Simultaneous voltammetric detection of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid using a pyrolytic graphite electrode modified into dopamine solution

Pyrolytic graphite electrodes (PGE) were modified into dopamine solutions using phosphate buffer solutions, pH 10 and 6.5, as supporting electrolyte. The modification process involved a previous anodization of the working electrode at +1.5 V into 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH followed by other anodization step, in the same experimental conditions, into dopamine (DA) solutions. pH of the supporting electrolyte performed an important role in the production of a superficial melanin polymeric film, which permitted the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), (DA) and uric acid (UA), ΔE_AA-DA = 222 mV; ΔE_AA-UA = 360 mV and ΔE_DA-UA = 138 mV, avoiding the superficial poisoning effects. The calculated detection limits were: 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for uric acid, 1.3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for ascorbic acid and 1.1 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for dopamine, with sensitivities of (7.7 ± 0.5), (0.061 ± 0.001) and (9.5 ± 0.05) A mol⁻¹ cm⁻², respectively, with no mutual interference. Uric acid was determined in urine, blood and serum human samples after dilution in phosphate buffer and no additional sample pre-treatment was necessary. The concentration of uric acid in urine was higher than the values found in blood and serum and the recovery tests (92-102%) indicated that no matrix effects were observed.