Electrochemical detectors: Functional group analysis

In addition to chromatographic resolution of enantiomeric compounds, electr ochemical detection may be used to delineate structure. This information ca n be obtained via voltammetric measurement at various electrode materials. This paper focuses on isolated electrode arrays as used for the resolution of redox-active compounds in liquid chromatography. For polar aliphatic com pounds, electrocatalytic detection at noble metals using pulsed voltammetri c detection can be used to identify certain functional groups (e.g., aldehy des, alcohols, amines, and thiols). Electrochemical systems are also versat ile, rugged, and highly amenable to miniaturization, which are all importan t factors for consideration for inclusion in extraterrestrial exploration v ehicles.