Gyurcsanyi_1998_Talanta_47_1021

A new method for the determination of acetylcholine is introduced and studied. The method uses enzymatic hydrolysis of acetylcholine carried out in a flow-through analytical reactor column, while for the detection triangle programmed coulometric flow titration is employed. The flow-through coulometric titration system and the preparation of the enzyme reactor are described. The operation conditions for the hydrolysis and for the titration were optimized. The flow-through coulometric titration technique offers a better precision for the determination of acetylcholine in small concentration ranges than methods based on the detection of pH change. Working conditions of the system can be easily adjusted for different sample concentration ranges. The limit of detection for the determination of acetylcholine was found to be 8x10(-5) M. The method described could be advantageously used for indirect determination of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.