Voltammetric and FTIR Spectroscopic Studies of the Oxidation of Retinyl Propionate at Pt Electrode in Non-Aqueous Media

The electrooxidation of vitamin A was investigated at a platinum electrode in non-aqueous solution. The process of electrooxidation and its kinetics were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Cyclic voltammograms for retinyl propionate showed three oxidation peaks. The process was adsorption controlled. The parameters of retinyl propionate electrooxidation, i.e., electron transfer coefficient and rate constant were calculated. Structural investigations of retinol propionate and its oxidation products were conducted using FTIR spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations of retinyl propionate, electronic properties like highest occupied molecular orbital (EHOMO) were calculated using with HyperChem software by AM1 semi-empirical method. Voltammetry and FTIR spectroscopy, are faster and less expensive methods for analysis than chromatographic methods, which often require large amounts of toxic solvents and long times for analysis. The voltammetric methods are environmentally friendly and can be successfully used for to study the antioxidative activity of compounds.