Investigation of the polarographic behavior of biliverdin in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

AbstractIn hydrogen peroxide‐EDTA‐sodium phosphate solution (pH 11.0), biliverdin (BV) shows a very sensitive cathodic polarographic wave at about −0.82 V (vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode, SCE). By using derivative single‐sweep polarography, the wave height varies linearly with BV concentration over a range of 6 × 10−8 M to 2 × 10−6 M, so it can be used for the determination of BV. Various electrochemical techniques have been used to investigate the characterìstics of the wave and the electrode reaction mechanism. As a result, the polarographic wave is identified to be an adsorptive‐catalytic wave, and the electrode mechanism is considered to be a catalytic reaction coupled to an irreversible charge transfer process. In the electrochemical process, BV acts as catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer. In this article, the rate constant of the catalytic reaction is also determined.