Characterization of PVC-Tetraruthenated Metalloporphyrins Modified Electrodes: Application as Electrocatalyst in the Nitrite Reduction

Summary: This paper describes the electrochemical reduction of nitrite ion in 0.1 M NaClO₄, on glassy carbon or ITO electrodes modified with mixtures PVC- tetraruthenated metalloporphyrins. This electrode is able to keep the extraordinary electrocatalytic properties of the macrocycle allowing multielectronic transfers and a great stability as a consequence of the inclusion of the macrocycles into a polymeric support such as PVC. On the other hand, the electrochemical reduction of nitrite ion on these modified electrodes studied by cyclic voltammetry shows an enhancement in the current values and lower overpotential compared with the activity of the bare glassy carbon electrode. Controlled potential electrolysis experiments verify the production of ammonia, hydrazine and hydroxylamine, showing the electrocatalytic character and the stability of this modified electrode.     

Disposable Bismuth Oxide Screen Printed Electrodes for the High Throughput Screening of Heavy Metals

We present a simplified approach for the trace screening of toxic heavy metals utilizing bismuth oxide screen printed electrodes. The use of bismuth oxide instead of toxic mercury films facilitates the reliable sensing of lead(II), cadmium(II) and zinc(II). A linear range over 5 to 150 μg L^?1 with detection limits of 2.5 and 5 μg L^?1 are readily observed for cadmium and lead in 0.1 M HCl, respectively. Conducting a simultaneous multi‐elemental voltammetric detection of zinc, cadmium and lead in a higher pH medium (0.1 M sodium acetate solution) exhibited a linear range between 10 and 150 μg L^?1 with detection limits of 5, 10 and 30 μg L^?1 for cadmium, lead and zinc respectively. The sensor is greatly simplified over those recently reported such as bismuth nanoparticle modified electrodes and bismuth film coated screen printed electrodes. The scope of applications of this sensor with the inherent advances in electroanalysis coupled with the negliable toxicity of bismuth is extensive allowing high throughput electroanalysis.     

Characteristics of Voltammetric Determination and Speciation of Chromium – A Review

This article reviews the voltammetric methods of chromium determination, including adsorptive and catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry at liquid mercury, metallic films, and modified carbon paste electrodes. The principle applications of the catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method of chromium(VI) determination in the presence of DTPA and nitrate, most useful in the analysis of chromium traces and its speciation, is presented in detail. Special emphasis is put on the presentation and characterization of the voltammetric procedures which make it possible to conduction speciation studies of chromium(VI) in the presence of a great excess of chromium(III) and surfactants. This survey is based on 173 articles.     

Voltammetry of Os(VI)‐Modified Polysaccharides at Carbon Electrodes

We show that polysaccharides (PSs, such as dextran and mannan) can be chemically modified by Os(VI) complexes, yielding electroactive adducts. Os(VI) complexes with different ligands (e.g., temed and 2,2′‐bipyridine) produced at pyrolytic graphite electrodes redox couples at different potentials suitable for “multicolor” labeling of PSs and for studies of ligand exchange kinetics. PS‐Os(VI)L adducts can be determined not only in their purified forms but also in the reaction mixtures.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Horse Spleen Ferritin Covalently Immobilized on Self‐Assembled Monolayer Modified Gold Electrodes

Horse spleen ferritin was covalently attached to SAM‐modified gold electrodes using cross‐linking agents. Reduction of ferritin occurs at negative potentials and is electrochemically irreversible. The voltammetry reveals the presence of a new electrochemical couple that has been determined to be a dissolved iron species released upon the reduction of ferritin. Covalently attached ferritin retains its ability to release iron as evidenced by the absence of the dissolved couple peaks when ferritin is reduced in the presence of nitrilotriacetate. As the SAM chain length increases, the reduction potential becomes more negative, suggesting a tunneling mechanism is involved in the electron transfer.     

Microwave‐Assisted Electroanalysis: A Review

Microwave‐assisted electrochemistry is critically discussed with a focus on the fundamental aspects of the processes involved and its applications in electroanalysis. The concept of direct and nondirect heated electrodes is discussed, and simulation work is evaluated. Microwave‐assisted electrochemistry predominantly results in higher current responses (up to 2 magnitudes higher) due to increased temperature and mass transport to the active electrodes. Temperature gradients at microwave‐affected electrodes may exceed 10⁵ K/cm, with temperature hotspots found in the thin diffusion layers set up at ultramicroelectrodes. Research into microwave‐assisted electroanalysis can lead to enhanced capillary electrophoresis detection, improved stripping voltammetry and development of new high temperature methods.     

Carbon Paste Electrodes in Facts,Numbers, and Notes: A Review on the Occasion of the 50‐Years Jubilee of Carbon Paste in Electrochemistry and Electroanalysis

This article reviews the electrochemistry and electroanalytical applications of carbon paste‐based electrodes, sensors, and detectors on the occasion of the half‐of‐century anniversary since the discovery of carbon paste. The review (with 333 references) has been prepared in the form of a retrospective compilation presenting the field by means of various facts, notes, data, surveys, and summaries, including numerous rarities or curiosities that illustrate the individual achievements and milestones. Carbon paste‐based electrodes are discussed in their entirety by covering all important areas of the field, starting from basic characterization of carbon paste as the electrode material, via its typical physicochemical and electrochemical properties or specific features, up to a representative documentation of their applicability in electrochemical and electroanalytical measurements.     

Preparation of Polypyrrole/Nuclear Fast Red Films on Gold Electrode and Its Application on the Electrocatalytic Determination of Methyl‐dopa and Ascorbic Acid

A novel voltammetric method using the Ppyox/NFR/Au (poly pyrrole – nuclear fast red – gold) modified electrode was developed for simultaneous measurement of various combinations of ascorbic acid (AA) and methyldopa (MDA). Polypyrrole film was prepared by incorporation of nuclear fast red (NFR) as doping anion, during the electropolymerization of pyrrole onto a gold (Au) electrode in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetric (CV) method, and then it was overoxidized at constant potential. Differential pulse voltammetry was utilized for the measurement of both analytes using modified electrode. Well‐separated voltammetric peaks were observed for ascorbic acid (AA) and methyldopa at the Ppyox/NFR/Au modified electrodes with peak separation of 0.210 V. It has been found that under optimum condition (pH 3.0), the oxidation of AA and MDA at the surface of the electrode occurs at a potential about 260 and 50 mV less positive than unmodified Au electrode respectively. The current catalytic oxidation peaks showed a linear dependent on the concentration of AA and MDA in the range of 9.0×10^?6 to 1.0×10^?3 and 1.0×10^?7 to 2.0×10^?5 mol L^?1 respectively. The detection limit of 5.8×10^?6 and 5.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 (S/N=3) were obtained for AA and MDA respectively. The modified electrode was used for determination of AA and MDA in some real samples such as human serum and tablet.     

Electrocatalytic Nitrite Reduction to Nitrogen Oxide by a Synthetic Analogue of the Active Site of Cu‐Containing Nitrite Reductase Incorporated in Nafion Film

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite to NO by [CuMe₂bpa(H₂O)(ClO₄)]⁺ ( 1 ), which is a model for the active site of copper‐containing nitrite reductase, incorporated in Nafion film was investigated. The Cu complex in the Nafion matrix exhibits an intense band at 267 nm and a broad band around 680 nm, assigned to d–d and ligand field transitions, respectively. The 77‐K EPR spectrum of 1 in the Nafion matrix reveals the typical axial signals (g_//=2.28, g =2.08, A_//=13.3 mT) of a tetragonal Cu²⁺ chromophore. The redox potential, which is related to the Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ couple, was ?146 mV (ΔE=72 mV) at pH 5.5. The redox reaction of 1 in Nafion was not dependent on pH and was a diffusion‐controlled process. The electronic structure and redox properties of 1 in the negatively charged polymer matrix were almost the same as those in aqueous solution. In the presence of nitrite, an increase in the cathodic current was observed in the cyclic voltammogram of 1 in the Nafion matrix. The current increase was dependent on the nitrite concentration and pH in solution. Upon reaching ?400 mV, a linear generation of NO was observed for the 1 /Nafion film coated electrode. The relationship between the rate of NO generation and the nitrite concentration in solution was analyzed with the Michaelis–Menten equation, where V_max=45.1 nM s^?1 and K_m=15.8 mM at pH 5.5. The Cu complex serves the function of both the catalyst and electron transport in the Nafion matrix. The sensitivity of the electrode was estimated to be 3.23 μA mM^?1 in the range of 0.1–0.4 mM nitrite.     

Enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl based on its molecular interaction with C70 fullerenes

Two enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on [5,6]fullerene-C₇₀ (1) and diethyl (1,2-methanofullerene C₇₀)-71-71-dicarboxylate (2) immobilized in carbon paste, were designed for the enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl. The electrodes exhibited near-Nernstian slopes: 57.90 (1) and 59.00 mV/decade of concentration (2), respectively with low limits of detection 5.9 × 10⁻¹¹ (1) and 9.6 × 10⁻¹¹ mol/L (2), respectively. The linear concentration ranges are between 10⁻¹⁰ and 10⁻⁴ mol/L (1) and between 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻⁴ mol/L (2), respectively. The different characteristics involved in the molecular interaction between R-deprenyl and C₇₀ fullerenes were explained, namely (i) the stability of each molecule and (ii) the explanation of the molecular mechanism of interaction, using restricted Hartree-Fock theory, 3-21G(*) RHF-basis set. Furthermore, two intermolecular forces of interactions confer the stability of the electrodes; electrostatic interaction and moderate hydrogen bond interaction. Stability and feasibility of all the generated structures involved in this analysis were supported by their respective fundamental frequencies and energy minima.R-deprenyl can be recovered with average recoveries higher than 99.10% (RSD < 0.03%) from synthetic mixtures between R- and S-deprenyl. The high selectivity and enantioselectivity made possible the enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl in its pharmaceutical formulations.