Preconcentration and voltammetric study of nicergoline at a carbon paste electrode

The electrochemical oxidation of nicergoline is investigated using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry at a carbon paste electrode. For the determination of nicergoline an adsorptive stripping procedure is proposed. The response is characterized with respect to pH, ionic strength, preconcentration time, accumulation potential, nicergoline concentration, reproducibility and other variables. By differential pulse voltammetry at a carbon paste electrode and pH 8.0, a linear calibration in the range 5 x 10(-8) M to 1x10(-7) hi and a detection limit of 1x10(-8) M are obtained. The preconcentration medium-exchange approach was used for a selective determination of nicergoline in urine. For dilute urine samples a detection limit of 5x10(-8) M is obtained after 3 min of accumulation and medium-exchange. The procedure also is applied for the determination of nicergoline in dosage form.