Simultaneous analysis of ellagic acid and coenzyme Q(10) by derivative spectroscopy and HPLC

Antioxidants are gaining tremendous interest as chemopreventive as well as chemotherapeutic agents. Ellagic acid (EA) is a plant derived compound with very poor solubility in water and very low octanol/water partition coefficient and coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a highly lipophilic compound, which is synthesized in the body and can be derived from food supplements as well. The new insights in the combination therapy are promising a better future in many challenging diseases. Synergism is among the key advantages of combination therapy apart from decreased intensity of unwanted effects of a compound, increased patient compliance and reduction in cost of therapy. EA and CoQ₁₀ supplementation in combination will be beneficial in strengthening the weakened antioxidant defense system in many diseases related to oxidative stress. Here we report first derivative UV spectroscopic and HPLC methods for the simultaneous analysis of these two agents in pharmaceutical preparations. Results obtained indicate that the derivative spectroscopy is as efficient as HPLC method in quantitative analysis. Retention of ellagic acid can be increased using PEG bonded column which is poorly retained on C₁₈ column. PEG column can be used for rapid simultaneous analysis of EA and CoQ₁₀, which are having diverse physicochemical properties.     

Sampling considerations in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Packed column supercritical fluid chromatography, like HPLC, utilizes a sample loop to introduce materials onto the column for analysis. Unlike HPLC the mobile phase in SFC cannot be used to dissolve the sample. In practice, this causes a solvent peak, which can create a problem in the chromatographic interpretation. This paper describes one approach to solving this problem. A valving scheme is used to extract materials with the supercritical CO₂ mobile phase and introduce them onto the column with no external handling. The viability of this method is demonstrated and separations of the CO₂ extracts for several materials are shown on various columns. Comparisons are made for coal and coffee extracts using this on-line method and conventional off-line CH₂Cl₂ extracts. Advantages of the on-line procedure as they apply to chromatography and high information detectors are also discussed.     

Characterization and separation of Al13 species using gel-filtration chromatography

A polyaluminum chloride (PAC) sample was prepared using a slow alkaline titration method. The Bio-Gel P-100 gel column chromatographic technique was used to separate and characterize the various forms of aluminum present in the prepared PAC solution. The effluents from a gel column were monitored using online chemical method: Al-Ferron timed complexation spectrophotometry and by ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Effects of different experimental conditions such as eluent flow rate, ionic strength and pH on separation of Al₁₃ were investigated. Experimental results indicated that molecule size exclusion was not the only parameter affecting the column chromatographic separation efficiency of Al₁₃ but molecule charge as well. Reducing the eluent flow rate, increasing the ionic strength and suitable pH resulted in increase in the separation efficiency. Experimental results clearly indicated that by varying the experimental conditions, it is possible to produce pure Al₁₃ species using a gel column chromatographic technique.     

Fluorescence enhancement for aflatoxins in HPLC by post-column split-flow iodine addition from a solid-phase iodine reservoir

Summary A method for post-column derivatization of the highly carcinogenic aflatoxins with iodine has been developed. It involves splitting of the mobile phase used for the reversed phase HPLC separation. One part flows through the injection valve and the C₁₈ analytical column to achieve the separation. The other part flows through a column packed with solid iodine. The iodine-containing solution is recombined with the flow coming from the analytical column. The derivatization reaction takes place in a knitted open tubular reactor maintained at 60 °C. Detection is done by fluorescence measurement. Due to the low solubility of iodine in the mobile phase, the iodine solid-phase column can be used for very long periods of time before refilling is necessary. The analytical system consists of only one pump and therefore gives the opportunity to carry out low-cost post-column reaction detection. The method yields reproducible results, a linear response over at least two orders of magnitude and detection limits of about 1 ppb, both for standard solutions and for peanut butter samples.     

Comparison of various types of stationary phases in non-aqueous reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry of glycerolipids in blackcurrant oil and its enzymatic hydrolysis mixture

The selection of column packing during the development of high-performance liquid chromatography method is a crucial step to achieve sufficient chromatographic resolution of analyzed species in complex mixtures. Various stationary phases are tested in this paper for the analysis of complex mixture of triacylglycerols (TGs) in blackcurrant oil using non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) system with acetonitrile–2-propanol mobile phase. Conventional C₁₈ column in the total length of 45 cm is used for the separation of TGs according to their equivalent carbon number, the number and positions of double bonds and acyl chain lengths. The separation of TGs and their more polar hydrolysis products after the partial enzymatic hydrolysis of blackcurrant oil in one chromatographic run is achieved using conventional C₁₈ column. Retention times of TGs are reduced almost 10 times without the loss of the chromatographic resolution using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography with 1.7 μm C₁₈ particles. The separation in NARP system on C₃₀ column shows an unusual phenomenon, because the retention order of TGs changes depending on the column temperature, which is reported for the first time. The commercial monolithic column modified with C₁₈ is used for the fast analysis of TGs to increase the sample throughput but at cost of low resolution.     

Sol–gel synthesis,characterization and photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 </Subscript>granules

Mesoporous TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ composite granules were prepared by combining sol–gel/oil-drop method, using various titania solution. The product granules can be used as a photocatalyst or adsorbent in moving, fluidized bed reactors. The phase composition and pore structure of the granules can be controlled by calcination temperature and using different titania solution. In the photocatalysis of NH₃ decomposition, TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ granules using Degussa P25 powder treated thermally at 450 °C showed the highest catalytic ability. However, TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ granules using titania made by hydrothermal method had comparable performance in NH₃ decomposition.     

On-chip type cation-exchange chromatography with ferrocene-labeled anti-hemoglobin antibody and electrochemical detector for determination of hemoglobin A1c level

An on-chip type cation-exchange chromatography system with electrochemical detection of HbA_1c, which is one of the most important diabetes marker protein, was developed using ferrocene-conjugated anti-human hemoglobin (Hb) monoclonal antibody (FcAb). The FcAb was used as an electrochemical probe for the detection of each Hb. The system contains syringe pump, on-chip type cation-exchange column consisted of PDMS and cation-exchange resin beads, and a three-electrode flow-cell system. The separation conditions of HbA_1c in blood calibrator samples from other Hbs, e.g. HbA₀, HbA_1a or HbA_1b, were optimized using the on-chip type system. The electrochemical oxidation current from FcAb reacting with each Hb was measured at 350 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). Hbs including HbA_1a and HbA_1b, HbA_1c and HbA₀ fractions were eluted in this order. A linear relationship between HbA_1c levels and electrochemical oxidation currents was obtained in the range from 4.0% to 12.6% HbA_1c. All procedure including antigen-antibody reaction was completed in 15 min. Furthermore, a good correlation was obtained between KO500 method (HPLC) and our proposed method. These results indicate that the on-chip type system with electrochemical detection can be applied to a novel POCT device for rapid and precise detection of HbA_1c.     

A column packing for isothermal gas chromatographic analysis of C1−C5 paraffins and monoolefins and dimethyl ether

Summary An analytical GC method was developed which uses a single packed column consisting of three packings in series prepared with the following liquid phases: dimethyl sulfolane, propylene carbonate, and silver nitrate. This system provides satisfactory resolution of mixtures of C₁–C₅ hydrocarbons and dimethyl ether obtained when converting methanol to gasoline. Due to the high capacity of the column it is possible to inject larger sample amounts permitting trace analysis.     

碱熔融-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定氧化铟锡烧结混合粉中5种杂质元素

采用氢氧化钠熔融样品,热水浸取后盐酸酸化,建立了碱熔融-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)法测定氧化铟锡烧结混合粉中Fe、Ca、Mg、Al和Si等元素的分析方法.试验结果表明:称取0.500 0 g试样,加入0.80 g氢氧化钠,在灰化炉中熔融120 min,可将样品完全溶解.基体铟和锡的干扰采用基体匹配法消除,被测元素之间没有光谱干扰.钠盐对硅的测定有一定影响,可在标准溶液中加入一定量氢氧化钠予以消除.对方法进行精密度和加标回收试验,测得结果的相对标准偏差均小于5%,方法加标回收率在90%~105%之间.     

Adsorption Kinetics and Dynamic Behavior of a Carbon Monolith

The zero length column (ZLC) method has been applied to study the adsorption and diffusion of CO₂ in a carbon monolith adsorbent. ZLC desorption curves, measured over a wide range of flow rates, are shown to be very well accounted for assuming a linear equilibrium isotherm with the kinetics controlled by diffusion into a parallel sided slab. The data, at all flow rates, are characterized by a single pair of parameters (K and D _s). Diffusivities for a He carrier are about double those for a N₂ carrier reflecting both the difference in molecular diffusivities and some contribution from Knudsen diffusion. Breakthrough curves for CO₂-He and CO₂-N₂ were also measured for columns packed with the monolith adsorbent. Both the equilibrium and diffusion parameters derived from analysis of the breakthrough curves in accordance with the Golay/Spangler models are consistent with the values derived from the ZLC measurements. Dispersion in the monoliths is shown to be controlled by mass transfer resistance rather than axial mixing.     

Generation of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin by enzymatic deglycosylation of human transferrin

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) molecules are transferrin isoforms that lack one or both of the carbohydrate groups attached to a normal human transferrin molecule. CDT has been reported to be a sensitive and specific marker for diagnosing alcoholism. This report demonstrates the in vitro generation of CDT molecules that can potentially be used as the standard in measuring CDT concentrations. This was achieved by deglycosylation of human transferrin with the enzyme Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase F₂ (Endo-F₂). The enzyme was immobilized on sepharose beads, which were packed into a column. The immobilization of the enzyme not only eliminated the Endo-F₂ contamination of CDT, but also rendered the enzyme suitable for repetitive use. In this manner, it was possible to obtain at least 200 mg of CDT over a period of more than 3 mo, without any noticeable decrease of enzyme activity, using only 3.0 μg of enzyme. This proved to be an efficient method for generating CDT.     

Kinetics and mechanism of processes in the system FeSO4·7H2O-MnO2

Processes which occur during the thermal treatment of system FeSO₄·7H₂O-MnO₂ are of the interest for obtaining MnSO₄, which can be easily soluted in water and separated from impurities in manganese slime in zinc metallurgy. Results of the experimental investigations of such processes are given in this paper. Kinetic parameters for the previously defined mechanism were determined using Borchardt and Daniels method.     

A gas chromatographic flow method for preconcentration and determination of vitamins D2 and D3 in pharmaceutical preparations

Summary A continuous-flow method that combines on-line preconcentration and isolation with gas chromatography for the direct determination of vitamins D₂ and D₃ in oily solutions is reported. A silica gel column permits preconcentration and isolation of analytes from the vitamin D matrix, although some triglyceride (ca. 25%) is also retained. To overcome problems associated with the low volatility of triglycerides, their retained fraction is further transesterified with potassium methylate to fatty acid methyl esters after elution. The proposed method was applied to the determination of vitamin D in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Efficient on-column conversion of IgG1 trisulfide linkages to native disulfides in tandem with Protein A affinity chromatography

Protein trisulfide linkages are generated by the post-translational insertion of a sulfur atom into a disulfide bond. Molecular heterogeneity was detected in a recombinant IgG₁ monoclonal antibody (mAb) and attributed to the presence of a protein trisulfide moiety. The predominant site of trisulfide modification was the bond between the heavy and light chains. The trisulfide was eliminated during purification of the IgG₁ mAb via a cysteine wash step incorporated into Protein A affinity column chromatography. Analysis of the cysteine-treated mAb by electrophoresis and peptide mapping indicated that the trisulfide linkages were efficiently converted to intact disulfide bonds (13% trisulfide decreased consistently to 1% or less) without disulfide scrambling or an increase in free sulfhydryls. The on-column trisulfide conversion caused no change in protein folding detectable by hydrogen/deuterium exchange or differential scanning calorimetry. Consistent with this, binding of the mAb to its antigen in vitro was insensitive to the presence of the trisulfide modification and to its removal by the on-column cysteine treatment. Similar, high efficiency trisulfide conversion was achieved for a second IgG₁ mAb using the column wash strategy (at least 7% trisulfide decreased to 1% or less). Therefore, trisulfide/disulfide heterogeneity can be eliminated from IgG₁ molecules via a convenient and inexpensive procedure compatible with routine Protein A affinity capture.     

FeCl3-SiO2 as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles via [2+3] cycloaddition of nitriles and sodium azide

An efficient method for the preparation of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole derivatives is reported using FeCl₃-SiO₂ as an effective heterogeneous catalyst. This method has the advantages of high yields, simple methodology, and easy work-up. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and reused delivering good yields.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polar-embedded silica stationary phases for use in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

We have developed a series of new C₁₀ dipeptide stationary phases via a simple and effective synthetic method. The preparation of the new phases involves the synthesis of silanes and the surface modification of silica. Chromatographic evaluations of these columns were performed using the Engelhardt, Tanaka, and Neue test mixtures. The applicability of these new stationary phases was also evaluated using a series of diagnostic probes including acids, bases or neutral compounds and several generic applications. These new C₁₀ dipeptide stationary phases showed excellent hydrolytic stability over a wide pH range. Like other existing amide-embedded columns, these new stationary phases exhibit higher retention for polar and hydrophilic compounds and different selectivity as compared to conventional C₁₈ columns. These new phases are compatible with 100% aqueous mobile phases, and also provide high column efficiency and good peak shapes for both acidic and basic compounds.     

A colorimetric assay of DNA methyltransferase activity based on the keypad lock of duplex DNA modified meso-SiO2@Fe3O4

Abnormal level of DNA methyltransferase (MTase) – mediated DNA methylation is closely related with cancer and bacterial diseases. Herein, a novel strategy based on the keypad lock of duplex DNA modified meso-SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ was developed for colorimetric assay of Dam MTase activity. When the Dam MTase was introduced, the duplex DNA can be methylated at a palindrome sequence of 5′-GATC-3′ and cleaved by the methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease Dpn I. Due to the instability of the newly formed DNA fragment, the hybrid will separated into a single-stranded DNA. Then the keypad lock will open, and the catalytic reaction of TMB and H₂O₂ can be initiated through the pores of meso-SiO₂@Fe₃O₄, and a high color signal can be clearly observed by the naked eye. Contrarily, without Dam MTase, the catalytic reaction will not be initiated, and result no color signal. The proposed method exhibited a wide dynamic range with a low detection limit of 0.73 U/mL. Additionally, this way can be performed in human serum with satisfying recovery. And the inhibition of Dam MTase can also be well demonstrated by using paclitaxel as a model. Therefore, the designed way not only provides a platform for monitoring Dam MTase activity, but also useful for further application in disease diagnosis and drug discovery.     

The Application of TD/GC/NICI–MS with an Al2O3-PLOT-S Column for the Determination of Perfluoroalkylcycloalkanes in the Atmosphere

A modified method for the quantitative determination of atmospheric perfluoroalkylcycloalkanes (PFCs) using thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography and detection by negative ion chemical ionization–mass spectrometry was developed. Using an optimized analytical system, a commercially available Al₂O₃ porous layer open tubular (PLOT) capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm) deactivated with Na₂SO₄ was used for separation of PFCs. Improvements in the separation of PFCs, the corresponding identification and the limit of detection of PFCs using this method and column are presented. The method was successfully applied to determine the atmospheric background concentrations of a range of PFCs from a number of samples collected at a rural site in Germany. The results of this study suggest that the method outlined using the Al₂O₃-PLOT-S capillary column has good sensitivity and selectivity, and that it can be deployed in a routine laboratory process for the analysis of PFCs in the future research work. In addition, the ability of this column to separate the isomers of one of the lower boiling PFCs (perfluorodimethylcyclobutane) and its ability to resolve perfluoroethylcyclohexane offer the opportunity for single-column analysis for multiple PFCs.     

纳米级PbCO3的制备与应用

PbCO3作为燃烧催化剂被广泛应用于推进剂中,但目前推进剂中使用的PbCO3颗粒尺寸大、粒度分布不均匀,严重地影响了固体推进剂的燃烧性能[1~3]。纳米粒子因其尺寸小,比表面积大,且随着粒径减小,比表面积急剧变大,活性中心数迅速增加,大大增强了纳米粒子的催化活性,使得各种纳米级     

LC-PAD Determination of Mescaline in Cactus “Peyote” (Lophophora williamsii)

A reversed-phase column liquid chromatographic method for the separation and quantification of mescaline present in “peyote” has been developed using a Symmetry C₁₈ column and isocratic profile. The method can be utilised for the quantitative determination of other alkaloids. This method is economical in terms of the time taken and the amount of solvent used for each analysis. The validity of the method with respect to analysis was confirmed by comparing the UV spectra of peak with the reference compound (mescaline) using a photodiode array detector. The assay method described is simple, rapid and accurate, and may form part of future drug authentication protocols.