Spectroelectrochemical detector for flow-injection systems and liquid chromatography

Flow-through spectroelectrochemical detectors for flow-injection systems and liquid chromatography are described. The detectors have a rectangular flow channel with a reticulated vitreous carbon working electrode followed by an open optical window. The dead volumes of the cells are 27 μl (liquid chromatography) and 80 μl (flow injection). In situ spectral monitoring of reaction products and intermediates for compounds that are both weakly and highly absorbing is demonstrated by using o-tolidine and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine. As a detector for flow-injection systems, components in two-component mixtures can be quantified. As a detector for liquid chromatography, simultaneous absorbance and electrochemical chromatograms allow more eluting compounds to be identified and quantified. Mixtures of nitro- and chloro-phenols are used to illustrate the simultaneous profiling of spectral and redox properties.