ELECTROCHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC OXIDATION OF 9-METHYLURIC ACID AT SOLIDELECTRODES

The electrochemical oxidation of 9-methyluric acid has been studied ir i the pH range 2.0-11.3 at pyrolytic graphite, platinum and glassy car bon electrodes. The oxidation was found to occur in a single 2e(-), H pH-dependent reaction at all the three electrodes. Adsorption complic ations were observed at the pyrolytic graphite and glassy carbon elect rodes whereas no such behaviour was observed at platinum. The UV-spect ral changes and the;kinetics of the decay of the UV-absorbing intermed iate generated during the reaction were found to be essentially the sa me at all the three electrodes. The peroxidase catalysed oxidation of 9-methyluric acid was also found to be similar to the electrochemical oxidation. The products of oxidation were the same at all the electrod es suggesting thereby that adsorptive action at the surface of PGE and GCE did not affect the EC mechanism.