Voltammetric Determination of Arbutin in Cosmetics

Voltammetric behavior of arbutin at glassy carbon electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry,linear sweeping voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. It was found that in the Birtton-Robinson buffer of pH 2.0,a sensitive oxidative peak was observed at the potential 0.86 V (vs. SCE),and a smaller reductive peak at 0 V. As shown by the results of further study,under optimum condition,linear relationship between oxidative peak current,ip,and concentration of arbutin was obtained in the range of 2.0×10-7-4.0×10-6mol·L-1,with a detection limit of 1.4×10-7mol·L-1. Recovery test was made by adding standard solution of arbutin to a simulated sample of cosmetic cream of known arbutin content,and values of recovery found were in the range from 98.0% to 100.6%.