Characteristics of an amperometric detector for capillary HPLC

The main characteristics of a dual-electrode amperometric detector with a cell of the “cylinder-in-flow” type with a working wire electrode have been investigated. The effective cell volume is 10–40 nl in a system with 0.2–0.4 mm i.d. packed fused-silica columns. Extra-column spreading at the optimum elution rate does not exceed 0.005 μl². The linear range is 10³ at a relative standard deviation of 0.009. The low noise level (2–3 pA) facilitates determination of electro-active substances. The detection limit for catecholamines is of the order of tenths of a femtomole.     

Simplified Solid-Phase Extraction Procedure and Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Celecoxib in Rat Serum

A simplified solid phase extraction method, eliminating a preliminary protein precipitation has been developed for the determination of celecoxib in rat plasma. The technique included a solid phase extraction of the serum samples on a [poly (divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone)] sorbent. After conditioning, the cartridge was loaded with 0.5 mL of acidified serum containing internal standard. Elution was made with 1 mL of a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (1/1, v/v). After evaporation of the eluate to dryness and reconstitution with methanol, the samples were analyzed on an octadecyl bonded phase with several mobile phases containing acetonitrile and a phosphate buffer. Detection was carried out using a Photodiode Array Detector. Full validation of the proposed method was provided (linearity range: 0.01–2 mg. L^–1, average extraction efficiency: 92.4%; average intra-day variability: 4.6% with an accuracy of 94.8%; average interday variability: 5% with an accuracy of 95.3%, limit of detection: 0.005 mg. L^–1, limit of quantification: 0.002 mg. L^–1). The proposed method was successfully utilised to quantify celecoxib in rat plasma for a pharmacokinetic study.Revised: 26 January and 23 April 2004     

Determination of trichothecenes in cereals by gas chromatography with ion trap detection

Summary A method for determination of the trichothecene toxins, deoxynivalenol, 3α-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol in cereals (wheat, barley, oats, corn) is described. Extraction was performed according to Tanaka et al. (J. Chromatogr.328, 271 (1985)) [33], derivatization by trifluoroacylation with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride. For quantitation and confirmation a capillary gas chromatograph combined with a selective mass detector (ion trap) working in CI-mode with methanol as reagent gas was used. The quantitation limit for the complete method is 1–5 μg/kg, depending on the chemical characteristics of each toxin and cleanness of the extracts. Recoverics from spiked cereals were 78–89%.     

Determination of the sulfur components of gasoline streams by capillary column gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection

A method using a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD) has been developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of sulfur components in stabilized gasoline-range process streams, including blended gasolines containing between 1 and > 4000 ppm total sulfur. The detection limit per sulfur component was approximately 50 ppb. On-column injection was employed for optimum precision and accuracy. A new probe material was found which did not soften under FID operating conditions. A new method, using a hydrogen sulfide permeation tube, was developed for rapid alignment of the probe in the FID.     

Microdetermination of sulfite with a piezoelectric crystal detector

A piezoelectric method is proposed for the determination of sulfite in concentration range 1 × 10^–7–1 × 10^–5 mol/1. The method is based on the redox reaction of sulfite with iodine followed by measuring frequency change of the piezoelectric crystal caused by the unreacted iodine. The method is applied to the determination of sulfite in liquor.     

Continuous determination of carbon dioxide evolved during thermal decomposition reactions

A simple device suitable for continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide evolved during thermal decomposition reactions is described. Carbon dioxide is transported by a carrier gas through the device connected to thermoanalytical equipment and absorbed by soda lime reagent. The reaction heat released is linearly proportional to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed.     

Comparative study of the instrumental couplings of high performance liquid chromatography with microwave-assisted digestion hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for chiral speciation of selenomethionine in breast and formula milk

A comparison of chiral separation and analysis of selenomethionine in breast and formula milk, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a glycopeptide teicoplanin-based chiral stationary phase (Chirobiotic T), coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS detectors has been performed. The coupling HPLC-microwave-assisted digestion hydride generation requires on-line post-column analytes treatment, and a severe sample clean-up for fat and proteins elimination using centrifugation and ultrafiltration. Underivatized -selenomethionine enantiomers were completely resolved in 10 min using unbuffered water mobile phase at 1 ml min⁻¹ flow. Good selectivity and sensitivities (detection limits 3.1 and 3.5 ng ml⁻¹ as Se for - and -selenomethionine, respectively) were obtained, and method robustness and simplicity, together to the low cost of AFS detector, makes it suitable for infant milk routine analysis. HPLC–ICP-MS coupling exhibits very low detection limits (0.9 ng ml⁻¹, as Se) for each -selenomethionine enantiomers, but the method suffers from matrix influence, that produces a poor S/N ratio and low reliability.

The methods were applied to breast and formula milk samples with recoveries of 80% of the total selenium presence, which is attributable to the existence of other unknown species. -Selenomethionine was the only isomer present in breast milk, but a 30% of -selenomethionine was also detected in formula milk.     

Application of the Hall™ electrolytic conductivity detector for the analysis of chloroanilines and chloronitroanilines in POTW sludges

Simultaneous detection with a 700-A Hall? and an NPD detector is an effective technique for characterizing chloro-and chloronitroanilines in highly complex Publicly Owned Water Treatment Works (POTW) sludges. The utilization of a modified Varian effluent splitter and a SE-54 fused silica capillary column permitted the detection of mid-picogram quantities of the polar chloroanilines without sacrificing peak shape. The response of the Hall? detector in the halogen mode was roughly proportional to the number of chlorine atoms present, while the response of the Hall? in the nitrogen mode and the NPD was less predictably influenced by the presence of one or more nitro groups. When combined with retention time data, the ratio of the NPD response to the Hall? response has been found to substantiate the presence of chloro- and chloronitroanilines in sludge extracts.     

Quo Vadis total reflection X-ray fluorescence?

The multielement trace analytical method ‘total reflection X-ray fluorescence’ (TXRF) has become a successfully established method in the semiconductor industry, particularly, in the ultra trace element analysis of silicon wafer surfaces. TXRF applications can fulfill general industrial requirements on daily routine of monitoring wafer cleanliness up to 300 mm diameter under cleanroom conditions. Nowadays, TXRF and hyphenated TXRF methods such as ‘vapor phase decomposition (VPD)-TXRF’, i.e. TXRF with a preceding surface and acid digestion and preconcentration procedure, are automated routine techniques (‘wafer surface preparation system’, WSPS). A linear range from 10⁸ to 10¹⁴ [atoms/cm²] for some elements is regularly controlled. Instrument uptime is higher than 90%. The method is not tedious and can automatically be operated for 24 h/7 days. Elements such as S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sn, Sb, Ba and Pb are included in the software for standard peak search. The detection limits of recovered elements are between 1×10¹¹ and 1×10⁷ [atoms/cm²] depending upon X-ray excitation energy and the element of interest. For the determination of low Z elements, i.e. Na, Al and Mg, TXRF has also been extended but its implementation for routine analysis needs further research. At present, VPD-TXRF determination of light elements is viable in a range of 10⁹ [atoms/cm²]. Novel detectors such as silicon drift detectors (SDD) with an active area of 5 mm², 10 mm² or 20 mm², respectively, and multi-array detectors forming up to 70 mm² are commercially available. The first SDD with 100 mm² (!) area and integrated backside FET is working under laboratory conditions. Applications of and comparison with ICP-MS, HR-ICP-MS and SR-TXRF, an extension of TXRF capabilities with an extremely powerful energy source, are also reported.     

Sequential injection analysis with dynamic surface tension detection High throughput analysis of the interfacial properties of surface-active samples

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) system is coupled with dynamic surface tension detection (DSTD) for the purpose of studying the interfacial properties of surface-active samples. DSTD is a novel analyzer based upon a growing drop method, utilizing a pressure sensor measurement of drop pressure. The pressure signal depends on the surface tension properties of sample solution drops that grow and detach at the end of a capillary tip. In this work, SIA was used for creating a reagent concentration gradient, and for blending the reagent gradient with a steady-state sample. The sample, consisting of either sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or poly(ethylene glycol) at 1470 g mol⁻¹ (PEG 1470), elutes with a steady-state concentration at the center of the sample plug. Reagents such as Brij®35, tetrabutylammonium (TBA) hydroxide and β-cyclodextrin were introduced as a concentration gradient that begins after the sample plug has reached the steady-state concentration. By blending the reagent concentration gradient with the sample plug using SIA/DSTD, the kinetic surface pressure signal of samples mixed with various reagent concentrations is observed and evaluated in a high throughput fashion. It was found that the SIA/DSTD method consumes lesser reagent and required significantly less analysis time than traditional FIA/DSTD. Four unique chemical systems were studied with regard to how surface activity is influenced, as observed through the surface tension signal: surface activity addition, surface activity reduction due to competition, surface activity enhancement due to ion-pair formation, and surface activity reduction due to bulk phase binding chemistry.