CHELATE ADSORPTION FOR TRACE VOLTAMMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF 2-THIOURACIL AND 4-THIOURIDINE

A very sensitive electrochemical stripping method for trace measurements of 2-thiouracil and 4-thiouridine in presence of Cu(II) is described. The chelate of Cu(II) with 2-thiouracil and 4-thiouridine is adsorbed on the hanging mercury drop electrode, and the reduction current of the accumulated complex is measured by cathodic stripping voltammetry. The adsorption and redox behaviour are indicated by cyclic voltammetry. Optimum experimental conditions include a preconcentration potential of 0.0 V, solution of pH 7.2, adsorption time 5 min, pulse amplitude 100 mV, and a linear scan mode. The sharp chelate peak, associated with the effective interfacial accumulation, coupled with the flat baseline, facilitates measurements at the nanomolar and submicromolar concentration levels.