Sub-monolayer assemblies of octanethiol and octadecylthiol at gold electrodes for the direct analysis of 4,4'-oxydianiline in wastewaters and shoe-dyeing samples.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of di-n-octadecyldisulphide (C(18)) and n-octanethiol (C(8)) were prepared on gold electrodes. From the studies carried out by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry, it was observed that the electrochemical behaviour of 4,4'-oxydianiline on these electrodes is affected by the length chain of the alkanethiol. After the optimization of all the variables involved in the electrochemical response of 4,4'-oxydianiline by square wave voltammetry employing the modified electrodes, it is possible the determination of 4,4'-oxydianiline with a detection limit of 0.04microg/mL (C(18)) and 0.06microg/mL (C(8)) and determination limits of 0.12 and 0.22microg/mL, respectively. The calculated Er (%)(n=10) and R.S.D.(%)(n=10) values were minor than 2.2% and 3.7%. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of oxydianiline in wastewater and shoe-dyeing samples.