Electrochemical Detection (ECD) Fundamentals
Electrochemical detection coupled with HPLC is a powerful tool for the detection of neurotransmitters, environmental assessment, and for the detection of phenole compounds from food samples. Various neurotransmitters are detectable such as norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine, as well as others. The sample matrix are wide spread including but not limited to microdialysis samples, tissue, cell lysate, cell culture medium, blood plasma, and more.
Basic Principles
- Analytes are separated on a specific analytical column.
- Compounds are oxidized or reduced at the ECD cell and the electrical current is measured during the redox reaction.
- The resultant current is directly proportional to the concentration of the analyte.
- Two main types of ECD, Amperometric and Coulometric
Advantages of Electrochemical Detection
- Allows for specific compound detection by choosing the appropriate analytical conditions for each analyte
- Highly sensitive with the capability of detecting in atto mol (=fg) range
Amperometric Detection
- Highly sensitive
- Easy maintenance
- Eicom mainly sells Amperometric cell detectors due to their lower limit of detection.
Coulometric Detection
- Recommended for preparatory electrolysis
- Allows for 100% electolysis
- Available only for 3-Nitrotyrosine analysis
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