Voltammetric determination of estrogens based on the enhancement effect of surfactant at carbon paste electrode

Highly sensitive voltammetric method for the determination of estrogens, based on the enhancement effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been described. In the presence of CTAB, the oxidation peak currents of estrogens (estradiol, estrone, estriol, estradiol valerate and diethylstilbestrol) as the carbon paste electrode (CPE) increased significantly after open-circuit accumulation. The peak current was proportional to the concentration of estradiol over the range from 5×10⁻⁹ to 2.5×10⁻⁶ mol·L⁻¹. The detection limit was 8×10⁻¹⁰ mol·L⁻¹ at 6 min of accumulation. The total amounts of estrogens in the blood serums were determined and the average recovery was 104.92%. Under the conditions used, the electrode process of estradiol was examined the mechanism for peak current enhancement was also discussed. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60171023) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (99J060) Biography: Wu Kang-bing(1977-), male, Ph.D. candidate. research direction: bioelectrochemistry.