Non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glycerol on boron-doped diamond electrode.

A non-enzymatic direct electrochemical glycerol detection method at a commercial boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode in 0.1 M NaOH supporting electrolyte was developed. All the used electrochemical techniques proved useful features for the oxidation and direct amperometric determination of glycerol at a BDD electrode in 0.1 M NaOH aqueous solution. It was found that the direct electrooxidation of glycerol on the BDD electrode requires both adsorbed glycerol and hydroxyls at the electrode surface. Also, the sp(2) carbon did not allow enhancement of the glycerol oxidation process. The electronalytical sensitivity for the determination of glycerol at the BDD electrode ranged from 0.040 to 0.226 µA mM(-1) as a function of the technique used. The highest electroanalytical sensitivity for the determination of glycerol at the BDD electrode was reached in batch system amperometric quantification under stirring conditions. Performed recovery studies indicated that it is possible to determine glycerol in real samples, and the proposed batch system analysis-based methodology can be a valuable tool for practical glycerol analysis.