Flow-through amperometric determination of ampicillin using a copper electrode in a batch injection analysis system

This paper presents, for the first time, an amperometric electroanalytical method for ampicillin determination using a copper electrode in a batch injection analysis (BIA) system. Initial voltammetric measurements were performed to establish the working potential in the amperometric assays and to optimize parameters such as the supporting electrolyte and the pH of the medium. The method was shown to be precise (RSD = 3.5%, n = 18), reliable (confirmed by an application using a drug sample), sensitive (LOD = 7.11 mu mol L-1; LOQ = 23.7 mu mol L-1), and fast (86 injections h(-1)). The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of ampicillin in commercial drug samples. The results were compared with those obtained using HPLC-UV/Vis and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. There were no significant differences, indicating that the new technique could be used in routine analyses. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.