Direct electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed with copper (II) ions in the presence of polyacrylic acid and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) as supporting electrolytes.

Hydrogen peroxide is a compound of great importance both chemically and biologically. It plays a key role in oxidative reactions during biosynthesis and aids in the body's defense against bacteria, particularly in urine. However, its presence can also indicate serious diseases and disorders. An elevated concentration of hydrogen peroxide in breath may suggest conditions such as asthma or lung cancer. Therefore, there is a growing need for more accurate and sensitive methods to determine this substance. This study aims to compare the potential of different polymers as supporting electrolytes for the electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide, utilizing copper (II) ions as a catalyst for its reduction.

Polyacrylic acid has long been recognized for its excellent absorption properties, and its use in hydrogen peroxide determination has been partially acknowledged [Sensors and Actuators Reports, 2023, 5, 100144; Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2022, 126(43), 18313–18322]. It is hypothesized that poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) exhibits similar or improved properties compared to polyacrylic acid, especially when considering its conductive properties. This research introduces a method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of copper (II) ions as a redox mediator, utilizing poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) as the supporting electrolyte. Additionally, a comparison is made between this method and the previously known method using polyacrylic acid as the supporting electrolyte.