Electrochemical oxidation and determination of high-molecular-weight sterically hindered phenols

The use of differential pulse voltammetry for the determination of Irganox 1010, a sterically hindered phenol used as an antioxidant, prompted an investigation of the electrochemical behavior of several other commercially available high-molecular-weight hindered phenols used as antioxidants and stabilizers. Although these compounds generally have at least two phenol groups per molecule, their electrochemical behavior is similar to that of simpler hindered phenols such as 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol. Detection limits ranging from 1.3 to 8.2 ppm were obtained in a methanol—0.07 M sulfuric acid medium. The oxidation of alkylphenols in neutral or acidic media is accompanied by follow-up chemical reactions, leading to formation of passivating films on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode. In alkaline media, the corresponding phenoxide is oxidized electrochemically to the corresponding stable phenoxy radical and filming can be avoided.