MWCNT‐modified Electrode for Voltammetric Determination of Allura Red and Brilliant Blue FCF in Isotonic Sport Drinks

A fast and simple electrochemical sensor is presented for the determination of allura red and brilliant blue in isotonic sport drinks, using a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes. The electrochemical behavior of the colorants was studied by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry in 0.1 M PBS, pH 7.0. The solution pH, the amount of nanomaterial on the surface of the electrode and the accumulation time of each colorant were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor exhibited a linear response to allura red and brilliant blue with detection limits of 7 μg L^?1 and 52 μg L^?1, respectively. The sensor was applied to the analysis of commercial isotonic sports drinks that contain individual or mixed colorants, showing good sensitivity and reproducibility. The results were compared with a chromatographic method showing that the levels of colorants are low and did not show a risk for a consumer's health.     

Nitro radical anion formation from nitrofuryl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in mixed and non-aqueous media

Three new nitrofuryl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives were electrochemically tested in the scope of newly found compounds useful as chemotherapeutic alternative to the Chagas' disease. All the compounds were capable to produce nitro radical anions sufficiently stabilized in the time window of the cyclic voltammetric experiment. In order to quantify the stability of the nitro radical anion we have calculated the decay constant, k2. Furthermore, from the voltammetric results, some parameters of biological significance as E7(1) (indicative of in vivo nitro radical anion formation) and KO2 (thermodynamic indicator of oxygen redox cycling) have been calculated. From the comparison of E7(1), KO2 and k2 values between the studied nitrofuryl 1,4-DHP derivatives and well-known current drugs an auspicious activity for one of the studied compounds i.e. FDHP2, can be expected.     

The use of digital simulation to improve the cyclic voltammetric determination of rate constants for homogeneous chemical reactions following charge transfers

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is a very useful electrochemical tool used to study reaction systems that include chemical steps that are coupled to electron transfers. This type of system generally involves the chemical reaction of an electrochemically generated free radical. Published methods exist that are used to determine the kinetics of electrochemically initiated chemical reactions from the measurements of the peak current ratio (i_pa/i_pc) of a cyclic voltammogram. The published method requires working curves to relate a kinetic parameter to the peak current ratio.In the presented work, a digital simulation package was used to obtain improved working curves for specific working conditions. The curves were compared with the published results for the first- and second-order chemical reactions following the charge transfer step mechanisms.According to the presented results, the previously published working curve is reliable for a mechanism with a first-order chemical reaction; however, a change in the switching potential requires a recalculation of the curve. In the case of mechanisms with a second-order step (dimerisation and disproportionation), several different views exist on how the second-order chemical term should be expressed so that different values of the constant are obtained. Parameters such as electrode type, electrode area, electroactive species concentration, switching potential, scan rate and method for peak current ratio calculation modify the working curves and must always be specified.We propose a standardised method to obtain the most reliable kinetic constant values.The results of this work will permit researchers who handle simulation software to construct their own working curves. Additionally, those who do not have the simulation software could use the working curves described here.The revelations of the presented experiments may be useful to a broad chemistry audience because this study presents a simple and low-cost procedure for the study of free radicals that otherwise should be studied with more sophisticated and expensive techniques, such as ESR or pulse radiolysis.     

Solitary wave solutions to nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics

This paper obtains solitons as well as other solutions to a few nonlinear evolution equations that appear in various areas of mathematical physics. The two analytical integrators that are applied to extract solutions are tan–cot method and functional variable approaches. The soliton solutions can be used in the further study of shallow water waves in (1+1) as well as (2+1) dimensions.     

Voltammetric Reduction of a 4‐Nitroimidazole Derivative on a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

We report the electrochemical behavior of a 4‐nitroimidazole derivative, 1‐methyl‐4‐nitro‐2‐hydroxymethylimidazole (4‐NImMeOH), on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). As dispersing agents, dimethylformamide (DMF) and water were used. The electrochemical response of the resulting electrodes was evaluated using linear sweep, cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry (LSV, CV and SWV). Several parameters such as medium pH, nature and concentration of the CNTs dispersion and accumulation time were tested. The optimal conditions determined for obtain better response were: pH 2, dispersion concentration=4 mg/mL of CNT in water, accumulation time=7 min. The MWCNT‐modified GCE exhibited attractive electrochemical properties producing enhanced currents with a significant reduction in the overpotential and good signal‐to‐noise characteristics, in comparison with the bare GCE. The modified electrode is highly repeatable for consecutive measurements, reaching a variation coefficient of 2.9% for ten consecutive runs.     

Polarographic determination of ampicillin in capsules and tablets

A new polarographic method is used for quantitative analysis of ampicillin dosage forms. The electroactive product is formed by acidic hydrolysis of ampicillin. It gives a well-developed reduction wave with half-wave potential of -0.91 V vs. SCE. The proposed method has good precision. A major advantage is the selectivity, which makes the determination of ampicillin possible without prior separation of the excipient.     

Electrochemical oxidation of methylenedioxyamphetamines

Four amphetamine derivatives bearing a methylenedioxy group at positions 3 and 4 of the benzene ring and differing in their substitution at C(6) were studied by differential pulse voltammetry in aqueous media. These experiments showed a single oxidation peak for the C(6)-H, -Br and -Cl compounds, while the C(6)-NO(2) analogue was not oxidized. The oxidation peak is interpreted as due to the removal of one electron from the aromatic electrophore with formation of a radical cation stabilized by the dioxole ring. The linear relationship between the peak current and the concentration of the derivatives is appropriate for development of a quantitative method for their determination. pK' values were determined using both electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods.