Electrocatalytic oxidation of paraacetylaminophenol on a graphite electrode modified with iron oxides

Abstract

The goal of this study was to propose an electrochemical sensor for Paracetamol determination. To reach this objective, a graphite electrode (GE) was modified with iron oxides, and it was tested in an alkaline aqueous solution, in order to appreciate its electrocatalytic properties towards paraacetylaminophenol anodic oxidation. The graphite electrode modification was performed, in a first step, by potentiostatic deposition of an iron film at −1 V/SCE, in an aqueous solution of 0.04 M Fe (NO3)3 + 0.15 M KNO3, followed, in a second step, by cyclic voltammetry in an aqueous solution of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, at 25 °C. The modified electrode was characterized by means of scanning electron microscope coupled to an EDAX X-Ray micro-analyser. Paraacetylaminophenol determination by means of this novel sensor was instantaneous in an alkaline solution. The performance of this sensor was obtained in the concentration range from 13 ppm to 320 ppm, with a sensitivity of 1.6 Ü 104 μA mol−1 L.