Amperometric sensor for L-ascorbic acid determination based on MnO2 bulk modified screen printed electrode

A simple biosensor constructed by bulk-modification of carbon ink with manganese dioxide as a mediator was investigated for its ability to serve as amperometric detector for L-ascorbic acid in hydrodynamic mode. The sensor could be operated at pH 5.0 (0.05 M phosphate buffer) and exhibited excellent reproducibility and stability. Optimization of measurement parameters such as applied working potential and pH value were studied in detail. The screen printed electrode exhibited a linear amperometric increase with the concentration of L-ascorbic acid from 50 mg L-1 to 250 mg L-1 and gave a (LOD = 3 sigma) detection limit of 0.2 mg L-1 (1.172 mu mol L-1). The manganese dioxide modified screen printed electrode shows long term stability.