An electrochemical reactivation method for solid electrodes used in electrochemical detectors for high-performance liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis

An electrochemical reactivation method for solid electrodes used in electrochemical detectors is optimized for glassy carbon electrodes. Application of a voltage pulse train for 5 min is effective in restoring the response of the electrode after deactivation by organic compounds. Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and dl-synephrine were used to test the reactivation of electrodes; 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid and urine served to deactivate them. The effects of the amplitude, d.c. level, and frequency of the applied voltage pulse train, as well as the mode of termination, are discussed.