Development of a Polypyrrole-Modified Graphite Electrode for Acetaminophen Determination

Nowadays, acetaminophen commonly known as paracetamol , has been one of the most used drugs for pain treatment. By now, there have been reported only two official methods for the determination of this pharmaceutical active: HPLC and direct titration. Other techniques have been also reported in literature, like: spectroscopy, capillary electrophoresis and electrochemical techniques, including biosensors, microelectrodes and modified electrodes, these last have additional advantages like economy, fast and reliable response, and high selective to acetaminophen . In the present work an electroanalytical low-cost technique is proposed for the selective quantification of acetaminophen determination. This selectivity is achieved by molecular imprinting of acetaminophen on a polypyrrole matrix, electrochemically sintetized on the surface of a graphite electrode. The polypyrrole matrix acts as a selective preconcentration material for acetaminophen wich is latter determined by Square Wave Voltammetry in a separate clean electrolyte.