Determination of trace total inorganic arsenic by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry after solid phase extraction-preconcentration on aluminium hydroxide gel

We describe a simple, effective, inexpensive and rapid method for the determination of trace amounts of total inorganic arsenic in water samples by means of a modified solid phase preconcentration procedure using an aluminium hydroxide gel sorbent and hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HGAFS). This method avoids the traditional extraction procedures that are time- and solvent-consuming. The effects of quantity of adsorbent, solution pH, adsorption time and potentially interfering ions were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit is 3 ng?L^?1, and the enrichment factor is 167. The calibration plot is linear in the range from 0.05 to 10 μg?L^?1, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 6.1 % (n?=?5) and recoveries in spiked environmental water were >100 %. The method was successfully applied to the determination of total inorganic arsenic in natural water samples.

Metabolomic study in plasma,liver and kidney of mice exposed to inorganic arsenic based on mass spectrometry

The mechanism of arsenic toxicity still remains unclear, although enzymatic inhibition, impaired antioxidants metabolism and oxidative stress may play a role. The toxicological effects of trivalent inorganic arsenic on laboratory mouse Mus musculus after oral administration (3 mg/kg body weight/day) were investigated along 12 days, using a metabolomic approach based on direct infusion mass spectrometry to polar and lipophilic extracts from different organs and fluids (liver, kidney, and plasma). Positive and negative acquisition modes (ESI⁺/ESI^?) were used throughout the experiments. The most significant endogenous metabolites affected by exposure were traced by partial least square-discriminant analysis and confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and gas chromatography coupled to MS. In this work, the toxic effect of arsenic has been related with important metabolic pathways, such as energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle), amino acids metabolism, choline metabolism, methionine cycle, and degradation of membrane phospholipids (cell apoptosis). In addition, this work illustrates the high reliability of mass spectrometry based on a metabolomic approach to study the biochemical effects induced by metal exposure.

Molecularly imprinted polymers as synthetic receptors for the QCM-D-based detection of l-nicotine in diluted saliva and urine samples

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic receptors that are able to specifically bind their target molecules in complex samples, making them a versatile tool in biosensor technology. The combination of MIPs as a recognition element with quartz crystal microbalances (QCM-D with dissipation monitoring) gives a straightforward and sensitive device, which can simultaneously measure frequency and dissipation changes. In this work, bulk-polymerized l-nicotine MIPs were used to test the feasibility of l-nicotine detection in saliva and urine samples. First, l-nicotine-spiked saliva and urine were measured after dilution in demineralized water and 0.1× phosphate-buffered saline solution for proof-of-concept purposes. l-nicotine could indeed be detected specifically in the biologically relevant micromolar concentration range. After successfully testing on spiked samples, saliva was analyzed, which was collected during chewing of either nicotine tablets with different concentrations or of smokeless tobacco. The MIPs in combination with QCM-D were able to distinguish clearly between these samples: This proves the functioning of the concept with saliva, which mediates the oral uptake of nicotine as an alternative to the consumption of cigarettes.

A novel test using dried blood spots for the chromatographic assay of methadone

A novel test has been developed for the analysis of methadone in dried blood spot specimens from patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. An isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with coulometric detection has been optimized for the determination of methadone. The clean-up of dried blood spots was performed by means of an original microextraction by packed sorbent procedure after microwave-assisted extraction of the drug with a suitable solvent. Extraction yields were satisfactory, always being higher than 90.0 %. The calibration curve was linear over the 4–500 ng mL^-1 concentration range. The method had satisfactory sensitivity (limit of quantitation of 4 ng mL^-1), precision (relative standard deviation less than 5.8 %), selectivity and accuracy (recovery greater than 87.0 %). It was successfully applied to dried blood spot samples collected from heroin-addicted patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy at dosages between 40 and 240 mg day^-1. The statistical analysis (Bland–Altman plot) showed that the results were in good agreement with those found from the analysis of plasma samples obtained from the same patients. Thus, the method has proved to be suitable for the monitoring of methadone by means of dried blood spots.

Speciation of inorganic arsenic in environmental waters using magnetic solid phase extraction and preconcentration followed by ICP-MS

A new method was developed for the speciation of inorganic arsenic in environmental water by using selective magnetic solid-phase extraction followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. It is found that As(V) selectively adsorbed on amino-modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the pH range from 3 to 8, while As(III) is not be retained. The As(V)-loaded MNPs can be separated easily from the aqueous sample solution by simply applying an external magnetic field. The adsorbed As(V) was quantitatively recovered from the MNPs using using 1 M nitric acid. Total inorganic As was extracted after the permanganate oxidation of As(III) to As(V). Parameters affecting the separation were investigated systematically, and the optimal separation conditions were established. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection is 0.21 ng L^?1, and the precision is 6.8% (at 10 ng L^?1, for n?=?7). The method was applied to the speciation of inorganic arsenic in environmental water of tobacco growing area.

CdTe-CdSe nanocrystals capped with dimethylaminoethanethiol as ultrasensitive fluorescent probes for chromium(VI)

We report on the synthesis of water-soluble luminescent colloidal CdTe nanocrystals capped with various stabilizers (mercaptopropanol, thioglycolic acid, mercaptosuccinic acid, mercaptopropionic acid, L-cysteine, reduced L-glutathione, mercaptoethanol and dimethylaminoethanethiol), and their use as fluorescent probes for chromium(VI) ions. The results show that Cr(VI) ions can be ultrasensitively detected with CdTe NCs capped with dimethylaminoethanethiol (DMAET), with high selectivity over Cr(III) and other ions. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to quantify trace levels of Cr(VI) ions with this probe in the 3.0 nM to 0.2 μM concentration range, with a detection limit as low as 0.57 nM. The interaction between the nanocrystals and Cr(VI) ions was investigated in a study on the zeta potentials, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Electron transfer process occurred and the decay times of the probe remain constant (about 14 ns). This simple and ultrasensitive analytical method was successfully applied to the direct determination of Cr(VI) in spiked samples of environmental waters.

Determination of lewisite metabolite 2-chlorovinylarsonous acid in urine by use of dispersive derivatization liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive and simple method, based on dispersive derivatization liquid-liquid microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (DDLLME–GC–MS) in scanning and selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) modes, for detection of 2-chlorovinylarsonous acid (CVAA) as a hydrolysis product and urinary metabolite of lewisite in urine samples. Chloroform (65 μL), methanol (500 μL), and ethanedithiol (10 μL) were used as extraction solvent, dispersive solvent, and derivatizing reagent, respectively. Critical conditions of the proposed method were optimized. The nucleophilic reactions of dithiol and monothiol compounds with CVAA were also studied using a competitive method. In view of the high affinity of trivalent arsenic for sulfhydryl groups, the interaction between CVAA and bis(2-chlorovinyl)arsonous acid (BCVAA) and free cysteine (Cys) was also investigated using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS). The interference of Cys, present in human urine, with the detection of CVAA was evaluated using dithiol and monothiol chemicals as derivatization agents. The developed method provided a preconcentration factor of 250, and limits of detection of 0.015 and 0.30 μg L^?1 in SIM and scanning modes, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 1–400 μg L^?1 in full-scan mode. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values were calculated to be 5.5 and 3.2 % at concentrations of 20 and 100 μg L^?1, respectively. Collision-induced dissociation studies of the major electron-impact (EI) ions were performed to confirm the proposed fragment structure of CVAA-dithiols derivatives. Results indicated that the developed method for analysis of CVAA is suitable not only for verification of human exposure to lewisite, but also for quantification of CVAA in urine samples.

Spectral signatures for the classification of microbial species using Raman spectra

In general, classification-based methods based on confocal Raman microscopy are focused on targeted studies under which the spectral libraries are collected under controlled instrument parameters, which facilitate analyses via standard multivariate data analysis methods and cross-validation. We develop and compare approaches to transform spectra collected at different spectral ranges and varying levels of resolution into a single lower-dimension spectral signature library. This will result in a more robust analysis method able to accommodate spectra accumulated at different times and conditions. We demonstrate these approaches on a relevant test case; the identification of microbial species from a natural environment. The training data were based on samples prepared for three unique species collected at two time points and the test data consisted of blinded unknowns prepared and analyzed at a later date with different instrument parameters. The results indicate that using reduced dimension representations of the spectral signatures improves classification accuracy over basic alignment protocols. In particular, utilizing the microbial species partial least squares discriminant analysis classifier on the blinded samples based on alignment achieved ~78 % accuracy, while both binning and peak selection approaches yielded 100 % accuracy.

Rapid extraction and preservation of genomic DNA from human samples

Simple and rapid extraction of human genomic DNA remains a bottleneck for genome analysis and disease diagnosis. Current methods using microfilters require cumbersome, multiple handling steps in part because salt conditions must be controlled for attraction and elution of DNA in porous silica. We report a novel extraction method of human genomic DNA from buccal swab and saliva samples. DNA is attracted onto a gold-coated microchip by an electric field and capillary action while the captured DNA is eluted by thermal heating at 70 °C. A prototype device was designed to handle four microchips, and a compatible protocol was developed. The extracted DNA using microchips was characterized by qPCR for different sample volumes, using different lengths of PCR amplicon, and nuclear and mitochondrial genes. In comparison with a commercial kit, an equivalent yield of DNA extraction was achieved with fewer steps. Room-temperature preservation for 1 month was demonstrated for captured DNA, facilitating straightforward collection, delivery, and handling of genomic DNA in an environment-friendly protocol.

On-line species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis in the picomolar range reveals the time- and species-depending mercury uptake in human astrocytes

In order to reveal the time-depending mercury species uptake by human astrocytes, a novel approach for total mercury analysis is presented, which uses an accelerated sample introduction system combined on-line with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer equipped with a collision/reaction cell. Human astrocyte samples were incubated with inorganic mercury (HgCl₂), methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), and thimerosal. After 1-h incubation with Hg²⁺, cellular concentrations of 3 μM were obtained, whereas for organic species, concentrations of 14–18 μM could be found. After 24 h, a cellular accumulation factor of 0.3 was observed for the cells incubated with Hg²⁺, whereas the organic species both showed values of about 5. Due to the obtained steady-state signals, reliable results with relative standard deviations of well below 5 % and limits of detection in the concentration range of 1 ng L^?1 were obtained using external calibration and species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis approaches. The results were further validated using atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Quantum dot-based lateral flow immunoassay for detection of chloramphenicol in milk

A novel rapid (20 min) fluorescent lateral flow test for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection in milk was developed. The chosen format is a binding-inhibition assay. Water-soluble quantum dots with an emission peak at 625 nm were applied as a label. Milk samples were diluted by 20 % with phosphate buffer to eliminate the matrix effect. The result of the assay could be seen by eye under UV light excitation or registered by a portable power-dependent photometer. The limit of CAP detection by the second approach is 0.2 ng/mL, and the limit of quantitation is 0.3 ng/mL.

Graphene oxide functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as adsorbents for removal of phthalate esters

We show that magnetic nanoparticles can be functionalized with graphene oxide (GO-MNPs) in two reaction steps, and that such nanoparticles can be used as adsorbents for the removal of phthalate esters (PAEs) from water samples. The GO-MNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The impacts of contact time, sample pH, ionic strength and sample volume on the adsorption process were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity for diethyl phthalate was calculated to be 8.71 mg g^?1 according to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption efficiency was tested by removal of PAEs. More than 99 % of the total quantity of PAEs (0.12 mg L^?1) in 500 mL real water samples can be removed when GO-MNPs (275–330 mg) were used as an adsorbent. In addition, other species (estriol and fluorene) containing benzene rings were also almost completely removed with the PAEs using GO-MNPs, indicating that GO-MNPs are suitable for the removal of the species containing π-electron system through π-π interactions.

Oxygen consumption by conserved archaeological wood

Rates of oxygen consumption have been measured over extended time periods for 29 whole samples of conserved, archaeological wood and four samples of fresh, unconserved wood, at 50 % relative humidity and room temperature. Samples from the Swedish Warship Vasa and the Danish Skuldelev Viking ships are included. Most rates were close to 1 μg O₂ (g wood)^?1 day^?1 and the process persisted for several years at least. Consumption of oxygen is related to change in chemical composition, which is, in turn, related to degradation. It is thus demonstrated that despite conservation, waterlogged archaeological wood continues to degrade in a museum climate.

Examination of an absolute quantity of less than a hundred nanograms of proteins by amino acid analysis

We developed an ultra-sensitive method of amino acid analysis (AAA) for the absolute quantification of less than 100 ng of proteins, in solution or on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes using an oxygen-free chamber for protein hydrolysis. We used a pre-label method with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate for fluorescence detection, ion-pair chromatography with a reversed-phase column, and an ultra-high-pressure high-performance liquid chromatography. We optimized both handling- and instrument-dependent factors for accurate quantification and showed that the least amount of proteins to quantify was determined by handling accuracy rather than instrumental limit for quantification which was 0.6 fmol/amino acid. As a new evaluation method for the handling accuracy, we adopted the protein identification by the obtained amino acid compositions by AAA and the Swiss-Prot database search without the restriction of species. As a result, the least amount of starting material for AAA was 16 ng (0.24 pmol) for a solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA), 33 ng (0.50 pmol) for BSA on a PVDF membrane, and 44 ng (0.15 pmol) for thyroglobulin on a PVDF membrane. These results demonstrate that the ultra-sensitive AAA developed in this study is feasible for absolute quantification of biological significant protein.

Magnetic molecular imprint-based extraction of sulfonylurea herbicides and their determination by capillary liquid chromatography

We have developed a simple method for the extraction of sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) from environmental water samples. It is based on a magnetic molecular imprint (MMIP) as a sorbent. The MMIP was prepared using metsulfuron-methyl as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent, and magnetite as the magnetic component. Extraction can be carried out by blending and stirring water sample, extraction solvent and MMIP. Once the extraction is completed, the MMIP containing the SUHs can be separated from the sample matrix with a magnet. The SUHs desorbed from the polymers were then quantified by capillary liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The limits of quantification are in the range of 0.08 to 0.1 ng?mL^?1. Repeatabilities of peak areas and retention times range from 2.9 % to 4.0 % and from 0.1 % to 0.3 %, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the SUHs bensulfuron-methyl, metsulfuronmethyl, pyrazosulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, and triasulfuron in waste water samples. Recoveries range from 94.3 % to 102.3 %.

Preconcentration and in-situ photoreduction of trace selenium using TiO2 nanoparticles, followed by its determination by slurry photochemical vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

We have developed a method for the determination of trace levels of total selenium in water samples. It integrates preconcentration, in-situ photoreduction and slurry photochemical vapor generation using TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the determination of total selenium by AFS. The Se(IV) and Se(VI) species were adsorbed on a slurry of TiO₂ nanoparticles which then were exposed to UV irradiation in the presence of formic acid to form volatile selenium species. The detection limits were improved 17-fold compared to hydride generation and 56-fold compared to photochemical vapor generation, both without any preconcentration. No significant difference was found in the limits of detection (LODs) for Se(IV) and Se(VI). The LOD is as low as 0.8 ng L^?1, the precision is better than 4.5 % (at a level of 0.1 μg L^?1 of selenium). The method gave good recoveries when applied to the determination of total selenium in a certified tissue reference material (DORM-3) and in spiked drinking water and wastewater samples containing high concentrations of transition and noble metal ions. It also excels by very low LODs, a significant enhancement of sample throughput, reduced reagent consumption and sample loss, and minimal interference by transition and noble metal ions.

Anodic stripping voltammetry of silver(I) using a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We describe a silver(I)-selective carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a silver-chelating Schiff base, and its electrochemical response to Ag(I). Effects of reduction potential and time, accumulation time, pH of the solution and the stripping medium were studied by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry and optimized. The findings resulted in a method for the determination of silver over a linear response range (from 0.5 to 235 ng?mL^?1) and with a detection limit as low as 0.08 ng?mL^?1. The sensor displays good repeatability (with the RSD of ±?2.75 % for 7 replicates) and was applied to the determination of Ag(I) in water samples and X-ray photographic films.

Development of a microwave-assisted-extraction-based method for the determination of aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, and G2 in grains and grain products

This article describes the use of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as a pretreatment technique for the determination of aflatoxins B₁, G₁, B₂, and G₂ in grains and grain products. The optimal operation parameters, including extraction solvent, temperature, and time, were identified to be acetonitrile as the extraction solvent at 80 °C with 15 min of MAE. The extracts were cleaned up using solid-phase extraction followed by derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid and were determined by liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection. A Sep-Pak cartridge was chosen over Oasis HLB and Bond Elut cartridges. By the use of aflatoxin M₁ as an internal standard, relative recoveries of the aflatoxins ranged from 90.7 to 105.7 % for corn and from 88.1 to 103.4 % for wheat, with relative standard deviations between 2.5 and 8.7 %. A total of 36 samples from local markets were analyzed, and aflatoxin B₁ was found to be the predominant toxin, with concentrations ranging from 0.42 to 3.41 μg/kg.

A thin poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide for voltammetric simultaneous sensing of ascorbic acid and uric acid

We have fabricated, in a single step, carbon ceramic electrodes modified with a poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide. They display electrocatalytic activity to ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at pH 4.5. The anodic peak potentials of AA and UA are separated by 276 mV so that they can be well resolved in cyclic voltammetry. UA and AA were simultaneously determined in a mixture at working potentials of 170 and 400 mV, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curves for AA and UA cover the 0.8–5,000 μM and 0.6–900 μM concentration range, respectively, while detection limits are 0.3 μM and 0.2 μM. The electrode was applied to determine AA and UA in urine samples.

Colorimetric detection of lead (II) based on silver nanoparticles capped with iminodiacetic acid

We report on a colorimetric probe for the determination of Pb(II). It is based on the use of silver nanoparticles that have been functionalizd with iminodiacetic acid (IDA-Ag NPs). The absorption spectrum and solution color of IDA-Ag NPs undergo dramatic changes on exposure to Pb(II) with a new absorption peak appearing at 650 nm and a concomitant color change from yellow to green. This is assumed to result from the aggregation of IDA-Ag NPs induced by Pb(II). Under optimum conditions, there is a linear relationship between the ratio of the absorbances at 650 and 396 nm, respectively, and the concentration of Pb(II) in the 0.4 to 8.0 μM concentration range, with a detection limit of 13 nM. The method was applied to the determination of Pb(II) in tap water and urea samples, and recoveries ranged from 93.7 % to 98.6 %.