A step-wise approach to the determination of the lower limit of analysis of the calibration line

A method is presented of stipulating the extension of the calibration line in analytical chemistry. The method is based on a combination of chemometric data interpretation and the calculation of the minimum standard deviation (STDEV) of experiments. From the depiction of the STDEV of a straight line versus the residuals, the more favorable concentration range of calibration could be obtained by iteration using only a few steps. This condition links the lower limit of analysis (LLA) to an upper limit of analysis (ULA), and, thus, completes the statistically appropriate extension of the calibration line. In addition, a minimum STDEV of measurement was expressed in terms of the STDEV on the slope (s _a ) and on the intercept (s _b ), and the calculation was performed by using a modified version of the law of propagation of errors (LPE). The method was validated on experiments of gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), electrochemistry, flow-injection analysis (FIA), atomic emission spectrometry (AES), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A novel definition of the ULA was proposed as the concentration where the response started to deviate significantly from linearity, also taking into account the level of uncertainty. The proposed method facilitates the determination of the concentration range of calibration and LLA in one working operation. In order to promote reliability, it was proposed that the number of repetitions of analysis should be high, preferably above 100, in order to fulfill the conditions of the central-limit theorem. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Rapid determination of fosetyl-aluminium in commercial pesticide formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

An isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method with diode array detection (DAD) was developed for the determination of aluminium tris(ethyl phosphonate) (fosetyl-aluminium, fosetyl-Al) in plant-protection products. The method involves extraction of the active ingredient by sonication of the sample with water and direct measurement by RPHPLC. The isocratic RP-HPLC method for the analysis of fosetyl-Al thus developed was then validated for specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The chromatographic peak confirmation was performed by LC-MS using electron spray ionisation in the negative-ion mode. The repeatability of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD, %), was found to be 0.5 % and the limit of detection was 0.035 mg mL^?1. The average recoveries of the three fortification levels varied from 96.7 % to 100.6 % and the RSDs ranged between 2.6 % and 6.3 %. The precision of the method was also considered to be acceptable as the experimental repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD_r) was lower than the RSD_r, calculated using the Horwitz equation. The method is rapid, simple, accurate, cost-effective, and provides a new and reliable means for the analysis of fosetyl-Al in formulated products.     

Determination of POPs in environmental matrices – proficiency tests for Polish laboratories

Thirty Polish laboratories participated in proficiency tests (PT) for determination of persistent organic pollutants – POPs (PCBs – polychlorinated biphenyls, PAHs – polyaromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides) in solid environmental matrices (sediments, soil). Participants used their in-house method. The aim of the exercises was to obtain information about the “state of the art” of POPs analysis in environmental samples. The CV (coefficient of variation) of analytical results submitted varied from 45 to 65%, with an outlier rate 2 to 7%. The averages of results for all analytes were in good agreement with reference values. Statistical treatment of results was made. Comparison of the each result with the certified values characterizing the material has been done. Additionally, z-scores were calculated taking into account the uncertainty of a certified value and the acceptable deviation from the certified value in the range of −20% to +10% (in accordance with recommendations in the newest directives of European Union (EU) [1]); For rejecting outliers Hampel test has been applied.     

Development of an automatic static volumetric method based on loop injection

A prototype of an automatic static volumetric method based on the injection of a pure compound by means of a loop instead of a manual syringe was constructed, fitting for both laboratory use and field applications. The crucial point, the evaluation of the loop volumes, was solved developing two techniques allowing traceability to SI units. Gas mixtures of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in nitrogen in the 10⁻⁹ V/V range and carbon monoxide (CO) in air in the 10⁻⁶ V/V range were generated and successfully compared to other primary calibration techniques. Relative expanded uncertainties (k=2) of 1.1% (compared to 0.8% of the manual static volumetric method [1]) for NO gas mixtures and 0.3% CO gas mixtures were estimated.     

Validation of the HS-GC-FID method for the determination of ethanol residue in tablets

This paper describes the validation of a HS-GC-FID method (based on the Pharmacopeia’s method) for the determination of ethanol content in tablets. A general view of the procedure development/optimization process is presented. The main point of this study is the calculation of validation parameters. Selectivity of the method was determined. Linearity (r > 0.997) was observed in the range from 9.0 to 3,040 μg of ethanol per sample (because the mass of the tablets used was around 200 mg, this corresponds to 45–15,200 μg g⁻¹). The method showed good recoveries (average 99.0%), and a relative standard deviation for repeatability and intermediate precision of 4.5% and 5.5% respectively. The limit of detection was calculated to be 3.0 μg of ethanol per sample (15 μg g⁻¹). The uncertainty budget was done according to the "Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement" (GUM)[1], and a relative expanded uncertainty was estimated as 4.8%.     

Collaborative sampling trial in the context of quality assurance in the German marine monitoring programme for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

This paper presents the assessment of a collaborative trial in sampling in the Baltic Sea in the framework of quality assurance in the German marine monitoring programme for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The objective of investigations was to determine the influence of sampling on analytical results for selected monitoring parameters and to harmonize the procedure for sampling of sea water to a large extent. In these studies the staff of three vessels took replicate sea water samples, 1 m below the surface and below the halocline, at two monitoring stations. Mass concentration mean values for different nutrient parameters were obtained from each sample, all in one laboratory. Data produced from the hierarchical design were treated with robust analysis of variance (ANOVA) to generate uncertainty estimates, as standard uncertainties (“u” expressed as standard deviation), for geochemical variation (s _geochem), primary sampling (s _sampling), and chemical analysis (s _analysis). Geochemical variation dominated the total variance in all cases. Sampling and analytical uncertainties contributed together up to 15% of the total variance and had a relative measurement uncertainty (u%) of less than 2% for all the parameters investigated. Thus for this study the sampling protocol and the analytical method could be regarded as fit-for-purpose. M. Gluschke was formerly affiliated to the Federal Environmental Agency, P.O. Box 33 00 22, 14191 Berlin, Germany.     

Simultaneous determination of six active components by a single standard to determine multicomponents combined with fingerprint analysis for the quality control of Rhizoma Chuanxiong

To control the quality of Rhizoma Chuanxiong, a method based on high‐performance liquid chromatography method coupled with diode array detection was developed for the quantitative analysis of six active ingredients using a single standard to determine multi‐components and chemical fingerprint analysis for the first time. The separation was performed on an Agilent Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column by gradient elution with methanol and aqueous phase (containing 0.5% glacial acetic acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The UV wavelength was set at 274 nm. This assay was fully validated with respect to precision, repeatability, and accuracy. All calibration curves showed good linearity (R²> 0.9994) within test ranges. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were lower than 0.01 and 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation for repeatability and the intermediate precision of six analytes were less than 1.6 and 2.5%, respectively, the overall recovery was 96.1–103.1%. In addition, fingerprint chromatography using hierarchical clustering analysis and similarity analysis was performed to differentiate and classify the samples. The method described here could provide a more comprehensive and reasonable scientific assessment of the quality of Rhizoma Chuanxiong. Therefore, the strategy is feasible, credible, and is easily and effectively adapted for evaluating the quality control of Rhizoma Chuanxiong.     

LC with a Teicoplanin Aglycone Chiral Sorbent for the Separation of the Enantiomers of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: An Evaluation of Chiral Capillary Columns

A capillary column with a teicoplanin aglycone (TAG) stationary phase (CSP) was used for enantioselective separation of selected profen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in capillary liquid chromatography (cLC). The effect of variations in the mobile phase composition on the retention and enantioselective separation was examined. The best resolution was attained in the mobile phase composed of 40/60 (v/v) methanol/1.0% triethylamine acetate buffer, pH 4.0 or 4.5. Under the optimized separation conditions, five of the set of eight analytes were enantioresolved with resolution values better than 0.9. Only fenoprofen was not enantioseparated in any system tested. The optimized separation conditions were used for evaluation of three chiral capillary columns (all prepared in the same way in our laboratory) in terms of the repeatability and reproducibility of the results. The run-to-run repeatability was expressed in terms of the relative standard deviation (RSD) values, obtained from ten independent measurements, for the following parameters: the retention factor for the first eluted enantiomer (k ₁), the selectivity (α), the enantioresolution (R), the theoretical plate count per meter for the first eluted enantiomer (N ₁) and the elution curve asymmetry for the first eluted enantiomer (As ₁). None of the RSD values exceeded 8%. The column-to-column reproducibility of these parameters ranged between 1 and 9%. The results obtained with TAG based CSPs in cLC (a laboratory packed capillary column) were compared with those obtained by classical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a commercially available column. The cLC procedure provided a better enantioresolution and the elution curves had a better symmetry.

     

Interlaboratory determination of boron compounds in preservative treated timber

Accurate analysis for preservatives in treated timber is an integral part of quality assurance in the New Zealand timber preservation industry. The continued high volume use of boron-treated timber has highlighted the requirement for reliable methods to determine boron-containing preservatives in timber. Several aspects of a leaching-titration method are discussed in an effort to validate and standardize laboratory analysis of samples for the timber preservation industry. Steam volatility was found not to be a problem. The limit of detection was 0.007% (w/w) H₃BO₃ and the relative standard deviation of 50 replicate analyses was 2.2%. Statistical outliers and stragglers were identified by Cochran's test. The precision data (repeatability and reproducibility) from an interlaboratory determination of boric acid in timber were 0.0133–0.0273 and 0.0194–0.0535% H₃BO₃, respectively, over six concentration levels. Recommendations for maintaining active quality assurance programmes are made.     

Thermal behavior of partially hydrogenated polydienes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-toluenesulfonylhydrazide

The hydrogenation of natural rubber (NR), polybutadiene (BR), and styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubbers with different microstructures was performed by a diimide hydrogenation agent generated in situ by a non-catalytic method [1–3]. Many properties of the material depend considerably on variables such as degree of hydrogenation and proportions of vinyl or phenyl units. The mobility of the hydrogenated chain was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the results confirm the relationship between the degree of hydrogenation and chain flexibility. The flexibility of a high cis-1,4 BR hydrogenated sample, was significantly changed and a melting point (T _m) was detected after a certain degree of hydrogenation. Thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and an increase was found, but, the thermal resistance was influenced by the presence of the byproduct p-toluenesulfinic acid. Oxidation stability was investigated by chemiluminescence analysis and it improved with hydrogenation.     

Determination of the total nitrogen content of hard, semihard, and processed cheese by the Kjeldahl method: collaborative study

The objective of this collaborative study was to determine interlaboratory performance statistics for a modified and optimized version of AOAC Method 920.123 for the determination of the total nitrogen content of hard, semihard, and processed cheese by Kjeldahl analysis. Details included addressing the issues of material homogeneity, test portion size (1 g), quantitative transfer (weighing on to filter paper), ensuring system suitability (nitrogen recoveries), and using AOAC Method 991.20 as the basis for nitrogen analysis. Fifteen laboratories tested 18 pairs of blind duplicate cheese materials with a crude protein content between 18 and 36%. Materials represented hard, semihard, and processed commercial cheeses with a wide range of composition. Statistical performance parameters expressed as crude protein (nitrogen x 6.38), g/100 g, with invalid and outlier data removed were mean = 26.461, repeatability standard deviation (Sr) 0.111, reproducibility standard deviation (S(R)) = 0.153, repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) = 0.42%, reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) = 0.58%, repeatability (r) = 0.312, and reproducibility (R) = 0.428. The interlaboratory study results were acceptable and comparable to those for the milk Kjeldahl nitrogen method on a relative nitrogen basis. The Study Directors recommend that this modified method for the determination of total nitrogen in hard, semihard, and processed cheese by Kjeldahl analysis be adopted First Action as an improved method to replace Method 920.123.     

Simultaneous Determination of Caffeine and Acetylsalicylic Acid in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Film Electrode by Differential Pulse Voltammetry

This work presents a simple, fast and low‐cost method for simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), without alkaline hydrolysis and caffeine (CF) in pharmaceutical formulations using a boron‐doped diamond as the working electrode through differential pulse voltammetry. A good repeatability was reached for 20 measurements, with a low relative standard deviation of less than 1.0 %. The calibration curves presented a great linear correlation coefficient for both drugs (R=0.999) with a limit of detection of 1.6×10^?7 mol L^?1 for CF and 2.3×10^?7 mol L^?1 for ASA. The system was validated in comparison with the official method.     

One-Electron Pseudo-Potential Determination of Stable Isomers of the Li*Ar n Excited Clusters: Absorption Spectra

We present pseudo-potential calculations of geometrical structures of stable isomers of LiAr _n clusters with both an electronic ground state and excited states of the lithium atom. The Li atom is perturbed by argon atoms in LiAr _n clusters. Its electronic structure obtained as the eigenfunctions of a single-electron operator describing the electron in the field of a Li⁺Ar _n core, the Li⁺ and Ar atoms are replaced by pseudo-potentials. These pseudo-potentials include core-polarization operators to account for the polarization and correlation of the inert core with the valence Lithium electron [J Chem Phys 116, 1839 1]. The geometry optimization of the ground and excited states of LiAr _n (n = 1–12) clusters is carried out via the Basin-Hopping method of Wales et al. [J Phys Chem 101, 5111 2; J Chem Phys 285, 1368 3]. The geometries of the ground and ionic states of LiAr _n clusters were used to determine the energy of the high excited states of the neutral LiAr _n clusters. The variation of the excited state energies of LiAr _n clusters as a function of the number of argon atoms shows an approximate Rydberg character, corresponding to the picture of an excited electron surrounding an ionic cluster core, is already reached for the 3s state. The result of optical transitions calculations shows that the absorption spectral features are sensitive to isomer structure. It is clearly the case for transitions close to the 2p levels of Li which are distorted by the cluster environment.     

The elusive excited states of bithiophene: a CASPT2 detective story

A systematic multi-reference perturbation theory investigation of the excitation energies and oscillator strengths for the lowest excited states of 2,2′-bithiophene unequivocally shows that its optical spectrum is produced by two ¹ B _u states separated from each other by approximately 1 eV. This picture is confirmed by additional calculations with alternative quantum chemical methods. Our findings are in strong contrast with the previous CASPT2 results of Rubio et al. [J Chem Phys 102:3580 (1995) and Chem Phys Chem 4:1308 (2003)], who predicted that the two lowest ¹ B _u states are quasi-degenerate. The methodological reasons responsible for the previous seemingly erroneous assignment of the optical spectrum of bithiophene are identified and explained in terms of unusually large coupling between the ¹ B _u states introduced by dynamical correlation effects. A general discussion of applicable computational techniques is offered aiming at avoiding similar problems for other molecular systems.     

Fuzzy characterization and classification of solvents according to their polarity and selectivity. A comparison with the Snyder approach

Abstract

Advanced chemometric methods, such as fuzzy c-means, a semi-supervised clustering method, and fuzzy discriminant analysis, a robust supervised method, have been successfully applied for characterization and classification of 72 solvents according to the chemical parameters (P’ and x_i) developed by Snyder. The obtained results (fuzzy partitions) and parameters of the prototypes (robust fuzzy means) clearly demonstrated the efficiency and information power of the advanced fuzzy methods in solvent characterization and classification, and allow a rationale choice of a good solvent or an efficient mixture of solvents in chromatography and other fields. Also, this methodology generates the premises for future investigations using other different properties of solvents.     

Chemical modulation of the luminescence of a DNA-bound diruthenium(II) complex by copper(II) ion and EDTA

A method for the chemical modulation of the photoluminescence of a DNA-bound diruthenium(II) complex, [(bipy)₂Ru(bpib)Ru(bipy)₂]⁴⁺ (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, bpib = 1,4-bis([1, 10]phenanthroline [5,6-d]imidazol-2-yl) benzene) by the introduction of Cu²⁺ ion and EDTA has been developed. The diruthenium(II) complex showed strong photoluminescence both in buffer solutions and on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) surface, which was not modulated by Cu²⁺ or EDTA. The DNA-bound [(bipy)₂Ru(bpib)Ru(bipy)₂]⁴⁺ with a binding constant of 3.8 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ showed an enhancement in the luminescence based on the electrostatic interaction between the complex and DNA. The presence of Cu²⁺ was found to quench the luminescence of DNA-bound [(bipy)₂Ru(bpib)Ru(bipy)₂]⁴⁺, but the quenched luminescence was recovered by addition of an equimolar concentration of EDTA. Hence, the photoluminescence of DNA-bound [(bipy)₂Ru(bpib)Ru(bipy)₂]⁴⁺ depends strongly on the introduction of Cu²⁺ and EDTA.     

An interlaboratory capillary zone electrophoresis-UV study of various monoclonal antibodies,instruments, and ε-aminocaproic acid lots

Capillary zone electrophoresis ultraviolet (CZE-UV) has become increasingly popular for the charge heterogeneity determination of mAbs and vaccines. The ε-aminocaproic acid (eACA) CZE-UV method has been used as a rapid platform method. However, in the last years, several issues have been observed, for example, loss in electrophoretic resolution or baseline drifts. Evaluating the role of eACA on the reported issues, various laboratories were requested to provide their routinely used eACA CZE-UV methods, and background electrolyte compositions. Although every laboratory claimed to use the He et al. eACA CZE-UV method, most methods actually deviate from He's. Subsequently, a detailed interlaboratory study was designed wherein two commercially available mAbs (Waters’ Mass Check Standard mAb [pI 7] and NISTmAb [pI 9]) were provided to each laboratory, along with two detailed eACA CZE-UV protocols for a short-end, high-speed, and a long-end, high-resolution method. Ten laboratories participated each using their own instruments, and commodities, showing excellence method performance (relative standard deviations [RSDs] of percent time-corrected main peak areas from 0.2% to 1.9%, and RSDs of migration times from 0.7% to 1.8% [n = 50 per laboratory], analysis times in some cases as short as 2.5 min). This study clarified that eACA is not the main reason for the abovementioned variations.     

Simultaneous estimation of levodopa,carbidopa and 3‐oxymethyldopa in rat plasma using HPLC‐ECD

The aim of study was to develop a suitable analytical method for simultaneous estimation of levodopa, carbidopa and 3‐O‐methyl dopa in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation of plasma samples was achieved using a reverse‐phase C₁₈ column. The mobile phase used consisted of a mixture of methanol and phosphate buffer (10 mM , pH 3.50) in the ratio of 90:10 v/v. All analytes were estimated by electrochemical detection at +800 mV. The developed method has been validated as per the standard guidelines. Precision study results were found to be satisfactory, with percentage relative standard deviation for repeatability and intermediate precision <3.96 and 6.56%, respectively, for all analytes detected in rat plasma. The developed method in rat plasma was found to be simple, rapid, accurate, precise and specific. The proposed method has been successfully applied for analysis of rat plasma samples obtained during an oral pharmacokinetic study of sustained release pellets of levodopa and carbidopa in rats. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequential voltammetric determination of trace metals in meals

An analytical procedure for the sequential determination of Zn(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Sb(III), Sn(II), Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and Fe(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI) by square wave voltammetry (SWV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ attack mixture, employing dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution (pH 6.9 and 8.7) as supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%; the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%.In presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Finally, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market.A critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Die bivalente Fehlersch?tzung in der R?ntgenspektrometrie

Summary Usually the standard deviation S _e of the calibration is calculated according to Eq. (1) and then considered as convenient estimation of the principally unknown analytical error X. It was shown in this paper that this method is only allowable for the simple linear regression. For all other evaluations it is necessary to calculate a standard deviation S _x by the aid of the bivalent procedure described in this paper. In that way a satisfactory approach to X is reached being confirmed by use of the F-test.