Sensitive voltammetric determination of rutin at an ionic liquid modified carbon paste electrode

An ionic liquid modified carbon paste electrode (IL/CPE) had been fabricated by using hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-amyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([AMIM]Br) as a modifier. The IL/CPE was characterized by scanning electron microscope and voltammetry. Electrochemical behavior of rutin at the IL/CPE had been investigated in pH 3.29 Britton–Robinson (B–R) buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The experimental results suggested that the modified electrode exhibited an electrocatalytic activity toward the redox of rutin. The electron transfer coefficient (α) and the standard rate constant (ks) of rutin at the modified electrode were calculated. Under the selected conditions, the reduction peak current was linearly dependent on the concentration of rutin in the range of 4.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 (r = 0.9998), with a detection limit of 1.0 × 10−8 mol L−1 (S/N = 3). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for six times successful determination of 8.0 × 10−7 mol L−1 rutin was 1.2%. The proposed method was applied to determine rutin in tablet and urine sample. In addition, the IL/CPE exhibited a distinct advantage of simple preparation, surface renewal, good reproducibility and good stability.