Evaluation of amperometric dot microsensors for the analysis of folic acid in pharmaceutical tablets and urine samples
Nineteen amperometric dot microsensors based on graphite and graphene modified with a selection of porphyrins and phthalocyanines were evaluated and tested for their ability of the analysis of folic acid in pharmaceutical tablets (e.g. Acifol) and biological samples (e.g. urine), using differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry was used to optimize the working conditions, e.g. pH and electrolyte for the proposed amperometric dot microsensors. The optimum working pH was 7.0 (phosphate buffer), with a 0.1 M potassium chloride supporting electrolyte. The linear concentration ranges for folic acid were between 10-6 and 10-3) M for all dot microsensors except dot microsensors based on graphite modified with tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine and tetranitro manganese(II) phthalocyanine which had linear concentration ranges between 10-6 and 10-4 M . The highest sensitivity (0.770 nA. mmolL-1) was recorded for the graphite modified with tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine based dot sensor and the lowest limit of detection (1.14 10-7 M ) for the graphite modified with tetranitro zinc(II) phthalocyanine based dot sensor. The dot sensors were used for the reliable analysis of folic acid in Acifol tablets and urine samples, with recoveries higher than 94.00% and 99.00%, respectively.