Gas-diffusion dilution flow-injection method for the determination of ethanol in beverages without sample pretreatment

The combination of immobilized alcohol oxidase (AOD) with a gas-diffusion membrane in a flow-injection system greatly enhanced the specificity of ethanol determination. This gas-diffusion flow-injection system with amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide had a linear range of analysis from 0.0006 up to 60% (v/v) ethanol. Silicone-modified polypropylene membranes of different thickness were used. Undiluted samples of beer, wine, spirits and medicine could be investigated with excellent correlation with standard methods (r > 0.997). The frequency of analysis was 120–180 samples h^?1 and the operational half-life of the immobilized enzyme was 8000 injections within 44 h.     

Rapid determination of levofloxacin in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids using a new chemiluminescence system

A novel chemiluminescence method for the determination of levofloxacin is presented, which is based on the inhibitory effect of levofloxacin on the chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and myoglobin in a flow-injection system. The decrement of chemiluminescence intensity is linear with the logarithm of levofloxacin concentration over the range from 0.07 to 100.0 ng/mL (r ² = 0.9994), with the detection limit of 0.02 ng/mL (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min, a complete analytical process could be performed within 0.5 min, including sampling and washing, with a relative standard deviation of less than 3.0% (n = 5). The proposed procedure was applied successfully to the determination of levofloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations, human urine and serum without any pretreatment procedure.     

Solvent extraction flow-injection manifold for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of free cyanide and thiocyanate ions based upon on-line masking of cyanides by formaldehyde

This study reports a sensitive solvent extraction flow-injection (FI) method for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of free cyanide and thiocyanate in human saliva and pralidoxime solutions. Cyanide and thiocyanate form colored (λ_max=540 nm) ternary complexes with copper and 2,2′-dipyridyl-2-quinolylhydrazone (DPQH) that are extractable into chloroform. The determination of thiocyanates in the presence of cyanides is accomplished after on-line masking of the latter with formaldehyde through a binary inlet static mixer (BISM). Total thiocyanates and cyanides are determined in a second run, without the use of the masking agent. The proposed method allows the determination of the analytes in the range of 0-4 mg l⁻¹ thiocyanates and 0-3 mg l⁻¹ cyanides, with the 3σ detection limits being 0.007 and 0.004 mg l⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method (s_r<1.0% at 1 mg l⁻¹ CN⁻ or SCN⁻, n=12 in both cases) and the sampling rates were quite satisfactory (60 injections per hour). The method was applied to the analysis of human saliva and pralidoxime solutions and gave recoveries in the range of 98.0-102.2% for both analytes whereas the mean relative error was e_r=1.7%.     

Spectrophotometric flow-injection determination of zinc in plant digests based on a spot test

A spot test was implemented in a flow-injection system for the spectrophotometric determination of zinc in digests of plant materials. It is based on the influence of Zn²⁺ on the oxidation rate of 1-naphthylethylenediamine (NED) by hexacyanoferrate(III) under acidic conditions. In order to control the precipitate formation and to maintain the resulting suspension, a micellar medium was established by adding Triton X-100. The proposed system handles about 65 samples per hour, meaning 72 μg NED and 9.0 mg K₃[Fe(CN)₆] per determination. Baseline drift is usually <0.01 absorbance per hour and the analytical signals for 0.5-2.5 mg l⁻¹ Zn range within ca. 0.07-0.45 absorbance. Linearity of the analytical curve is fair (r>0.999, n=6) and detection limit was estimated as 0.2 mg l⁻¹ Zn. Results are precise (R.S.D.<1%, n=10) and in agreement with flame atomic absorption spectrometry and with certified values of standard reference materials.     

Portable microfluidic system for determination of urinary creatinine

A simple, low cost and portable microfluidic system based on a two-point alkaline picrate kinetic reaction has been developed for the determination of urinary creatinine. The creatinine reacts with picric acid under alkaline conditions, forming an orange-red colour, which is monitored on PDMS microchip using a portable miniature fibre optic spectrometer at 510 nm. A linear range was displayed from 0 to 40 mg L⁻¹ creatinine (r² = 0.997) with a detection limit of 3.3 mg L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). On-chip absorbance signals are reproducible, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.1%, when evaluated with 20 mg L⁻¹ creatinine (n = 10). The standard curves in which the intra-run CVs (4.7-6.8%) and inter-run CVs (7.9%) obtained were performed on three different days and exhibited good reproducibility. The method was highly correlated with the conventional spectrophotometric method when real urine samples were evaluated (r² = 0.948; n = 15).     

Determination of carbaryl by flow injection with luminol chemiluminescence inhibition detection

A flow-injection procedure is described for the determination of carbaryl based on its inhibition effect on luminol-cobalt(II) chemiluminescence reaction in alkaline medium in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration data over the range 5.0?×?10^?7 to 20?×?10^?6?M give a correlation coefficient (r ²) of 0.9972 with relative standard deviations (RSD; n?=?4) in the range of 1.0–2.1% with a limit of detection (3?×?blank noise) of 2.37?×?10^?7?M for carbaryl. The sample throughput was 120?h^?1. The effects of some carbamates, anions, and cations were studied on luminol CL system for carbaryl determination. The proposed method has been applied to determine carbaryl in natural waters.     

Flow-injection chemiluminescence detection for studying protein binding for drug with ultrafiltration sampling

The novel flow chemiluminescence (CL) system for determination of pipemidic acid was proposed, which was based on the sensitizing effect of pipemidic acid on the CL oxidation of sulfite by KMnO₄ in acid media. Combined with the technique of ultrafiltration, the flow-injection CL system was applied to study in vitro the bovine serum album (BSA) binding of pipemidic acid. The estimated association constant (K) and the number of the binding site (n) on one molecule of BSA were 8.81×10⁴ l/mol and 0.94, respectively. The method provided a fast and simple technique for the study of drug-protein interaction.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid in soft drinks and beer

Two spectrophotometric methods, a photochemical and a non-photochemical, for the determination of ascorbic acid in soft drinks and beer using a flow-injection system are proposed. The non-photochemical method is based on the redox reaction that takes place between ascorbic acid and Fe(III), yielding dehydroascorbic acid and Fe(II). Fe(II) reacts with 1,10-phenantroline, originating the reddish orange Fe(phen)₃ ²⁺ complex (ferroin). This complex is spectrophotometrically monitored at 512 nm, and the signal is directly related to the concentration of ascorbic acid in the sample. The photochemical method has the same basis, nevertheless, uses the irradiation with visible light to enhance the redox reaction and so achieve higher sensitivities in the analysis. The non-photochemical method shows a linear range between 5 and 80 μg mL^?1, with a relative standard deviation of 1.6% (n = 11), a detection limit of 2.7 μg mL^?1 and a sample throughput of ¶60 samples h^?1. The photochemical method shows a linear range between 1 and 80 μg mL^?1, with a relative standard deviation of 1.0% (n = 11), a detection limit of 0.5 μg mL^?1 and a sample throughput of 40 samples h^?1.     

Determination of Sulfonamides in Pharmaceuticals and Rabbit Plasma by Microchip Electrophoresis with LED-IF Detection

In this paper, we describe a compact and low-cost light-emitting diode-induced fluorescence (LED-IF) detection coupled to microchip electrophoresis for the determination of sulfonamides in pharmaceutical formulations and rabbit plasma. Three fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled sulfonamides in rabbit plasma were separated in the running buffer of 40 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at the separation voltage of 2.0 kV, and detected by LED-IF detector in which the high-power blue LED was driven at the constant current of 150 mA and the emitted fluorescence over 510 nm was collected by a planar photodiode. The linear concentration ranged from 2.0 to 125.0 μg mL^?1, both for sulfadiazine and sulfamethazine with the correlation coefficients (r ²) of 0.995 and 0.997, respectively, and from 2.0 to 100.0 μg mL^?1 with the correlation coefficients (r ²) of 0.997 for sulfaguanidine. The limits of detection for the three sulfonamides were 0.36–0.50 μg mL^?1 (S/N = 3). Intra-day and inter-day precision of migration time and peak area for the determination of sulfonamides were <4.5 %. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of sulfonamides in pharmaceuticals, and could be used to study the pharmacokinetics of sulfonamides in rabbit.     

Chemiluminometric -lysine determination with immobilized lysine oxidase by flow-injection analysis

An enzymatic flow-injection procedure for the determination of -lysine was developed. A lysine oxidase reactor is combined with a fibre-optic hydrogen peroxide detector. Hydrogen peroxide detection is based on the peroxidase-catalysed luminol reaction. The chemiluminescent light is detected by a photomultiplier. -Lysine can be determined in the range 10–1000 μM. A sampling rate of up to 90 h⁻ can be achieved. The whole sensing assay works for more than 1 month. The double logarithmic graph of the peak signal height vs. the lysine concentration is linear, the slope being larger than unity (r² = 0.991, n = 4).     

Trace metal enrichment by automated on-line column preconcentration for flow-injection atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line column preconcentration technique for flow-injection atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. Diverse metal ions (Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺) in solution were concentrated quantitatively by a microcolumn (7-mm × 4-mm i.d.) packed with Muromac A-1, which is an iminodiacetate chelate resin, in a flow-injection system. From the pH dependence of the uptake of the ions, all the divalent metals examined were recovered quantitatively in the pH range 3–5 and the trivalent metals were recovered at a maximum pH of 1. Enrichment factors using 20-ml samples were in the range 90–180-fold for the seven elements and the sampling rate was 13 h^?1. The 3σ detection limits were in the range 0.14–2.1 μg l^?1 and the relative standard deviations for replicate measurements (n=3–4) were in the range 0.7–1.7%. The method was compared with flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Application to the determination of cadmium and copper in several standard reference materials is described.     

Determination of total phosphorus in waters with amperometric detection by coupling of flow-injection analysis with continuous microwave oven digestion

For the determination of total phosphorus in waters by flow-injection analysis, a continuous microwave oven decomposition with subsequent amperometric detection of orthophosphate is proposed. The percentage digestion was examined for two different decomposition reagents and by varying the pH of the carrier and the length and diameter of the digestion coil. With potassium peroxodisulphate decomposition the recoveries of phosphorus vary from 91 to 100% for organic phosphorus compounds, and with perchloric acid decomposition the recoveries vary from 60 to 70% for inorganic polyphosphates. Calibration graphs are linear for up to 30 mg P l^?1, the determination limit is 0.1 mg P l^?1 and the precision of the method is 3% (relative standard deviation) (n = 5) at 5 mg P l^?1. The sampling rate is 20 h^?1. Good recoveries of phosphorus after addition to domestic waste water sample are obtained.     

Preconcentration of valsartan by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop and its determination in urine sample: Central composite design

In this work, a fast, easy, and efficient dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method based on solidification of floating organic drop followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was developed for the separation/preconcentration and determination of the drug valsartan. Experimental design was applied for the optimization of the effective variables (such as volume of extracting and dispersing solvents, ionic strength, and pH) on the extraction efficiency of valsartan from urine samples. The optimized values were 250.0 μL ethanol, 65.0 μL 1‐dodecanol, 4.0% w/v NaCl, pH 3.8, 1.0 min extraction time, and 4.0 min centrifugation at 4000 rpm min^?1. The linear response (r² = 0.997) was obtained in the range of 0.013–10.0 μg mL^?1 with a limit of detection of 4.0 ng mL^?1 and relative standard deviations of less than 5.0 % (n = 6).     

Lanthanide sensitized chemiluminescence determination of grepafloxacin in tablets and human urine

A flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL) method, based on the luminescent properties of the Ce(IV)-Na₂SO₃-lanthanide(III)-grepafloxacin system, was developed for the determination of grepafloxacin {1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-5-methyl-7-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid}. La(III), Tb(III), and Eu(III) ions were tested as possible chemiluminescence sensitizers. The best results were achieved when Tb(III) was used as lanthanide ion, so the technique was optimised working with this ion. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linear range was 0.05-2.00 μg ml⁻¹ grepafloxacin, with a 0.01 μg ml⁻¹ detection limit and 2.0% relative standard deviation (n=10). The proposed procedure has been applied to the determination of grepafloxacin in tablets and spiked human urine.     

A flow injection method for biamperometric determination of dipyrone in pharmaceuticals

A flow-injection method for determination of dipyrone (novalgin, metamizol) in pharmaceutical tablets with biamperometric detection is described. Flow-parameters such as flow rate, coil length and sample injection volume were optimized. The calibration graph was linear (r=0.9997) within the range of 10-50 mg l⁻¹ in a 1-mmol l⁻¹ HCl carrier solution for an applied potential of 100 mV between the two platinum wire electrodes. Two indicating redox systems were studied, namely Fe(III)/Fe(II) and I₂/I⁻. The former proved to be well suited as a selective and sensitive biamperometric indicating system for dipyrone in the presence of ingredients commonly accompanying the drug. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of dipyrone in several commercial pharmaceutical preparations. The sampling rate was 71 samples per hour with a rsd of 1.6% (eight injections of a 14-mg l⁻¹ dipyrone solution). Recoveries close to 100% demonstrated the reliability of the proposed method.     

Development of an electrochemical method for the rapid determination of microbial concentration and evidence for the reaction mechanism

A rapid amperometric method for the determination of microbial concentration is described. The micro-organisms reduce the redox mediator, potassium hexacyanoferrate(III), which is reoxidized to yield a current proportional to the microbial concentration. Escherichia coli gave a linear response (standard error (S_YX)=0.17, r=0.9999, n=5, P>99.9%) over the concentration range 10⁶–10⁸ cells ml^?1 with a response time of less than 1 min. The effect of varying temperature showed that the electrochemical response of the bacteria was linked to respiration rate. Studies with respiratory inhibitors suggested that hexacyanoferrate (III) is reduced by the segment of the respiratory chain between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase and the terminal oxidases.     

Flow-injection determination of total iron in freshwater samples with neutralisation chemiluminescence

A flow-injection chemiluminescence method has been established for the determination of total iron in freshwater samples. The enhanced chemiluminescence emission was caused by the iron(II) from the neutralisation reaction of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide without the use of any chemiluminescent reagent. The calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 2.8–560 µg L^?1 (r ² = 0.9983, n = 8), with relative standard deviation (RSD; n = 4) in the range of 0.8–2.6%. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.56 µg L^?1 with injection throughput of 180 h^?1. The effect of common anions and cations were studied over their environmentally relevant concentrations in freshwaters. The method was successfully applied to determine total iron in freshwater samples. Iron(III) was reduced to iron(II) by using hydroxylammonium chloride. The proposed method was compared with spectrophotometric method and there was no significant difference between the two methods at the 95% confidence level (t-test). Analysis of river water (certified reference material SLRS-4) for iron(II), after reduction of iron(III) with hydroxylammonium chloride, gave good results (2.17 ± 0.22 µM compared with the certificate value of 1.85 ± 0.1 µM).     

Fluorescence detection of Escherichia coli on mannose modified ZnTe quantum dots

Rapid detection and identification of Escherichia coli(E.coli) is essential to prevent its quickly spread.In this study,a novel fluorescence probe based on ZnTe quantum dots(QDs) modified by mannose(MAN)had been prepared for the determination of E.coli.The results showed that the obtained QDs showed excellent selectivity toward E.coli,and presented a good linearity in range of 1.0×10~5～1.0×10~8 CFU/mL.The optimum fluorescence intensity for detecting E. coli was found to be at pH 7.0 with a temperature of25℃ and incubation time of 20 min.Under these optimum conditions,the detection limit of E.coli was4.6×10~4 CFU/mL.The quenching was discussed to be a static quenching procedure,which was proved by the quenching efficiency of QDs decreased with the temperature increasing.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of submicromolar orthophosphate by molybdate reduction

A kinetic spectrophotometric procedure was developed for determination of submicromolar orthophosphate based on the reaction in which orthophosphate serves as a catalyst in the reduction of molybdenum, and the initial rate of molybdenum-blue formation (λ_max = 780 nm) is proportional to the concentration of orthophosphate in the samples. The detection limit (3 × standard deviation of blank, n = 8) was 6 nM and the linear calibration ranged from 10 to 100 nM (r² = 0.997). The precisions of this method were 3.3% at 10 nM and 5.4% at 50 nM (n = 8), respectively. Similar to other molybdate based methods, silica and arsenate in the samples can interfere with phosphate determination. The responses of silicate and arsenate were about 25% and 7% of that of orthophosphate, respectively, and their interferences were enhanced in the presence of phosphate in the samples due to the synergistic effect of phosphate with arsenate or silicate on the molybdate reagent.     

Development of fast Fourier transform continuous cyclic voltammetry at Au microelectrode in flowing solutions as a novel method for sub-nanomolar monitoring of lidocaine in injection and biological fluids

In this work a novel method for the fast monitoring of lidocaine in flow-injection systems has been developed. The fast Fourier transform continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV) at gold microelectrode in flowing solution system was used for determination of lidocaine in its pharmaceutical formulation. The presented technique was very simple, precise, accurate, time saving and economical, compared with all of the previously reported methods. The recommended technique demonstrated some advantages over other reported methods. Firstly, there was no need for the oxygen removal from the test solution. Secondly, a picomolar detection limit was achieved, and additionally, the method was fast enough for the determination of any such compound, in a wide variety of chromatographic methods. The method was linear across the concentration range of 240-1.1 × 10⁵ pg mL⁻¹ (r = 0.996) with a limit of detection and quantitation 117.3 and 240 pg mL⁻¹, respectively. As a conclusion this system offers the requisite accuracy, sensitivity, precision and selectivity to assay lidocaine in injections.