Influence of pH and pKa values on electrophoretic behaviour of quinolones in aqueous and hydro-organic media

Through correct pH measurements, pKa and activity coefficient values, a model describing their effect on electrophoretic behaviour of substances is established. The suggested model uses the pH values in the acetonitrile-water mixtures used and takes into account the effect of activity coefficients. The model permits the calculation of acidity constants of analytes in hydro-organic media and also the prediction of the effect of pH on the electrophoretic mobility. The model is tested by determining the dissociation constants of a series of nine quinolones in acetonitrile-water mixtures of 0, 5.5, 10 and 30% (w/w) acetonitrile.     

Capillary electrophoresis in mixed aqueous-organic media: Effect of tetrahydrofuran on mobilities, dissociation constants and separation of a series of quinolones

Summary The influence of the composition of aqueous-tetrahydrofuran mixtures on the electrophoretic behaviour of nine quinolones was studied in order to predict the optimum conditions for their separation. The effect of pH, pK _a and activity coefficients on electrophoretic behaviour was established. Standard pH values for buffer solutions of the NIST scale as previously determined in THF-water were used in accordance with IUPAC rules. pH was therefore measured for these media as for water. The pK _a values of quinolones were determined from the electrophoretic mobilities-pH data pairs in different THF-water mixtures. The electrophoretic resolution between pairs of substances was then predicted in order to obtain the optimal experimental conditions for separation methodologies.     

Prediction of electrophoretic behaviour of a series of quinolones in aqueous methanol.

Quinolones are a family of antibacterial agents used in human and veterinary clinics. The examination of protonation equilibria is essential because their antibacterial activity is pH-dependent. In this work, dissociation constants of quinolones in MeOH-water mixtures were obtained using capillary electrophoresis. The method is based on a model that relates electrophoretic mobility of the solute with pH. The effect of pH, pKa and activity coefficient on electrophoretic behaviour was considered. Standard pH values for buffer solutions were previously determined in MeOH-water mixtures, and the pH can thus be measured in these media as in water. This model is also used to obtain the optimum conditions for the separation of a series of substances because it allows one to predict the resolution between adjacent peaks from a few experimental data.     

Electrophoretic behavior of peptides in capillary electrophoresis influence of ionic strength and pH in aqueous-organic media.

Through correct pH, pKa and activity coefficients values, a model describing the effect of pH on electrophoretic mobility of substances has been applied to a series of peptides in water and in acetonitrile-water mixtures. The derived equations permit prediction of the optimum pH for the electrophoretic separation from only a few experimental values and they also permit determination of pKa values of analytes in the aqueous-organic media employed. Furthermore, the electrophoretic resolution between pairs of substances can be predicted, in order to evaluate electrophoretic separations of the studied peptides.     

pKa values of peptides in aqueous and aqueous-organic media. Prediction of chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour

In the present work, models describing the effect of the pH on the chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour for polyprotic peptides were compared. The proposed models can be simultaneously used for determination of dissociation constants and selection of the optimum pH for the separation of peptides, in water and acetonitrile-water mixtures widely used in liquid chromatography and in capillary electrophoresis. The models use the pH value measured in the acetonitrile-water mixture instead of the pH value in water and take into account the effect of the activity coefficients. They permit the determination of the acidity constants in the aqueous and hydro-organic mobile phase from chromatographic retention and electrophoretic migration measurements, respectively. The values obtained by both proposed techniques agree with the potentiometric values previously determined. The suitability of the proposed models for predicting chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour of compounds studied from a limited number of experimental data was also compared. The separation between solutes by both techniques in a complex mixture can be easily predicted, making simple and rapid pH selection to achieve optimum separation.     

Prediction of retention behaviour and evaluation of pka values of peptides and quinolones in liquid chromatography.

The present paper examines the effect of the solute ionisation on the retention behaviour in liquid chromatography of a series of peptide and quinolone compounds of biological interest, using acetonitrile-water media as mobile phases and a polymeric-based stationary phase. Polymeric columns with polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) polymer show advantages over silica-based reversed-phase packings since the former are stable in a wide pH range. (s)(s)pKa values have been evaluated using chromatographic data in acetonitrile-water mixtures with acetonitrile percentages of 30, 35, 40 and 50% (v/v) for quinolones and 12.5 and 20% (v/v) for peptides. The quinolones show great retention on PS-DVB phase stationary. It was thus necessary to work with a higher acetonitrile content in the mobile phase than for the less retained peptides. The pH values were measured in the hydroorganic mixtures, used as mobile phases, instead of in water and account was taken of the effect of activity coefficients. The derived equations permit the chromatographic determination of (s)(s)pKa. values of the peptides and quinolones in acetonitrile-water mixtures by fitting it to the experimental data in a nonlinear least-square procedure and also permit the prediction of the effect of (s)(s)pH on their chromatographic behaviour. We have also compared the obtained (s)(s)pKa values with those previously obtained in acetonitrile-water mixtures from potentiometric measurements.     

Optimization of the composition and pH of the mobile phase used for separation and determination of a series of quinolone antibacterials regulated by the European Union

Summary To ensure the safety of human food the European Union (EU) has set tolerance levels for quinolone compounds in animal products, so screening and confirmatory analytical methods are required for monitoring of these drugs. In this work, the proportion of organic modifier and the pH of acetonitrile-water mixtures used as mobile phases were optimized for separation of a group of quinolones. Linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) formalism based on the single solvent polarity parameterE _T ^N was used to predict the chromatographic behaviour of the compounds as a function of the amount of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. Correlation between retention and the pH of aqueous-organic mobile phases has also been used to optimize mobile-phase pH. The optimized mobile phase was a linear gradient starting from 18∶82 (v/v) acetonitrileacetate + formate buffer, pH 2.5. Quality data were determined and were satisfactory. The method detection limit was approximately 10 ng mL⁻¹ for most of the quinolones studied. The proposed mobile phase is compatible with mass spectrometric detection of the substances.     

Optimisation of mobile phase pH in liquid chromatography. Application to fluorimetric detection of series of quinolones

Summary The dissociation constants of several quinolones in a 7% acetonitrile-water mixture are determined. A model describing the effect of pH on the retention of quinolones by an octadecylsilica stationary phase with a 7% acetonitrile-water mobile phase is proposed. The model uses pH values in the mobile phase instead of pH values in water and takes into account the effect of activity coefficients. Fluorescence of quinolones in the mobile phase is studied, and a chromatographic separation with fluorimetric detection is established. Detection limits for the proposed method range from 3 to 12 μg·L⁻¹.     

Protonation equilibria of quinolone antibacterials in acetonitrile-water mobile phases used in LC

Ionization constants of nine quinolone antibacterials in acetonitrile-water mixtures containing 0, 5.5, 10, 16.3, 25, 30, 40, 50 and 70% (w/w) acetonitrile were obtained and assignment of these pK values to the several potentially ionizable functional groups was made. The variation of the pK values obtained over the whole composition range studied can be explained by consideration of the preferential solvation of electrolytes in acetonitrile-water mixtures. In order to obtain pK values in any of the unlimited number of possible binary solvent acetonitrile-water mixtures, relationships between pK values and different bulk properties (such as dielectric constant) were examined. The linear solvation energy relationships method, LSER, was applied to study the correlation of pK values with the solvatochromic parameters of acetonitrile-water mixtures. The equations obtained allow calculation of the pK values of the quinolone antimicrobials in any acetonitrile-water mixtures up to 70% (w/w) and thus permit the knowledge of the acid-base behaviour of these important antimicrobials in the widely used acetonitrile-water media.     

Assignment of reference pH-values to primary standard buffer solutions for standardization of potentiometric sensors in acetonitrile-water mixtures

Standard pH-values pH(PS) for seven primary standard buffer solutions in 0, 10, 30, 40, 50, 70 and 100% (w/w) acetonitrile-water mixed solvents at 298.15 K were determined according to the criteria recently endorsed by IUPAC. The preferential solvation of the ions in acetonitrile-water mixtures was studied in order to clarify the acid-base behaviour of the solutes in such mixtures. The influence of variation in the solvent composition on pH(PS) values was considered with a view to obtaining correlations that can be used to determine the pH(PS) values in any acetonitrile-water mixture up to 70% (w/w) acetonitrile. The pH(PS) values were then correlated with the weight and volume percentages and molar fraction of acetonitrile and with the Kamlet-Taft, pi(*), alpha and beta solvatochromic parameters of the acetonitrile-water mixtures. The equations obtained permit the standardization of potentiometric sensors in these mixtures.     

On the role of solvent in acid-base equilibria of diuretics in acetonitrile-water mixed solvents

The dissociation constants of representative loop (furosemide), thiazide (chlorthiazide and trichlormethiazide) and potassium sparing (amiloride) diuretics in 10, 30, 40, 50 and 70% (w/w) acetonitrile-water mixtures at 298.15 K were determined, in accordance with IUPAC procedures. The variation in pK(a) values over the whole composition range can be explained by preferential solvation and the structural features in acetonitrile-water mixtures. Correlations between pK(a) values and various bulk and solvatochromic properties of the solvents were calculated. The linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) method was applied. The resulting equations allowed us to calculate pK(a) values for the diuretics studied in any acetonitrile-water mixture up to 70% (w/w) and should help to clarify the acid-base behaviour of diuretics in the widely-used acetonitrile-water mixed solvents.     

Electrophoretic behaviour of quinolones in capillary electrophoresis. Effect of pH and evaluation of ionization constants.

Quinolones are a family of antibacterial agents that are used extensively in both human and veterinary clinics. Their antibacterial activity is pH-dependent, and therefore an examination of protonation equilibria in quinolone solution is essential. In this work, dissociation constants of quinolones in water were obtained using capillary electrophoresis (CE). The method is based on measuring the electrophoretic mobility of the solute as a function of pH. Mobility and pH data are fitted using different models. These developed equations have two advantages. They permit the determination of pKa of analytes with the advantages of CE and also permit the prediction of the effect of pH on the electrophoretic behaviour of substances and then the prediction of the pH optimum for the separation methods, using the minimum of experimental measurements.     

Assignment of reference pH-values to primary standard buffer solutions for standardization of potentiometric sensors in acetonitrile-water mixtures

Standard pH-values pH_PS for seven primary standard buffer solutions in 0, 10, 30, 40, 50, 70 and 100% (w/w) acetonitrile-water mixed solvents at 298.15 K were determined according to the criteria recently endorsed by IUPAC. The preferential solvation of the ions in acetonitrile-water mixtures was studied in order to clarify the acid-base behaviour of the solutes in such mixtures. The influence of variation in the solvent composition on pH_PS values was considered with a view to obtaining correlations that can be used to determine the pH_PS values in any acetonitrile-water mixture up to 70% (w/w) acetonitrile. The pH_PS values were then correlated with the weight and volume percentages and molar fraction of acetonitrile and with the Kamlet-Taft, ^*, and solvatochromic parameters of the acetonitrile-water mixtures. The equations obtained permit the standardization of potentiometric sensors in these mixtures.     

Migration behavior of therapeutic peptide hormones: prediction of optimal separation by capillary electrophoresis

A general equation that relates electrophoretic mobility of polyprotic peptide substances and pH of the running electrolytes is established, taking into account the species in solution and the activity coefficients. Modelling electrophoretic mobility as a function of pH can be simultaneously used for determination of ionization constants and selection of the optimum pH for separation of mixtures of the modelled compounds. The proposed relationships allow an important reduction of the experimental data needed for development of new separation methods. The accuracy of the proposed equations is verified by modelling the migration behavior of a heterogeneous series of polyprotic amphoteric peptide hormones. By calculating the values of predicted resolutions, selection of the optimum pH to perform separation of their mixtures becomes a rapid and simple process.     

Evaluation of chromatographic versus electrophoretic behaviour of a series of therapeutical peptide hormones

In this work, models describing the effect of pH on chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour for a series of polyprotic therapeutic peptide hormones were compared. taking into account the species in solution and the activity coefficients. The usefulness of the proposed equations is twofold, they permit the determination of the acidity constants in water and in the hydroorganic mobile phases used in liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) and can also be used for the selection of the optimum pH for the separation of mixtures of the modelled compounds. The proposed relationships allow an important reduction of the experimental data needed for the development of new separation methods. The accuracy of the proposed equations is verified by modelling the chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour of a series of polyprotic therapeutic peptide hormones. By calculating the values of predicted resolutions, selection of the optimum pH to perform LC or CE separations of their mixtures becomes a rapid and simple process.     

Superheated water as eluent in high-temperature high-performance liquid chromatographic separations of steroids on a polymer-coated zirconia column

High-temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC), with a superheated water mobile phase, has been shown to be a feasible replacement for medium-polarity acetonitrile-water mixtures as an eluent in reversed-phase HPLC. Instrumental parameters of flow-rate, injection volume and mobile phase preheating were shown to have significant effects on the quality of the chromatographic peaks. The selectivity and retention patterns of testosterone and several related compounds were investigated on a porous zirconia, polybutadiene-coated column at temperatures up to 200 degrees C and compared with that of a porous silica, octadecylsilane-coated column and the zirconia column under traditional reversed-phase conditions of an acetonitrile-water mobile phase at 40 degrees C. The selectivity differences observed for testosterone and related compounds show that the separation mechanisms are complementary and unique selectivity is obtained with the zirconia column under HTLC conditions.     

Determination of quinolones in water samples by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A method is reported for the determination, in water samples, of 10 quinolones which are used as veterinary drugs. Analytes are isolated from samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorimetric detection. A solid-phase extraction procedure based on retention on HBL OASIS cartridges and elution with a mixture of acetonitrile-water in basic medium is suitable for pre-concentration of the analytes. Pre-concentration factors up to 250 can be obtained. The quinolones are separated with an octyl silica-based column and mobile phases consisting of aqueous oxalic acid solutions and acetonitrile mixtures. The attained detection limits of the whole process are in the ng l(-1) level when 250 ml of water sample is processed. Recovery rates, from natural water samples spiked at 2060 ng l(-1) level, range from 70 to 100% and common standard deviation are about 6-12%.     

Evaluation of migration behaviour of therapeutic peptide hormones in capillary electrophoresis using polybrene-coated capillaries

Modelling electrophoretic mobility as a function of pH can be simultaneously used for determination of ionization constants and for rapid selection of the optimum pH for separation of mixtures of the modelled compounds. In this work, equations describing the effect of pH on electrophoretic behaviour were used to investigate migration of a series of polyprotic amphoteric peptide hormones between pH 2 and 12 in polybrene-coated capillaries. Polybrene (hexadimethrin bromide) is a polymer composed of quaternary amines that is strongly adsorbed by the fused-silica inner surface, preventing undesired interactions between the peptides and the inner capillary wall. In polybrene-coated capillaries the separation voltage must be reversed, because of the anodic electroosmotic flow promoted by the polycationic polymer attached to the inner capillary wall. The possibility of using polybrene-coated capillaries for determination of accurate ionization constants has been evaluated and the optimum pH for separation of a mixture of the peptide hormones studied has been selected. Advantages and disadvantages of using bare fused-silica and polybrene-coated capillaries for these purposes are discussed.     

Fluorometric determination of mixtures of quinolones by means of partial least squares and neural networks.

Multivariate calibration methods (partial least squares calibration, back propagation multilayer perceptrons networks, radial basis functions and generalized regression neural networks) were applied to the simultaneous fluorometric quantification of levofloxacin, garenoxacin and grepafloxacin, without previous separation steps. A data matrix was obtained by registering the emission spectra of mixtures of the three quinolones in urine (with concentrations ranging over 0.00-0.40 microg mL-1 for each quinolone) with a 283 nm excitation at pH 4.0. The generalized regression neural network model proved to be the most adequate model for simultaneous quantification of the three quinolones in urine samples.     

Standard pH values for standardization of potentiometric sensors in 10% (w/w) acetonitrile-water mixtures

Reference value standards, pH(s) in 10% (w/w) acetonitrile-water solvent mixtures for 11 reference buffer solutions have been determined from reversible emf measurements of the cell Pt/Ag/AgCl/standard buffer + KCl, in acetonitrile-water/glass electrode, at 298.15 K. Values of ionization constants, required for above calculations, have been determined from reversible emf measurements of the cell Pt/Ag/AgCl/HA + A + KCl, in acetonitrile-water/glass electrode, in the same solvent composition and temperature.