However, it is well known that sulphite analyses can exhibit high variability (Bendtsen and Jorgensen, 1994 and Daniels et al., 1992) mainly because of three factors: (a) the high reactivity of sulphite towards O2, (b) the characteristic/limitations of the analytical method itself and (c) possible matrix effects. Considering, for example, the iodometric titration method commonly used in industry, it is well known that analyses of coloured samples are prone to significant errors because of the difficulties to determine the exact end-point. Also, sulphite can react more or less extensively with O2 being oxidised to sulphate. Furthermore, foodstuffs

themselves are complex mixtures of several potentially interfering components, such that analytical methods with higher selectivity or specificity should be used to avoid the possible sources of error. The main interfering agents in amperometric LDN-193189 nmr methods are species with similar or lower redox potentials than of the analyte. In addition, there are several species that can adsorb or react with the electrode surface, leading to its poisoning and/or inactivation. It has been demonstrated that the main advantages of the supramolecular tetraruthenated porphyrin film modified electrodes

are the rather Selleckchem Apoptosis Compound Library high stability, sensitivity and low susceptible to electrode poisoning. In addition, the rapid conversion of sulphite to SO2 gas by acidification and diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane is a very convenient strategy to enhance the selectivity and avoid poisoning of the electrode. Our amperometric FIA system combines the favourable properties of STK38 the supramolecular porphyrin materials and the selectivity of the gas diffusion cells. Furthermore, a careful analysis showed that the sequence of steps performed in our amperometric FIA method is very similar

to that found in the standard Monier-Williams method involving (a) the conversion of free sulphite species to SO2 gas by acidification and separation by diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane vs. distillation; (b) collection by a buffered solution vs. absorption in H2O2 solution; and (c) amperometric detection vs. acid–base titration. Amperometric measurements using a separate in line gas diffusion unit have already been successfully performed ( Azevedo et al., 1999), showing advantages such as higher sensitivity, reproducibility and productivity for sulphite analyses in comparison with the M-W method. In this work, a more efficient and compact amperometric FIA cell integrating a gas diffusion unit, exhibiting improved overall performance for food analyses, is presented. First of all, the parameters of the FIA amperometric system were evaluated and optimised before starting the analyses of real samples.