OPTIMIZATION OF RESPONSE OF THE SILVER-OXIDE ELECTRODE FOR THE DETECTION OF CARBOHYDRATES AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS

The response of the silver oxide electrode to carbohydrates, polyhydro xy compounds and amines is dependent on several factors. These include the number of oxidizable groups on the substrate and the way in which the electrode surface is prepared, including the potential program, t he thickness of the oxide layer, the surface area and the presence of other species in the solution during electrode conditioning. Studies o f these factors led to a pulsed potential program for the conditioning and maintenance of electrode stability, with the incorporation of pho sphate during the initial conditioning process. This method led to a r esponse to 10(-4)M glucose, which was reproducible for at least forty repeated injections and stable for at least four hours with a relative standard deviation of 5.2%. This response was also reproducible on su ccessive days when the electrode was prepared in the same manner.