Priscila Cervini

The use of a graphite–castor oil polyurethane composite electrode for the determination of hydroquinone in photographic developers

The performance of a new graphite-castor oil polyurethane composite electrode in the determination of hydroquinone in photographic developers in a differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) procedure is described. The 60% (graphite, w/w) composite electrode presented good stability, repeatability and accurate response. Limit of detection of 934 nmol L(-1) was observed for hydroquinone within a linear dynamic range from 66 to 530 nmol L(-1). The determination of hydroquinone in a photographic developer sample showed agreement with the label values in a 95% confidence level with maximum 2% relative error and recoveries between 100.1 and 100.4%. No need of sample preparation was required since the p-methylaminophenolsulfate (metol) present in the developer formulation did not interfered in the measurements.

Determination of atenolol at a graphite-polyurethane composite electrode

A bare graphite-polyurethane composite was evaluated as an alternative electrode in the determination of atenolol (ATN) in pharmaceutical formulations. Using a DPV procedure, a linear analytical curve was observed in the 4-100mumolL(-1) range with a LOD=3.16mumolL(-1), without need of surface renewing between successive runs, with recoveries between 95.5 and 108%. Interference of other antihypertensive drugs was observed, but not from the usual components of tablets. The results of the proposed method agreed with HPLC ones within 95% confidence level.

Development of graphite-polymer composites as electrode materials

Graphite powder was mixed to polyurethane, silicon rubber and Araldite® (epoxy) in order to prepare composite materials to be used in the preparation of electrodes. Results showed that voltammetric response could be obtained when at least 50% of graphite (w.w-1) is present in the material. SEM and thermogravimetry were also used in the characterization of the composites.

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of acetaminophen and caffeine at a graphite and polyurethane screen-printed composite electrode

A selective electrochemical method was developed for the individual or simultaneous determination of acetaminophen and caffeine in phosphate buffer pH 6.0 on graphite and polyurethane screen-printed composite electrode (EIGPU) using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV). The oxidation peaks of acetaminophen and the caffeine appeared at 0.3 V and 1.3 V(vs. pseudo-Ag/AgCl), respectively, showing the possibility of simultaneous determination of both analytes, at the EIGPU, besides the individual determination. Analytical curves for the simultaneous determination showed a linear response for both compounds. The acetaminophen presented a linear region in the concentration range 1.00 - 40.0 µmol L-1 with detection limit of 0.84 µmol L-1, and the caffeine presented a linear region, in the concentration range 4.00 - 200 µmol L-1 with detection limit of 1.6 µmol L-1. The proposed method was applied in the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen and caffeine in three pharmaceutical formulations, with results similar to those obtained using a HPLC method, at 95% confidence level (Student t-Test).

Determination of paracetamol at a graphite-polyurethane composite electrode as an amperometric flow detector

A bare graphite-polyurethane composite was evaluated as an amperometric flow injection detector in the determination of paracetamol (APAP) in pharmaceutical formulations. A linear analytical curve was observed in the 5.00 x 10-5 to 5.00 x 10-3 mol L-1 range with a minimum detectable net concentration of 18.9 µmol L-1 and 180 determinations h-1, after optimization of parameters such as the detection potential, sample loop volume, and carrier solution flow rate. Interference of ascorbic acid was observed, however, it was possible overcome the interference, reaching results that agreed with HPLC within 95% confidence level. These results showed that the graphite-polyurethane composite can be used as an amperometric detector for flow analysis in the determination of APAP.

Graphite-Polyurethane Composite Electrode as an Amperometric Flow Detector in the Determination of Atenolol

Abstract A bare graphite-polyurethane composite was evaluated as an amperometric detector in the flow injection determination of atenolol in pharmaceutical formulations. Using a flow injection analysis (FIA) procedure, a linear analytical curve was observed in the 0.2–3.0 mmol L−1 range with a minimum detectable net concentration limit of detection (LOD = 18.1 µmol L−1 and 90 determinations h−1. Interferences from propranolol and furosemide were observed but not from the other components of the tablet. Thus, it was possible to determine atenolol in tablets without interference and with results that agreed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure with a 95% confidence level in a fast and accurate procedure.

Determination of tetracycline in environmental water samples at a graphite-polyurethane composite electrode

A bare graphite-polyurethane composite was evaluated in the tetracycline (TC) determination in natural water samples. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), a linear response was observed in the range of 4.00-40.0 µmol L-1 with limit of detection of 2.80 µmol L-1, without the need of surface renewing between successive runs. During the tetracycline determination in water samples, recoveries between 92.6 and 100% were found. The results for TC determination in water samples after a pre-concentration stage agreed with spiked value at a 95% confidence level according to student t-test.

Strategies for Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Modified Electrodes and Their Application in Electroanalysis: A Review

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been applied in several areas of analytical chemistry, including the modification of electrodes. The main purpose of such modification is improving selectivity; however, a gain in sensitivity was also observed in many cases. The most frequent approaches for these modifications are the electrodeposition of polymer films and sol gel deposits, spin and drop coating and self-assembling of films on metal nanoparticles. The preparation of bulk (body) modified composites as carbon pastes and polymer agglutinated graphite have also been investigated. In all cases several analytes including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and inorganic species, as well as molecules with biological relevance have been successfully used as templates and analyzed with such devices in electroanalytical procedures. Herein, 65 references are presented concerning the general characteristics and some details related to the preparation of MIPs including a description of electrodes modified with MIPs by different approaches. The results using voltammetric and amperometric detection are described.

Evaluation of the Analytical Potentialities of a Composite Electrode Modified with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Abstract The preparation of a methacrylate polymer molecularly imprinted (MIP) with paracetamol (APAP) was performed. After extraction of the APAP template molecule, the MIPs were incorporated into a graphite–polyurethane (GPU) matrix, and the resulting composites were used to prepare modified electrodes intended to be used in APAP determination. The best results were found using a 2.5% MIP in the GPU electrode and a 500-µm MIP particle size. This electrode was used in the determination of APAP in pharmaceutical formulations, reaching a 6.7 × 10−8 mol L−1 limit of detection. The 2.5% MIP-GPU-modified electrode showed better sensitivity than the nonimprinted methacrylate GPU-modified electrodes. Interference of phenacetin in the APAP response decreased remarkably when the proposed electrode was used.

New Screen Printed Electrode Based on Graphite and Polyurethane Composite for the Determination of Acetaminophen

A disposable screen-printed electrode based on a graphite and polyurethane resin composite (EIGPU) was developed and evaluated as a voltammetric detector in pharmaceutical analysis. Using cyclic voltammetry, an analytical curve was obtained with the linear dynamic range between 1.00–100 µmol L−1 and a detection limit of 8.18 × 10−7 mol L−1 for acetaminophen (paracetamol) as a probe. During the APAP determination in pharmaceutical formulations, recoveries between 97.2 and 102% were found. There were no interferences from ascorbic acid and other constituents of the pharmaceutical formulation at the 95% confidence level compared to HPLC analysis.