Determination of acid volatile sulphur in river sediments by ICP-OES coupled with purge and trap method

The developed and tested method is based on the acid volatile sulphur (AVS) releasing from a sample of sediment by acidification with hydrochloric acid and sequential absorption of released hydrogen sulphide into the absorption solution of sodium hydroxide. Total sulphur absorbed in the absorption solution is subsequently determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. The method was tested using both model and real samples of the river sediment. Obtained results were compared with the results of iodometric determination as the method routinely used for the AVS determination. In case of using ICP-OES with purge and trap, there is no spectral interference of calcium; therefore for the determination of sulphur, it is possible to use atomic emission line of sulphur S I 180.7 nm. The tested method provides the results comparable with the iodometric method within the range of tested concentrations. The detection limit (LOD) of this method is 0.09 mg· S^2? ? L^?1 in the absorption solution which corresponds to 0.23 mg S^2?·kg^?1 in a sediment. Value of LOD is comparable with the iodometric determination.     

气相色谱-常压微波等离子体发射光谱系统操作参数的考察及最优化

本文对影响GC-MIP检测性能的操作参数(包括等离子体观测位置,微波功率和He支持气流速)进行了最优化研究。结果表明,对C、H、D、O、S、P、F、Cl、Br和I元素来说,每个元素都有各自的一套最佳操作参数。此外,还对记忆效应进行了讨论。     

Inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry of sulfur with a vacuum scanning spectrometer and its application to the analysis of coal liquefaction catalysts

Inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry with a high-resolution vacuum scanning monochromator is described for the determination of sulfur at 180.734 nm. The behavior of the signal-to-background ratio is investigated as functions of RF power, argon gas flow rate and observation height above the load coil. Under the operating conditions selected, the detection limit is 3 μg l^?1. The Se I 196.090-nm line is chosen as internal standard, because the S/Se line pair exhibited the least change with carrier gas flow rate and acid concentration of solution. Sulfur in NiMo and CoMo/ Al₂O₃ catalysts used for coal liquefaction is determined as S(II) and S(VI) species. The total amount of the species agreed well with the sulfur value obtained by the conventinal combustion method.     

Development of novel and sensitive methods for the determination of sulfide in aqueous samples by hydrogen sulfide generation-inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy

Two new, simple and accurate methods for the determination of sulfide (S²⁻) at low levels (μg L⁻¹) in aqueous samples were developed. The generation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) took place in a coil where sulfide reacted with hydrochloric acid. The resulting H₂S was then introduced as a vapor into an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and sulfur emission intensity was measured at 180.669 nm. In comparison to when aqueous sulfide was introduced, the introduction of sulfur as H₂S enhanced the sulfur signal emission. By setting a gas separator at the end of the reaction coil, reduced sulfur species in the form of H₂S were removed from the water matrix, thus, interferences could be avoided. Alternatively, the gas separator was replaced by a nebulizer/spray chamber combination to introduce the sample matrix and reagents into the plasma. This methodology allowed the determination of both sulfide and sulfate in aqueous samples. For both methods the linear response was found to range from 5 μg L⁻¹ to 25 mg L⁻¹ of sulfide. Detection limits of 5 μg L⁻¹ and 6 μg L⁻¹ were obtained with and without the gas separator, respectively. These new methods were evaluated by comparison to the standard potentiometric method and were successfully applied to the analysis of reduced sulfur species in environmental waters.     

An efficient one-pot reaction for selective fluorimetric determination of cefpodoxime and its prodrug

Cefpodoxime proxetil (CFP), an oral third-generation cephalosporin, is a prodrug that is de-esterified in vivo to its active metabolite, cefpodoxime acid (CFA). Therefore, this study aimed to develop a facile and efficient one-pot reaction for selective and sensitive determination of CFA and its prodrug (CFP). The method was based on single-step reaction between CFP or CFA and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS) as a selective derivatizing reagent in alkaline medium without heating, extraction or reduction steps as usual for NQS derivatization reactions. The fluorescence of the formed NQS-derivative was monitored directly at emission wavelength of 440 nm after excitation at 330 nm. The method can easily be implemented in plating facilities by operators and/or incorporated in on-line derivatization reaction. The correlation coefficients of 0.9991 and 0.9984 were obtained in the concentration ranges of 50-2000 ng mL⁻¹ for CFA and CFP, respectively. The detection limits were 9.17 and 9.48 ng mL⁻¹ for CFA and CFP, respectively. The method was validated in accordance with the requirements of ICH guidelines and shown to be suitable for their efficient and sensitive determinations. The developed method was successfully applied for selective determination of CFP in pure form and in pharmaceutical dosage forms as well as CFA in human urine after single dose of CFP without prior need for separation. The method is valuable for quality control laboratories for monitoring of CFP and its active metabolite CFA.     

Evaluation of hydrogen line emission and argon plasma electron concentrations resulting from the gaseous sample injection involved in hydride generation-ICP-atomic emission spectrometric analysis

The simultaneous injection of volatile hydride species and hydrogen gas, originating in reagent decomposition, was monitored during the operation of a continuous hydride generation manifold employed for the determination of trace arsenic by HG-ICP-AES. Line and background intensities as well as the FWHM of the hydrogen Hγ and Hδ lines were measured, and electron number densities (n_e) estimated from Stark broadening of the line profiles. Results were compared with those obtained by conventional pneumatic injection of aqueous solutions. Overlapping with atomic nitrogen lines at 410 nm and 411 nm tends to distort the Hδ line profile for the hydrogen-seeded plasma, rendering unreliable results. The N I lines seem to be quenched by the presence of water aerosol. More consistent results were obtained with the Hγ line. When no solutions are pumped through the hydride generation manifold (“dry” plasma), the measured n_e value was (1.57 ± 0.22) × 10¹⁵ cm^–3. Conversely, when the reducing reagent flow was replaced by pure water (corresponding to the injection of water vapor in equilibrium that is swept by the argon carrier gas passing through the phase separator), the electron concentration is 25% higher. In that case the n_e value agrees between the experimental error with that obtained for a plasma in which a water aerosol is introduced at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. An enhancement of 52% relative is observed in n_e when the system is operated under optimized conditions for arsine generation, employing sodium tetrahydroborate in acidic medium as reducing agent (i.e. hydrogen seeded plasma). It was also observed that the continuum emission near 410 nm for the hydrogen containing plasma correlates with the measured electron number density, suggesting that the background enhancement under hydride generation conditions may respond to the ion-electron recombination mechanism.     

Capillary electrophoretic determination of thiosulfate,sulfide and sulfite using in-capillary derivatization with iodine

A new capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the rapid, simple and selective determination of thiosulfate, sulfide and sulfite species. The proposed method is based on the in-capillary derivatization of separated sulfur anions by mixing their zones with the iodine zone during the electrophoretic migration and direct UV detection of iodide formed. The optimal conditions for the separation and derivatization reaction were established by varying electrolyte pH, electrolyte counter-ion, concentration of iodine, and applied voltage. The optimized separations were carried out in 20 mmol/L Tris-chloride electrolyte (pH 8.5) using direct UV detection at 214 nm. All three sulfur species were well resolved in less than 4 min. The method gives repeatability comparable or even better than this obtained for sulfur anions using standard CE technique. The proposed CE system was applied to the monitoring of sulfur anions in spent fixing solutions during the electrolytic oxidation.     

Determination of glutathione in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics by HPLC with UV and fluorescence detection

Summary A selective HPLC determination of reduced glutathione (GSH) in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations is described based on prechromatographic derivatization with 4-(6-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)-4-oxo-2-buteneoic acid. The derivatization reaction is rapid under mild reaction conditions (10 min at ambient temperature and pH 7.5) and the excess reagent can be removed by liquid-liquid extraction. The thiol adducts were chromatographed on a C-8 column using 0.05 M triethylammonium phosphate (pH 4.0) — acetonitrile 68∶32 (v/v), as the mobile phase; UV and fluorescence detection (l_em 450 nm, l_exc 300 nm) were both used. The structure of the thiol adducts was confirmed by¹H and¹³C NMR spectra using sodium methanethiolate as thiol nucleophile. This work constitutes part of the thesis for the “Dottorato di ricerche” of Dr. Roberto Gotti.     

Simultaneous derivatization and extraction of iodine from milk samples by hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection

A simple, low-cost and sensitive method is demonstrated for derivatization and extraction of iodine from milk samples using hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) and gas chromatography-electron capture detection. Iodide ions are converted to iodine under acidic medium and in the presence of an oxidant. The generated iodine reacted with 3-pentanone in extraction vial to give 2-iodo-3-pentanone and was extracted into 4 μL of 1-octanol located in the lumen of a hollow fiber. Organic solvent was selected using one variable at a time optimization method and the other main factors affecting derivatization and HF-LPME procedures were evaluated using a Taguchi’s L₁₆ (4⁵) orthogonal array. Under optimal conditions, the method showed low limit of detection (0.5 ng mL^?1), wide linear range (1–2,000 ng mL^?1) with good correlation coefficient (0.9997) and acceptable relative standard deviation (4.6 %, n = 5). Finally, the developed method was successfully applied for determination of iodide in real samples including infant milk formulas and cow milk with reasonable relative recoveries (99.8–110.5 %).     

Visible light driven deuteration of formyl C–H and hydridic C(sp3)–H bonds in feedstock chemicals and pharmaceutical molecules

Deuterium labelled compounds are of significant importance in chemical mechanism investigations, mass spectrometric studies, diagnoses of drug metabolisms, and pharmaceutical discovery. Herein, we report an efficient hydrogen deuterium exchange reaction using deuterium oxide (D₂O) as the deuterium source, enabled by merging a tetra-n-butylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) hydrogen atom transfer photocatalyst and a thiol catalyst under light irradiation at 390 nm. This deuteration protocol is effective with formyl C–H bonds and a wide range of hydridic C(sp³)–H bonds (e.g. α-oxy, α-thioxy, α-amino, benzylic, and unactivated tertiary C(sp³)–H bonds). It has been successfully applied to the high incorporation of deuterium in 38 feedstock chemicals, 15 pharmaceutical compounds, and 6 drug precursors. Sequential deuteration between formyl C–H bonds of aldehydes and other activated hydridic C(sp³)–H bonds can be achieved in a selective manner.

A selective hydrogen deuterium exchange reaction with formyl C–H bonds and a wide range of hydridic C(sp³)–H bonds has been achieved by merging tetra-n-butylammonium decatungstate photocatalyst and a thiol catalyst under 390 nm light irradiation.     

Fit-for-Purpose Assessment of QuEChERS LC-MS/MS Methods for Environmental Monitoring of Organotin Compounds in the Bottom Sediments of the Odra River Estuary

Organotin compounds (OTCs) are among the most hazardous substances found in the marine environment and can be determined by either the ISO 23161 method based on extraction with non-polar organic solvents and gas chromatography analysis or by the recently developed QuEChERS method coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To date, the QuEChERS LC/MS and ISO 23161 methods have not been compared in terms of their fit-for-purpose and reliability in the determination of OTCs in bottom sediments. In the case of ISO 23161, due to a large number of interferences gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was not suitable for the determination of OTCs contrary to more selective determination by gas chromatography with an atomic emission detector. Moreover, it has been found that the derivatization of OTCs to volatile compounds, which required prior gas chromatography determination, was strongly affected by the sediments’ matrices. As a result, a large amount of reagent was needed for the complete derivatization of the compounds. Contrary to ISO 23161, the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method did not require the derivatization of OTC and is less prone to interferences. Highly volatile and toxic solvents were not used in the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method. This makes the method more environmentally friendly according to the principles of green analytical chemistry. QuEChERS LC-MS/MS is suitable for fast and reliable environmental monitoring of OTCs in bottom sediments from the Odra River estuary. However, determination of di- and monobutyltin by the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method was not possible due to the constraints of the chromatographic system. Hence, further development of this method is needed for monitoring di- and monobutyltin in bottom sediments.     

Colorimetric Determination of Seleniumin Various Environmental Samples

A new reagent system using rhodamine‐B dye for the determination of selenium is described. The method is based on the reaction of selenium with acidified potassium iodide to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the pink colour rhodamine‐B, which is measured at 555 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1–10 μg of selenium final solution volume of 25 mL (0.04–0.4 ppm) and the apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity was found to be 1.96× 10⁵ l mol^?1 cm^?1 and 0.0004 μg cm^?2, respectively. The method is simple, sensitive, and selective and is satisfactorily applied to micro‐level determination of selenium in various environmental and cosmetic samples.     

Development and validation of a gas chromatographic method for analysis of fosfomycin in chicken muscle samples

Summary A gas chromatographic method for the determination of residues of Fosfomycin in chicken muscle samples has been developed. Muscle samples were homogenised with TRIS buffer, containing phenylphosphonic acid (as internal standard) and Fosfomycin using a tissue homogenizer. Afterwards, the samples were ultrafiltered and the ultrafiltrate was evaporated to dryness. A silylation reagent for derivatization was used in order to reconstitute the residue. The linear concentration range of application was 10–150 μgg⁻¹, with a detection and quantitation limit of 3.11 and 10 μgg⁻¹, respectively. The method was efficient with a mean recovery of 87.83% from spiked muscle. The results obtained show that gas chromatography is a useful method for the determination of Fosfomycin residues in chicken muscle samples.     

A new fluorescent derivatization reagent and its application to free fatty acid analysis in pomegranate samples using HPLC with fluorescence detection

A new fluorescent labeling reagent has been developed for the determination of fatty acids (FAs) by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The derivatization conditions including the amount of derivatization reagent, temperature, and type of catalyst were investigated, the results indicated that the reaction proceeded within 30 min at 90°C in the presence of K₂CO₃ catalyst. The maximal yield was obtained with a four‐ to fivefold molar reagent excess. The derivatives exhibited strong fluorescence with an excitation maximum at λ_ex = 245 nm and an emission maximum at λ_em = 410 nm. Twenty‐five FA derivatives were well separated by RP‐HPLC on a Hypersil BDS C₈ column in combination with gradient elution. All FAs were found to give excellent linear responses with correlation coefficients >0.9992. The method gave a low LOQ of 0.85–5.5 ng/mL (S/N of 10). The developed method was employed to analyze free FAs (FFAs) composition in pomegranate samples without any purification. FFAs in samples were doubly identified by HPLC retention time and protonated molecular ion corresponding to m/z [M+H]⁺. This newly developed method allows a highly sensitive determination of trace FFAs from pomegranate and other foodstuffs.     

Simultaneous Derivatization and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Fatty Acid GC Determination in Water

Simultaneous derivatization and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique for gas chromatographic determination of fatty acids in water samples is presented. One hundred microlitre of ethanol:pyridine (4:1) were added to 4 mL aqueous sample. Then a solution containing 0.960 mL of acetone (disperser solvent), 10 μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) and 30 μL of ethyl chloroformate (derivatization reagent) were rapidly injected into the aqueous sample. After centrifugation, 1 μL sedimented phase with the analytes was analyzed by gas chromatography. The effects of extraction solvent type, derivatization, extraction, and disperser solvents volume, extraction time were investigated. The calibration graphs were linear up to 10 mg L^?1 for azelaic acid (R ² = 0.998) and up to 1 mg L^?1 for palmitic and stearic acids (R ² = 0.997). The detection limits were 14.5, 0.67 and 1.06 μg L^?1 for azelaic, palmitic, and stearic acids, respectively. Repeatabilities of the results were acceptable with relative standard deviations (RSD) up to 13%. A possibility to apply the proposed method for fatty acids determination in tap, lake, sea, and river water was demonstrated.     

Determination of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid in Water by LC Using a New Labeling Reagent, 4-Methoxybenzenesulfonyl Fluoride

A rapid, low-cost, and highly sensitive analytical method to detect glyphosate and its major metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in water samples has been developed, involving a derivatization with a new labeling reagent, 4-methoxybenzenesulfonyl fluoride, followed by reverse phase liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The limits of detection of both of glyphosate and AMPA in real water samples are 0.1 μg L^?1 with simple pre-concentration. This method has proven to be sensitive and reliable for determination of glyphosate and AMPA in water samples.     

Determination of biogenic amines in food by automated pre-column derivatization with 2-naphthyloxycarbonyl chloride (NOC-CI)

Summary The fluorogenic reagent 2-naphthyloxycarbonyl chloride (NOC-Cl) has been used for the automated precolumn derivatization of biogenic amines (BAs) at ambient followed by liquid-chromatographic separation of the derivatives formed. For optimized derivatization samples in 0.5 M borate buffer (pH 9.0) were derivatized with 5 mM NOC-Cl in acetonitrile (MeCN) for 3 minutes. Excess of reagent was scavenged by addition of 20 mM glycine in water. For HPLC a Superspher^? RP-18e column and gradient elution using 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.4) and MeCN were used. The NOC-derivatives were detected by fluorescence at an emission wavelength of 335 nm at an excitation wavelength of 274 nm. This method allows the detection of BAs (2-phenylethylamine, putrescine, histamine, cadaverine, tyramine, spermidine, spermine) found in food and beverages (fruit juices, wines, various vinegars, fermented cabbage juice, and salmon). Detection limit of BAs are approximately 49–113 μg kg⁻¹ with the exception of histamine (747 μg kg⁻¹) (injected amounts: 18–41 pg histamine 267 pg), at a signalto-noise ratio of 3:1. The limits of determination are approximately 82–189 μg kg⁻¹ (histamine 1245 μg kg⁻¹) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1. The correlation coefficients of linearity are 0.9910–0.9976. Recoveries from different matrices range from 65 to 109%, depending on the sample investigated. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996.     

Stepwise injection photometric determination of mercaptanes in air

An automated procedure is developed for the photometric determination of mercaptanes in air. To achieve the required selectivity of analyte determination, a scheme of sample preparation was elaborated, which includes the liquid absorption separation of interfering components (hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide) and mercaptanes on two consequent chromatography columns with glass wool impregnated with a zinc acetate solution and an alkaline solution of cadmium chloride. Therein, the impurities specified were separated in the first column, while the target materials were gathered on the second one. The materials were detected with high sensitivity by their reaction with an iodine/starch complex under the conditions of step-wise injection analysis. The analytical range for mercaptane sulfur was from 0.5 to 7.5 μg/m³ for a sample volume of 1 m³.     

Solid-phase iodine as an oxidant in flow injection analysis: determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals and foods by background correction

A flow injection analysis (FIA)-background correction method comprising two solid-phase reactors and spectrophotometry for determination of ascorbic acid (AsA) is proposed. A polyethylene mini-column filled with solid iodine (30% m/m suspended on silica gel beads), reactor 1, and other column filled only with silica gel, reactor 2, which are then incorporated in a flow system so that solid iodine reagent in reactor 1 is affected as the sample passes through the column. The sample blank is produced by the oxidation of the AsA by iodine to form dehydroascorbic acid, insensitive to ultraviolet at 267 nm. AsA in samples is determined after injected in reactor 2; the difference in two analytical signal observed is related to amount of AsA. The linear range of the system is up to 50 μg ml⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.08 μg ml⁻¹, R.S.D. of better than 1.0% and sampling frequency of 110 sample h⁻¹. The method is successfully applied to the determination of AsA in pharmaceuticals and foods.