Sequential injection lab-on-valve system for the on-line monitoring of hydrogen peroxide in lens care solutions

A sequential injection lab-on valve (SI-LOV) method for the enzymatic determination of hydrogen peroxide was developed. The spectrophotometric assay is based on the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and ABTS (2,2′-Azino-bis(3-Ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonic acid)) in the presence of the enzyme HRP (horseradish peroxidase). The produced oxidized ABTS is measured at 410 nm. The sample consumption was 15 μL/assay and the consumption of HRP and ABTS was 34.6 mg L^{- 1} and 0.06 g L^{- 1}, respectively with a determination rate of 45 h^{- 1}. Relative deviations lower than 9.0% were found when the results were compared to those obtained by the reference procedure in the analysis of bleaches and disinfection solutions for contact lenses. With the incorporation of an in-line dilution (dialysis) process, was possible to attain a response range up to 342 mg L^{- 1} of hydrogen peroxide. The developed method was applied to monitor on-line of the disinfection-neutralization process of contact lenses. The study of two different one-step systems for cleaning contact lenses demonstrated that the neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide is completed within 6 h as recommended by the manufactures. The developed flow method was proved to be a useful tool for monitoring the dynamic process of disinfection-neutralization.