On-line enzymatic reaction,extraction, and chromatography of fatty acids and triglycerides with supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide can be utilized both as an introduction solvent in capillary SFC and as a reaction medium; both possibilities are illustrated in this study. An off-line SFE unit was modified for on-line SFE-SFC. To facilitate rapid depressurization of the extraction cell and to prevent memory effects, a 6-port valve was installed at the outlet line of the extraction unit. An increased background signal was obtained when PEEK polymer was used in the construction of the extraction vessel; when stainless steel was used, the blanks improved. The synthesis of methyl esters and butyl esters of fatty acids from triglycerides in edible fat was examined using an immobilized lipase as a catalyst in on-line SFE-SFC. As a result of 30 minutes reaction – extraction time, high yields of fatty acid esters were obtained at a pressure of 150 bar and a temperature of 50°C.     

Concentration of volatile organic compounds from solvents by sustained chromatographic evaporation

A system for quantitative concentration of volatile organic trace compounds present in organic solvents is described. Evaporation of the solvent is carried out inside a glass capillary tube by the action of a carrier gas, and large volumes can be reduced by a repeated sample injection and a cyclic flow reversal. Best recovery is obtained when a barrier of pure solvent is maintained ahead of the sample during concentration. Four rotary valves are employed for sample and solvent injection and direction of the gas flow. In principle, indefinite sample volumes can be handled, the limit being set by system contaminants. The process was evaluated both off-line and on-line to a gas chromatograph. Concentration of compounds like methylcyclopentane, hexane, and cyclohexane present in pentane in the low nanogram range and subsequent on-line transfer to a gas chromatograph could be performed with a quantitative recovery. The technique was applied to analysis of trace volatiles in drinking water. Detection limits were estimated to be approximately 0.02 ng/L for normal hydrocarbons (FID detection) when concentration of a pentane extract from a one litre water sample was carried out.     

Routine analysis of vinicultural relevant fungicides, insecticides and herbicides in soil samples using enhanced solvent extraction (ESE)

Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of various pesticides from a native contaminated soil sample (C_org = 4.4%) using an enhanced solvent extraction (ESE) technique were investigated. The defined settings of temperature (50/150?°C), pressure (180/240 MPa), static and dynamic extraction time (5/15 min and 0/5 min, respectively) yielded results which did not differ significantly (RSD = 5.9–11.8%). In comparison to a classical shake-out extraction method the yielded quantities were on average 14% higher using ESE. The established method achieved a high precision (RSD = 2.8–9.1%) for the pesticides extracted from native contaminated soil samples. A significant influence of the sample matrix on accuracy was not observed. The RSDs of thirteen pesticides extracted from spiked sea sand varied in a similar range from 1.7 to 9.8% and the recoveries were between 83 and 112%. The method has been applied to soil samples from vineyards routinely.     

Biaxial orientation characterization on-line and off-line and structure properties correlations in films

In this paper, biaxial orientation characterization techniques are briefly reviewed. Results obtained using birefringence and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques are presented for different applications: On-line monitoring of birefringence for an amorphous polymer (polystyrene); On-line and off-line determination of orientation (birefringence) of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and finally off-line measurement of orientation on polyethylene (LDPE) films using FTIR. Some typical morphologies of blown LDPE films are reported and discussed. Finally, correlations between orientation on one hand and shrinkage and tear strength on the other are attempted.     

Dual injector solvent elution and focussing technique for the on-line analysis of solid-phase extraction cartridges in HPLC

Summary A new dual injector solvent focussing and elution technique developed for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) greatly improves chromatographic efficiency for the on-line analysis of C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. Solutions containing three benzene homologs were used to characterize the dual injector analysis technique and to compare the chromatographic efficiency of this method with conventional SPE analysis methods. Sampling was performed off-line using a glass precolumn cartridge (3 mm i.d. × 30 mm) packed with 15–35 μm C₁₈ silica. On-line cartridge analysis was achieved with two injection valves in either serial or parallel configuration. The injection loop of the first valve contains the eluting solvent, and the cartridge holder is connected in place of the injection loop of the second valve. When an injection is made, both valves are turned to the inject position, and the solvent plug is forced through the cartridge, focussing the analyte at the solvent front as it elutes the cartridge. Solvent focussing at the head of the column, resulting from preconditioning of the column with a small plug of water during injection, further minimizes the variance of the injection plug and improves the chromatographic efficiency. The technique has potential applications to environmental and biological fluid analysis where analyte preconcentration and resolution from the sample matrix components may be difficult with current SPE methods.     

Routine analysis of vinicultural relevant fungicides, insecticides and herbicides in soil samples using enhanced solvent extraction (ESE)

Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of various pesticides from a native contaminated soil sample (C_org = 4.4%) using an enhanced solvent extraction (ESE) technique were investigated. The defined settings of temperature (50/150 °C), pressure (180/240 MPa), static and dynamic extraction time (5/15 min and 0/5 min, respectively) yielded results which did not differ significantly (RSD = 5.9–11.8%). In comparison to a classical shake-out extraction method the yielded quantities were on average 14% higher using ESE. The established method achieved a high precision (RSD = 2.8–9.1%) for the pesticides extracted from native contaminated soil samples. A significant influence of the sample matrix on accuracy was not observed. The RSDs of thirteen pesticides extracted from spiked sea sand varied in a similar range from 1.7 to 9.8% and the recoveries were between 83 and 112%. The method has been applied to soil samples from vineyards routinely. Received: 28 December 1998 / Revised: 8 March 1999 / Accepted: 11 March 1999     

A Unified Sample Preparation System for Extraction of Various Analyte/Matrix Combinations

A supercritical fluid extraction/enhanced solvent extraction system (SFE/ESE) was used to remove polar and non-polar analytes from various matrices. Extraction of environmental pollutants from soil, additives from low density polyethylene, sulfa drugs from animal tissue, and drug from tablet was performed using both SFE and ESE. Results showed that a single instrumental system can be used to perform both ESE with organic solvents and SFE with carbon dioxide-based fluids. Each method has its own unique advantages and applications. The ability to carry out both solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction with one system has obvious economical advantages.     

Rapid narrow band elution for on-line SPE using a novel solvent plug injection technique

Determination of trace constituents in biological and environmental samples usually requires a pre-concentration step. While solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been widely used, it is slow, labor intensive and adversely affected by analytical errors from handling. On-line SPE eliminates some of the flaws but often suffers from solvent compatibility problems with the subsequent chromatography separation. In this study, we are presenting a technical solution for overcoming some of these compatibility issues, by utilizing a fully automated, focused SPE sample transfer technique utilizing narrow-band solvent plugs, for seamless hyphenation with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or flow injection mass spectrometry (MS). A wide range of pharmaceutical compounds was studied in different sample matrices. Short plugs of high elution strength solvent were generated by means of an electrically actuated sample loop and enrichment and transfer steps monitored using on-line SPE-MS. The impact of the solvent plugs on chromatographic separation was studied using hyphenated SPE-LC-MS. By carefully examining elution profiles of solvent plugs of different compositions, optimum conditions for quantitative elution within well-defined volumes were found for all substances. In addition, the highly focused elution bands resulted in excellent retention time and peak area reproducibilities when injected on-line onto HPLC columns. Finally, to demonstrate proof-of-principle, the fully integrated on-line SPE-LC-MS system was applied to the analysis of spiked urine and river water samples.     

Screening of four beta-blockers and codeine in urine by on-line coupled RPLC-GC with on-line derivatization

On-line coupled reversed phase liquid chromatography-capillary gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) was used in the separation of four derivatized beta-blockers and codeine in urine. Sample clean-up was accomplished in the LC part and compounds were separated in the GC part. After the LC column the aqueous phase was switched to organic solvent by on-line liquid-liquid extraction and the two phases were separated in a sandwich-type phase separator. The organic extract was then transferred to a loop-type LC-GC interface. Beta-blockers were derivatized on-line in the interface before GC analysis. Concurrent eluent evaporation was used during the introduction of the sample fraction, and excess of solvent vapors was removed via an early vapor exit. The sample pretreatment was minimal; the only manual pretreatment step was the filtration of the urine sample.     

Separation and quantification of components of edible fat utilizing open tubular columns in SFC. Sample introduction by direct injection and SFE coupled on-line to SFC

Summary Geometric isomers of fatty acids were separated by open tubular columns in SFC. The concentration of the analytes varied between 9 and 16 μg mL⁻¹. Quantification of triglycerides with repeatability better than 20% were obtained in a home made SFE-SFC unit. A four point calibration curve for both trimyristin and tripalmitin was developed with correlation coefficients of 0.998 and 0.9998, respectively. The limit of quantification was approximately 3 ng for both components. Supercritical CO₂ as extraction solvent in matrix containing lipids increased the recovery of cholesterol by a factor of three. Using immobilized lipase in on-line SFE-SFC quantification of cholesterol in spray dried egg yolk was possible.     

Reversed migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography with off-line and on-line concentration analysis of phenylurea herbicides

Three environmentally important phenylurea herbicides (monuron, isoproturon, diuron) were separated in reversed migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography (RM-MEKC) using 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, 50 mM phosphoric acid, and 15 mM gamma-cyclodextrin. Three on-line concentration techniques are then evaluated to increase the detection sensitivity of the RM-MEKC system. Stacking with reverse migrating micelles (SRMM, water as the sample solvent) provided the best results among the focusing techniques studied. Using a z-shaped detection cell, more than 500-fold increase in peak height is obtained. As a sample preparation and off-line concentration method, solid-phase extraction (SPE) that further improved detection sensitivity was used in the analysis of spiked tap and pond water. For example, 1 parts per billion of each herbicide spiked in tap or pond water was detected by MEKC after SPE and SRMM.     

Fat content for nutritional labeling by supercritical fluid extraction and an on-line lipase catalyzed reaction

A method using sequential supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and enzymatic transesterification has been developed for the rapid determination of total nutritional fat content in meat samples. SFE conditions of 12.16 MPa and 50°C were utilized to extract lipid species from the sample matrix. The enzymatic transesterification of the lipids by methanol was catalyzed by an immobilized lipase isolated from Candida antarctica. Conversion of the triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters was monitored by supercritical fluid chromatography, while the fatty acid content of the extract was determined by capillary gas chromatography (GC). Total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat contents were calculated from the GC data and compared to values from traditional extraction and lipid determination methods. Both off-line SFE and automated SFE followed by on-line GC analysis using two different instruments were utilized in this study. The enzymatic-based SFE method gave comparable results to the organic solvent extraction-based method followed by conventional BF₃-catalyzed esterification.     

Supercritical fluid extraction-high performance liquid chromatography on-line coupling: Extraction of some model aromatic compounds

Summary An SFE-HPLC system has been tested with a simple model aromatic mixture on spiked silica. The spiked silica was extracted with pure CO₂ and the extract retained in a trap packed with C18 material. Quantitative separation and reproducity have been investigated and are reported.     

Supercritical fluid extraction-high performance liquid chromatography on-line coupling: Extraction of some model aromatic compounds

Summary An SFE-HPLC system has been tested with a simple model aromatic mixture on spiked silica. The spiked silica was extracted with pure CO₂ and the extract retained in a trap packed with C18 material. Quantitative separation and reproducity have been investigated and are reported.     

一种新型超临界流体萃取-高效液相色谱在线联用系统的构建

天然产物研究一直是植物学、化学和药学的重要研究领域．通过从天然产物中寻找生物活性成分和先导物是创制新药的有效途径之一．有效成分的提取是天然产物研究中最基本和最关键的环节．超临界流体萃取（Supercritical fluid extraction,简称SFE）是近年来发展较快的一种新型样品提取技术．超临界CO2作为最常用的萃取剂已被用于天然药物中非极性和弱极性有效成分的提取,尤其是挥发性和热敏性的物质．此外,通过加入适当的添加剂还可有效地萃取极性化合物,和传统的化学方法相比,     

On-line SFE-GC for determination of PCBs in human milk and blood serum

On-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction and gas chromatography (SFE-GC) has been utilized for the determination of PCBs and other organochlorine compounds in human milk and blood serum. The procedure involved preconcentration of the sample on C₁₈-silica sorbent in an extraction cell: after precipitation of the proteins up to 20 ml of human milk was concentrated on 0.5 g of sorbent. Serum (up to 5 ml) was applied to the C₁₈ material without pretreatment. Basic alumina was utilized as a selective adsorbent for lipids in the on-line SFE-GC system. The method was used to analyze milk and serum spiked with 0.5 and 10 ng of Aroclor 1260 and the results compared with those obtained by liquid–liquid extraction of serum.     

Quantitative Transfer of In-Gel Digest Products to Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Mass Spectrometry Using On-Line Coupled Extraction

A system is described for the on-line extraction of a digested protein in a gel spot. The extract obtained was on-line transferred to a precolumn, used to desalinate and preconcentrate the sample. The precolumn was switched in-line with an LC-ESI-MS system to separate the digest products prior to detection. By using this approach sample losses were minimized and the sample was quantitatively transferred. The benefits of the system were shown for the in-gel tryptic digest of several model proteins. Using this system, the sensitivity was 13-fold increased compared to the off-line extraction of in-gel digest products leading to a higher sequence coverage and thus a better identification potential. Also, the within day repeatability was a factor 2.5 improvement using the on-line procedure compared to the off-line extraction procedure.     

Direct on-line coupling of small subcritical and supercritical fluid extractors with packed column supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary A mini extractor of 85 L void volume and a micro extractor of 3–4 L void volume have been coupled directly with a packed column SFC and used under sub- and supercritical conditions. The mini extractor is suitable for holding adsorbates which can be on-line extracted and the extract chromatographed (direct SFE-SFC). The micro extractor can be used for direct sample introduction of liquid and solid materials under SF conditions. Thus any solvent interference with the sample and the chromatographic conditions is excluded. Standard samples of wood tar residue, engine oil, and metal organic compounds have been tested.     

Sampling considerations in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Packed column supercritical fluid chromatography, like HPLC, utilizes a sample loop to introduce materials onto the column for analysis. Unlike HPLC the mobile phase in SFC cannot be used to dissolve the sample. In practice, this causes a solvent peak, which can create a problem in the chromatographic interpretation. This paper describes one approach to solving this problem. A valving scheme is used to extract materials with the supercritical CO₂ mobile phase and introduce them onto the column with no external handling. The viability of this method is demonstrated and separations of the CO₂ extracts for several materials are shown on various columns. Comparisons are made for coal and coffee extracts using this on-line method and conventional off-line CH₂Cl₂ extracts. Advantages of the on-line procedure as they apply to chromatography and high information detectors are also discussed.     

Investigation of parameters affecting the on-line combination of supercritical fluid extraction with capillary gas chromatography

Two different injectors, a split/splitless injector and a programmed temperature vaporizer (PTV) injector were investigated as the interface in on-line supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)-capillary gas chromatography (cGC). The parameters affecting the chromatographic peak shapes as well as the quantitative performance of the interfaces in on-line SFE-cGC were identified and studied. Particular attention was paid to the case where modified extraction fluids were used. Experiments were performed on two different samples. The first sample consisted of PAHs spiked on sand at different concentration levels. The other sample was a polymeric material.