Electrochemical oxidation of selected bile acids in acetonitrile

The concentration of bile acids is an important parameter in hepatobiliary tract diseases. This work deals with the electrochemical oxidation of the chenodeoxycholic (CDCA) and cholic acid (CA) at boron dopped diamond (BDD) electrode in comparison with the oxidation at glassy carbon (GCE) and platinum electrode (PtE), in a mixed environment of acetonitrile and water (0.26 % from 0.1 mol·l-1 HClO4, supporting electrolyte). The measurement was carried out in an electrochemical cell with salt bridge containing 0.5 mol·l-1 NaClO4 separating the working and the Pleskov's reference electrode (0.01 mol·l-1 AgNO3 and 1 mol·l-1 NaClO4 in acetonitrile). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) characterization of BDD electrode by a redox pair [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- (c = 0.1 mmol·l-1) in 1 mol·l-1 KCl was performed. Quasi-reversible behaviour was observed and the difference of the anodic and the cathodic peak potential ranged from 80 to 200 mV, depending on the scan rate. Alumina polishing (4 min) of the BDD electrode was identified as the most appropriate method of activating the surface and it was applied between consecutive voltammetric scans in the presence of CA and CDCA. Irreversible anodic peaks of CDCA and CA in acetonitrile-water (0.26 %) were observed at the relatively high potentials of about +1100 ± 100 mV, depending on..