Spectrophotometric determination of paracetamol in urine with tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene as a coupling reagent and preconcentration with triton X-114 using cloud point extraction

In the present paper, conventional spectrophotometry in conjunction with cloud point extraction-preconcentration were investigated as alternative methods for paracetamol (PCT) assay in urine samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was employed for the preconcentration of p-aminophenol (PAP) prior to spectrophotometric determination using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) as an extractant. The developed methods were based on acidic hydrolysis of PCT to PAP, which reacted at room temperature with 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CAL4) in the presence of an oxidant (KIO(4)) to form an blue colored product. The PAP-CAL4 blue dye formed was subsequently entrapped in the surfactant micelles of Triton X-114. Cloud point phase separation with the aid of Triton X-114 induced by addition of Na(2)SO(4) solution was performed at room temperature as an advantage over other CPE assays requiring elevated temperatures. The 580 nm-absorbance maximum of the formed product was shifted bathochromically to 590 nm with CPE. The working range of 1.5-12 mug ml(-1) achieved by conventional spectrophotometry was reduced down to 0.14-1.5 mug ml(-1) with cloud point extraction, which was lower than those of most literature flow-through assays that also suffer from nonspecific absorption in the UV region. By preconcentrating 10 ml sample solution, a detection limit as low as 40.0 ng ml(-1) was obtained after a single-step extraction, achieving a preconcentration factor of 10. The stoichiometric composition of the dye was found to be 1 : 4 (PAP : CAL4). The impact of a number of parameters such as concentrations of CAL4, KIO(4), Triton X-100 (TX-100), and TX-114, extraction temperature, time periods for incubation and centrifugation, and sample volume were investigated in detail. The determination of PAP in the presence of paracetamol in micellar systems under these conditions is limited. The established procedures were successfully adopted for the determination of PCT in urine samples. Since the drug is rapidly absorbed and excreted largely in urine and its high doses have been associated with lethal hepatic necrosis and renal failure, development of a rapid, sensitive and selective assay of PCT is of vital importance for fast urinary screening and antidote administration before applying more sophisticated, but costly and laborious hyphenated instrumental techniques of HPLC-SPE-NMR-MS.     

Determination of antimony in rain water at the nanogram level with surfactant and brilliant green

A new, simple, selective and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of antimony in rain water is described. It includes preconcentrating Sb with surfactants (i.e. cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and Triton X-100 (TX-100)) into toluene and allowing the extract to react with a dye, i.e. brilliant green (BG). The value of apparent molar absorptivity is 5.55 × 10⁵ L-mol^–1· cm^–1 at λ_max = 620 nm; the detection limit is 3 ng/mL Sb in rain water at 3-fold preconcentration.     

Determination of antimony in rain water at the nanogram level with surfactant and brilliant green

A new, simple, selective and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of antimony in rain water is described. It includes preconcentrating Sb with surfactants (i.e. cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and Triton X-100 (TX-100)) into toluene and allowing the extract to react with a dye, i.e. brilliant green (BG). The value of apparent molar absorptivity is 5.55 × 10⁵ L-mol^–1· cm^–1 at λ_max = 620 nm; the detection limit is 3 ng/mL Sb in rain water at 3-fold preconcentration. Received: 6 June 1997 / Revised: 1 August 1997 / Accepted: 5 August 1997     

Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Paracetamol and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Aminophenol in Pharmaceutical Products with Tiron Using Dissolved Oxygen as Oxidant

A simple, rapid, and specific method was developed for the determination of paracetamol and p-aminophenol. The method is based on the hydrolysis of paracetamol to p-aminophenol, which, using dissolved oxygen as an oxidant in the alkaline region, was further transformed into benzoquinoneimine, capable of reacting with tiron to produce a green indophenol dye. The stabilization of indophenol dye was achieved by the addition of copper(II) solution. The absorbance was measured at 601 nm in alkaline medium, and the molar absorptivity was found to be 1.1 × 10⁴ L/(mol cm). Paracetamol (PCT) and p-aminophenol (PAP) were determined in pharmaceutical products in the 1.5–15 mg/L PAP concentration range with a detection limit of 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ M or 0.13 μg/mL PAP. The developed method can be applied to the determination of p-aminophenol in the presence of paracetamol without prior separation. The proposed method is successfully employed for determination of paracetamol and p-aminophenol in various synthetic mixtures and pharmaceutical preparations. The obtained results were statistically compared with those given by the official method and the procedures evaluated as regards to both figures of merit and ease of applicability. __________ From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 11, 2005, pp. 1147–1151. Original English Text Copyright ? 2005 by Cekic, Filik, Apak. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Investigation of analytical performance for rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction of trace amounts of copper combined with spectrophotometric determination

In this work, an improved preconcentration method named as rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE) was established for copper preconcentration and determination. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) was used as extractant. Octanol worked as cloud point revulsant and synergic reagent, which successfully decreased the cloud point temperature (CPT) of TX-100 to realize the room temperature (about 20°C) CPE without heating. The established RS-CPE pretreatment was simple, rapid and effective. Compared with traditional CPE (about 40 min for heating, incubation and cooling), the extraction time of the proposed method was very short (1 min). The improved extraction technique RS-CPE was combined with traditional spectrophotometer to improve the analytical performance and expand the application of spectrophotometric determination. The influence factors relevant to RS-CPE, such as concentrations of TX-100 and octanol, concentration of chelating agent, pH, conditions of phase separation, salt effect, environmental temperature and instrumental conditions, were studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for copper was 0.4 μg L(-1), with sensitivity enhancement factor (EF) of 18. The proposed method was applied to the determination of trace copper in real samples and certified samples with satisfactory analytical results.     

Determination of thermodynamic parameters for cloud point extraction of Arsenazo-III and Magdala Red dyes using mixed micelles: An essential requirement for high performance

A simple and low cost method for extraction and preconcentration of Arsenazo-III (ARS-III) and Magdala Red (MR) was developed by an efficient cloud point extraction (CPE) method using mixed micelles of Triton X–114 (TX–114) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Various parameters, such as pH/concentration of H₂SO₄, surfactant concentrations (TX-114 and CTAB), equilibrium temperature and time have been studied to maximise efficiency. Thermodynamic quantities like change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG⁰), change in enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and change in entropy (ΔS⁰) were calculated. The results show that the CPE of ARS-III and MR dye is feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in the temperature range of (50–80) °C indicating good recoveries for the developed method. The effect of temperature, surfactant concentration and dye concentration on various thermodynamic quantities was investigated and it was found that ΔG⁰ values increased with temperature but decreased with surfactant and dye concentration. ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ values increased as surfactant concentration increased and decreased as dye concentration decreased. The recoveries were found to be the range from 90.02 – 101.03 % for ARS-III and 86.07–99.46 % for MR dyes which proves that the method is highly efficient.     

Second Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of p-Aminophenol in the Presence of Paracetamol

Abstract

A second derivative spectroscopic method for the determination of p-aminophenol in paracetamol powder is described. Second derivative absorbance (d²A/dλ²) values were measured at 223.8 nm (Δ = 4.2 nm) where p-aminophenol showed derivative responses obeying Beer's Law but paracetamol had negligible derivative absorption. The concentrations of p-aminophenol solutions prepared in 0.1 N HCl (0.12–7.61 mcg/ml), containing constant amounts of paracetamol (20 mcg/ml) related linearly with the d²A/dλ² values and gave a straight line (r = ?0.9999). The method allowed determination of 0.5% to 38% of p-aminophenol in paracetamol without prior separation, it is rapid, precise and accurate.     

An improved ELISA for the determination of tobacco mosaic virus with linear sweep voltammetry detection based on a new system of PAP-H2O2-HRP

An improved ELISA for the determination of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with linear sweep voltammetry based on a new system of p-aminophenol (PAP)- H₂O₂- horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been developed. The enzymatic product 3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino]-4-(2-amino-5-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)imino]-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-one, produced from HRP catalyzing the oxidation of PAP with H₂O₂, yields a sensitive linear sweep voltammetric response at a potential of –0.45 V (vs. SCE) in Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer solution. By using this voltammetric peak, HRP can be measured with a detection limit of 0.4 mU/L and a linear range of 1.0 ～ 1.0 × 10² mU/ L. The detection limit for the clarified TMV is 4.0 ng/mL and the highest dilution ratio detected for the infected leaf sap is 1?:?3.9 × 10⁶. The processes of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction and the electro-reduction of the product of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction have been investigated.     

Interaction between Anionic Dye ECAB,Micelle of Triton X-100 in Aqueous Solution and Hemimicelie at Solid/Liquid Interface

Abstract

Interaction between dye (ECAB), nonionic surfactant (TX-100) micelle in aqueous solution and TX-100 hemimicelie at solid (SiO₂)/liquid interface has been investigated quantitatively. There are linear relationships between concentrations of free ECAB(C_a), ECAB bound with TX-100 micelles in solution(C_m) and ECAB bound with TX-100 hemimicelles at interface of solid/liquid(C_hm). The slopes of the three straight lines are 0.32 for C_hm～C_a -1.32 for C_m～C_a and -1.00 for (C_m+C_hm～C_a respectively. The linear relationships can be described by three linear equations as follows: C_hm=0.32 (C_a?O.88×10^?5),C_m.=4.0×10^?5-l.33 C_a and C_hm+C_m=3.742×l0^?5-C_a,. It is inferred that the interaction between ECAB, TX-100 micelles and TX-100 hemimicelles is essentially partition of ECAB molecules in solution, TX-100 micelles and hemimicelles. The concentration of ECAB bound with TX-100 micelles well as electronic repulsion. Additionally, A quantitative method to determine adsorbance of surfactant TX-100 on silica gel by spectroscopy in coadsorption conditions of dye (ECAB) and TX-100 was proposed.     

The use of thermal lensing for the determination of pyrogens

Based on the optimized spectrophotometric determination of pyrogens (of various classes ( p-aminophenol and endotoxins), thermal lensing was applied to the determination of these substances at the submicrogram level. The limit of detection of p-aminophenol, a pyrogenic impurity in pharmaceutical formulations of paracetamol, by reaction with resorcinol in alkaline solutions is 100 ng mL(-1). Phloroglucinol was considered as an analog of resorcinol as a reagent in this reaction. The conditions of spectrophotometric determination of pyrogenic lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) by ion-pair formation with methylene blue (the limit of detection is 100 ng mL(-1)), by ion-pair formation with Stains-All (1-ethyl-2-[3-(1-ethylnaphtho[1,2-d]thiazolin-2-ylidene)-2-methylpropenyl]naphtho[1,2-d]thiazolium bromide) (the limit of detection is 500 ng mL(-1)), and by reaction of 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid with thiobarbituric acid (the limit of detection is 800 ng mL(-1)) were proposed. The optimized procedure for 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid was applied for thermal lensing that provided a decrease in the limit of detection to 70 ng mL(-1) and was also used for lipopolysaccharide determination in the endotoxin standard from E. coli.     

Application of high-surface-area ZrO2 in preconcentration and determination of 18 elements by on-line flow injection with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A flow-injection analysis (FIA) system incorporating a micro-column of ZrO₂ has been used for the development of an on-line multi-element method for the simultaneous preconcentration and determination of Al, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl, V, Sb, Sn, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). The conditions for quantitative and reproducible preconcentration, elution, and subsequent on-line ICP–AES determination were established. A sample (pH 8) is pumped through the column at 3 mL min^–1 and sequentially eluted directly into the ICP–AES with 3 mol L^–1 HNO₃. With a sample volume of 100 mL and an elution volume of 1 mL signal enhancement 100 times better than for conventional continuous aspirating systems was obtained for the elements studied. The reproducibility (RSD %) of the method at the 10 ng mL^–1 level in the eluate is acceptable – less than 8% for five replicates. Recoveries between 95.4% and 99.9% were obtained for the elements analysed. ZrO₂, with a specific surface area of 57 m² g^–1 and a capacity of approximately 5 mg g^–1 for the elements studied, was synthesized by hydrolysis of ZrCl₄. The preconcentration system was evaluated for several simple synthetic matrices, standard water samples and synthetic seawater. The effect of foreign ions on the efficiency of preconcentration of the elements studied was investigated. The application of a micro-column filled with high-surface-area ZrO₂ and flow injection inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry enables preconcentration and simultaneous determination of 18 elements at low concentrations (ng L^–1) in different water samples.     

Chemical modification of alumina surface by immobilization of 1-((5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide for extractive concentration of silver ions

A column, solid phase extraction (SPE), preconcentration method was developed for determination of silver by using alumina coated with 1-((5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The separation/preconcentration conditions for the quantitative recovery were investigated. At pH 2, the maximum sorption capacity of Ag⁺ was 7.5?mg?g^?1. The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.02–11.0?µg?mL^?1 in the final solution or 0.14–1.10?×?10^4?ng?mL^?1 in the original solution for silver. The preconcentration factor of 140 and relative standard deviation of ±1.4% was obtained, under optimum conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 0.112?ng?mL^?1, based on 3σ_bl/m (n?=?8) in the original solutions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination trace amounts of silver in the environmental samples such as tea, rice and wheat flour, mint, and real water samples.     

Solid phase extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace amounts of cadmium and lead in water and biological samples using modified TiO2 nanoparticles

A solid phase extraction procedure for the separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of Cd(II) and Pb(II) using the alizarin red S modified TiO₂ nanoparticles prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been proposed. The influences of some analytical parameters such as pH, flow rates of sample and eluent, type and concentration of the eluent, and interfering ions on the recovery of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by the sorbent were investigated. The analytes were quantitatively sorbed from the aqueous solution at pH 5.5 onto a microcolumn packed with the sorbent and recovered with 2.0?mL of 1.5?mol?L^?1 hydrochloric acid. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the detection limits for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 0.11 and 0.30?ng?mL^?1 and the relative standard deviations for ten replicate measurements of 5.0 and 50.0?ng?mL^?1 of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 2.1 and 1.9%, respectively. A sample volume of 200?mL resulted in a preconcentration factor of 100. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water and biological samples, and accuracy was examined by the recovery experiments, independent analysis using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, and analysis of a water standard reference material (SRM 1643e).     

An improved ELISA for the determination of tobacco mosaic virus with linear sweep voltammetry detection based on a new system of PAP-H2O2-HRP

An improved ELISA for the determination of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with linear sweep voltammetry based on a new system of p-aminophenol (PAP)- H₂O₂- horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been developed. The enzymatic product 3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino]-4-(2-amino-5-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)imino]-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-one, produced from HRP catalyzing the oxidation of PAP with H₂O₂, yields a sensitive linear sweep voltammetric response at a potential of –0.45 V (vs. SCE) in Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer solution. By using this voltammetric peak, HRP can be measured with a detection limit of 0.4 mU/L and a linear range of 1.0 ∼ 1.0 × 10² mU/ L. The detection limit for the clarified TMV is 4.0 ng/mL and the highest dilution ratio detected for the infected leaf sap is 1 : 3.9 × 10⁶. The processes of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction and the electro-reduction of the product of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction have been investigated. Received: 17 November 1998 / Revised: 17 March 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 1999     

Cloud point extraction and spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in saturated saline solutions using 4-ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide

4-Ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide (HEPTS) has been used as a new complexing agent in cloud point extraction (CPE) for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of copper in saturated saline medium. The chemical variables affecting the separation and determination processes were optimized. Copper(II) is preconcentrated using 0.05% (w/v) Triton X-114 and 10⁻⁴ M HEPTS at pH 6. The surfactant rich phase containing the complex was dissolved in 2 mL MeOH and determined spectrophotometrically. The calibration curve is linear in the 0.1–25 ng/mL copper range. The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of copper in water and saturated saline samples. The reaction between CuSO₄ and HEPTS yields a deep-blue solid complex which is characterized by analytical and spectroscopic analyses.     

Preparation of highly selective solid-phase extractants for Cibacron reactive dyes using molecularly imprinted polymers

Selective polymeric extractants were prepared for preconcentration of Cibacron reactive red dye, a dye that is often applied with Cibacron reactive blue and Cibacron reactive yellow for dyeing of fabrics. The best extractant was fabricated (in chloroform) using methacrylic acid (as monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (as crosslinker), AIBN (as initiator for polymerization), and red dye as template molecule, with a molar stoichiometric ratio of 8.0:40.0:2.5:0.63, respectively. The structure of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was robust, and resisted dissolution up to 260 °C. Compared with the un-imprinted polymer, the imprinted product has a large specific surface area which improved its adsorption capacity. The effect of imprinting was obvious from the adsorption capacity measured at pH 4 for red dye (the imprinted molecule), which was increased from 24.0 to 79.3 mg g⁻¹ after imprinting. Equilibrium adsorption studies revealed that the dye-imprinted-polymer enables efficient extraction of red dye even in the presence of blue and yellow dyes which have similar chemical natures to the red dye. The selectivity coefficients S _{red dye/dye}, were 13.9 and 17.1 relative to the yellow and blue dyes, respectively. The MIP was found to be effective for red dye preconcentration, with a preconcentration factor of 100, from tap water and treated textile wastewater. The factors affecting extraction of red dye by the MIP were studied and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions, red dye was selectively quantified in the presence of other competing dyes at a concentration of 20 μg L⁻¹ from different water systems with satisfactory recoveries (91–95%) and RSD values (∼5.0%).     

Silver modified magnetic carbon nanotubes composite as a selective solid phase extractor for preconcentration and determination of trace mercury ions in water solution

A magnetic composite of silver/iron oxides/carbon nanotubes (Ag/Fe₃O₄/CNTs) was synthesized and used as an adsorbent for the preconcentration of mercury ions in water solutions at room temperature (25°C) in this study. The silver nanoparticles were supported on the magnetic CNTs. The modification enabled the composite had not only a high adsorption capacity for mercury ions (Hg²⁺) but also the magnetic isolation properties. A fast, sensitive, and simple method was successfully developed for the preconcentration and determination of trace amount of Hg²⁺ in water using the synthesized nanocomposite as adsorbent. The mercury concentration was determined by an atomic fluorescence spectrometer (AFS). The experimental conditions such as pH value, extraction temperature, extraction time, sample volume, eluent composition and concentration, sorbent amount, and coexisting ions were investigated for the optimization. A 500 mL of sample volume resulted in a preconcentration factor of 125. When a 200 mL of sample was employed, the limit of detection for Hg²⁺ was as low as 0.03 ng mL^?1with relative standard deviation of 4.4% at 0.1 ng mL^?1 (n = 7). The ease of synthesis and separation, the good adsorption capacity, and the satisfactory recovery will possibly make the composite an attractive adsorbent for the preconcentration of ultratrace Hg²⁺ in waters.     

Modulation of Excited‐State Proton Transfer of 2‐(2′‐Hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole in a Macrocyclic Cucurbit[7]uril Host Cavity: Dual Emission Behavior and pKa Shift

The effect of the macrocyclic host, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), on the photophysical properties of the 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HPBI) dye have been investigated in aqueous solution by using ground‐state absorption and steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements. All three prototropic forms of the dye (cationic, neutral, and anionic) form inclusion complexes with CB7, with the largest binding constant found for the cationic form (K≈2.4×10⁶ M ^?1). At pH≈4, the appearance of a blue emission band upon excitation of the HPBI cation in the presence of CB7 indicates that encapsulation into the CB7 cavity retards the deprotonation process of the excited cation, and hence reduces its subsequent conversion to the keto form. Excitation of the neutral form (pH≈8.5), however, leads to an increase in the keto form fluorescence, indicating an enhanced excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer process for the encapsulated dye. In both the ground and excited states, the two pK_a values of the HPBI dye show upward shifts in the presence of CB7. The prototropic equilibrium of the CB7‐complexed dye is represented by a six‐state model, and the pH‐dependent changes in the binding constants have been analyzed accordingly. It has been observed that the calculated pK_a values using this six‐state model match well with the values obtained experimentally. The changes in the pK_a values in the presence of CB7 have been corroborated with the modulation of the proton‐transfer process of the dye within the host cavity.     

Spectrophotometric determination of paracetamol with microwave assisted alkaline hydrolysis

A novel and rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of paracetamol is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is based on the microwave assisted alkaline hydrolysis of paracetamol to p-aminophenol that reacts with S2- in the presence of Fe3+ as oxidant to produce a methylene blue-like dye having an absorptivity maximum at 540 nm. The experiment showed that paracetamol could be hydrolysed quantitatively to p-aminophenol in only 1.5 min under radiation power 640 W using a microwave in NaOH medium. The system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0-3.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) paracetamol. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 3.2 x 10(-3) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.047 microg cm(-2), respectively. The relative standard deviation (n=11) was 1.7% for 8.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) paracetamol. The method has been applied successfully to analysis of paracetamol in pharmaceutical preparation.     

Magnetic solid‐phase extraction for determination of sulpiride in human urine and blood using high‐performance liquid chromatography

A novel and efficient sample preconcentration technique based on the Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) coated with silica (SiO₂) has been developed for extraction and determination of sulpiride. The functionalized MNPs showed excellent dispersibility in aqueous solution and were applied to magnetic solid‐phase extraction of sulpiride from human urine and blood prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. The separation, preconcentration and desorption procedure was completed in 10 min. Optimal experimental conditions, including sample pH, the amount of the MNPs, eluent type and volume, and the ultrasonication time were studied and established. The method showed good linearity for the determination of sulpiride in the concentration range of 10–1000 ng/mL in urine and blood. The recovery of the method was in the range between 91.2 and 97.5%, and the limit of detection was 2 ng/mL for sulpiride in human blood and urine. The results indicated that the present procedure is a suitable pretreatment method for biological samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.