Amperometric detection of sulfur-containing compounds in alkaline media

A copper-based chemically modified glassy carbon electrode (GC-Cu) was developed to be used as an amperometric sensor for electrochemically detecting several sulfur-containing compounds in alkaline media. Under optimised flow injection conditions the calibration curves for sulfite, sulfide, thiosulfate, cysteine, cystine, etc., were linear over three orders of magnitude of concentration. Detection limits were of the order of 0.04-1.5 microM. A simple and rapid method for determining sulfite in red and white wines by anion-exchange chromatography with electrochemical detection is described.