Determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in food-packaging materials by axial inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a time-of-flight (TOF) analyser was used for the determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in six food-packaging materials (paper and paper board). The samples (0.20-0.25 g) were digested in concentrated nitric acid in a high pressure microwave oven at 180 °C within 15 min. Two different plasma conditions were applied: cool plasma conditions (0.76 kW; 0.85, 0.89 and 15.5 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of chromium and normal plasma conditions (1.21 kW; 0.66, 0.68 and 13.6 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of cadmium and lead. External calibration was used in combination with rhodium (40 ng g⁻¹) as an internal standard. The detection limits (DL = 3S.D./sensitivity) under the conditions used corresponded to 0.01 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.06 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.07 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.03 ng g⁻¹ () and 0.02 ng g⁻¹ ( and ). The precision (R.S.D.) for six replicate determinations (10 s integration time) of 1 and 10 ng g⁻¹ of each analyte varied from 0.72% () to 4.43% (). The contents of chromium, cadmium and lead in the examined materials were evaluated using the signals of , and . They were in the range: 0.25-0.50 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, not detected (nd) to 0.12 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.28-0.35 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper and 0.50-0.64 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, nd to 0.09 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.67-0.99 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper board.     

Analysis of primary aliphatic short-chain monoamines by LC in water samples

Several derivatization procedures with o-phthaldialdehyde-N-acetylcysteine (OPA-NAC) were compared for a rapid analysis of primary aliphatic short-chain monoamines in water samples by HPLC using a LiChorospher analytical separation column (100RP₁₈ mm i.d., 5 μm). Both the solution and the solid-support assisted off-line derivatization on C₁₈ SPE cartridges were inadequate options because of beginning degradation processes of the instable isoindol derivatives during their transfer to the analytical column. This problem was precluded with the on-column or solid-support assisted on-line derivatization. In the last mentioned procedure, the derivatization took place in a Hypersil C₁₈ precolumn ( mm i.d., 30 μm) connected with an additional preconcentration step resulting in better detection limits (0.002-0.040 μg ml⁻¹ requiring only 150 μl of water sample) than in the on-column procedure (0.08-0.16 μg ml⁻¹). The improved sample handling, the better control of parameters affecting reaction rates, the fully automation of this method with only 10 min analysis time for each sample are further advantageous. The potential of the solid-support assisted on-line derivatization was outlined and applied to water samples from several sources. Recovery values near 100% were obtained.     

Validation of an environmental friendly segmented flow method for the determination of phenol index in waters as alternative to the conventional one

Phenolic compounds are a sort of common pollutants in water. Phenol index becomes an expedite indicator for the evaluation of the contamination level of water samples, in spite of the knowledge of the individual phenol and its derivatives are also important.In this work, an environmental friendly method for the determination of phenols, using a segmented flow system based on the conventional method's reactions without the liquid-liquid extraction step, was validated.Three linear dynamic ranges using C₆H₅OH: 1-10 μg l⁻¹, 10-200 μg l⁻¹ and 0.2-2.5 mg l⁻¹, with a coefficient of variation lower than 2%, were obtained. Several method's performance parameters were determined: limits of detection, limits of quantification, precision through duplicate analysis and trueness using the reference materials purchased from LGC Promochem, RTC no. QCI-043-2 Lot:P1. Measurement uncertainty was evaluated using an interlaboratory approach based on proficiency testing data. Relative combined uncertainty for phenols in water samples, , of 0.054 were obtained, in according to those imposed by the Portuguese Legislation: target for 1 μg l⁻¹ of phenol (surface waters) and target for 500 μg l⁻¹ of phenol (wastewaters).A high efficiency reduction and elimination of reagents and wastes, reduction of analysis time and exposition of the analyst were also obtained.     

Comparison of methods for the determination of total selenium in plasma by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Three sample preparation methods (dilution, microwave digestion and ethanol addition) were evaluated for the determination of Se in human plasma using magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A number of instrumental parameters were also considered, namely the choice of internal standard (Sc, Rh, In) and pre-defined spectral resolution (m/Δm ∼300 (low resolution, LR) and ∼7500 (high resolution, HR)). The isotopes and were selected for analysis avoiding the major and unresolvable Ar dimer interferences associated with other Se isotopes.Ethanol addition was found to be the most suitable and reliable sample preparation method. The optimum ethanol concentration for a 1+9 dilution of the plasma sample was 0.5% (v/v). Indium or Sc were selected over Rh as internal standards as Seronorm™ Level 1 target values were achieved at lower concentrations of ethanol modifier. Representative ICP-MS detection limits for this method using (HR) and (HR), were 0.1 and 0.2 μg l⁻¹.Accurate analysis of Se in Seronorm™ Level 1 (MI0181) was found using either or and HR (86±5 and 83±5 μg l⁻¹ respectively, n=5, In internal standard, target value=83±6 μg l⁻¹). Although offering improved precision (e.g. LR: 0-3% versus HR: 1-6%), accurate results were only obtained with LR for the Seronorm™ Level 1 sample when using (86±1 μg l⁻¹). The major interference precluded accurate Se analysis using and LR for all samples considered. Reliable Se concentrations were only found for a “real” pooled sample when using (HR), in part a result of non-negligible and unresolved interference when using LR. Consistently elevated Se concentrations were found under all conditions when Seronorm™ Level 2 (NO0371) was analysed. These results were confirmed by independent GF-AAS analysis.Magnetic sector ICP-MS with (HR), in combination with the ethanol addition sample preparation method, was used for the analysis of Se in human plasma samples as part of a small pilot study. Average measured selenium concentrations were 102±18 μg l⁻¹ (n=18).     

Determination of total bilirubin in human serum by chemiluminescence from the reaction of bilirubin and peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) was produced by the on-line reaction of acidified hydrogen peroxide with nitrite in a flow system, and peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) was generated from ONOOH in NaOH solution. A weak chemiluminescent (CL) emission was observed due to the production of singlet oxygen ( ) during the decomposition of ONOO⁻. Bilirubin and its conjugate were found to enhance the CL emission of in a suitable micellar medium. For the first time, the feasibility of employing the present CL system for the sensitive and selective determination of total bilirubin contents in human serum was demonstrated and the results were compared with certified values. The present method showed a great improvement on overcoming bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate CL highly insolubility in aqueous solution and exhibiting higher tolerance towards interferences than redox reaction of bilirubin with various oxidizing agents such as sodium hypochlorite and iodine. The recoveries of bilirubin were found to fall in the range between 95 and 108%. The detection limits (S/N=3) for bilirubin and its conjugate were determined to be 10 and 8 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for the consecutive CL detection of a series of bilirubin (30 μg l⁻¹) and bilirubin ditaurite (25 μg l⁻¹) were 3.2 and 2.9% (n=11), respectively.     

Focused microwave-assisted solvent extraction and HPLC determination of effective constituents in Eucommia ulmodies Oliv. (E. ulmodies)

A new focused microwave-assisted solvent extraction method using water as solvent has been developed for leaching geniposidic and chlorogenic acids from Eucommia ulmodies Oliv. The extraction procedures were optimized using a two indexes orthogonal experimental design and graphical analysis, by varying irradiation time, solvent volume, solvent composition and microwave power. The optimum extraction conditions were obtained: for geniposidic acid, 50% micorwave power, 40 s irradiation, and 80% (v/v) aqueous methanol as extraction solvent (20 ml g⁻¹ sample); and for chlorogenic acid, 50% micorwave power, 30 s irradiation, and 20% aqueous methanol (20 ml g⁻¹ sample). The composition of the extraction solvent was optimized and can be directly used as the mobile phase in the HPLC separation. Quantification of organic acids was done by HPLC at room temperature using Spherigel C₁₈ chromatographic column (, i.d. 5 μm), the methanol:water:acetic acid (20:80:1.0, v/v) mobile phase and UV detection at 240 nm. The R.S.D. of the extraction process for geniposidic and chlorogenic acid were 3.8 and 4.1%, respectively.     

Determination of sulfur-containing amino acids by capillary electrophoresis dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis dynamic reaction cell™ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-DRC-ICP-MS) for the determination of sulfur-containing amino acids is described. The sulfur-containing amino acids studied include l-cysteine, l-cystine, dl-homocystine and l-methionine. The species studied were well separated using a 70 cm length×75 μm i.d. fused silica capillary while the applied voltage was set at +22 kV and a 10 mmol l⁻¹ disodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.8) containing 0.1 mmol l⁻¹ EDTA and 0.5 mmol l⁻¹ Triton X-100 was used as the electrophoretic buffer. The sulfur-selective electropherogram was determined at m/z 48 as by using its reaction with O₂ in the reaction cell. The method avoided the effect of polyatomic isobaric interferences at m/z 32 caused by and on by detecting as the oxide ion at m/z 48, which is less interfered. The detection limit of various species studied was in the range of 0.047-0.058 μg S ml⁻¹, which corresponded to the absolute detection limit of 1.3-1.6 pg S based on the injection volume of 27 nl. We determined the concentrations of selected sulfur-containing amino acids in urine and nutritive complement samples. The recovery was in the range of 92-128% for various species.     

Monitoring inorganic mercury and methylmercury species with liquid chromatography-piezoelectric detection

A piezoelectric detection system coupled with a liquid chromatographic system is developed for the speciation of inorganic mercury(II) and methylmercury. Piezoelectric detection has been demonstrated to be a very sensitive detection system for total mercury determination when a gold-coated piezoelectric quartz crystal was used. The analytical features of this detection unit make it very suitable to be used as a detector coupled with a liquid chromatographic system for monitoring mercury species. After separation by a chromatography column (Spherisorb ODS-2, 5 μm,  mm i.d.), mercury species are liberated and reduced, by using stannous chloride, and are detected as an amalgam on the gold-coated piezoelectric quartz crystal, the sensor subsequently was regenerated by passing a peroxydisulfate solution. This detector exhibits good sensitivity, it allows the determination of mercury at sub-ppb concentration levels (0.30-1.20 μg l⁻¹). The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was ±2.7% (n=11) for a 0.5 μg l⁻¹ total mercury concentration. The proposed method is free of interferences and it allowed the determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury species in natural waters.     

Portable flow-injection analyzer with liquid-core waveguide based fluorescence, luminescence, and long path length absorbance detector

We describe a multifunctional flow analysis instrument that is portable ( cm, 2.3 kg) for facile field deployment. Using a 50 cm long Teflon^® AF tubing as final reaction and optical measurement conduit, we combine a liquid-core waveguide (LCW) based fluorescence detector that is transversely illuminated by an addressable light emitting diode array, a chemiluminescence (CL) detector and an absorbance detector with a solid-state broadband (400-700 nm) source. Several illustrative experiments have been carried out to test the performance of the instrument in different detection modes. A S/N=3 limit of detection (LOD) of 0.25 μg l⁻¹ for chromium(VI) was established using the diphenylcarbazide chemistry, and an LOD of 5 μg l⁻¹ was similarly established for Al(III), using Pyrocatechol Violet (PCV) as the chelating chromogenic dye, in both cases using long path absorption detection. The LOD for aqueous hydrogen peroxide was 16 nM using a fluorescence method based on the formation of thiochrome from thiamine and 4 nM by a luminol chemiluminescence method. With a Nafion membrane diffusion scrubber (DS), the LOD was 8.0 pptv for gaseous hydrogen peroxide by the fluorescence method.     

Determination of arsenic, iron and selenium in moss samples using hexapole collision cell, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Different collision gases (H₂, He and premixed 7% H₂ in He) used in the hexapole collision cell of an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) were compared, and the gas-flow rates were optimized for the determination of arsenic (), iron () and selenium (). The study showed that the argon-based interferences at mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) of 56, 75 and 80 can be overcome by the optimized gas flows (7.5 ml min⁻¹ premixed 7% H₂ in He and 2 ml min⁻¹ H₂) in the hexapole collision cell. Detection limits of 15.5 ng l⁻¹ for iron () and 29 ng l⁻¹ for selenium () in 2% (v/v) HNO₃ were obtained under optimized collision cell conditions. The detection limit for arsenic () obtained in difficult hydrochloride acid matrix (5% HCl (v/v)) was 153 ng l⁻¹. The accuracy of the optimized method was confirmed by analyzing two moss reference materials. The results obtained by ICP-MS for arsenic, selenium and iron from both moss reference samples were, in most cases, in good agreement with the certified values.     

Hetero dimer from tetrakisammonium cavitand and tetratopic crown ether cavitand

Hetero dimer between tetrakis(m-ammonium)cavitand and tetrakis(dibenzo-25-crown-8)cavitand 5 was formed in CDCl₃ at room temperature. The effects of solvent polarity and temperature on the stability of were studied and the thermodynamic parameters for the formation of are , ΔH⁰ = −67.4 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS⁰ = −201.6 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.     

Thermochemical study of two anhydrous polymorphs of caffeine

The mean values of the standard massic energy of combustion of caffeine in phase I (or alpha) and in phase II (or beta) measured by static-bomb combustion calorimetry in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, are Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, I) = −(21823.27 ± 0.68) J · g⁻¹ and Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, II) = −(21799.96 ± 1.08) J · g⁻¹, respectively.The standard (p^° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation in condensed phase for each form was derived from the corresponding standard molar enthalpies of combustion as, and .The difference between the standard enthalpy of formation of the two polymorphs in condensed phase was also evaluated by using reaction-solution calorimetry. The obtained result, 2.04 ± 0.25 kJ · mol⁻¹, is in agreement, within the uncertainty, with the difference between the molar enthalpies of formation obtained from combustion experiments (4.5 ± 3.2) kJ · mol⁻¹, which can be considered as an internal test for consistency of the results.A value for the standard enthalpy of formation of caffeine in the gaseous state was proposed: , estimated from the values of the standard enthalpies of formation of both crystalline forms obtained in this work, and the data on standard enthalpies of sublimation collected from the literature.     

Crystal structure, electronic structure and physical properties of the new low-valent thallium silicon telluride Tl6Si2Te6 in comparison to Tl6Ge2Te6

The title compounds were prepared from the elements in the stoichiometric ratio at 800 °C under exclusion of air. Tl₆Si₂Te₆ crystallizes in the space group P1¯, isostructural with Tl₆Ge₂Te₆, with , , , α=89.158(2)°, β=96.544(2)°, γ=100.685(2)°, (Z=2). Its structure is composed of dimeric [Si₂Te₆]⁶⁻ units with a Si-Si single bond, while the Tl atoms are irregularly coordinated by five to six Te atoms. Numerous weakly bonding Tl-Tl contacts exist. Both title compounds are black semiconductors with small band gaps, calculated to be 0.9 eV for Tl₆Si₂Te₆ and 0.5 eV for Tl₆Ge₂Te₆. The Seebeck coefficients are +65 μV K⁻¹ in case of Tl₆Si₂Te₆ and +150 μV K⁻¹ in case of Tl₆Ge₂Te₆ at 300 K, and the electrical conductivities are 5.5 and 3 Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Reactions of pyridyl donors with halogens and interhalogens: an X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman investigation

Three different N-donors L, namely N-ethyl-N′-3-pyridyl-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (1), N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (2), and tetra-2-pyridyl-pyrazine (3), bearing one, two and four pyridyl substituents, respectively, have been reacted with halogens X₂ (X = Br, I) or interhalogens XY (X = I; Y = Cl, Br). CT σ-adducts L · nXY, bearing linear N?XY moieties (L = 3; X = I; Y = Br, I; n = 2), and salts containing the protonated cationic donors H_nLⁿ⁺ (L = 1 − 3; n = 1, 2, 4), counterbalanced by Cl⁻, Br⁻, , , , , I₂Br⁻, , or anions, have been isolated. Among the reactions products, (H1⁺)Cl⁻, (H1⁺)Br⁻, , , and 3 · 2IBr have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The nature of the products has been elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy supported by MP2 and DFT calculations.     

Determination of trace alpha-fetoprotein variant by affinity adsorption solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry and its application to the forecast of human diseases

In the presence of ion perturber LiAc, 4-generation polyamidoamine dendrimers (4G-D) could emit strong and stable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signal at on nitrocellulose membrane (NCM), and Triton X-100 could sharply enhance the RTP signal of 4G-D. Triton X-100-4G-D was used to label concanavalin agglutinin (Con A) to get the labeling product Triton X-100-4G-D-Con A. Quantitative specific affinity adsorption (AA) reaction between Triton X-100-4G-D-Con A and α-fetoprotein variant (AFP-V) could be carried out on the surface of NCM, whose product Triton X-100-4G-D-Con A-AFP-V could emit strong and stable RTP and its ΔI_p was proportional to the content of AFP-V. According to the facts above, a new affinity adsorption solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry (AA-SS-RTP) for the determination of trace AFP-V by Con A labeled with Triton X-100-4G-D was established. Detection limits of this method were 0.23 fg spot⁻¹ (direct method, corresponding concentration: 5.8 × 10⁻¹³ g mL⁻¹) and 0.13 fg spot⁻¹ (sandwich method, corresponding concentration: 3.2 × 10⁻¹³ g mL⁻¹). It has been successfully applied to determine the content of AFP-V in human serum and forecast human diseases, for its high sensitivity, long RTP lifetime, good repeatability, high accuracy and little background perturbation with at the long wavelength area. Meanwhile, the mechanism for the determination of trace AFP-V using AA-SS-RTP was also discussed.     

A catenated anion receptor based on indolocarbazole

A catenated anion receptor 7 comprising two indolocarbazole units was prepared by olefin ring-closing metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. Receptor 7 possesses a cage-like cavity where anions are encapsulated by forming four hydrogen bonds in the order of Cl⁻ > AcO⁻ >  >  > Br⁻ >  > I⁻ ≈  in 1% H₂O/acetone.     

Comparative studies on the metabolic rate of the isopod Idotea chelipes (Pallas) inhabiting different regions of the Baltic Sea

The heat production rate of the euryhaline isopod Idotea chelipes inhabiting two geographically and ecologically different regions, the Gulf of Gdansk (6.8 psu) (psu, practical salinity unit) and the Mecklenburg Bay (11.8 psu), was examined by direct calorimetry. The wet weights of specimens from the two regions varied from 0.005 to 0.030 g and between 0.004 and 0.036 g for I. chelipes from the Gulf of Gdansk and Mecklenburg Bay, respectively, and were not statistically different (P > 0.05). Animals that exhibited locomotor activity were characterized by metabolic rates higher by 12-77% compared to those of inactive specimens. The mean specific metabolic rates of I. chelipes from the Gulf of Gdansk and Mecklenburg Bay were 7.5 ± 3.4 J h⁻¹ g⁻¹ ww (n = 28) and 8.4 ± 2.6 J h⁻¹ g⁻¹ ww (n = 28), respectively. Metabolic rates of males and females were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship between specific metabolic rate (SMR) and wet weight (ww) was described within the experimental mass range by the power functions for I. chelipes from the Gulf of Gdansk and for those from Mecklenburg Bay.