Indirect measurement of brucine by adsorptive stripping voltammetry at mercury electrode

After reaction with nitric acid, brucine can be transformed into cacotheline, and then measured indirectly by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. This method is based on the adsorptive accumulation of cacotheline at a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by cathodic linear sweep voltammetry. The cathodic peak potential is about -0.35 V (vs. saturated Ag AgCl ). The detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-9) M is obtained under optimized conditions. The electrochemical behaviour of cacotheline and the mechanism of the electrode reactions are discussed.