Combination of screen-printed electrodes and batch injection analysis: A simple, robust, high-throughput, and portable electrochemical system

• Excellent sensitivity and selectively for the detection of hydrogen peroxide using a minimum sample volume (10 μL).
• The fundamental limitations of solid electrodes (surface contamination) can be easily circumvented.
• The proposed system has great potential to developing methods for point-of-care or on-site diagnostics.
• All components used in the proposed system are commercially available with internal battery power source.

To date, both screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) and batch injection analysis (BIA) systems are separately used in the development of analytical methods with portable characteristics. In this work, for the first time, a BIA cell was designed to adapt SPEs for use as a robust portable electroanalytical system. This system in combination with other battery-powered components (electronic pipette, mini-potentiostat, and laptop computer) can be operated outside a laboratory, in the absence of an external power supply. The performance of the portable system has been evaluated using diclofenac, hydrogen peroxide and metals (Pb, Cu, and Hg) as model analytes. In addition to the portability characteristics (low cost, low-power requirements, quick response, simplicity, robustness, and minimal sample size requirements), the proposed approach also allows the implementation of simple and effective strategies to prevent or minimize the gradual fouling of the electrode surface (common limitation of solid electrodes). Therefore, the proposed portable electrochemical system offers promise to increase the use of electrochemical methods for point-of-care or on-site analysis.

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