Amperometric determination of sympathomimetic drugs by flow injection analysis with a metallic copper electrode

The detection and determination of sympathomimetic drugs in flow injection systems with an amperometric method based on a metallic copper wire electro de is described. The copper electrode is shown to give sensitive response t oward sympathomimetic drugs, especially for norephedrine in flow injection analysis. The copper electrodes require no pretreatment except polishing be fore use. Furthermore, the copper working electrode shows stable response i n such a system and the relative standard deviation is only 4.6% for 30 con secutive norephedrine injections at a 0.15 mM level. A detection limit of 1 0(-9) mol (0.15 mu g norephedrine) for a sample loop of 0.1 mi was obtained at a fixed potential of +0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in NaOH 0.1 M and a Bow rate of 2.0 ml/min. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.