Computerized flow constant-current stripping analysis for some electroactive organic compounds: application to the determination of erythromycin in urine

The possibility of determining various electroactive organic compounds, e.g., erythromycin and riboflavin, by adsorptive preconcentration at constant potential on a mercury-coated carbon-fibre electrode in a flow system prior to stripping with a reductive constant current, is demonstrated. The advantages of measuring the electrode potential vs. time instead of current vs. electrode potential during stripping, the possibility of operating with non-deoxygenated solutions, the increased linear calibration range is in the multiple scanning mode, and the possibility of using the technique for detection in liquid chromatography, are discussed. An analytical procedure for the determination of erythromycin at the 10(-6)M level in urine after extraction with diethyl ether is described.