Fast analysis of terbutaline in pharmaceuticals using multi-walled nanotubes modified electrodes from recordable compact disc

• Gold CDs were modified for terbutaline determination in pharmaceutical samples.
• Functionalized carbon nanotubes were used to modify the surface of the gold electrodes.
• A flow electrochemical cell with impingent jet on the modified CD was used for amperometric detection of terbutaline.

In this study, homemade disposable gold electrodes made from recordable compact disks were modified with carbon nanotubes for amperometric quantification of terbutaline sulfate in pharmaceutical products. A flow cell using an impingent jet of solution on the electrode surface was build and used for amperometric detection, and a series of experiments were carried out to find the best experimental conditions for the new electrode in a specially designed cell. A linear response for terbutaline was obtained in the range from 3.0 × 10−6 to 5.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 (at 0.63 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The limits of detection and quantification were calculated as 5.8 × 10−7 mol L−1 (S/N = 3) and 1.9 × 10−6 mol L−1 (S/N = 10), respectively. A frequency of 30 injections h−1 was attained. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analyses of commercial syrup samples, and all results were in good agreement with those obtained by using high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry.

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