Detection Of Alpha-Ethinyl Estradiol In Water By Voltammetry: Mechanistic Study And Practical Implications

Residue amounts of synthetic estradiol; an active ingredient of oral contraceptives finds its way into water bodies. Estrogenic effects on aquatic life as well as on humans and other land animals are of great health concerns. A carbon-based screen-printed disposable electrode was used to detect a-Ethinyl Estradiol by cyclic voltammetry. The data analysis shows that the observed one electron oxidation peak is irreversible. The mechanism of reaction primarily involves adsorption of 17-alpha-Ethinyl Estradiol (EE2) on the surface of the electrode. The rate constant and adsorption capacity were estimated to be 1.46 s(-1) and 1.3x10(-10) moles/cm(2). The peak current vs concentration relationship was found to be linear over the range of concentration investigated. In addition, data on repeatability, sensitivity and detection limits are provided.