Electrochemical detection of phenol in aqueous solutions

Phenol oxidation in aqueous solutions was carried out in a pH range of 7-12 using cyclic votlammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies on a glassy carbon electrode. Peak potentials are found to be distinct for each pH value. A linear relationship is observed between the peak current and the concentration ranging from microto millimolar levels. The peak current is found to be proportional to the concentration of phenol up to 5 μM that allows determination of unknown concentrations of phenol down to 5 μM. Using DPV technique, the phenol concentration is detected up to a concentration of 0.5 μM.