Cathodic Stripping Voltammetric Behavior of Cytosine in Presence of Acridine Orange at the Static Mercury Drop Electrode

Abstract

Cathodic adsorptive electrochemical behavior of cytosine in the presence of acridine orange (DNA‐intercalating dye) at the static mercury drop electrode was investigated. A 0.001 M NaOH solution containing 2 ppm of acridine orange was found to be the optimal supporting electrolyte. Other optimum experimental conditions were found to be as follows: the initial potential at 0.00 V, linear n, and the potential scan rate at 50 mV s⁻¹. The analytical response was found to be linear in a range of cystosine concentrations from 0.30 ppm to 1.1 ppm. For a direct response, the detection limit was 1.2 ppb. The presence of ssDNA and the interference of some trace metals were also investigated.

Keywords:

• Cytosine determination
• acridine orange
• ssDNA
• trace metals
• stripping voltammetry

The authors gratefully acknowledge the CNPq and CAPES of the Government of Brazil and PUC‐Rio for their support of this work. The experimental assistance of A.B. Neves is appreciated.