Electrochemical Behavior of Epinephrine at a Penicillamine Self-Assembled Gold Electrode,and its Analytical Application

The fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of a penicillamine (PCA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were investigated. The self-assembled electrode shows obvious electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). In phosphate buffer (pH 7.73), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.190V with the PCA modified Au electrode. The peak current is proportional to the concentration of EP in the range of 2.0×10^–56.0×10^–4molL^–1 and 5.0×10^–6 2.0×10^–4molL^–1 for cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the detection limits of 1.8×10^–7 and 1.3×10^–7molL^–1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed. The PCA self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode is highly stable and can be applied to the determination of EP in practical injection samples. Application is simple, rapid and produces accurate results.     

Determination of Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Beverage and Coffee Samples by Purge-and-Trap On-Line Coupling with a Gas Chromatography-Flame Photometric Detector

A sensitive and fast analytical method using purge-and-trap on-line coupling with gas chromatography was developed for the determination of trace volatile sulfur compounds including dimethyl sulfide (DMS), ethyl-methyl sulfide (EMS), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in beverage and coffee samples. The analytes were purged for 12min from the sample by high purity nitrogen at a flow rate of 35KPa and preconcentrated in the cooled fused-silica capillary trap at –75°C. The NaCl content in the samples was maintained at 10%. The volatile sulfur compounds were separated with an Agilent-6890 gas chromatograph by a suitable temperature program and detected by means of a flame photometric detector (FPD). The detection limits were 80ngL^–1 for DMS, 80ngL^–1 for EMS, and 100ngL^–1 for DMDS, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the determination of volatile sulfur compounds in different beverage and coffee samples.     

Photoluminescence of osmocene and decamethylosmocene

Osmocene (and decamethylosmocene) is characterized by a lowest-energy ligand field triplet which occurs at _max=372nm (374nm) in absorption and 567nm (572nm) in emission. This orange–yellow phosphorescence is rather intense at 77K but is also visible at r.t.     

Voltammetric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fenitrothion on a Novel Nano-TiO2 Polymer Film Electrode

A novel nano-TiO₂ polymer modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed for the determination of an organophosphorous pesticide, fenitrothion (-NO₂), in citrate buffer solution. The electrochemical behavior of fenitrothion was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry. An irreversible form, -NO₂, was transformed into a reversible redox couple (-NHOH/-NO), and it can be used to determine trace fenitrothion by square wave voltammetry. The experimental parameters, such as film thickness, pH value, accumulation potential and time were optimized. Interestingly, a cyclic voltammetric scan was observed to be more effective than a constant potential for the accumulation of fenitrothion. A linear response over a fenitrothion concentration of 2.5×10^–8 to 1.0×10^–5M was exhibited, with a detection limit of 1.0×10^–8M (S/N=3). The high sensitivity and selectivity of this film electrode was demonstrated by its practical application to the determination of trace amounts of fenitrothion in lake water and apple samples.     

Reversible Optical Sensor Membrane for Hydrogen Peroxide Using an Immobilized Fluorescent Probe,and its Application to a Glucose Biosensor

An optical sensor for hydrogen peroxide (HP) based on the probe europium tetracycline (EuTc) incorporated into a polyacrylonitrile-co-polyacrylamide polymer matrix is described. Upon optical excitation with 400-nm light, the EuTc in the membrane displays fairly strong fluorescence peaking at 616nm. The fluorescence intensity increases up to 3-fold if the sensor is exposed to solutions containing HP. The effect is reversible and can thus be used for continuous sensing. The largest signal changes with HP are observed at pH levels between 6.5 and 7.5, and the range of the response is between 10 and 300ppm (w/w) of HP, equal to 0.3 to 10mmolL^–1). At concentrations above 0.3% of HP, decomposition of the EuTc in the membrane is observed. The limit of detection is 15ppm (0.45mmolL^–1). The response is fully reversible and rather slow (10min) in both directions, but the reverse response may be accelerated by addition of a reducing agent such as thiosulfate. Alkali ions and most anions remain inert, but phosphate and citrate interfere, as do Cu²⁺ ions, which quench fluorescence. In order to image the spatial distribution of HP concentrations, sensor membranes were placed on the bottom of the wells of a microtiter plate, and their fluorescence was imaged using an LED-based device based on the measurement of the luminescence decay time of EuTc. If glucose oxidase is immobilized on the sensor layer, a glucose sensor is obtained in which the HP sensor acts as the transducer and which can quantify glucose in concentrations between 0.1 and 5mmolL^–1. The limit of detection for glucose is 0.2mmolL^–1.     

Energy Transfer Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for the Determination of Sulfite

A simple and novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) method for the determination of sulfite has been developed based on the energy transfer ECL process. It was found that a weak ECL signal of sulfite was electrochemically generated on a platinum electrode in neutral aqueous solution. The signal was strongly enhanced by rhodamine B as an energy receptor and further enhanced by the neutral surfactant Tween 80. In 0.10M phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.5) containing 2.0×10^–6gmL^–1 rhodamine B and 0.4% (v/v) Tween 80, the ECL response to the concentration of sulfite at a potential of 0.82V was linear over a range of 1.0×10^–7gmL^–1 to 8.0×10^–6gmL^–1, and the detection limit was 5×10^–8gmL^–1. The relative standard deviation (n=11, 1.0×10^–6gmL^–1) was 3.8%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of sulfite in pharmaceutical injections and white sugar samples.     

2,3-Dihydroxypyridine Loaded Amberlite XAD-2 (AXAD-2-DHP): Preparation, Sorption–Desorption Equilibria with Metal Ions, and Applications in Quantitative Metal Ion Enrichment from Water, Milk and Vitamin Samples

2,3-Dihydroxypyridine loaded (via –N=N–linker) Amberlite XAD-2 (AXAD-2-DHP) was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, TGA and FT-IR spectra. It (1g packed in a column of 1cm diameter; surface area 135.5m²g^–1) was found to be an effective solid phase sorbent for enriching Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺ at pH 3.5 to 7.0 using flow rates between 1.0–5.0mLmin^–1. For desorption (recovery 97.0–99.8%) of the metal ions, 8 to 10mL of 2.0molL^–1 HCl or 1.5molL^–1 HNO₃ at a flow rate of between 2.0 and 4.0mLmin^–1 were found most suitable. The t_1/2 (time for 50% sorption) is between 2 and 10min when a 50mL solution (containing a total amount of metal of 2mg) was equilibrated with 0.5g of resin. Sorption of all metal ions except Pb²⁺ follows the Langmuir model, whereas for Pb the data fits with the Freundlich model. The sorption capacity is between 60.7 (for Cd) and 406.7 (for Cu) µmolg^–1. The resin can withstand an acid concentration of 6molL^–1 and can be reused for thirty cycles of sorption–desorption. The preconcentration factor varies between 100 and 300. For Cd, Ni and Cu the sorption capacity of 2,3-dihydroxypyridine loaded cellulose is lower than that of the present resin. The tolerance limits of electrolytes, humic acid, complexing agents, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the enrichment of all metal ions are reported. The limits of detection are 3.88, 5.37, 8.72, 13.88, 4.71, 1.24, 0.59 and 0.30µgL^–1 for Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺, respectively. The calibration curves for flame AAS determination were linear in the ranges 0.018–1.0, 0.067–5.0, 0.2–5.0, 0.9–20, 0.028–2.0, 0.077–5.0, 0.19–10 and 0.1–3.5µgmL^–1, respectively. All the eight metal ions in river and synthetic water samples, Co in vitamin tablets and Zn in milk samples have been quantitatively enriched with Amberlite XAD-2-DHP and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Determination of Na,K, Rb and Cs Distribution in Human Brain Using Neutron Activation Analysis

This study aims to investigate the distribution of Na, K, Rb and Cs in human brains (5 individuals, 12 brain parts, mean age: 75 years). Distribution of the trace metals between lipid fraction and brain tissue was investigated in solvent extraction experiments. Determinations were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The present results show a rather non-homogeneous distribution for Na and a relatively uniform distribution for K, Rb and Cs. The mean concentrations found are 7440µgNag^–1 dry weight, 12800µgKg^–1, 14µgRbg^–1 and 50ngCsg^–1. A highly significant positive correlation was found between Rb and Cs. Solvent extraction experiments showed that 19% of Rb and 26% of Cs of the total content is located in lipid fraction.     

Column Solid-Phase Extraction with 2-Acetylmercaptophenyldiazoaminoazobenzene (AMPDAA) Impregnated Amberlite XAD-4 and Determination of Trace Heavy Metals in Natural Waters by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A column solid-phase extraction (SPE) preconcentration method was developed for the determination of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn ions in natural water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The procedure is based on the retention of analytes in the form of 2-acetylmercaptophenyldiazoaminoazobenzene (AMPDAA) complexes on a short column of AMPDAA-XAD-4 resin from buffered sample solution and subsequent elution with hydrochloric acid plus sodium chloride. Important SPE parameters were optimized using model solutions. The loading half-time, t_1/2, for Cd, Co, Cu and Zn was found to be less than 5min, and for Ni the value was 12min. The detection limit for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn was 0.028, 0.064, 0.042, 0.023 and 0.16µgL^–1, respectively, and the quantification limit was 0.043, 0.11, 0.099, 0.044 and 0.29µgL^–1, respectively. The AMPDAA-XAD-4 resin has good selectivity for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn over several electrolytes, especially over earth alkaline metals with tolerance limits of 0.05molL^–1. The method was validated by analysing a standard reference material (GBW 08301), and it was found that the results agree with those quoted by the manufactures. The developed method was applied to the determination of trace metal ions in tap water and river water samples with satisfactory results.     

On the Applicability of Duolite GT-73 to Column Preconcentration of Gold and Palladium Prior to Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

The preconcentration of Au and Pd on Duolite GT-73 chelating resin with the thiol functional group was investigated prior to determination of these noble metals by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that Au^III and Pd^II were retained on the resin along with other concomitant metals (Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) from different HCl-containing media. A two-step elution procedure was developed for the release of the noble metals. First 4.0molL^–1 HNO₃ solution was used to elute the base metals. The recovery of Au and Pd was performed afterwards using 0.50molL^–1 solution of (NH₂)₂CS. Retrieval of Au and Pd retained on Duolite GT-73 was also carried out by decomposition of the resin in the open vessel system using H₂SO₄ with H₂O₂. The detection limits of Au and Pd evaluated for the devised protocol, with a preconcentration factor of 50, were 0.085µgL^–1 and 0.28µgL^–1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Au and Pd in spiked electrolytic bath samples.     

Simple and Rapid Method for Determination of Selenium in Breast Milk by HG-AFS

A digestion procedure using H₂SO₄/HNO₃/H₂O₂ was found to be effective for destruction of human milk samples. In conjunction with a sensitive hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry detection system, it is suitable for determination of selenium in those samples where the available mass of breast milk and the low selenium concentration are limiting factors. Only 1g of milk sample is needed. The procedure is simple, rapid and of low contamination potential since it is performed in the same Teflon tube from weighing to measurement. The digestion of 20 samples is completed in three hours. The detection limit is 0.25±0.04ngg^–1 of a measured solution of sample or 2.5ngg^–1 of milk. The relative uncertainty is 10% (coverage factor of 2.3, 95% probability). Because of these advantages the method is particularly suitable for epidemiological studies. The mean concentration of selenium in 62 samples of human milk from lactating women residing in the North East of Italy was 12±3ngg^–1, which is in the range of reference data.     

Use of a Packed Minicolumn Connected to a Syringe for Determination of Trace Elements in Biological and Water Samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

In this study, a syringe-connected minicolumn resin was used for the separation and enrichment of cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The proposed technique was compared with classical batch and column techniques in terms of rapidness, simplicity, enrichment and risk of contamination. The minicolumn was filled with Chromosorb-103 resin and connected to a syringe. If the samples were treated with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate or 8-hydroxyquinoline, the analytes were quantitatively retained at pH2 and pH5 on the resin, respectively. On the other hand, if no chelating agent was added, the analytes were quantitatively retained at pH10. The analytes retained by the resin were quantitatively eluted by drawing and discharging nitric acid in acetone. The analytes in spiked river-water samples and in certified standard reference Bovine-Liver (NIST SRM 1577 b) were quantitatively (94%) recovered. The relative standard deviations for the determinations were found to be 1.0–10%.     

Non-Aqueous Capillary Electrophoresis with Indirect Photometric Detection for Direct Analysis of Pb2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ Ions

A new approach, based on non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis separation and indirect photometric detection, was established for the determination of the transition metal ions Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Under optimized conditions, the method produced baseline separation of these three metal ions. The linear range and detection limits were 1050µM, 1.9µM for Cd²⁺; 1050µM, 2.1µM for Zn²⁺; and 20100µM, 3.8µM for Pb²⁺, respectively.     

The Electrochemical Behavior of p-Aminophenol at a ω-Mercaptopropionic Acid Self-Assembled Gold Electrode

A -mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer modified electrode (MPA/SAM/Au) on a gold electrode has been fabricated. The characterization of the MPA/SAM/Au was investigated using attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and A.C. impedance. The electrochemical behaviors of p-aminophenol (p-AP) were studied at the MPA/SAM/Au by cyclic voltammetry and semi-derivative voltammetry (SDV) in BR buffer solution. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity for the redox of p-AP and accelerates the electron transfer rate. The diffusion coefficient (D) is 4.55×10^–6cm²s^–1. The oxidative peak current increases linearly with the concentration of p-AP in the range of 4.0×10^–88×10^–6molL^–1 and 1.0×10^–52×10^–4molL^–1 by square wave voltammetry response, respectively. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) is up to 1.2×10^–8molL^–1. The modified electrode is able to eliminate the interference of p-benzenediol, o-benzenediol and o-AP at a 40-, 90- or 70-fold concentration of p-AP, and it has been satisfactorily used for the determination of the real sample.     

Adsorptive Catalytic Voltammetry of Physcion in the Presence of Dissolved Oxygen at a Carbon Paste Electrode

A novel electroanalytical method for the determination of physcion is described for the first time. Physcion yields an adsorption catalytic voltammetric peak at –0.74V (vs. SCE) in 0.4molL^–1 NH₄Cl–NH₃·H₂O buffer solution (pH 10.5) at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The experimental results indicated that physcion is efficiently accumulated at a CPE by adsorption. In the subsequent potential scan, physcion was reduced to a homologous anthrahydroquinone compound. The compound was then immediately oxidized to physcion by the dissolved oxygen in the solution, and then physcion was again reduced at the CPE. As a result, a cyclic catalytic reaction was established. The second-order derivative peak current is proportional to the physcion concentration in the ranges of 2.0×10^–104.0×10^–9molL^–1 (accumulation 90s) and 4.0×10^–92.0×10^–8molL^–1 (accumulation 60s). The limit of detection is 8×10^–11molL^–1 (S/N=3) for a 120s accumulation time. The method was applied to the direct determination of physcion in the medicinal plant polygonum multiflorum Thumb with satisfactory results.     

Simple Method for Simultaneous Determination of Selenium and Arsenic in Human Hair by Means of Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry with Hydride Generation Technique

This study describes a simple, rapid and reliable method for simultaneous determination of selenium and arsenic in human hair by means of atomic fluorescence spectrometry combined with a hydride generation technique (HG-AFS). The procedure developed encompasses microwave digestion of a sample in the nitric acid environment only. The interferences caused by nitrous oxides are eliminated by removing a gas from above the digested solution with a stream of argon. The sample is then chemically treated in a flow-through hydride generation system and exposed to measurements in a double-channel atomic fluorescence spectrometer. The method permits determining both analytes in the linear range of 0.5–100µgL^–1 with a detection limit equal to 0.2µgL^–1, as well as with very good repeatability not exceeding 1% for Se and 2% for As. No mutual interferences from either of the analytes in the concentrations ranges matching the hair composition were found. The method was verified in terms of accuracy with the use of a reference material and then applied to the analysis of the natural samples of human hair.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Quinolizidine Alkaloids in Radix Sophora Flavescens Using Tris(2,2′-Bipyridyl)Ruthenium(II) Electrochemiluminescence

Electrogenerated chemiluminescences (ECLs) of quinolizidine alkaloids including matrine (MT), sophocarpine (SC), and sophoridine (SRI) are studied. The light emission is caused by an electro-oxidation reaction between Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and the tertiary amino group on the alkaloid compounds. A thin-layer flow cell equipped with a glassy carbon disk electrode (22.1mm²) at the potential of ⁺1.30V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was applied for ECL observation. MT, SC and SRI were separated and quantitatively determined within 25min by an ODS-80 Ts reversed-phase column with a mobile phase containing 80mmolL^–1 NaH₂PO₄–K₂HPO₄ buffer+acetonitrile (7:3)+40mmolL^–1 sodium dodecyl sulfate (pH 6.5). The determination limit at an S/N of 3 ranged from 3×10^–9gmL^–1 for MT, 6×10^–9gmL^–1 for SC and 1×10^–9gmL^–1 for SRI. The recoveries are from 92 to 108%, with repeatability ranging from 1.3 to 4.5% (relative standard deviation). The method was successfully applied to the determination of quinolizidine alkaloids in Sophora flavescens samples.     

Determination of Picogram-Levels of Acetylspiramycin in Human Urine and Serum by Flow Injection Chemiluminescence

A sensitive chemiluminescence method for the determination of acetylspiramycin is presented. It is based on the greatly enhancive effect of acetylspiramycin on the chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in the flow system. The increase in chemiluminescence intensity was linearly proportional to the acetylspiramycin concentration in the range from 10pg·mL^–1 to 2.0ng·mL^–1 (r²=0.9979). The detection limit was 3pg·mL^–1 (3). At a flow rate of 2.0mL·min^–1, the process of determination, including sampling and washing, could be performed in 0.5 min, and the relative standard deviations of seven replicates are less than 5.0%. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of acetylspiramycin in pharmaceutical preparations, human urine and serum without pre-treatment. It was found that the excretive ratio of acetylspiramycin reached its maximum 2.0 hours after having been administered orally, and the excretive ratio in 12.0 hours was 8.4.     

Electrochemical Determination of Ascorbic Acid at γ-MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Modified Carbon Black Microelectrodes

A carbon black microelectrode modified by -MnO₂ has been prepared. The electrocatalytical oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at this microelectrode was investigated. The 2nd-order linear scan voltammograms of AA are recorded from –0.5 to 0.5V (vs. SCE). The relationship between the oxidation peak current of AA and its concentration in the range of 1.0×10^–64.0×10^–3molL^–1 is linear. The detection limit (3) was found to be 6.0×10^–7molL^–1. Also, the determination of AA in samples is evaluated, and the results are satisfactory.     

Solvent Sublation Using Dithizone as a Ligand for Determination of Trace Elements in Water Samples

Solvent sublation was studied as a method of separating and pre-concentrating traces of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) as diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) complexes for their determination. The experimental conditions, such as pH of solution, amount of dithizone as ligand, stirring time, gas flow rate and flotation time, were optimized. Different non-ionic surfactants and types of organic solvents were optimized for efficient sublation. The analyte ions in a 350mL sample were complexed as metal-dithizone complexes by adding 10mL of 0.084% dithizone, 0.5mL of 0.1% nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NP) and 10mL of pH 4.3 potassium hydrogen phthalate-sodium hydroxide buffer solution. The solution was stirred with a mechanical stirrer for 30min. It was transferred to a flotation cell, and the complexes were floated by bubbling air and extracted into 10mL of methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK) on the surface of the aqueous solution. The analytes in the organic phase were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS) for Zn(II) and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) for Cd(II) and Cu(II). The proposed method was applied to determine Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) in real water samples; the enrichment factor was more than 37, the RSD was less than 4.26%, recoveries ranged from 92.7 to 107.3%, and the detection limits were 1.0µgL^–1 for Zn(II), 0.006µgL^–1 for Cd(II) and 0.06µgL^–1 for Cu(II). The results obtained were satisfactory.