Voltammetric measurement of haloperidol following adsorptive accumulation at glassy-carbon electrodes.

A sensitive stripping voltammetric method is reported for trace measurement of the psychotherapeutic drug haloperidol. The method is based on adsorptive preconcentration of haloperidol on the glassy-carbon electrode in an open circuit, followed by medium exchange and voltammetric determination of surface species. Cyclic voltammetry was used to explore the adsorptive behaviour and the results obtained suggest that the adsorption of haloperidol corresponds to the Frumkin-type isotherm. The adsorptive stripping response was evaluated with respect to stripping mode, electrolyte. pH, preconcentration time, concentration dependence, possible interference and other variables. The detection limit was 1.3 x 10(-9)M (10 min preconcentration) and the response was linear. The relative standard deviation (at the 1.3 x 10(-6)M level) was 2.3%. Applicability to a patient's urine sample is illustrated.