Simultaneous Electroanalysis of Nitric Oxide and Nitrite

Simultaneous Electroanalysis of Nitric Oxide and Nitrite

The simultaneous sensing of nitric oxide (NO) and its metabolite, nitrite $(NO_2^-)$ has been studied by Osteryoung square-wave voltarnmetery (OSWV) in physiological pH solution (0.1 M phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.2). Using an electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon (GC) electrode, OSWV was successfully applied to observe the well-separated oxidation peaks at ca. 0.58 and 0.80V vs. Ag/AgCI for NO and $(NO_2^-)$, respectively. This clear separation between the NO and $(NO_2^-)$ oxidation peaks may be due to the formation of surface oxides (e.g., quinone (C=O) or carboxylic $(COO^-)$ group) and surface defects introduced by the electrochemical pretreatment of GC electrodes.