STUDY OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF NICOTINAMIDE IN BUFFERED SOLUTIONS

Polarographic (dc and DP), voltanunetric and kinetic studies have been carried out on the reduction of nicotinamide on mercury electrodes. The effect of pH, reactant concentration and drop-time on the polarographic and kinetic parameters is studied. The occurrence of adsorption phenomena in basic solutions is inferred from td-E curves traced at potentials previous to the reduction. Two overlapping waves were obtained in the whole pH range studied, the first of them corresponding to an electrodimenzation reaction. The second wave is due to the reduction of the radical formed after the first one-electron transfer. Reduction mechanisms consistent with the experimental results are proposed and discussed. © 1990.