IRON DETERMINATION IN OSTEOBLAST-LIKE CELL-CULTURE MEDIUM BY ADSORPTIVE CATHODIC STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY WITH A MERCURY MICROELECTRODE

Mercury film microelectrodes were used to determine iron in osteoblast -like cell culture medium by performing adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of catechol. The optimized analytical cond itions are a catechol concentration of 5.00x10(-4) mol L-1, pH 8.0 and a collection potential of -1.80 V which eliminates the copper interfe rence. The reoxidation period was limited to the time between switchin g to -0.10 V and scanning up to the metal peak (ca. -0.40 V). The limi t of detection obtained for a 30 s collection time was 1.93x10(-8) mol L-1 iron. The results achieved by this procedure and using the square -wave voltammetry technique are accurate and precise. Biological assay s were performed to evaluate the mineralization process.