Comparison of inorganic films and poly(4-vinylpyridine) coatings as electrode modifiers for flow-injection systems

A glassy-carbon electrode modified with a ruthenium-containing inorganic film was used for the flow-injection determination of As(III). The linear working range was 5-100 muM, and the detection limit was 300 pg. The response was reproducible for periods of several days. A glassy-carbon electrode modified by adsorption of a quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) film impregnated with hexachloroiridate(II and III) was used for the oxidation of nitrite. The calibration graphs were non-linear and varied from day to day, and the peak widths were broad. Nitrite determination at a platinum electrode modified by adsorption of iodine gave results analogous to the As(III) study; however, an overlayer of quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) decreased the sensitivity.