Optimizing the quadruple-potential waveform for the pulsed amperometric detection of neomycin

Determination of neomycin is important for quality control of the pharmaceutical preparation. A quadruple-potential waveform used for pulsed amperometric detection of neomycin was investigated. The waveform cleans the electrode by application of a potential more negative than the potential limit to avoid the formation of gold oxide during applying positive potential to clean gold electrode, thus decreasing the dissolution resulting recession of the gold working electrode within gold oxide formation/reduction cycles in the triple-potential waveform. Waveform parameters were optimized to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The detection limit of neomycin B is lower than 0.01 microg/ml. The linearity of framycetin (plotted as peak area of neomycin B) ranges from 0.05 to 100 microg/ml with correlation coefficient 0.9998. R.S.D. (n = 60) of the peak area of neomycin B is lower than 2%. The quadruple-potential waveform shows low detection limits and long-term reproducibility.