Comparison of the response of four aerosol detectors used with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography

The responses of four different types of aerosol detectors have been evaluated and compared to establish their potential use as a universal detector in conjunction with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Two charged-aerosol detectors, namely Corona CAD and Corona Ultra, and also two different types of light-scattering detectors (an evaporative light scattering detector, and a nano-quantity analyte detector [NQAD]) were evaluated. The responses of these detectors were systematically investigated under changing experimental and instrumental parameters, such as the mobile phase flow-rate, analyte concentration, mobile phase composition, nebulizer temperature, evaporator temperature, evaporator gas flow-rate and instrumental signal filtering after detection. It was found that these parameters exerted non-linear effects on the responses of the aerosol detectors and must therefore be considered when designing analytical separation conditions, particularly when gradient elution is performed. Identical reversed-phase gradient separations were compared on all four aerosol detectors and further compared with UV detection at 200 nm. The aerosol detectors were able to detect all 11 analytes in a test set comprising species having a variety of physicochemical properties, whilst UV detection was applicable only to those analytes containing chromophores. The reproducibility of the detector response for 11 analytes over 10 consecutive separations was found to be approximately 5% for the charged-aerosol detectors and approximately 11% for the light-scattering detectors. The tested analytes included semi-volatile species which exhibited a more variable response on the aerosol detectors. Peak efficiencies were generally better on the aerosol detectors in comparison to UV detection and particularly so for the light-scattering detectors which exhibited efficiencies of around 110,000 plates per metre. Limits of detection were calculated using different mobile phase compositions and the NQAD detector was found to be the most sensitive (LOD of 10 ng/mL), followed by the Corona CAD (76 ng/mL), then UV detection at 200 nm (178 ng/mL) using an injection volume of 25 μL.     

Problems in Determining Compositional Heterogeneity of Copolymers by Size-Exclusion Chromatography and UV-RI Detection System

Abstract

The compositional heterogeneity of styrene-methylmethacrylate copolymer has been evaluated by a UV-RI dual-detector method and by a RI detector-pyrolysis-gas chromatographic method and problems associated with the determination of the chemical heterogeneity by a UV-RI method are discussed. The quotient of signals H(UV)/H(RI) of both the detectors (UV and RI) for polystyrene increased at the extreme parts of the molecular weight distribution owing to nonlinearity of UV response. The correction of the quotient of signals of both detectors for the copolymer was proposed. The UV and RI response factors for the copolymer were supposed to differ from those for homopolymers. Reproducibility for the detector responses influences the values of chemical heterogeneity much more than expected. To overcome these problems, the detection method to obtain each composition independently using different detectors will be preferable.     

Comparison of Programmable versus Single Wavelength Fluorescence for the Detection of Three Fluoroquinolone Antibacterials Isolated from Fortified Chicken Liver Using Coupled On Line Microdialysis and HPLC

A recently introduced programmable fluorescence detector was compared with a single wavelength fluorescence detector for quantification of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibacterial agents, which have widely varying spectral characteristics. The two detectors were connected in parallel to an HPLC system to test their performance characteristics. With single wavelength detection, two FQs, flumequine and oxolinic acid could be detected at an emission wavelength of 368 nm in a single chromatogram while a third FQ, sarafloxacin, was not observed at that wavelength. Similarly, when the detector was optimized for sarafloxacin emission at 440 nm, the other two compounds were undetected. In contrast, all three FQs were quantified at their individual maxima in a single run using the programmable fluorescence detection. The applicability of an HPLC – programmable fluorescence detector, in combination with on-line microdialysis, also was evaluated using chicken liver fortified at low ppb levels with the three FQs. After on-line microdialysis sample clean up, the resultant HPLC chromatograms were free of background interference enabling the programmable detector to optimize the quantitation of the three analytes in a single run. The limit of quantification (LOQ) determined for each FQ was 1.0 ppb and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 ppb, an order lower in magnitude than was obtainable with single wavelength detection.     

石墨炔修饰的ZnO薄膜紫外探测器

制备了石墨炔修饰的金属-半导体-金属结构的ZnO紫外探测器,研究了不同旋涂次数的石墨炔修饰对探测器性能的影响。实验结果表明,石墨炔修饰的探测器比未修饰器件的光电流提高4倍,暗电流降低2个数量级,同时探测器的响应度和探测率也明显提高,其中旋涂2次的石墨炔修饰的器件特性为最优。在10 V偏压下,旋涂2次的石墨炔修饰的探测器响应度高达1759 A·W⁻¹,探测率高达4.23× 10¹⁵ Jones,这是迄今为止报导过的溶胶-凝胶法制备的ZnO紫外探测器的最高值。经过对探测器各项性能的测试分析可知,石墨炔修饰的ZnO探测器性能的提高归因于石墨炔良好的空穴传输特性。暗环境下ZnO与石墨炔界面处形成p-n结,使探测器的暗电流大幅降低;光照条件下光生空穴在石墨炔中聚集,减少了电子空穴对的复合,有效提高了器件的光电流。由于石墨炔修饰减少了ZnO表面的氧分子吸附和解吸附过程,器件的响应速度也明显加快。     

火灾探测器滤光片校准方法

以紫外可见近红外分光光度计为计量标准器建立火灾探测器滤光片校准方法。火焰探测器紫外滤光片校准选择波长范围150~300 nm进行光谱扫描,测量滤光片在紫外区域的透射比;红外滤光片校准选择波长范围800~1 100 nm进行光谱扫描,测量滤光片在红外区域的透射比。线型光束感烟火灾探测器滤光片校准波长扫描范围设置为700~1 100 nm,取850~950 nm透射比平均值计算减光值。火焰探测器紫外滤光片校准结果为220,240,260,280 nm波长下的透射比,红外滤光片校准结果为850,900,950,1 000 nm波长下的透射比,不作合格性判定。线型光束感烟火灾探测器滤光片减光值标称值为0.4,0.9 d B时,误差不超过±0.1 d B;减光值标称值为10.0 d B时,误差不超过±1.0 d B。     

Comparison of four types of gamma- and X-ray detectors for environmental applications in the 10–450 keV energy range

The performance of four types of - and X-ray radiation detectors for environmental applications was evaluated in the 10–450 keV energy range. Two cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) room temperature semiconductor detectors were evaluated along with a cryogenically cooled semiconductor detector and two different types of scintillation detectors. The energy resolution, absolute peak detection efficiency and peak-to-background ratio of each of the detectors were calculated and intercompared. The advantages and disadvantages of environmental applications of each detector, along with their performance results, are summarized.     

Development of a ginkgo biloba fingerprint chromatogram with UV and evaporative light scattering detection and optimization of the evaporative light scattering detector operating conditions

A fingerprint chromatogram of a standardized Ginkgo biloba extract is developed on a monolithic silica column using a ternary gradient containing water, iso-propanol and tetrahydrofuran. For the detection, UV and evaporative light scattering (ELS) detectors are used, the latter allowing detection of the poor UV absorbing compounds as ginkgolides (A-C and J) and bilobalide in the extract. The complementary information between the UV and ELS fingerprint is evaluated. The ELS detector used in this study can operate in an impactor 'on' or 'off' mode. For each mode, the operating conditions such as the nebulizing gas flow rate, the drift tube temperature and the gain are optimized by use of three-level screening designs to obtain the best signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio in the final ELS fingerprint chromatogram. In both impactor modes, very similar S/N ratios are obtained for the nominal levels of the design. However, optimization of the operating conditions resulted, for both impactor modes, in a significant increase in S/N ratios compared to the initial evaluated conditions, obtained from the detector software.     

Photoconductive UV Detectors Based on ZnO Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

Highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films were deposited on single crystal Si (111) substrates by sol-gel method. The photoconductive UV detectors based on ZnO thin films, being a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) structure with interdigital (IDT) configuration, were fabricated by using Au as contact metal. The characteristics of dark and photocurrent of the UV detector, the UV photoresponse of the detector were investigated. The linear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics under both forward and reverse bias exhibit ohmic metal-semiconductor contacts. Under illumination using monochromatic light with a wavelength of 365 nm, photo-generated current arrived at 44.89 μ A at a bias of 6 V. The detector exhibits an evident wide-range spectral responsivity and shows a trend similar to that in photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. PL spectrum of detector exhibits two peaks, one is the near band edge emission, and another is the deep-level emission in the visible region.     

Performance of a simple UV LED light source in the capillary electrophoresis of inorganic anions with indirect detection using a chromate background electrolyte

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are known to be excellent light sources for detectors in liquid chromatography and capillary electromigration separation techniques, but to date only LEDs emitting in the visible range have been used. In this work, a UV LED was investigated as a simple alternative light source to standard mercury or deuterium lamps for use in indirect photometric detection of inorganic anions using capillary electrophoresis with a chromate background electrolyte (BGE). The UV LED used had an emission maximum at 379.5 nm, a wavelength at which chromate absorbs strongly and exhibits a 47% higher molar absorptivity than at 254 nm when using a standard mercury light source. The noise, sensitivity and linearity of the LED detector were evaluated and all exhibited superior performance to the mercury light source (up to 70% decrease in noise, up to 26.2% increase in sensitivity, and over 100% increase in linear range). Using the LED detector with a simple chromate-diethanolamine background electrolyte, limits of detection for the common inorganic anions, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), F- and PO4(3-) ranged from 3 to 14 microg L(-1), using electrostatic injection at -5 kV for 5 s.     

High-Mass MALDI-MS Using Ion Conversion Dynode Detectors: Influence of the Conversion Voltage on Sensitivity and Spectral Quality

With the development of special ion conversion dynode (ICD) detectors for high-mass matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), the mass-to-charge ratio is no longer a limiting factor. Although these detectors have been successfully used in the past, there is lack of understanding of the basic processes in the detector. We present a systematic study to investigate the performance of such an ICD detector and separate the contributions of the MALDI process from the ones of the ion-to-secondary ion and the secondary ion-to-electron conversions. The performance was evaluated as a function of the voltages applied to the conversion dynodes and the sample amount utilized, and we found that the detector reflects the MALDI process correctly: limitations such as sensitivity or deviations from the expected signal intensity ratios originate from the MALDI process itself and not from the detector.

Dead volume–free flow splitting in capillary electrophoresis

In recent years, several dual detection concepts (DDCs) for CE were developed, which consisted of at least one nondestructive detector. For these DDCs, a linear detector arrangement could be used, which is not possible when both detectors are destructive. To overcome this problem, we developed a concept for the splitting of the CE stream utilizing commercially available flow splitters (FSs) that allow the parallel positioning of two destructive detectors. In this proof-of-concept study, T- and Y-shaped FSs were characterized regarding their suitability for DDCs. To keep it simple, a UV detector (UV) and a C⁴D were used for the characterization. The model system consisted of an acetonitrile-based background electrolyte and the two model substances, (ferrocenylmethyl)trimethylammonium iodide and caffeine. CE hyphenated to a UV detector (CE-UV) measurements revealed that the split ratio was about 50% for both FSs. CE-C⁴D was used to evaluate the peak shape in front of and behind the FSs. These measurements showed that there was no significant peak broadening introduced by the FSs. Additionally, there were no changes in the LODs in front of and behind the FSs. Furthermore, the flexibility of the new FS approach allowed the usage of capillaries with different ids (25–75 µm) for injection and detection.     

Photodiode array to charged aerosol detector response ratio enables comprehensive quantitative monitoring of basic drugs in blood by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography

Quantitative screening for a broad range of drugs in blood is regularly required to assess drug abuse and poisoning within analytical toxicology. Mass spectrometry-based procedures suffer from the large amount of work required to maintain quantitative calibration in extensive multi-compound methods. In this study, a quantitative drug screening method for blood samples was developed based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with two consecutive detectors: a photodiode array detector and a corona charged aerosol detector (UHPLC–DAD–CAD). The 2.1 mm × 150 mm UHPLC column contained a high-strength silica C18 bonded phase material with a particle size of 1.8 μm, and the mobile phase consisted of methanol/0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in gradient mode. Identification was based on retention time, UV spectrum and the response ratio from the two detectors. Using historic calibration over a one-month period, the median precision (RSD) of retention times was 0.04% and the median accuracy (bias) of quantification 6.75%. The median precision of the detector response ratio over two orders of magnitude was 12%. The applicable linear ranges were generally 0.05–5 mg L⁻¹. The method was validated for 161 compounds, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, opioid analgesics, and adrenergic beta blocking drugs, among others. The main novelty of the method was the proven utility of the response ratio of DAD to CAD, which provided the additional identification efficiency required. Unlike with mass spectrometry, the high stability of identification and quantification allowed the use of facile historic calibration.     

Detectability enhancement of spectrophotometric detectors by the use of multidimensional gas chromatography

Multidimensional gas chromatography (2D GC) is demonstrated as a way to improve limits of detectability of spectrophotometric detectors. UV and IR detectors are generally less sensitive than mass spectrometers or other GC detectors. This has placed some limitations on the useful capabilities provided by spectrophotometric detectors, such as the ability to provide structure‐related information for a particular analyte. In this paper, we report results from interfacing a 2D GC instrument to a UV detector. Symmetry factor and the ratio of retention time divided by peak width did not show deterioration of the quality of chromatography when a megabore column was used with this detector. Furthermore, an increase in the limits of detectability over that attainable in a single‐column system was realized by using the 2D GC system. However, the low flow (1 mL/min) imposed by the use of a microbore column (250 μm ID) caused significant tailing when the UV detector was used.     

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1250\deff0\deflang1038\deflangfe1038\deftab708{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset238{\*\fname Times New Roman;}Times New Roman CE;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Efficiency of germanium detectors as a function of energy and incident geometry: Comparison of measurements and calculations \par }

Summary {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1250\deff0\deflang1038\deflangfe1038\deftab708{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset238{\*\fname Times New Roman;}Times New Roman CE;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 The use of HPGe detectors in counting situations where the sample is not easily reproduced has increased the use of models to determine the counting efficiency for the specific geometry. The accuracy of these simulations of the germanium detector response relies on detailed knowledge of the performance of the detector. Several different types of detectors were measured at different energies using a pencil beam of gamma-rays. These measurements showed that the dead layer was not uniform from detector to detector. This and the construction details were used to calculate the efficiency for several detectors. \par }     

Low-level radioactive waste measurement comparisons of three gamma-ray counting systems

Three different gamma-ray counting systems constructed by 1–3 HPGe detectors were used in this study to compare their system performance. One measurement scheme involved positioning a single HPGe detector on a movable cart with a 90° collimation angle to the observed item. The other two waste assay systems were configured with two or three HPGe detectors towards the sample drums, while the three-HPGe-detector counting system was in a shielded counter cavity. The measurement consistency of 38 low-level waste drums, system operating costs and acquisition times to achieve the same MDA for these counting systems were compared and discussed in this study.     

Detectors for Liquid Chromatographic Analysis for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A number of liquid chromatographic detectors of various types have been evaluated for both selectivity and sensitivity for the detection of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Detection limits for fixed and variable wavelength UV photometers, filter fluorimeters, and spectrofluorimeters have been determined. The utility of each of these types of detectors for use in the reversed-phase HPLC analysis of environmental extracts containing trace levels of PAH's is discussed.     

Evaluation and comparison of selective gas chromatographic detectors for the analysis of pesticide residues

Summary A series of studies is described on the evaluation and comparison of some selective gas chromatographic detectors used in pesticide residue analysis. A detailed study of the optimization and response characteristics of the CsBr and RbCl three-electrode alkali flame ionization detector for N and P compounds, the Coulson electrolytic conductivity detector in the nitrogen, sulphur and pyrolytic modes of operation and the sulphur phosphorus emission detector, a type of flame photometric detector, was carried out to obtain maximum sensitivity and reliability for the analysis of pesticide residues in various biological substrates. It was observed that the alkali flame and electrolytic conductivity detector responses to nitrogen compounds were of the same order, while the electrolytic conductivity detector was more sensitive than the flame photometric detector to sulphur compounds. Also, attempts were made to correlate the responses from these different detector systems using the insecticide chlorpyrifos which contains P, S, Cl and N atoms. The use of chlorpyrifos as an evaluation standard in verifying the acceptable performance of these types of detectors is recommended.Chemistry and Biology Research Institute Contribution No 901     

Property of TS-16N solid state nuclear track detectors as an imaging medium for macroautoradiography of alpha-emitters in biological specimens

Feasibility of TS-16N solid state nuclear track detectors for an imaging medium of rapid autoradiography of alpha-emitters is described. Though a little longer etching time was required, the contrast of autoradiographic image on this detector proved to be superior to CR-39 detectors whose property for macroautoradiography was previously reported by the authors. The resolutions of these two different type detectors were almost equivalent to each other. The autoradiography taken by way of trial proved that this detector could be used to study metabolism and dosimetry of internally deposited alpha-emitters. With further study, the inherent properties of this detector such as low background or high sensitivity should extend the field of track etch imaging technique such as fast neutron radiography.     

Validation of a chromatography data analysis software

The performance of chromatography data analysis software packages is of cardinal importance when the precision and the accuracy of a chromatographic system are evaluated. Users cannot rely on a procedure generating chromatographic data of known accuracy. Holistic approaches cannot always be entirely trusted. We propose a new method consisting in validating a data analysis package against computer generated chromatograms of exactly known characteristics by feeding these chromatograms into the vendor supplied software and comparing the results supplied by the software and the exact answers. We simulated symmetrical and tailing chromatograms and processed these signals with the Agilent Technologies (formerly Hewlett-Packard) ChemStation software. The noise profile (i.e. the power spectrum of the baseline) was determined for a HPLC UV detector prior to the calculations, and chromatograms of different signal-to-noise ratios were used for the analysis. For every chromatogram, we simulated 25 replicates with identical signal-to-noise ratios but different noise sequences. In this manner, both the random and the systematic errors of the retention data and peak shape characteristics can be evaluated. When analyzing tailing peaks, we simulated the effects of extra-column band broadening and those of column overload. Our calculations show that the general performance of the data analysis system studied is excellent. The contribution of the random error originating from the data analysis procedure is in most cases negligible compared to the repeatability of the chromatographic measurement itself.     

Ultraviolet photodetector based on ZnO nanorods grown on a flexible PDMS substrate

A flexible, reproducible, sensitive and low-cost ultraviolet (UV) detector has been fabricated based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown on a patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The substrate was seeded with ZnO nanoparticles synthesised via simple low-temperature hydrothermal method using pomegranate peel extract as a reducing agent. The produced ZnO-nanorods/PDMS (ZnO-NR/PDMS) samples were tested for their UV-sensing properties. Samples were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, I–V characteristics, UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. The UV photoresponse mechanism of prototype UV detector was analysed. The detector exhibited quite high on/off ratios between photoresponse current and dark current. With the flexible PDMS substrate, the detector photoresponse was tested with and without bending and exhibited a very slight change in the photoresponse current. The detector current–time response was also tested under various UV light intensities for three test cycles to examine the detector stability, hysteresis behaviour and performance. It is anticipated that the fabrication of ZnO-NR/PDMS UV detector may have significant potential application in flexible optoelectronic devices.