Study on Electrochemiluminesce of Ru(bpy3)2+ Immobilized in a Titania Sol‐Gel Membrane

The immobilization of tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II), Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, at a glassy carbon electrode was achieved by entrapping the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in a vapor deposited titania sol‐gel membrane. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of the immobilized Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ was studied. The Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ modified electrode showed a fast ECL response to both oxalate and proline. The ECL intensity was linearly related to concentrations of oxalate and proline over the ranges from 20 to 700 μmol L^?1 and 20 to 600 μmol L^?1, respectively. The detection limits for oxalate and proline at 3σ were 5.0 μmol L^?1 and 4.0 μmol L^?1, respectively. This electrode possessed good precision and stability for oxalate and proline determinations. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence mechanism of proline system was discussed. This work provided a new way for the immobilization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and the application of titania sol‐gel membrane in electrogenerated chemiluminescence.     

Evaluation of electrogenerated chemiluminescence from a neutral Ir(III) complex for quantitative analysis in flowing streams

Though recently Ir(III) complexes have attracted much interest in electrochemiluminescent (ECL) analysis due to their high emission in various wavelengths, there were a few studies reported on its analytical applications. In this study, we evaluate the ECL from (pq)(2)Ir(acac) (pq = 2-phenylquinolate, acac = acetylacetonate) for the use in flow injection analysis. An aqueous solution of the analyte and (pq)(2)Ir(acac) passes through the reaction/observation cell, and then ECL reaction is generated by electrochemical initiation on the analyte and (pq)(2)Ir(acac). Tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) is used as a representative analyte for evaluation. Additionally, a comparison is made of the relative ECL intensities obtained for a variety of analytes including oxalate, amino acids, aliphatic amines, and NADH. The (pq)(2)Ir(acac) produces efficient ECL upon TPrA exhibiting the limit of detection of 5 nM with a linear range of 3 orders of magnitude in concentration whereas 20 nM is observed in the conventional Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) system. It shows particular sensitivity advantages for oxalate, proline, and tartaric acid. The ECL generation upon various analytes proposes direct applicability of (pq)(2)Ir(acac) as a post-column detection tool.     

The role of direct oxalate oxidation in electrogenerated chemiluminescence of poly(4-vinylpyridine)-bound Ru(bpy)2Cl/oxalate system on indium tin oxide electrodes

The electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes modified with poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP)-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺ (where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied. In a sodium oxalate solution, two irreversible oxidation waves as well as two ECL emission waves were observed during the potential scan in the range 0.4-1.4 V (versus Ag/AgCl/saturated KCl reference). The first ECL wave appeared at ca. 0.8 V, which was caused by the excited-state Ru^2+* generated through a bimolecular redox reaction between electrogenerated Ru³⁺ and the strong reducing agent, C⁻O₂. The latter was formed via a Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate. Direct oxidation of oxalate was not involved in the first ECL process. The second ECL wave started at ca. 1.1 V, which was also from the excited-state Ru^2+* generated via the redox reaction between Ru³⁺ and C⁻O₂. However, both direct and Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate contributed to the formation of C⁻O₂. The important role of the direct oxidation of oxalate in the ECL mechanism of PVP-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺/oxalate system was demonstrated. The relative contribution of direct oxidation of oxalate to the observed ECL depended upon the surface concentration of PVP-bound Ru²⁺, the concentration of oxalate and the electrode potential applied.     

Modulated potential electrogenerated chemiluminescence of luminol and Ru(bpy) 3 2+

Chemiluminescence emission intensity is modulated by modulating the potential of a working electrode which is used to generate a key species in the electrogenerated Chemiluminescence (ECL) reaction. The emission is monitored synchronously using a lock-in amplifier. The reactions used in the characterization are luminol with hydrogen peroxide and tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (or Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ) with oxalate. Modulation widths of ± 50 mV yield maximum signals for luminol when centered at 0.45 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and for Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ when centered at 1.05 V. The resulting signal decreases with increasing modulation frequency and shows that luminol/H₂O₂ is a faster ECL system than Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ /oxalate. Working curves for luminol and for oxalate have essentially the same linear range and slope with the modulated potential approach as with a DC electrode potential. This approach provides capability for differentiating the analytical signal from constant background emission or stray light.     

Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)-zirconia-Nafion composite films applied as solid-state electrochemiluminescence detector for capillary electrophoresis

The major goal of this work was to develop a new solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector suitable for capillary electrophoresis (CE). The detector was fabricated by coating a sol-gel derived zirconia (ZrO(2))-Nafion composite film on a graphite electrode, then the zirconia-Nafion modified electrode was immersed in tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)) solution to immobilize this active chemiluminescence reagent. The voltammetric and ECL behaviors of the detector were investigated and optimized in tripropylamine solution. The ratio of 53% for zirconia in the zirconia-Nafion composite provided the highest luminescence intensity of immobilized Ru(bpy)(3) (2+). The ECL can maintain its stability very well in the phosphate solution in the period of 5-90 h when the solid-state ECL detector was immersed in the solution all the time. The optimum distance of capillary outlet to the solid-state ECL detector has been found to be ca. 50-80 microm for a 75 microm capillary. The effects of ionic strength and pH of ECL solution on peak height were investigated. The CE with solid-state ECL detector system was successfully used to detect tripropylamine, lidocaine, and proline. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 5 x 10(-9) mol.L(-1) for tripropylamine, 1 x 10(-8) mol.L(-1) for lidocaine and 5 x 10(-6) mol.L(-1) for proline, and the linear ranges were from 1.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol.L(-1) for tripropylamine, 5.0 x 10(-7) mol.L(-1) to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol.L(-1) for lidocaine and 1.0 x 10(-5) to 1.0 x 10(-3) mol.L(-1) for proline, respectively.     

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay at a nanoporous gold leaf electrode and using CdTe quantun dots as labels

An electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay using quantum dots (QDs) as labels for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was developed using an electrode modified with leafs of nanoporous gold. CEA was initially immobilized on the electrode via a sandwich immunoreaction, and then CdTe quantum dots capped with thioglycolic acid were used to label the second antibody. The intensity of the ECL of the QDs reflects the quantity of CEA immobilized on the electrode. Thus, in the presence of dithiopersulfate as the coreactant, the ECL serves as the signal for the determination of CEA. The intensity of the electroluminescence (ECL) of the electrode was about 5.5-fold higher than that obtained with a bare gold electrode. The relation between ECL intensity and CEA concentration is linear in the range from 0.05 to 200?ng.mL^-1, and the detection limit is 0.01?ng.mL^-1. The method has the advantages of high sensitivity, good reproducibility and long-term stability, and paves a new avenue for applying quantum dots in ECL-based bioassays.

Spectrophotometric determination of microamounts of thorium with disodium salt of 2-(2-hydroxy-3,6-disulfo-1-naphthylazo)-benzenearsonic acid (Thorin) as a chromogenic reagent

A sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of microamounts of thorium using 0.05% thorin in a 3M perchloric acid solution as a chromogenic reagent and measuring the absorbance at 544 nm. The complex of thorium thus formed, is stable for more than two months with a constant absorbance of ±0.55%. Beer's law is obeyed from 0 to 25 g g^–1 of thorium in a solution with a molar absorptivity (544 nm) = 1.69×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1 at 26±1 °C. Among the anions tested, only phosphate, acetate and cyanide at >200-fold excess of thorium interfere in the determination, whereas cations like Zn(II), Al(III), Na(I), Mg(II), and Ca(II) do not effect the absorbance. Thorium can be determined in the presence of oxalate, nitrate, tartrate, sulfate, thiosulfate, citrate, and ascorbate. The accuracy of the method has been checked by measuring the known concentration of thorium in the range of 100 g-5 mg g^–1 and found to be in the range of 7.7–0.9%. The method has been applied successfully to determine thorium at g g^–1 level in local ore samples with a precision of ±0.3%. The sensitivity of the method on Sandell's scale is 0.082±0.002 g g^–1 cm^–1.     

Hydrogen peroxide sensor based on horseradish peroxidase immobilized on a silver nanoparticles/cysteamine/gold electrode

A third-generation hydrogen peroxide biosensor was prepared by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on a gold electrode modified with silver nanoparticles. A freshly-cleaned gold electrode was first immersed in a cysteamine–ethanol solution, and then silver nanoparticles were immobilized on the cysteamine monolayer, and finally HRP was adsorbed onto the surfaces of the silver nanoparticles. This self-assemble process was examined via atomic force microscopy (AFM). The immobilized horseradish peroxidase exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic response toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The linear range of the biosensor was 3.3 M to 9.4 mM, and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.78 M. Moreover, the biosensor exhibited a fast response, high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability.     

Analysis of the fusariotoxins zearalenone and vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) in human foods and animal feeds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Summary HPLC procedures for analyses of the fusariotoxins zearalenone and vomitoxin in individual food- and feedstuffs as well as in mixed feed are described. Zearalenone is separated on a column with polar stationary phase (25 cm × 4.6 mm i.d., particle size 7 m), eluted with a chloroform-isooctane (75/25, v/v)+1.5% methanol mixture and detected fluorometrically. The quantitative determination was possible in all analyzed samples with a detection limit of 2g/kg with 70–80% recovery. Vomitoxin is fractionated by HPLC (C ₁₈ ¹ column, 25 cm×4 mm i.d., 5 m particle size) with water-methanol (60/40, v/v) mobile phase and determined by combining GLC or TLC with UV detection. The detection limit in mixed feed with interfering substances was 25 g/kg (recovery 25–35%). The separation by HPLC makes preparation of pure vomitoxin possible. The described methods are fast, simple and low cost and are suitable for routine analyses.     

A normal phase HPTLC method for the quantitative determination of fumonisin B1 in rice

Summary A normal phase HPTLC method has been validated by spiking, in quadruplet, uncontaminated extract of rice with fumonisin B₁ over the range 0 to 16g/g. The method utilises solid phase extraction using strong anionic exchange (SAX) cartridges, uni-directional normal phase high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), novel visualisation by dipping into a 0.16% acidic solution ofp-anisaldehyde and quantification by scanning fluoro-densitometry. Response was linear only over the range 0 to 5 g/g (0 to 125 ng/spot) where recoveries averaged 81% for rice. Weighted linear regression yielded a limit of detection of 0.25 g/g for rice. Coefficients of variance were 15.4, 5.3, 2.8, 3.5, and 0.9% at fumonisin B₁ levels of 0.20, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 g/g respectively, demonstrating good precision. This method claims to be the first fully quantitative HPTLC method for determining fumonisin B₁ in rice.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor for glutathione with Ru\left( {bpy} \right)_3^{2+ } -doped silica nanoparticles

An electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for reduced glutathione was developed based on $ \mathrm{Ru}\left( {\mathrm{bpy}} \right)_3^{2+ } $ -doped silica nanoparticles-modified gold electrode (Ru-DSNPs/Au). These uniform Ru-DSNPs (about 58?+?4 nm) were prepared by a water-in-oil microemulsion method and characterized by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. With such a unique immobilization method, a considerable $ \mathrm{Ru}\left( {\mathrm{bpy}} \right)_3^{2+ } $ was immobilized three dimensionally on the electrode, which could greatly enhance the ECL response and thus result in an increased sensitivity. The ECL analytical performances of this sensor for reduced glutathione based on the quenched ECL emission of $ \mathrm{Ru}\left( {\mathrm{bpy}} \right)_3^{2+ } $ have been investigated in detail. Under the optimum condition, the ECL intensity was linear with the reduced glutathione concentration in the range of 1.0?×?10^?9 to 1.0?×?10^?4?mol?L^?1 (R?=?0.9971). This method has been successfully applied for the determination of reduced glutathione in serum samples with satisfactory results. The as-prepared ECL sensor for the determination of reduced glutathione displayed good sensitivity and stability.     

High electrochemiluminescence intensity of the Ru(bpy)3 2+/oxalate system on a platinum net electrode

A new method for enhancing the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of the Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺/ oxalate system is presented. When a platinum net was used as a working electrode and a platinum foil as an auxiliary electrode, the ECL intensity of the system was enhanced greatly. In addition, a cathodic peak appeared at 0.18 V (vs. SCE) on a platinum net electrode, and ECL of the system was observed at 0.18 V.     

Simultaneous determination of uranium(IV) and iron(II) with a stopped-flow inductive kinetic spectrophotometric method

A kinetic method for simultaneous determination of multielements is proposed, and a procedure for simultaneous determination of uranium(VI) and iron(II) is established based on their inductive effect on the chromium(VI)-iodide redox reaction in weak acidic medium. The reaction was monitored with the stopped-flow spectrophotometric technique by using I ₃ ^– -starch complex as indicator. The calibration graphs are linear for 0–3.6 g.cm^–3 U(IV), and 0–2.5 g.cm^–3 Fe(II), respectively. Most foreign ions, except for V(IV), Sb(III), do not interfere with the determination.     

Effect of Cu(II) on the electrochemically initiated reaction of thiols with<Emphasis Type="Italic"> N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine: methodology for the indirect voltammetric determination of Cu(II)

The effect of Cu(II) on the determination of homocysteine via its electrochemically initiated reaction with N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine is examined. The presence of copper inhibited the detection process for homocysteine owing to a complexation reaction occurring. This provided an indirect route for the sensitive and selective determination of Cu(II), which produced a linear response over the range from 2.5 to 500 M and a limit of detection of 2.5 M. The detection pathway was examined in the presence of metallic and inorganic ions, with negligible interference observed.     

Solid-phase extraction of the chromium(III)-diphenylcarbazone complex prior to ion-pair chromatography and application to geological samples

A method for the pre-treatment of acid samples prior to ion chromatography is described. In a strong acid medium, Cr(VI) oxidizes diphenylcarbazide, the resulting products forming a stable complex which can be transferred in a methanolic medium by solid-phase extraction using polyethylene as sorbent. This methanolic sample solution can be injected directly into a chromatographic system with a silica-based column. The separation and determination of the chromium complex can be performed by HPLC-using a mobile phase of 15% (v/v) acetonitrile containing 1 mmol/L tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide (TBAH). The detection limit is estimated to be 2 g/L chromate and the linear range is at least 0.05–2 mg/L chromate.     

Electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) immobilized in poly(p-styrenesulfonate)-silica-Triton X-100 composite thin-films

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)3(2+)] immobilized in poly(p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-silica-Triton X-100 composite films was investigated. The cooperative action of PSS, sol-gel and Triton X-100 attached Ru(bpy)3(2+) to the electrode strongly, and the presence of Triton X-100 prevented drying fractures of the sol-gel films during gelation and even on repeated wet-dry cycles. The modified electrode was used for the ECL detection of oxalate, tripropylamine (TPA) and NADH in a flow injection analysis (FIA) system with a newly designed flow cell. The detection scheme exhibited good stability, short response time and high sensitivity. Detection limits were 0.1, 0.1 and 0.5 micromol L(-1) for oxalate. TPA and NADH, respectively, and the linear concentration range extended from 0.001 to 1 mmol L(-1) for the three analytes. Applications of the flow cell in ECL and electrochemical detection, as well as the immobilization of reagents based on the cooperative action, are suggested.     

Certified reference materials (CRM 408 and 409) for quality control of main components (ammonium, calcium, hydronium, magnesium, nitrate, potassium, sodium and sulphate) in simulated rain water

Analyses of rainwater are routinely performed by a number of organisations to monitor the contribution from rainwater to the component occurrences in the environment and the acidification of the environment. To control the quality of such determinations, the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) has organised a certification campaign to produce two simulated rainwater reference materials (CRM 408, low mineral content and CRM 409, high mineral content). The materials were carefully prepared (addition of pro analysis and supra pure reagents with the mentioned elements to silica-free deionised water) and its homogeneity and long-term stability were verified. The materials were certified for their contents of ammonium (106 mol/kg) (CRM 409), calcium (7.68 and 15.5 mol/kg), chloride (67.3 and 113 mol/kg), hydronium (16.6 and 48.0 mol/kg), magnesium (6.14 and 12.3 mol/kg), nitrate (20.1 and 78.1 mol/kg), potassium (4.25 mol/kg) (CRM 409), sodium (42.0 and 82.9 mol/kg) and sulphate (10.5 and 53.2 mol/kg). Indicative values (not certified) are given for ammonium and potassium in CRM 408. This paper presents the certification work performed, as well as the analytical work for the certification of the contents of relevant species.     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of niobium(V) using 3-hydroxyflavone

A simple, rapid method for the spectrophotometric determination of niobium in trace amounts is presented, employing 3-hydroxyflavone as a ligand for the complexation of the metal ion and extracting the coloured complex into chloroform from 4M HClO₄ solution. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.0 to 3.2 g ml^–1 Nb(V), with a lower working limit of 0.1 g ml^–1 Nb(V). Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the complex at 395 nm are 4.088 × 10⁴l mol^–1 cm^–1 and 0.002g Nb(V) cm^–2, respectively. The stoichiometry of the complex is established as 12 by Job's and mole ratio methods. The method is free from the interference of a large number of analytically important elements. The proposed system handles satisfactorily the analysis of several samples of varying complexity. The results are highly reproducible with a relative standard deviation of 0.34% for 20 g of Nb.     

Fluorometric assay of amino acids and amines by use of 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole(NBD-F) in high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary The reaction of a newly developed fluoregenic reagent, 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole(NBD-F), with amino acids and biogenic amines was investigated. NBD-F was reactive to both primary and secondary amines including amino acids and biogenic amines such as catecholamines. The amino acids were reacted with the reagent, separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on -Bondapak C₁₈ and detected at 10 to 100 fmol level. A few g of protein hydrolysates, rabbit pyruvate kinase M₁, rabbit aldolase A and papain, were adequate for the amino acids quantitation. An automatic amino acid analyzer with fluorometric detection by the post-column derivatization with NBD-F enabled the amino acid profile analysis in blood samples present in a paper disc of 3 mm diameter.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Disposable Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes for Dual Electrochemiluminescence/Amperometric Detection: Sequential Injection Analysis of Oxalate

This work describes the development and application of an electrochemical cell specifically designed for disposable screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) suitable for simultaneous electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and amperometric detection in sequential injection analysis. The flow system with facility for photomultiplier tube via a fiber optic facing the SPCE is user‐friendly and makes the detection process very easy to operate. Instead of the need to constant deliver the chemiluminescence (CL) reagents to the reaction zone, sequential injection analysis allows a considerable reduction in the consumption of the sample and expensive CL reagents (such as Ru(bpy) salts). The utility of the analyzer was demonstrated for the detection of oxalate based on the ECL reaction with Ru(bpy) . Under optimized conditions, in the presence of 100 μM Ru(bpy) , the linear ranges of peak current and ECL light intensity for oxalate distinctly varied from 10 μM to 5 mM and 0.1 μM to 100 μM, respectively. In other words, the linear detection can be covered over a four‐order range with the combination of these two signals.