The electrocatalytic activities of a series of compact graphites modified with microquantities of platinum metals (Pd or Pt+Pd) towards the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide were characterised. Operational parameters such as the optimal working potential, the influence of temperature and the resulting electrode characteristics were examined. The benefits of using graphite modified with Pt+Pd (mixture ratio 30%:70%) as the basic transducer in a glucose biosensor with improved sensitivity were demonstrated. It was proven that, under the working conditions chosen, the selected electrode (whether bare or covered with an enzyme layer) did not respond to any glutathione, uric acid or ascorbic acid (which all normally occur in biological fluids) present.

A xanthine oxidase enzyme electrode (xanthine oxidase immobilized on electrochemically modified graphite and conveniently coated with gelatine electrode working surface) for quantitative analysis of xanthine is proposed. The detection of thus developed electrochemical system is based on the electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide generated in enzyme layer and offered l-ascorbic and uric acid reducing interference effect on the substrate determination. At a working potential −50 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) the detection limit of 4.5 μm and the linearity of the amperometric signal up to substrate concentration of about 40 μm were found. At that working potential, the electrode is practically inert towards l-ascorbic- and uric acid present. The response time did not exceed 2 min.

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Glucose oxidase (E. C. 1.1.3.4) was immobilized on electrochemically modified graphite to obtain an enzyme electrode. The working surface of the electrode was coated with gelatine to prevent desorption of the enzyme. In substrate (glucose) solutions the amperometric signal of the enzyme electrode was due to the electroreduction of H2O2 generated in the enzyme layer. The linearity of the electrode response was found up to a substrate concentration of 300 μᴍ at a working potential of 0 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). It was shown that the electrode did not respond to l-ascorbic and uric acid at that working potential. The response time was about 2 min. The enzyme electrode keeps about 50% of its initial activity after a one-week storage at 4 °C.

A mesoporous graphite material micro-structured with palladium-platinum deposits (mixed in the ratio of 70:30% Pd:Pt) has been used as a cost-effective electrode material for designing an amperometric biosensor for xanthine. The here reported biosensor shows significantly improved operational parameters as compared to previously published results. At a constant applied potential of −0.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) it is distinguished with enhanced selectivity of the determination: at the working potential the current from the electrochemical transformation of various electrochemically active substances usually attending biological fluids (incl. uric acid, L-ascorbic acid, glutathione and paracetamol) has been eliminated. The effect of both the temperature and buffer composition on the analytical performance of the sensor has been investigated. Under optimal operational conditions (25°C, −0.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl, phosphate buffer, pH 8.4), the following have been defined for the biosensor: sensitivity 0.39 µA µM−1, strict linearity of the response up to xanthine concentration 70 µM, detection limit of 1.5 µM (S/N=3) and a response time of at most 60 s.