A bilateral study for the establishment of comparability in the measurement of ethanol in bioethanol fuel using isotope dilution mass spectrometry

A bilateral comparative study between two metrology institutes was conducted for the determination of ethanol in bioethanol fuel by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Measurement procedures were independently developed by the Health Sciences Authority (Singapore) and the National Institute of Metrology (People??s Republic of China). The methods used included headspace gas chromatography?Chigh-resolution mass spectrometry, headspace gas chromatography?Cmass spectrometry (GC-MS) and direct injection to GC-MS. An investigation of all potential sources of uncertainty, including a component of uncertainty due to the effect of using different instruments such as gas chromatography?Cflame ionization detector method, commonly adopted for the analysis of organic volatiles, was carried out. The results of the analyses are consistent within the associated measurement uncertainty of each laboratory, reported at approximately 95% confidence level.     

High-precision analysis of ethanol in bioethanol by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector

This paper describes the establishment and validation of gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method for the determination of ethanol amount fraction in bioethanol samples. A general view of the development and optimization of the method is presented. The main aim of this study is the calculation of validation parameters. Selectivity of the method was determined. Linearity (R ²?>?0.999) was obtained in the range from 9.0 to 3040???g of ethanol per sample (because the mass of the test sample used was around 200?mg, this corresponds to 45?C2200???g?g^?1). The method showed good recoveries (average 99.0?%), and the relative standard deviation for repeatability and intermediate precision was 4.5 and 5.5?%, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated as 10 and 30???g?g^?1, respectively. The uncertainty budget was finally done according to the ??Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement?? (GUM), and the relative expanded uncertainty was 4.8?% at coverage of k?=?2.     

Amperometric determination of acetic acid with immobilized Trichosporon brassicae

A microbial sensor consisting of immobilized Trichosporon brassicae, a gas-permeable Teflon membrane and an oxygen electrode is suitable for the continuous determination of acetic acid in fermentation broths. When an acetic acid solution is pumped through the flow system, the current decreases to a steady state with a response time of 8 min; shorter pumping times give peaks which can also be measured. The relationship between the current decrease and the acetic acid concentration is linear up to 54 mg l^-1, with a relative standard deviation of about 6% at the higher concentrations. Selectivity is satisfactory. Results obtained with this sensor and by gas chromatography for a glutamic acid fermentation broth were in good agreement (regression coefficient 1.04). The sensor was stable for more than 3 weeks and 1500 assays.     

高效液相色谱法同时测定生物质乳酸发酵液中有机酸及糖类化合物

建立了高效液相色谱(HPLC)同时测定生物质乳酸发酵液中有机酸及糖类的分析方法。使用Bio-Rad Aminex HPX-87H色谱柱,以5 mmol/L的H2SO4为流动相,在柱温55 ℃,流速0.6 mL/min条件下,采用示差折光检测器进行检测。结果表明,该方法可在17 min内实现发酵液中各种有机酸和糖类化合物等的完全分离与定量,6种有机酸和3种糖类化合物在0.15～5.19 g/L范围内的线性关系良好,回归方程的线性相关系数在0.9998以上。将该法用于米根霉发酵液的检测,两个水平的加标回收率为96.91%～103.11%,相对标准偏差(n=6)为0.81%～4.61%。该法适用于微生物发酵液中多种有机酸和糖类的快速、高效分离和定量测定。     

Software support for the Nordtest method of measurement uncertainty evaluation

Software support for the Nordtest method of measurement uncertainty evaluation is described. According to the Nordtest approach, the combined measurement uncertainty is broken down into two main components??the within-laboratory reproducibility (intermediate precision) s _Rw and the uncertainty due to possible laboratory bias u(bias). Both of these can be conveniently estimated from validation and quality control data, thus significantly reducing the need for performing dedicated experiments for estimating detailed uncertainty contributions and thereby making uncertainty estimation easier for routine laboratories. An additional merit of this uncertainty estimation approach is that it reduces the danger of underestimating the uncertainty, which continues to be a problem at routine laboratories. The described software tool??MUkit (measurement uncertainty kit)??fully reflects the versatility of the Nordtest approach: it enables estimating the uncertainty components from different types of data, and the data can be imported using a variety of means such as different laboratory data systems and a dedicated web service as well as manual input. Prior to the development of the MUkit software, a laboratory survey was carried out to identify the needs of laboratories related to uncertainty estimation and other quality assurance procedures, as well as their needs for a practical tool for the calculation of measurement uncertainty.     

An ion chromatographic analysis of water-soluble,short-chain organic acids in ambient particulate matter

Recent studies have shown that the inclusion of water-soluble short-chain (WSSC) organic acids in source apportionment using positive matrix factorization (PMF) resulted in an improvement in the model's ability to resolve sources, and in understanding secondary particle formation. In the United States, numerous network samplers are operational. Quartz-fibre filters for thermal optical carbon analysis have been collected over a period of years as a part of these sampling campaigns on a routine basis. However, only a small portion of these filters are used for the carbon analysis. Thus, there is the potential to utilize these samples to enhance organic speciation for subsequent use in source apportionment. In this work, an ion-chromatographic method was developed to identify and quantify the WSSC organic acids present in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). Samples collected to measure the concentrations of particles (PM_2.5) in south-western (Stockton) and northern (Potsdam) New York, USA from November 2002 to June 2004 were used in this study. Acetic, formic, propionic, oxalic, and malonic acids were successfully identified. The identified species accounted for 5–15% of the organic matter mass and thus enhance the knowledge of atmospheric organic-matter constituents. Oxalic acid was the most abundant species at Potsdam and Stockton with median concentrations of 17.71?ng?m^?3 and 92?ng?m^?3, respectively. Acetic and formic acids were present in Potsdam at median concentrations of 12.54?ng?m^?3 and 14.48?ng?m^?3, while at Stockton they were present at 57.58?ng?m^?3 and 51.54?ng?m^?3, respectively. The median concentration values for all acids at Stockton were higher than Potsdam. These observations are consistent with a study conducted in a semi-urban location, Schenectady, New York. At both sites, propionic and malonic acids were found in much lower concentrations when compared with the other acids. The concentration time series of various acids and seasonal variations in individual acids are discussed. The co-variance of acetic and formic acids is also outlined.     

Uncertainty Analysis of Chlormequat Residue in Fruits by LC�CMS�CMS

A method for determination of chlormequat (CCC) residue in fruits by liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) was developed. Residue of CCC was extracted from samples with methanol?Cwater (v/v, 1:1) containing 1.0% acetic acid, cleaned up by strong cationic exchange (SCX) cartridge, and then determined by LC?CMS?CMS. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range 0.002?C5.0 mg kg^?1 with correlation coefficient above 0.997. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for CCC were 5 × 10^?4 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 3) and 0.002 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 10), respectively. Recoveries for CCC at three spiked levels (0.025, 0.050, and 0.20 mg kg^?1) were in the range 80?C102%. Estimation of measurement uncertainty was calculated for CCC at the level of 0.025 mg kg^?1 in fruits. The results demonstrated that the uncertainty of recovery was the main contribution to the combined standard uncertainty. The relative combined standard uncertainties associated with the method ranged from 11 to 13%, depending on the sample matrices.     

Production of formic and acetic acids from phenol by hydrothermal oxidation

Hydrothermal technology is a core environmental-protection technique which can be used for waste water treatment and biomass conversion. In this paper a novel idea, alkaline hydrothermal oxidation, is proposed for producing formic and acetic acids from wastewater containing phenolic compounds. The effects of the most important conditions??reaction temperature, reaction time, oxygen supply, and type of alkaline catalyst??on yields of formic and acetic acids were investigated. The results indicated that the optimum conditions for production of formic and acetic acids were: reaction temperature 300???C, reaction time 90?s, H₂O₂ equivalent to 60% oxygen, and NaOH concentration 1.5?mmol. Under the optimum conditions the yields of formic and acetic acids reached 4.8 and 23.5%, respectively. In addition, the effect of different alkalis on yields of formic and acetic acids was also investigated. The results showed that compared with use of NaOH addition of KOH had a more pronounced effect on improving the yield of acetic acid. This research indicated that high-value-added formic and acetic acids can be recovered as resources by hydrothermal oxidation of phenolic wastewater, and thus hydrothermal oxidation has high potential for converting phenolic compounds in wastewater into value-added products.     

Interlaboratory comparison for quantitative primary metabolite profiling in Pichia pastoris

For the first time, an interlaboratory comparison was performed in the field of quantitative metabolite profiling in Pichia pastoris. The study was designed for the evaluation of different measurement platforms integrating different quantification strategies using internal standardization. Nineteen primary metabolites including amino acids and organic acids were selected for the study. Homogenous samples were obtained from chemostat fermentations after rapid sampling, quenching and filtration, and hot ethanol extraction. Laboratory 1 (BOKU) employed an in vivo-synthesized fully labeled U¹³C cell extracts of P. pastoris for immediate internal standardization upon cell extraction. Quantification was carried out using orthogonal reversed-phase (RP-LC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) in combination with tandem mass spectrometry. Laboratory 2 (Biocrates) applied a metabolomics kit allowing fully automated, rapid derivatization, solid phase extraction and internal standardization in 96-well plates with immobilized isotopically enriched internal standards in combination with HILIC-MS-MS and RP-LC-MS-MS for organic acids and derivatized amino acids, respectively. In this study, the obtained intracellular concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 108 μmol?g^?1 cell dry weight. The total combined uncertainty was estimated including uncertainty contributions from the corresponding MS-based measurement and sample preparation for each metabolite. Evidently, the uncertainty contribution of sample preparation was lower for the values obtained by laboratory 1, implementing isotope dilution upon extraction. Total combined uncertainties (K?=?2) ranging from 21 to 48 % and from 30 to 57 % were assessed for the quantitative results obtained in laboratories 1 and 2, respectively. The major contribution arose from sample preparation, hence from repeatability precision of the extraction procedure. Finally, the laboratory intercomparison was successful as most of the investigated metabolites showed concentration levels agreeing within their total combined uncertainty, implying that accurate quantification was given. The application of isotope dilution upon extraction was an absolute prerequisite for the quantification of the redox-sensitive amino acid methionine, where no agreement between the two laboratories could be achieved.     

Measurement uncertainty evaluation and in-house method validation of the herbicide iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium in water samples by using HPLC analysis

A method for separation and quantitative determination of the iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed and in-house validated in order to demonstrate its performance for monitoring of heterogeneous photocatalytic elimination of the herbicide iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium from water. Surface and ground water samples were used to demonstrate its selectivity, detection and quantification limits, linearity, trueness and precision. In addition, stability of iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium was studied in function of temperature and time. Method accuracy was quantified through measurement uncertainty estimate based on method validation data. The paper gives practical and easy to follow guidance on how uncertainty estimates can be obtained from method validation experiments. It shows that, if properly planned and executed, key precision and trueness studies undertaken for validation purposes can also provide much of the data needed to produce an estimate of measurement uncertainty. Our analytical protocol allowed us to quantify iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium in ground water and surface water in concentration level between 2.50–50.0 μmol L⁻¹ with satisfactory recoveries (99–104%) and repeatability lower or equal than 0.3% for all the matrices. We also estimated within-laboratory reproducibility over 3-month period, which was 0.7%. We proved that the method was selective for determination of iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium in the relevant matrices. Measurement uncertainty of results was evaluated to be 4.0% with 95% confidence level. After validation and measurement uncertainty evaluation steps, results obtained showed that the method can be applied to efficiently monitor heterogenous photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium.     

淋洗液自动发生-离子色谱法同时测定食品中的21种有机酸

建立了一种利用离子色谱法同时测定样品中奎尼酸、乙酸、丙酮酸、草酰乙酸、甘露酸、乳酸、琥珀酸、苹果酸、酒石酸、草酸、富马酸、抗坏血酸、α-酮戊二酸、肉桂酸、水杨酸、柠檬酸、异柠檬酸、阿魏酸、顺乌头酸、反乌头酸、β-香豆酸等21种有机酸的方法。样品经提取、脱色、过滤后用IonPac AS11分离柱分离,以EG40自动淋洗液发生器生成的5~34 mmol/L KOH为淋洗液洗脱,抑制电导检测器检测。21种有机酸的浓度与其峰面积在一定的范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限均低于0.188 mg/L,加标回收率为91.5%~101.8%。该法用于多种食物样品中有机酸的测定,结果令人满意。     

Measurement uncertainty of isotopologue fractions in fluxomics determined via mass spectrometry

Metabolic flux analysis implies mass isotopomer distribution analysis and determination of mass isotopologue fractions (IFs) of proteinogenic amino acids of cell cultures. In this work, for the first time, this type of analysis is comprehensively investigated in terms of measurement uncertainty by calculating and comparing budgets for different mass spectrometric techniques. The calculations addressed amino acids of Pichia pastoris grown on 10 % uniformly ¹³C labeled glucose. Typically, such experiments revealed an enrichment of ¹³C by at least one order of magnitude in all proteinogenic amino acids. Liquid chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS), liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were performed. The samples were diluted to fit the linear dynamic range of the mass spectrometers used (10 μM amino acid concentration). The total combined uncertainties of IFs as well as the major uncertainty contributions affecting the IFs were determined for phenylalanine, which was selected as exemplary model compound. A bottom-up uncertainty propagation was performed according to Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement and using the Monte Carlo method by considering all factors leading to an IF, i.e., the process of measurement and the addition of ¹³C-glucose. Excellent relative expanded uncertainties (k?=?1) of 0.32, 0.75, and 0.96 % were obtained for an IF value of 0.7 by LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and LC-TOFMS, respectively. The major source of uncertainty, with a relative contribution of 20–80 % of the total uncertainty, was attributed to the signal intensity (absolute counts) uncertainty calculated according to Poisson counting statistics, regardless which of the mass spectrometry platforms was used. Uncertainty due to measurement repeatability was of importance in LC-MS/MS, showing a relative contribution up to 47 % of the total uncertainty, whereas for GC-MS and LC-TOFMS the average contribution was lower (30 and 15 %, respectively). Moreover, the IF actually present also depends on the isotopic purity of the carbon sources. Therefore, in the uncertainty calculation a carbon source purity factor was introduced and a minor contribution to the total uncertainty was observed. The results obtained by uncertainty calculation performed according to the Monte Carlo method were in agreement with the uncertainty value of the Kragten approach and showed a Gaussian distribution.     

Quantitative LC-ESI-MS/MS metabolic profiling method for fatty acids and lipophilic metabolites in fermentation broths from β-lactam antibiotics production

In the present paper, we report on the development of a straightforward reversed-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of the most abundant fatty acids; α-tocopherol and cephalosporin P1 in fermentation broths. Using this method, fatty acids could be successfully determined in extracts of fermentation broths from penicillin and cephalosporin production without prior derivatization. Matrix effects were investigated in detail, and various kinds of calibrations (i.e., by use of neat standard solutions as well as by matrix-matched calibration employing standard addition each with and without internal standards) were comparatively assessed. The optimized and validated method was employed for the analysis of extracts of fermentation broths and nutrition media.     

高效液相色谱法测定菌群降解纤维素产物中的糖、有机酸和醇

采用硫酸除钙和调节pH的样品预处理方法,利用高效液相色谱对菌群降解纤维素发酵液中的糖、有机酸和醇3类物质进行分析,待测组分与培养基成分能够得到有效分离。从菌群降解纤维素发酵液中检出纤维二糖、葡萄糖、乙醇、丁醇、甘油、乙酸与丁酸并进行了定量分析,7种组分的检出限范围为0.10~2.00 mg/L,线性相关系数均大于0.9996,线性范围为0.020~1.000 g/L,回收率为85.41%~115.60%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.22%~4.62%(n=6)。该方法准确可靠,可实现对菌群降解纤维素发酵液中糖、醇和有机酸的同时准确测定。     

Estimation of measurement uncertainty for the determination of nonylphenol in water using solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction procedures

We describe an estimation of measurement uncertainty calculated by the “bottom-up” approach for the determination of the oestrogenic compound nonylphenol in treated water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedures and GC/MS detection. The results were compared and the different contributions to the uncertainty were evaluated. A study of the linear range was established and validation was performed for both methods using statistical analysis of several indicative parameters. In terms of validation data, precision (R.S.D. values <20%) and trueness (relative error <11%) were obtained for both methods under day-to-day conditions. The results of the estimation of measurement uncertainty obtained for both methods for concentrations higher than 1 μg/l have demonstrated that the time-consuming SPE method has a lower relative uncertainty (32%) than the SPME method (42.8%). The chromatographic uncertainty value was the main factor in the SPME method whereas the recovery factor (used to calculate the concentration) was the main contribution to uncertainty in the SPE method.     

Determination of measurement uncertainty for the determination of triazines in groundwater from validation data

Laboratories are increasingly urged to submit full uncertainties of their analytical results rather than only standard deviations. The determination of measurement uncertainties in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) is demonstrated using the validation approach explicitly endorsed by the recent edition of the EURACHEM guide for the determination of measurement uncertainty. Measurement uncertainty was split into uncertainty of the sample mass, uncertainty of the concentration of the stock standard solution, uncertainty of the calibration and uncertainty connected to within- and between-series precision. Uncertainties of sample mass and of the concentration of the stock standard solution were 0.26 and 1.14% for all analytes, which is negligible compared with the contributions of precision and calibration. Uncertainty of calibration was estimated from the calibration graph. Relative uncertainty of calibration was found to be strongly concentration dependent and to be the main uncertainty contribution below 0.2 microgram L-1. Precision was split into within-series and between-series standard deviation, which dominate the combined standard uncertainty at higher concentrations. The results obtained from these calculations are compared with results for a certified reference material and with the performance in an interlaboratory comparison. It was found that all results agreed within their uncertainty with the target values, showing that the estimated uncertainties are realistic.     

Estimation of measurement uncertainty for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk using immunoaffinity clean-up procedures

A measurement uncertainty estimated for aflatoxin M₁ determination in milk sample has been calculated using data generated from analytical method validation studies. The protocol adopted is described in detail in document LGC/VAM/1998/088. The uncertainty budget was based on precision, trueness and ruggedness data. The individual contributions are described in detail. The expanded uncertainty for aflatoxin M ₁ at a concentration of 20 ng L⁻¹ was estimated as 2.81 ng L⁻¹. This was calculated using a coverage factor of two which gives a level of confidence of approximately 95%. Presented at AOAC Europe / Eurachem Symposium March 2005, Brussels, Belgium     

Adsorbent screening for biobutanol separation by adsorption: kinetics, isotherms and competitive effect of other compounds

Butanol, considered as one of the best renewable alternatives for gasoline, has attracted significant attention in recent years. However, biobutanol production via fermentation is plagued by the low final product concentration due to product inhibition. It is possible to enhance productivity by selectively removing biobutanol from the fermentation broth. Adsorption is one of the most promising and energy-efficient techniques for butanol separation and recovery. In the present study, different adsorbents were tested by performing kinetic and equilibrium experiments to find the best adsorbent for butanol separation. Activated carbon (AC) F-400 showed the fastest adsorption rate and the highest adsorption capacity amongst ACs and zeolites tested. AC F-400 also showed the highest affinity toward butanol and to a lesser extent for butyric acid whereas its adsorption capacity for the other main components present in acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation broths was very low. In addition, the butanol adsorption capacity was not affected by the presence of ethanol, glucose and xylose while the presence of acetone led to a slight decrease in adsorption capacity at low butanol concentrations. On the other hand, the presence of acids (acetic acid and butyric acid) showed a significant effect on the butanol adsorption capacity over a wide range of butanol concentration and this effect was more pronounced for butyric acid.     

Simultaneous Determination of Organic Acids in Wine Samples by Capillary Electrophoresis and UV Detection: Optimization with Five Different Background Electrolytes

A simple technique is described for the routine capillary electrophoretic determination of organic acids in wine samples. Several aromatic and non‐aromatic compounds, including phthalic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, boric acid, and phosphate, were evaluated as background electrolytes in order to obtain the highest resolution and detection sensivity. Factors that affect capillary electrophoretic separation such as the concentration and pH of the background electrolyte (BGE), the concentration of the electroosmotic flow modifier (EOF), and methanol addition to the electrolyte were investigated systematically. Tartaric, malic, succinic, acetic, and lactic acids were determined simultaneously in approximately six minutes using an electrolyte containing 3 mM phosphate and 0.5 mM myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTAB) as electroosmotic flow modifier at pH 6.5. This method is quantitative, with recoveries in the 90–102% range and linear up to 50 mg L^–1. The precision is better than 1% and the procedure shows the appropriate sensibility, with detection limits between 0.015 and 0.054 mg L^–1. The proposed method was successfully employed for the determination of organic acids in wine samples by direct sample injection after appropriate dilution and filtration.     

Strain Screening, Fermentation, Separation, and Encapsulation for Production of Nattokinase Functional Food

This study presents a novel and integrated preparation technology for nattokinase functional food, including strain screening, fermentation, separation, and encapsulation. To rapidly screen a nattokinase-productive strain, PCR-based screening method was combined with fibrinolytic activity-based method, and a high productive strain, Bacillus subtilis LSSE-22, was isolated from Chinese soybean paste. Reduction of poly-??-glutamic acid (??-PGA) concentration may contribute to separation of nattokinase and reduction of late-onset anaphylaxis risk. Chickpeas were confirmed as the favorable substrate for enhancement of nattokinase production and reduction of ??-PGA yield. Using cracked chickpeas, the nattokinase activity reached 356.25?±?17.18?FU/g (dry weight), which is much higher than previous reports. To further reduce ??-PGA concentration, ethanol fractional extraction and precipitation were applied for separation of nattokinase. By extraction with 50?% and precipitation with 75?% ethanol solution, 4,000.58?±?192.98?FU/g of nattokinase powders were obtained, and the activity recovery reached 89?±?1?%, while ??-PGA recovery was reduced to 21?±?2?%. To improve the nattokinase stability at acidic pH condition, the nattokinase powders were encapsulated, and then coated with methacrylic acid?Cethyl acrylate copolymer. After encapsulation, the nattokinase was protected from being denatured under various acid conditions, and pH-responsible controlled release at simulated intestinal fluid was realized.