Platinum-Based and Carbon-Based Screen Printed Electrodes for the Determination of Benzidine by Differential Pulse Voltammetry

Carbon- and platinum-based screen-printed electrodes have been tested, in comparison with standard GC and Pt electrodes, for detecting benzidine, an organic carcinogenic synthetic compound mainly used as intermediate in production of azo-dyes. The methodology consists in a DPV in acidic media and offers excellent results in terms of large dynamic concentration ranges, high accuracy and precision and low limits of detection (1.2×10 -9M) and quantification (3.7×10 -9M). The use of disposable electrodes eliminates the problems of fouling and surface regeneration of the device. The use of Nafion membrane to further protect Pt-SPE from fouling is also discussed. The new methodology was also tested on a real water sample.