Karina Omuro Lupetti

An improved flow system for phenols determination exploiting multicommutation and long pathlength spectrophotometry.

A greener and sensitive procedure for spectrophotometric determination of phenols based on a multicommuted flow system with a 100cm optical path flow cell is presented. The method exploited the oxidative coupling of phenolic compounds with 4-aminoantipyrine in alkaline medium containing potassium hexacyanoferrate(III). Sensitivity was 80-fold higher than that achieved with a 1cm flow cell, making feasible the determination of phenols in the 10-100mugl(-1) range with a detection limit estimated as 1mugl(-1) phenol. The sampling rate and the coefficient of variation were estimated as 90 determinations per hour and 0.6% (n=10), respectively. The multicommutation approach allowed a 200-fold reduction of the reagent consumption in comparison with the reference batch method. Moreover, the chloroform extraction for analyte concentration is unnecessary in view of the increase in sensitivity. Recoveries within 93.3 and 106% were achieved for determination of phenol in natural and wastewater samples. Results agreed with the obtained by a reference method at the 95% confidence level.

Chronoamperometric determination of paracetamol using an avocado tissue (Persea americana) biosensor

A biosensor based on vaseline/graphite modified with avocado tissue (Persea americana) as the source of polyphenol oxidase was developed and used for the chronoamperometric determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations. This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of paracetamol to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine whose electrochemical reduction back to paracetamol was obtained at a potential of -0.12 V. After addition of paracetamol reference solutions in glass cell and stirring for 60 s for the accumulation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine at the electrode surface under open-circuit conditions, the current response was monitored by 120 s without stirring. The currents obtained at 70 s were proportional to the paracetamol concentration from 1.2x10(-4) to 5.8x10(-3) mol l(-1) (r=0.9927) with a detection limit of 8.8x10(-5) mol l(-1). The recovery of paracetamol from two samples ranged from 97.9 to 100.7% and a relative standard deviation lower than 0.5% for a solution containing 5.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) paracetamol in 0.10 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0; n=10) was obtained. The results obtained for paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations using the proposed biosensor and those obtained using a pharmacopoeial procedure are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Synergic effect studies of the bi-enzymatic system laccase-peroxidase in a voltammetric biosensor for catecholamines.

Several bi-enzymatic carbon paste biosensors modified with enzymes laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus fungi and peroxidase from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) were constructed for evaluating the synergic effect of the two enzymes on the voltammetric biosensor response for various catecholamines. Initially was investigated the effect of pH from 5.0 to 7.5, temperature from 25 to 50 degrees C, initial stirring time from 30 to 150 s, scan rate from 10 to 60 mVs(-1) and potential pulse amplitude from 10 to 60 mV on the biosensor response for several catecholamines such as dopamine, adrenaline, isoprenaline and l-dopa. It was observed a biosensor signal increase employing both enzymes, indicating thus there is a synergic effect between laccase and peroxidase, verified also in spectrophotometric studies, in the determination of these catecholamines.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM.) tissue as a biocatalyst in a paraffin/graphite biosensor for hydrazine determination in boiler feed water

ABSTRACT A biosensor based on paraffin/graphite modified with a sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) tissue as the source of peroxidase was developed and used for determining hydrazine in boiler feed water. This enzyme in the presence of hydrogen peroxide catalyses the oxidation of hydroquinone to p-benzoquinone from which electrochemical reduction back to hydroquinone was obtained at a peak potential of −0.22 V. When hydrazine was added it directly inhibited peroxidase, reduced p-benzoquinone to hydroquinone and/or reduced H2O2, decreasing the cathodic peak current proportionally to the increase of its concentration. Recovery of hydrazine from two samples ranged from 98.0 to 104.3% and the reduction current was proportional to the concentration of hydrazine from 7.0 × 10−6 to 1.2 × 10−4 mol L−1 (r = 0.9980), from 2.9 × 10−5 to 2.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 (r = 0.9986), and from 2.9 × 10−5 to 2.9 × 10−4 mol L−1 (r = 0.9988) with detection limits of 5.1 × 10−7, 8.4 × 10−7, and 1.1 × 10−6 mol L−1 for hydroquinone solutions of 5.0 × 10−4, 1.0 × 10−3, and 1.6 × 10−3 mol L−1, respectively. Results obtained for hydrazine in boiler feed water using the proposed biosensor and those obtained by the official method are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of isoproterenol using an avocado (Persea americana) crude extract immobilized on controlled-pore silica reactor

An enzymatic reactor was constructed by the immobilization of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from avocado (Persea americana) crude extract in an inorganic support of controlled pore silica (CPS), after a previous step of silanization. This inorganic support has been used as an excellent carrier to immobilize this enzyme and the enzymatic reactor was used in a flow injection system for the determination of isoproterenol in pharmaceutical products. The procedure is based on the oxidation reaction of this drug with immobilized PPO and the product obtained was monitored at 492 nm. This system presented an analytical curve from 1.23x10(-4) to 7.38x10(-4) mol l(-1) isoproterenol with a detection limit of 6.25x10(-5) mol l(-1). Recoveries of isoproterenol between 98.5 and 103.1%, a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) less than 1% (n=10) and 36 determinations per h were obtained.

DETERMINAÇÃO DE PARACETAMOL EM PRODUTOS FARMACÊUTICOS USANDO UM BIOSSENSOR DE PASTA DE CARBONO MODIFICADO COM EXTRATO BRUTO DE ABOBRINHA (Cucurbita pepo)

Crude extracts of several vegetables such as peach (Prunus persica), yam (Alocasia macrorhiza), manioc (Manihot utilissima), artichoke (Cynara scolymus L), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), turnip (Brassica campestre ssp. rapifera), horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) were investigated as the source of peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7). Among those, zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) crude extract was found to be the best one. This enzyme in the presence of hydrogen peroxide catalyses the oxidation of paracetamol to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine which the electrochemical reduction back to paracetamol was obtained at a peak potential of ¾0.10V. A cyclic voltammetric study was performed by scanning the potential from + 0.5 to ¾ 0.5 V. The recovery of paracetamol from two samples ranged from 97.3 to 106% and a rectilinear calibration curve for paracetamol concentration from 1.2x10-4 to 2.5x10-3 mol L-1 (r=0.9965) were obtained. The detection limit was 6.9x10-5 mol L-1 and the relative standard deviation was less than 1.1% for a solution containing 2.5x10-3 mol L-1 paracetamol and 2.0x10-3 mol L-1 hydrogen peroxide (n=12). The results obtained for paracetamol in pharmaceutical products using the proposed biosensor and Pharmacopoeial procedures are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Biosensor Based on Chitosan Biopolymer and Crude Extract of Ginger (Zingiber officinales Rosc.) for the Determination of Hydroquinone in Wastewater of Photographic Process

Abstract A new reagentless biosensor for differential pulse voltammetric detection of hydroquinone in the wastewater of the photographic process was developed. Crude extracts of several vegetables, such as arracacha, cassava, corn, ginger, guava, pineapple, swiss chard, and sweetsop were obtained as sources of peroxidase (PER; EC 1.11.1.7). Among them, a ginger crude extract was selected due to the highest specific activity observed after its immobilization by cross‐linking with glutaraldehyde in a prepared chitosan matrix that was incorporated in a carbon paste electrode. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, this enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of hydroquinone to o‐quinone. The recovery of hydroquinone from the samples ranged from 98.4–105%, and a rectilinear analytical curve for hydroquinone concentration from 2.50 × 10−4 to 2.40 × 10−3 mol L−1 (r = 0.997) was obtained. The detection limit was 2.50 × 10−5 mol L −1, and the relative standard deviation was lower than 1.2% for 4.95 × 10−4 mol L−1 hydroquinone in 0.1 mol L−1 phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0 (n = 10).

Desenvolvimento de um método empregando quitosana para remoção de íons metálicos de águas residuárias

In this work a method was developed for removing metallic ions from wastewaters by co-precipitation of Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Cr3+ and Hg2+ with chitosan and sodium hydroxide solution. Solutions of these metallic ions in the range from 0.55 to 2160 mg L-1 were added to chitosan dissolved in 0.05 mol L-1 HCl. For the co-precipitation of metal-chitosan-hydroxide a 0.17 mol L-1 NaOH solution was added until pH 8.5-9.5. A parallel study was carried out applying a 0.17 mol L-1 NaOH solution to precipitate those metallic ions. Also, a chitosan solid phase column was used for removing those metallic ions from wastewaters.

Electroregenerable anion-exchange resin with triiodide carbon paste electrode for the voltammetric determination of adrenaline

An electroregenerable carbon paste electrode modified with triiodide ions immobilized in an anion-exchange resin (Lewatit M500) is proposed for the determination of adrenaline in pharmaceutical products by differential-pulse voltammetry (DPV). Adrenaline was chemically converted into adrenochrome by the I3- ions at the electrode surface. The electrochemical reduction back to adrenaline was obtained at a potential of -0.16 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 mol l(-1) KCl). A 20% decrease of the initial analytical signal was observed after 350-400 determinations; the carbon paste electrode was 100% electroregenerated at a fixed potential of +0.65 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 mol l(-1) KCl) in 0.1 mol l(-1) KI solution for 20 min. The differential-pulse voltammograms were obtained by applying a sweep potential between 0.0 and -0.34 V, following the adrenochrome reduction at -0.16 V. Under the optimum conditions established, such as pH 6.0; scan rate 20 mV s(-1) and pulse amplitude 50 mV, the calibration curve was linear from 2.0 x 10(-5) to 3.1 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) adrenaline with a detection limit of 3.9 x 10(-6) mol l(-1). The recovery of adrenaline ranged from 99.8 to 103.1% and the RSD was 2.6% for the solution containing 1.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) adrenaline (n = 10). The results obtained for adrenaline in pharmaceutical samples using the proposed carbon paste electrode are in agreement with those obtained using a pharmacopoeial procedure at the 95% confidence level.

Análise de imagem em química analítica: empregando metodologias simples e didáticas para entender e prevenir o escurecimento de tecidos vegetais

A simple and didactic experiment was developed for image monitoring of the browning of fruit tissues caused by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase. The procedure, easy and inexpensive, is a valuable tool to teach and demonstrate the redox reaction between the enzyme and the natural polyphenols. To obtain the browning percentage for apple, pear and banana, digital photographs were employed, and the images were analyzed by means of Monte Carlo methods and digital analysis programs. The effects of several experimental conditions were studied, such as pH, light, temperature and the presence of oxygen or anti-oxidants. It was observed that each fruit presented a different condition that better minimized the oxidation process. The absence of oxygen and the application of a bissulphite solution were sufficient to keep the quality of all fruits tested.