Differential-pulse polarography of amino acids in acetaldehyde-borax medium

A differential-pulse polarographic method for the determination of amino acids is reported, based on the formation of Schiff's base compounds in borax buffer solution (pH 10.10) containing acetaldehyde. The compounds are reduced at a mercury electrode with peak potentials of about ?1.5 V (vs. SCE) and well defined polarographic waves are obtained which can be used to determine amino acids in borax medium. The differential-pulse polarographic method was found to be the most sensitive and suitable for the determination of amino acids in the concentration range 1 × 10^?6–8 × 10^?4 M (lysine) and 2.8 × 10^?6–1 × 10^?3 M (arginine). The polarographic characteristics of these waves were studied by differential-pulse polarographic and cyclic voltammetric methods. The waves are ascribed to the reduction of the imido group in the Schiff's base compounds. The procedure was applied to the determination of lysine and arginine in foodstuffs and the total proteins in serum samples.