In-house validation of voltammetric determination of paracetamol in natural waters

Abstract

Paracetamol is the most prescribed drug currently for headaches and fever. Therefore, because of the demand, it is considered an emergent ecosystem contaminant. In this context, this work presents an in-house validation study of a new voltammetric methodology for analysis of paracetamol in natural waters. A boron-doped diamond electrode (BDD) and a Britton-Robinson buffer solution 0.1 mol L-1 as supporting electrolyte were used in the voltammetric determinations. The results were obtaining by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). Analytical curves were constructed in the concentration range of 0.25 to 1.51 mg L-1, obtaining values of LOD and LOQ equal to 6.25 µg L-1 and 20.82 µg L-1, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) found was 0.997, while the determination coefficient (R2) was 99.6 %, indicating, along with the help of statistical tools, a good linearity of the method. Additionally, there were obtaining values of RSD of 3.2 % for repeatability and 12.0 % for intermediary precision, as well as recovery rates in between 80.16 % and 116.45 %. That way, the method can be considered precise, exact and reliable for real samples determinations in routine analysis.