Determination of flunitrazepam and nitrazepam in beverage samples by liquid chromatography with dual electrode detection using a carbon fibre veil electrode

Both nitrazepam and flunitrazepam have been determined by high-performance liquid chromatography dual electrode detection (LC-DED) in the reductive–reductive mode, using a carbon fibre veil electrode (CFVE) in conjugation with a glassy carbon electrode. Initial studies were made to optimise the chromatographic conditions. These were found to be 45% acetonitrile-55% acetate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.1) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, employing a Hypersil C18, 5 μm, 250 mm × 4.6 mm column. Cyclic voltammetric studies performed to ascertain the redox behaviour of nitrazepam and flunitrazepam at a CFVE in the optimised mobile phase. Studies showed that similar voltammetric behaviour was obtained to that report at Hg or glassy carbon based electrodes. Further studies were then carried out to identify the optimum conditions required for the LC-DED determination of nitrazepam and flunitrazepam in beverage samples. Hydrodynamic voltammetry was used to optimise the applied potential at the generator and detector cells; these were identified to be −2.40 and −0.25 V, respectively. A linear range of 2.0 to 100 μg ml⁻¹, with a detection limit of 20 ng ml⁻¹ was obtained. A convenient and rapid method for the determination of both nitrazepam and flunitrazepam in beverage sample was developed. Following a simple sample extraction procedure, extracts were examined using the optimised LC-DED procedure. An average percentage recovery of 95.5% (%CV = 4.5%) for nitrazepam and 78.0% (%CV = 8.8%) was achieved for a sample of “Pepsi Max” spiked at 1.0 μg ml⁻¹ nitrazepam, 1.47 μg ml⁻¹ flunitrazepam. Presented at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Great Western Electrochemistry Group, 8th June 2005, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.     

Determination of vitamin B6 using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A chromatographic method for the determination of vitamin B₆ utilizing a thin-layer amperometric detector with a glassy carbon electrode has been described. The redox behavior of vitamin B₆ has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. The limit of detection is 4 ng for pyridoxine and 1 ng for pyridoxamine. Application of the technique for detection of vitamin B₆ in drugs was illustrated.     

Separation of B6 vitamers with micellar liquid chromatography using UV and electrochemical detection

Separation of six vitamers of vitamin B6 was performed by RP-HPLC using micellar mobile phase, UV and electrochemical detection. Effect of temperature, type and amount of organic modifier in mobile phase on efficiency and asymmetry factor showed that, the appropriate conditions were temperature of 35 degrees C and 3.0-5.0% (v/v) 1-butanol in mobile phase. Variations of selectivity factor versus 1-butanol concentration, pH of mobile phase, and SDS concentration was investigated and the following optimized conditions were selected for the separation: 3.0% (v/v) 1-butanol, pH=5.5 and 65 mM SDS in mobile phase. Electrochemical behavior of vitamers in optimized mobile phase was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, and potential of +1.2 V versus Ag/AgCl(Sat.) was chose as working potential. Finally, separation of B6 vitamers using UV detection at 254 nm and electrochemical detection at +1.2 V was compared.     

Determination of zearalenone and its metabolites in urine samples by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection using a carbon nanotube-modified electrode

A simple and sensitive method for the separation and determination of zearalenone (ZON) and its secondary metabolites, namely beta-zearalenol (beta-ZAL), beta-zearalanol (beta-ZOL), alpha-zearalenol (alpha-ZAL), alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZOL) and zearalanone (ZAN) in urine (human, bovine and swine) samples is proposed. The method comprises previous clean-up and pre-concentration on C(18) adsorption cartridges of the analytes followed by liquid chromatographic separation and direct electrochemical detection at +0.85mV using a carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode (CNT-GCE). This method allows the determination of beta-ZAL, beta-ZOL, alpha-ZAL, alpha-ZOL, ZAN and ZON in a linear range between 5 and 50ngmL(-1), with relative standard deviation values lower than 6.9% (intra-day) and 7.1% (inter-day), in all cases. Detection limits ranging between 1.3ngmL(-1) (beta-ZOL, alpha-ZAL, alpha-ZOL) and 1.4ngmL(-1) (beta-ZAL, ZAN, ZON) were achieved. The usefulness of the proposed method was demonstrated by the analysis of spiked and natural samples of human, bovine and swine urine samples.     

维生素B6在纳米金/石墨烯修饰电极上的电化学行为

将金纳米粒子电沉积在石墨烯修饰的玻碳电极表面,研究了维生素B6(VB6)在该修饰电极上的电化学行为。扫描电镜用于该修饰电极组装过程的形貌表征。实验结果表明:VB6在此修饰电极上出现一个良好的氧化峰,在最佳实验条件下,其氧化峰电流与VB6浓度在5.0×10-8～2.0×10-5 mol/L范围内呈线性关系,其线性回归方程为I(μA)=0.5697c(μmol/L)+0.06275,R=0.9992,检出限为2.0×10-8 mol/L(S/N=3)。一些常见的干扰物质如抗坏血酸不干扰VB6的检测。方法已用于片剂中VB6的含量的检测。     

Determination of beta-carboline alkaloids in foods and beverages by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection at a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes

Simple and sensitive methods for the separation and quantification of β-carboline alkaloids in foods and beverages by HPLC with electrochemical detection at carbon nanotubes-modified glassy carbon electrodes (CNTs-GCE) are reported. Electrode modification with multi-wall CNTs produced an improved amperometric response to β-carbolines, in spite of the working medium consisting of methanol:acetonitrile: 0.05 mol L⁻¹ Na₂HPO₄ solution of pH 9.0 (20:20:60). On the contrary to that observed at a bare GCE, a good repeatability of the amperometric measurements carried out at +900 mV versus Ag/AgCl (R.S.D. of 3.2% for i_p, n = 20) was achieved at the CNTs-GCE. Using an Ultrabase C₁₈ column and isocratic elution with the above mentioned mobile phase, a complete resolution of the chromatographic peaks for harmalol, harmaline, norharmane, harmane and harmine, was achieved. Calibration graphs over the 0.25-100 μM range with detection limits ranging between 4 and 19 ng mL⁻¹, were obtained. The HPLC-ED at CNTs-GCE method was applied to the analysis of beer, coffee and cheese samples, spiked with β-carbolines at concentration levels corresponding to those may be found in the respective samples. The steps involved in sample treatment, such as extraction and clean-up, were optimized for each type of sample. Recoveries ranging between 92 and 102% for beer, 92 and 101% for coffee, and 88 and 100% for cheese, at sub-μg mL⁻¹ or g⁻¹ analytes concentration levels were achieved.     

Determination of Gentian Violet in human urine and poultry feed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection using a carbon fibre microelectrode flow cell

A sensitive and relatively selective high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of Gentian Violet (GV) in human urine and chicken feed is described. The method is based on solid-phase extraction, with subsequent reversed-phase chromatographic separation on a cyano column and amperometric detection using a carbon fibre microelectrode flow cell operated at + 1.3 V. The peak currents were directly proportional to GV concentration over the concentration range 1-30 ppb (for urine samples analysis) and 1-20 ppm for poultry feed analysis. Using this method, the minimum detectable concentration was estimated to be 0.5 ppb. The method was applied successfully to the determination of GV in human urine and in chicken feed, and it was concluded that the method could be applied to the quantitative analysis of GV in the presence of its major metabolite, leuco GV. In the proposed procedure, the occurrence of matrix effects during urine analysis was significant. The electrochemical pretreatment regime described in this paper was used to overcome these effects. Recovery studies were performed on both the human urine and chicken feed samples. The recovery of GV ranged from 92 to 96% in both matrices, with a relative standard deviation of less than 5.5%.     

Sensitive quantification of iodide by ion-exchange chromatography with electrochemical detection at a modified platinum electrode

A rapid and very sensitive method for the accurate determination of free iodide in real samples is described. The method is based on anion-exchange chromatographic separation coupled with amperometric detection at a modified platinum electrode under constant applied potential (+0.85 V vs. Ag AgCl). An experimental setup with an in-line and very effective method of electrode modification is proposed using an amperometric thin-layer cross-flow detector and a flowing solution 300 mg/L of iodide; the working electrode is polarised to the limiting current for oxidation of iodide to iodine in acidic solutions with the consequent formation of an iodine-based film. The results indicated that the modified electrode exhibits high analytical response for iodide electrooxidation with good stability and long-life. The signal intensity of daily experimental sessions (8 h), during which standards and real samples were repeatedly injected, exhibits a moderate lowering (i.e. <6%). Using a mixture of 25 mM HNO₃ and 50 mM NaNO₃ as an eluent phase in ion-exchange chromatography, the detection limit of iodide was estimated to be 0.5 g/L (S/N=3) with an injection volume of 50 L. This method was applied successfully to quantify the iodide content of milk samples and in wastewaters as well as trace amounts in common vegetables and solutions containing high chloride levels.     

Size-exclusion chromatography with organic carbon detection using a mass spectrometer

A novel organic carbon detector for size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is described. The instrument uses the conventional UV-persulfate oxidation method to convert organic carbon to CO(2), which is then detected using a mass spectrometer. This system, using the mass spectrometer, had lower limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) than a previously described system using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy 'lightpipe' detector (i.e. when quantification was based on calibration using phthalate standards). When used to analyse natural organic matter (NOM) in water, it also had a superior signal-to-noise ratio to the previously described system. The use of a mass spectrometer to detect organic carbon (as CO(2)) enables the possibility of further characterisation of NOM by measuring the stable carbon isotope ratios of the various molecular size fractions of organic carbon, as obtained by SEC.     

Potentiometric detection of ascorbate using a graphite carbon electrode

A graphite carbon electrode was used for the potentiometric detection of ascorbate. The electrode exhibits a linear response with a slope of -42+/-1.0 mV decade(-1) in concentrations ranging from 5x10(-4) to 5.0x10(-2) M in 0.1 M NaOH solution with a detection limit of 5.0x10(-6) M. The response mechanism of this electrode was investigated by potentiometry, voltammetry, and scanning electron micoscropy (SEM), and it suggests that the electrode potential change resulted from the ion-exchange adsorption and subsequent oxidation of ascorbate on the electrode surface at pH 12-13. The electrode exhibits high sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility.     

Determination of dopamine in rat striatum by microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection on a functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotube electrode

High performance liquid chromatography coupled with microdialysis sampling and electrochemical detection (HPLC–ECD) has been used to determine dopamine (DA). In the HPLC–ECD a multi-wall carbon nanotube electrode chemically modified with carboxyl groups (MWNT-COOH CME) was used as the working electrode for determination of DA. The results indicated that the MWNT-COOH CME enabled efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of DA with relatively high sensitivity and stability and long life. Peak currents for dopamine were linearly dependent on concentration in the range 5.0×10⁻⁹ to 5.0×10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ and the calculated detection limit (S/N=3) was 2.5×10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The method had been successfully used to measure dopamine in rat striatal microdialysate. To study the physiological effect of nitric oxide (NO) on striatal release of DA, 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was a continuously perfused into rat striatum. This resulted in a 46% increase in DA basal level.     

Liquid chromatography amperometric detection of carboxylic acids and phenolic acids with a copper-based chemically-modified electrode

A copper-based chemically-modified electrode has been constructed and characterized by various experimental parameters in flow-through amperometric detection of carboxylic acids and phenolic acids. Novel hydrodynamic voltamperograms were first obtained in flow-through amperometric detection with the Cu-based CME and subsequently negative and positive peaks were observed in a single chromatogram. This unique and flexible potential dependence could be of great benefit in chromatographic speciation and quantification. These observations suggest that the detector response was governed by the complexation reaction of copper ions with the solutes.     

Carbohydrate and alditol analysis by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection at a cobalt-modified electrode

A cobalt oxyhydroxide film dispersed on a carbon electrode surface was characterized and proposed as an amperometric sensor for determination of alditols and carbohydrates in flowing streams. Complex mixtures of carbohydrates were separated by anion-exchange chromatography using a moderately alkaline solution as mobile phase. The cobalt modified electrode (GC-Co) was employed under a constant applied potential of 0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Under these experimental conditions the detection limits (S/N=3) for all analyzed electroactive molecules ranged between 0.3 micromol L(-1) and 1.5 micromol L(-1) and the dynamic linear ranges spanned generally three orders of magnitude above the relevant detection limits. Analytical determinations of carbohydrates and alditols in red and white wines, are reported.     

Liquid chromatography with post-column electrochemical treatment and mass spectrometric detection of non-polar compounds

The first hyphenation of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrochemical online oxidation and mass spectrometry (MS) is described. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid esters of various alcohols and phenols have been synthesized, separated by reversed-phase HPLC and oxidized (ionized) coulometrically prior to single quadrupole MS analysis using electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interfaces. The dependence of the ionization on the electrochemical pretreatment is demonstrated. Limits of detection for selected derivatives range from 4 x 10(-9) to 4 x 10(-7) mol dm-3 depending on the individual compound and the selected interface.     

Electrochemical behaviour of pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) at carbon paste electrode modified with crown ethers

The electrochemical behaviour of pyridoxine hydrochloride (pyridoxine HCl) at the plain carbon paste electrode and the electrode modified with oxa crown ether has been studied using voltammetric and impedance measurements. The macrocycles used as modifiers were 18-crown-6, dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 and dibenzo-24-crown-8, out of which DB18C6 gave better response for pyridoxine HCl. Tris buffer (pH 10.3) was chosen as an appropriate medium among the several supporting electrolytes of varying pH studied. The characterization of the DB18C6-modified electrode (CME-DB18C6) using kinetic parameters such as number of electrons (n) and electron transfer coefficient (α) is studied by cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements obtained confirm the current enhancement over the modified electrode. Analytical applications of this electrode have been studied for the determination of pyridoxine HCl. A sensitive linear working range of 0.6 to 100 μg cm⁻³ with a detection limit of 0.4 μg cm⁻³ by differential pulse voltammetry was observed for pyridoxine HCl on CME-DB18C6. However, on decreasing the scan rate to 5 mV s⁻¹, the detection limit lowered to 0.2 μg cm⁻³. Interference from some vitamins like thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, nicotinamide, para-aminobenzoic acid, cyanocobalamin, folic acid and d-biotin and amino acid l-tryptophan was studied, and simultaneously, riboflavin, thiamine hydrochloride and pyridoxine HCl were determined over the modified electrode, CME-DB18C6. The modified electrode is successfully used for the determination of pyridoxine HCl in multivitamin pharmaceutical preparations.