Voltammetric determination of pyrocatechol at a mechanically renewed electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite

The reversibility of a two-electron pyrocatechol/o-benzoquinone system (ΔE _p = 28 ± 1 mV) is found by cyclic voltammetry at a mechanically renewed electrode from a graphite-epoxy composite. The closeness of the found and theoretical values of ΔE _p indicates the high electrochemical activity of the graphite-epoxy composite electrode renewed in situ by cutting a thin surface layer. The potentials of pyrocatechol anodic and cathodic peaks are proportional to E ₀ ± 0.059pH in the pH range of 1–9. The pyrocatechol anodic and cathodic peak currents remain linear functions of pyrocatechol concentration in the concentration range from 0.01 to 0.08 and from 0.08 to 0.9 g/L, respectively. A procedure for the voltammetric determination of pyrocatechol in its individual solutions and in the presence of hydroquinone is proposed. Good precision and the absence of a systematic error in the determination of pyrocatechol by measuring its cathodic peak are demonstrated.