tablets and human serum with mean recoveries of 97.68%±0.57 and 101.67%±0.85, respectively. A detection limit of 8.80×10^?10 M was achieved for the determination of the drug in human serum. Results of the proposed method were comparable and coincided with those obtained by reported method. Vitamin B₆ and common excipients, which are co‐formulated with melatonin, did not interfere. Also the effect of some interfering compounds such as serotonin, tryptophan and 5‐hydroxytryptophan on the determination of melatonin in human serum was studied, and all have no significant effect on the assay recovery.     

Characterization of the Surface Redox Process of Adsorbed Cercosporin (CER) at Glassy Carbon Electrodes by Anodic Stripping Square‐Wave Voltammetry

The adsorptive accumulation of cercosporin (CER) at glassy carbon electrodes is studied by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). The Freundlich adsorption isotherm resulted in being the best one to describe the specific interaction of CER with glassy carbon electrodes by using a fitting procedure of experimental fractional surface coverage vs. the CER bulk concentration (c*_CER). SWV was also used to generate Q vs. c*_CER and I_{p, n}. vs. c*_CER calibration plots from pure commercial reagent solutions. Theoretical detection limits of 1.8×10^?7 and 9.7×10^?8 M were calculated from Q. vs. c*_CER and I_{p, n} vs. c*_CER plots, respectively. The lowest concentration value measured experimentally from calibration plots performed at a f =40 Hz for a signal to noise ratio of 2 : 1 was 3.7×10^?8 M, being this value two orders of magnitude smaller than that obtained previously by us from the diffusion controlled CER reduction peak. I_{p, n}./f vs. f plots from SW voltammograms performed at different c*_CER as well as different accumulation times showed the so‐called “quasi‐reversible maxima”. A splitting of the voltammetric peak was also observed by increasing the SW amplitude at a given frequency. A value of (?0.260±0.011) V was determined for the formal potential of the adsorbed redox couple from the split voltammetric peak. A full characterization of the surface redox process was obtained by applying the methods of the “quasi‐reversible maximum” and the “split SW peak”. In 1 M HClO₄ aqueous solution, the formal rate constant and the anodic transfer coefficient were (3.5±0.5)×10² s^?1 and (0.50±0.03), respectively. Besides, the number of electrons exchanged during the redox reaction was calculated as n≈1.     

Electroanalytical Determination of Promethazine Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulations on Highly Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrodes Using Square‐Wave Adsorptive Voltammetry

The electrochemical oxidation of promethazine hydrochloride was made on highly boron‐doped diamond electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry experiments showed that the oxidation mechanisms involved the formation of an adsorbed product that is more readily oxidized, producing a new peak with lower potential values whose intensity can be increased by applying the accumulation potential for given times. The parameters were optimized and the highest current intensities were obtained by applying +0.78 V for 30 seconds. The square‐wave adsorptive voltammetry results obtained in BR buffer showed two well‐defined peaks, dependent on the pH and on the voltammetric parameters. The best responses were obtained at pH 4.0, frequency of 50 s^?1, step of 2 mV, and amplitude of 50 mV. Under these conditions, linear responses were obtained for concentrations from 5.96×10^?7 to 4.76×10^?6 mol L^?1, and calculated detection limits of 2.66×10^?8 mol L^?1 (8.51 μg L^?1) for peak 1 and of 4.61×10^?8 mol L^?1 (14.77 μg L^?1) for peak 2. The precision and accuracy were evaluated by repeatability and reproducibility experiments, which yielded values of less than 5.00% for both voltammetric peaks. The applicability of this procedure was tested on commercial formulations of promethazine hydrochloride by observing the stability, specificity, recovery and precision of the procedure in complex samples. All results obtained were compared to recommended procedure by British Pharmacopeia. The voltammetric results indicate that the proposed procedure is stable and sensitive, with good reproducibility even when the accumulation steps involve short times. It is therefore very suitable for the development of the electroanalytical procedure, providing adequate sensitivity and a reliable method.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry as Analytical Tool for Real‐Time Study of Controlled Naproxen Releasing from Cellulose Derivative Materials

This work reports the successful use of square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) to directly assess the controlled releasing profile of naproxen from lab‐made cellulose derivative materials (membranes and microparticles) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 36 °C. Particular advantage of SWV refers to the direct real‐time monitoring of released drug from cellulose derivative microparticles, which cannot be easily assessed by UV‐spectrophotometry. Moreover, SWV was able to detect modifications in the naproxen releasing profile due to morphology and processing of membranes and microparticles. The possible miniaturization and versatility of SWV suggest the promising application on the study of several drug delivery systems, including in vivo studies.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Cathodic Stripping Reactions. Diagnostic Criteria,Redox Kinetic Measurements,and Analytical Applications

A comparative study of different types of cathodic stripping reactions under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry is presented. Cathodic stripping processes involving reactions of second order as well as reactions coupled by adsorption of the reacting ligand are analyzed The inherent parameters, controlling the overall voltammetric behavior of each cathodic stripping electrode reaction are derived. The criteria for qualitative distinguishing of each mechanism are established as well as a methodology for redox kinetic measurements is proposed. The influence of the parameters of the excitation signal on the properties of the voltammetric response is analyzed in order to find optimal conditions for analytical application. The theoretical results are illustrated by the experiments with a series of uracil derivatives.