β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode as Electrochemical Sensor for Nifedipine

In this work a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes/β‐cyclodextrin (MWCNTs/β‐CD) was constructed and applied to the determination of nifedipine. The electrochemical behavior of nifedipine at this electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Characterization of the modified electrode was conducted with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. After adsorption of nifedipine on the MWCNTs/β‐CD paste electrode at 0.0 V for 6 min, a well defined reduction peak was produced in sodium hydroxide of 0.05 M. The calibration curve was linear from 7.0×10^?8 to 1.5×10^?5 M. The detection limit was obtained as 2.5×10^?8 M. The results demonstrated that this electrochemical sensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity. This sensor was applied for determination of nifedipine in drug dosage and blood serum with excellent recoveries.     

Nanocarbon Paste Electrodes

The electrochemical behaviour of carbon paste electrodes prepared using nanocarbon and mineral oil was investigated and the results contrasted with different carbon and carbon pastes electrodes. The composition of carbon paste was studied by performing cyclic voltammetry performed in 0.1 M KCl solution in the presence of 4.0 mM Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃, a well‐characterized redox system commonly used to test the electrode behaviour. After optimisation of the paste composition, the sensors chosen were tested for the analysis and characterization of three different systems: Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+, FcCH₂OH/FcCH₂OH⁺ and acetaminophen. The ability to obtain high quality voltammetry from the nanocarbon electrode was demonstrated and simulation of the voltammetry allowed the extraction of electrode kinetic parameters with high precision.     

Use of Cationic Surfactants Film Carbon Paste Electrodes Modified with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Electrochemical Analysis of dsDNA

Direct electrochemistry of dsDNA based on the enhancement effect of cationic surfactants such as dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) was achieved by using a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/CPE) as the basal electrode. The results indicated that the dsDNA molecules have been adsorbed quite strongly on the cationic surfactants’ film and very well developed peaks which were attributed to the oxidation of guanine residues on the dsDNA molecule structure were obtained from both electrodes. The electrochemical behavior of dsDNA at the surface of the modified electrodes was also evaluated. Based on the signal of guanine, under the optimal conditions, very low levels of dsDNA were detected following short accumulation times with detection limits of 0.650 mg L^?1 and 0.119 mg L^?1 for DTAB/MWCNTs/CPE and TTAB/MWCNTs/CPE, respectively.     

Assessment of strength properties of cemented paste backfill by ultrasonic pulse velocity test

Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test is one of the most popular non-destructive techniques used in the assessment of the mechanical properties of concrete or rock materials. In this study, the effects of binder type/dosage, water to cement ratio (w/c) and fines content (<20 μm) of the tailings on ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of cemented paste backfill (CPB) samples were investigated and correlated with the corresponding unconfined compressive strength (UCS) data. A total of 96 CPB samples prepared at different mixture properties were subjected to the UPV and UCS tests at 7, 14, 28 and 56-days of curing periods. UPV and UCS of CPB samples of ordinary Portland cement (CEM I 42.5 R) and sulphate resistant cement (SRC 32.5) initially increased rapidly, but, slowed down after 14 days. However, UPV and UCS of CPB samples of the blast furnace slag cement (CEM III/A 42.5 N) steadily increased between 7 and 56 days. Increasing binder dosage or reducing w/c ratio and fines content (<20 μm) increased the UCS and UPV of CPB samples. UPV was found to be particularly sensitive to fines content. UCS data were correlated with the corresponding UPV data. A linear relation appeared to exist between the UCS and UPV of CPB samples. These findings have demonstrated that the UPV test can be reliably used for the estimation of the strength of CPB samples.     

Influence of Surface-Active Compounds on Starch Dispersion in Water. Part I. Starch Pasting

The influence of native lipids and additives of surface-active compounds on starch paste rheology was investigated. The aim of the study was to gain better understanding of mechanisms involved in starch gelatinization and how these structure changes of granules later affect rheological properties of pastes and gels. Starches from three main sources—potato, maize, and wheat—were tested; sodium dodecylsulfate, oleate, and benzalkonium chloride were employed as additives. Starch pasting was examined by a rheometer to get a viscosity profile, also pastes were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, for particle size using a light scattering technique. Results revealed that there was a competition between native lipids and added surfactants for amylose complexation. Complexes formed during gelatinization were strongly affecting granule swelling and dissolution of starch polymers, and viscosity of pastes was mainly dependent on the particle size of a disperse phase in the paste. Addition of strong ionic surfactants to cereal starches resulted in smaller granular remnants and, therefore, decreased viscosity, while the weak anionic surfactant promoted an increase in the particle size and paste viscosity for both cereal and tuber starches. The mechanism of the effect of surfactants on the particle size in pastes is discussed.     

辣根过氧化物酶在碳纳米管-离子液体修饰碳糊电极上的直接电化学研究

以室温离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐（［EMIM］PF6）为粘合剂与多壁碳纳米管（Multi-walled carbon nanotubes,MWCNTs）、石墨粉相混合制备新型碳糊电极,并在该电极表面修饰辣根过氧化物酶（HRP）制成新型碳糊酶电极（HRP-MWCNTs-CILE）。应用循环伏安法（CV）和计时电流法（it）研究了该修饰电极的直接电化学行为。结果表明,该修饰电极在pH 6.0的0.05 mol/L磷酸缓冲溶液中,其循环伏安曲线上出现了1对准可逆的氧化还原峰,为HRP中Fe（Ⅲ）/Fe（Ⅱ）电对的特征峰。该修饰电极对过氧化氢具有良好的催化活性、抗干扰能力和稳定性。在最佳条件下,修饰电极对H2O2的测定线性范围为7.0×10-6~3.0×10-3 mol/L,检出限（S/N=3）为2.5×10-6 mol/L。该传感器具有制备简单、成本低廉、响应快等特点,具有较好的应用前景。     

Graphene Paste Electrode: Analytical Applications for the Quantification of Dopamine,Phenolic Compounds and Ethanol

This work reports the analytical applications of a graphene paste electrode (GrPE) for the quantification of dopamine, ethanol and phenolic compounds. Dopamine was detected by differential pulse voltammetry‐adsorptive stripping with medium exchange at submicromolar levels even in the presence of high excess of ascorbic acid and serotonin. The electrocatalytic activity of graphene towards the oxidation of NADH and the reduction of quinones allowed the sensitive amperometric determination of ethanol and phenols using GrPE modified with alcohol dehydrogenase/NAD⁺ or polyphenol oxidase, respectively, with successful applications in real samples like alcoholic beverages and tea.     

Design of a New Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with TiO2 Nanoparticles to Use in an Electrochemical Study of Codeine and Simultaneous Determination of Codeine and Acetaminophen in Human Plasma Serum Samples

A new electrochemical sensor was fabricated via TiO₂ nanoparticles onto a carbon paste electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studied the response of the modified electrode toward codeine. The effects of pH, modifier amount, pulse amplitude, and scan rate of potential have been examined. Using DPV, we could measure simultaneously codeine and acetaminophen in one mixture. The detection limits of 0.018 and 0.050 µmol L^?1 were achieved for codeine and acetaminophen, respectively. The electrooxidation pathway, transfer coefficient, and standard rate constant, are estimated. The proposed voltammetric sensor was successfully applied to determination of codeine and acetaminophen in human plasma serum samples.     

First Report for Electrochemical Determination of Levodopa and Cabergoline: Application for Determination of Levodopa and Cabergoline in Human Serum,Urine and Pharmaceutical Formulations

The electrochemical oxidation of levodopa on the surface of a carbon paste electrode modified with graphene nanosheets, 1‐(4‐bromobenzyl)‐4‐ferrocenyl‐1H‐[1,2,3]‐triazole (1,4‐BBFT) and hydrophilic ionic liquid (n‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate) as a binder is studied. It has been found that the oxidation of levodopa at the surface of a modified electrode occurs at a potential of about 210 mV less positive than that of an unmodified carbon paste electrode (CPE). The prepared modified electrode exhibits a very good resolution of the voltammetric peaks of levodopa and cabergoline. The electrode has been applied successfully for the determination of levodopa and cabergoline in some real samples.     

An electroanalytical study of the drug proflavine

A square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SWAdSV) method was developed for the determination of proflavine. The electrochemical behaviour of proflavine was investigated by cyclic (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and carbon paste electrode (CPE). Different parameters were tested to optimize the conditions of the determination. Better results were obtained by square wave voltammetry using CPE where two oxidation and a reduction peak, appeared, at 0.19, 0.94 and 0.20 V, respectively. The peak at 0.19 V is quasi-reversible and deposition dependent. Linearity was observed in the range of (0.2–23.4) × 10⁻⁸ M (r = 0.998) during the anodic scan and in the range of (1.17–117) × 10⁻⁸ M (r = 0.999) during the cathodic scan. The second peak at 0.94 V is irreversible and deposition independent. The linearity of this peak was observed in the range of (1.29–11.7) × 10⁻⁸ M (r = 0.998). The method was applied to the analysis of bovine serum and gave satisfactory results. Correspondence: S. Th. Girousi, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece