The development of pH sensors is of great interest due to its extensive application in several areas such as industrial processes, biochemistry and particularly medical diagnostics. In this study, the pH sensing properties of an extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET) based on melanin thin films as active layer are investigated and the physical mechanisms related to the device operation are discussed. Thin films were produced from different melanin precursors on indium tin oxide (ITO) and gold substrates and were investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Experiments were performed in the pH range from 2 to 12. EGFETs with melanin deposited on ITO and on gold substrates showed sensitivities ranging from 31.3 mV/pH to 48.9 mV/pH, depending on the melanin precursor and the substrate used. The pH detection is associated with specific binding sites in its structure, hydroxyl groups and quinone imine.
Chromatographic analysis by the HPLC technique with Diode Array Detector was employed for MDMA determination. A mobile phase of methanol/water (90:10v/v) allowed a peak signal for MDMA in 16 minutes. Optimized spectrophotometric signal was obtained at a wavelength of 240 nm. The analytical curve from 5.0 to 100.0ppm of MDMA was obtained, showing a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9997 and a detection limit of 2.94ppm. This methodology was employed at the dosage of confiscated samples of ecstasy in the Scientific Police Laboratory of Ribeirão Preto-SP city.
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