Abstract
The aim of this work was to develop an electrochemical method for the detection of three phytosterols, namely β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and ergosterol using voltammetric techniques on glassy carbon electrode, and boron-doped diamond electrode. They are oxidized at far positive potentials in acetonitrile containing a strong inorganic acid or perchlorate as a supporting electrolyte.
Calibration dependences were measured using differential pulse voltammetry and micromolar detection limits were obtained under optimized conditions. Further, the stability of the anodic signal was tested in dependence on the water content in the measured media and its pH, using phosphate and acetate buffer solutions.
Sufficient signal stability is prospective for amperometric detection of phytosterols in liquid flow techniques after their separation.