Abstract
The current endeavour presents the poly(L-serine) modified carbon paste electrode (PLSMCPE) fabricated through an electropolymerization methodology for the electrochemical analysis of catechol (CC). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images of unmodified and PLSMCPE were examined to study the surface structure and the formation of polymer layer on the electrode surface. The PLSMCPE was functionalized for the voltammetric detection and quantification of CC in 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with a pH of 6.5. In contrast to unmodified electrode the PLSMCPE presented to have nine-fold enhancement in peak current and shift in anodic peak potential towards negative domain. The CV method showed good linear correlation between the concentration of CC and the oxidation peak current in the range from 2-50 mu M, and the corresponding limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were achieved to be 0.259 mu M and 0.869 mu M, respectively. Furthermore, this sensor is used to determine the analytical response in the co-existence of CC and hydroquinone (HQ). The modified electrode is effectively functionalised for the analysis of CC in coffee powder sample.