Electromagnetic induction-assisted heating as a new method for on-line cloud point extraction of cadmium from water samples

We report on a novel method for on-line cloud point extraction (CPE) for preconcentration of cadmium ions. It is based on electromagnetic induction-assisted heating (EMIH) of iron particles in a packed bed contained in a quartz tube that acts as an on-line CPE enrichment column. The cadmium complex of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol is quantitatively retained by the column under the cloud point temperature with the help of EMIH. The column was then eluted with alcoholic borax buffer at room temperature and on-line coupled to FAAS. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection (3 s_b/b) and limit of quantification (10 s_b/b) are 0.21 μg?L^?1 and 0.70 μg?L^?1 of Cd(II), respectively, and the relative standard deviation is 3.8 % (for n?=?8; at 20 ng?mL^?1). An enhancement factor of 76 is typically achieved. The correlation coefficient of the calibration graph using the present method was 0.9986. The method was successfully applied to determine Cd(II) in water samples

A Multicolumn Ion Chromatographic Determination of Nitrate and Sulfate in Waters Containing Humic Substances

Abstract

A three-column ion chromatographic system for the removal of humic substances from natural waters, and subsequent on-line concentration and determination of nitrate and sulfate using non-suppressed ion chromatography is presented. Humic substances are removed using disposable adsorption columns packed with chemically bonded amine silica material. The sample is directly transfered to an ion exchange column where the anions are concentrated ca 10 times. After reversing the flow, the ions are transferred to a third column where they are separated and quantified. The detection limit is less than 1 mg L^?1 of nitrate or sulfate in water containing 45mgL^?1 of humic acid.     

Flow injection analysis for traces of zinc with immobilized carbonic anhydrase

A small column packed with immobilized bovine carbonic anhydrase is used for determination of traces of zinc in aqueous solution, based on the measurement of recovered esterase activity of the metal-free apoenzyme after taking up zinc from the sample solution. Conditions for the removal of zinc from the immobilized enzyme and for activity measurement are established. A linear calibration graph is obtained between 1 × 10^?8 and 4 × 10^?7 g of zinc. Then the method is successfully applied to the determination of zinc in tea, sediment and spring water.     

Flow-injection determination of sodium and potassium by separationon a silica column and extraction-spectrophotometry with benzo-18-crown-6 and tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester

Sodium and potassium ions in waters are determined by flow-injection extraction-spectrophotometry. The ion-association complexes formed between the metal/crown ether cations and the tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester anion (TBPE^-) are extracted into chlorobenzene/benzene (1:3) and the absorbance of the organic phase is measured after phase separation with a porous membrane. Sodium and potassium are separated on-line with a column (1 mm i.d.×30 cm) packed with silica gel (100-200 mesh). The manifold comprises four streams, each at 0.8 ml min^?1. The sample is injected into a water stream and mixed with a reagent stream containing lithium acetate and benzo-18-crown-6 before entering the silica gel column; after the separation, the stream is mixed with EDTA (trilithium salt) and lithium hydroxide, and then with the extraction solution containing TBPE.H. Extraction proceeds in a 2-m coil; the absorbance of the organic phase is measured at 620 nm. CAlibration graphs are linear inthe ranges 0–×10^?3 M sodium and 0–2×10^?4 M potassium. The sample throughput is 15 h^?1. The procedure is applicable to river and tap waters.     

Preconcentration of metal ions on silica gel modified with 3(1-imidazolyl)propyl groups

Silica gel functionalized with 3(1-imidazolyl)propyl groups and packed in a glass column is used to adsorb and preconcentrate metal ions from ethanol solution. Elution is done with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid in an ethanol/water mixture having a mole fraction of water of 0.85. The modified silica is applied to preconcentrate metal ions (Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn and Cd) from commercial ethanol, normally used as engine fuel. The method is suitable for quantifying these metals at low μg 1^?1 levels.     

Flow-injection determination of d-mannitol with immobilized mannitol dehydrogenase

A flow-injection system is described for the determination of d-mannitol. Mannitol dehydrogenase is immobilized on poly(vinyl alcohol) beads and packed in a column (5 cm × 4 mm i.d.). The NADH formed is detected fluorimetrically. The response is linear between 5 × 10^?7 and 1 × 10^?4 M mannitol and the detection limit is 1 × 10^?7 M. The throughput is 30 samples per hour. The reactor is stable for at least 8 weeks.     

Flow-injection determination of l-tyrosine in serum with an immobilized tyrosinase reactor and fluorescence detection

Tyrosinase is immobilized on controlled-pore glass beads and packed into a stainless-steel column (5 cm × 4 mm i.d.). Serum is deproteinized with tungstate and sulphuric acid. The carrier stream is 0.3 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2), and is mixed with 5 M potassium hydroxide after the enzyme reactor. The fluorescent dihydroxyindole formed is detected at 490 nm (excitation at 375 nm). The calibration graph is linear for 1 × 10^?7 ?1 × 10^?4 M tyrosine; the detection limit is 2 × 10^?8 M.     

An Efficient Separation Method of Polysaccharides: Preparation of an Antitumor Polysaccharide APS-2 from Auricularia polytricha by Radial Flow Chromatography

Auricularia polytricha is an edible mushroom, quite popular in China. Modern pharmacology research indicate that A. polytricha polysaccharides possess antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. In this paper, an antitumor Auricularia polytricha polysaccharide (APS)-2 was purified by radial flow chromatography (RFC) in a column of 500 mL bed-volume (40 cm i.d × 15 cm) packed with DEAE52-cellulose anion ion-exchange resin. The optimal separation conditions were: sample flow-velocity 15–20 mL min^?1, sample volume 160–200 mL, and elution with distilled water and 0.2 M NaCl at a velocity of 35–45 mL min^?1. The yield and content of APS-2 obtained under these conditions were 182 mg g^?1 total polysaccharides and 98.35 %, respectively. The study provides guidelines for the separation and purification of polysaccharides using a radial flow chromatography column.     

Indirect Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Ammonia,Thiosulfate and Cyanide in an Unsegmented Flow System

Abstract

A flow injection analysis method (FIA), has been developed for the determination of cyanide, thiosulfate and ammonia by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Aqueous solution of the analyte was injected into an on-line column containing glass beads and packed with silver chloride and deionized water was used as the carrier. The analyte dissolves the silver chloride and the dissolved silver complex is introduced to the nebulizer of the AAS. This method has proved to be sensitive, simple and precise. Detection limits of 1.0 × 10^?7 M, 5.0×10^?7 M and 5.0x10^?6M were obtained for thiosulfate, cyanide and ammonia, respectively. The precision of the technique was 2.0%, 2.4% and 1.4% in case of thiosulfate, cyanide and ammonia, respectively. The effects of flow rate and sample volume on the FIA/AAS signals are presented.     

Influence of the diameter of monolithic capillary columns on their gas chromatography characteristics

Divinylbenzene polymer monolithic capillary columns were prepared on the basis of capillaries 0.01 to 0.53 mm in diameter. Separation properties of the columns were investigated with the use of a test mixture of light hydrocarbons. The permeability and C parameter in the Van Deemter equation were determined for all the columns. For the most part, the columns had similar characteristics: permeability was in the range (2.2 ± 0.2) × 10^?9 cm², with parameter C in the range (0.7 ± 0.2) × 10^?3 s (with n-butane as a sorbate). It was thus established that capillary diameter has only a slight effect on the efficiency of monolithic capillary columns (unlike packed capillary columns and microcolumns, whose properties, according to the literature data, depend strongly on the column diameter). The difference in properties between the narrowest monolithic column (capillary diameter 0.01 mm) and the others is explained by column overloading.     

The determination of trace amounts of heavy metals in waters by a flow-injection system including ion-exchange preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

The flow-injection system combines on-line ion-exchange preconcentration with atomic absorption spectrometry (a.a.s.) for the determination of traces (μg l^?1) of heavy metals in water samples. Miniature columns packed with 60–100 mesh chelating resin (122) with a salicylic acid functional group are used for preconcentration. A multifunctional rotary sampling valve which incorporated two parallel sampling columns allows sampling, exchange, elution and a.a.s. to be achieved sequentially. The increases in sensitivity for nickel, copper, lead and cadmium were 20–28-fold at a sampling rate of 40 h^?1 with 5-ml samples. Relative standard deviations were 1.5–4.1%. The recoveries of these four metals added to tap, sea and polluted waters were generally satisfactory, except for cadmium in polluted water. The effects of column diameter and elution flow rates on sensitivity are discussed. Possible interferences are described.     

Retention profile and selective separation of 90Y from 89Sr using zirconium-vanadate gel packed column

A low cost and selective method has been developed for the separation of trace concentrations of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ from its parent ⁸⁹Sr²⁺. The proposed procedure is based upon complete retention of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ onto zirconium-vanadate (Zr-V) gel ion exchanger packed column from aqueous solutions containing HCl (1.0 × 10^?5mol dm^?3). Under these conditions, ⁸⁹Sr²⁺ species were not retained onto Zr-V sorbent. The retained ⁹⁰Y³⁺ species were then recovered with HCl. The performance of Zr-V sorbent packed column was determined via the height equivalent to the theoretical plates (HETP) and the number of plates (N). Validation of the developed method was checked by calculating the radionuclidic purity in terms of purification factor (P _f = A/A₀) and radiochemical purity of the eluted ⁹⁰Y from the column. Zr-V sorbent packed column offers unique advantages of retention and quantitative separation of ⁹⁰Y from retention over conventional solid sorbents in rapid and effective separation of trace concentration of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ from ⁸⁹Sr²⁺ in their aqueous equilibrium media.     

Application of Graphene as a Sorbent for Simultaneous Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Amounts of Cobalt and Nickel in Environmental Water and Vegetable Samples

A new method using a column packed with graphene as adsorbent was developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) prior to their determinations by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Several factors influencing the extraction efficiency of Co and Ni and their subsequent determinations, such as pH, amounts of the chelating agent, flow rates of sample and eluent solution, eluent type and its volume, breakthrough volume, and adsorption capacity were established. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 4.0‐200.0 μg L^?1 and 5.0‐200.0 μg L^?1 with detection limits of 0.36 μg L^?1 and 0.51 μg L^?1 for Co and Ni, respectively. Good relative standard deviations for ten determinations of 100.0 μg L^?1 of Co and Ni were 3.2 and 3.6%, respectively. The results for determination of Co and Ni in tap water, river water, sea water, vegetable and spiked samples have demonstrated the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method. To validate the proposed method, three certified reference materials of environment water (GSBZ 50030‐94 and GSB 07‐1186‐2000) and tomato leaf (GSBZ 51001‐94) were analyzed, and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Determination of Chlorophenols and Alkylphenols in Water and Juice by Solid Phase Derivative Extraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

A solid phase derivative extraction method using acetic anhydride was developed for the determination of chlorophenols and alkylphenols in water and fruit juice by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The quantitative extraction was performed by passing 100 mL of sample prepared in 0.1 mol L^?1 sodium hydroxide through a column packed with 500 mg of a strong anion-exchange resin at a flow rate of 0.75 mL min^?1. The retained phenols were quantitatively derivatized in the column by the introduction of 0.25 mL of acetic anhydride. The derivatized phenols were eluted with 3.0 mL of hexane and the effluent was dried under nitrogen. The final volume was diluted to fifty microliters with hexane and analyzed by GC–MS. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration factors of 2000, limits of detection between 0.005 and 1.796 µg L^?1, and relative standard deviations of 2.1% to 6.7% were obtained. The method was successfully applied to wastewater and fruit juice and the recoveries of phenols were between 76% and 111%.     

Simultaneous separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of copper (II), cobalt (II) and silver (I) by modified Amberlyst®15 resin

A solid phase extraction method for simultaneous preconcentration and separation of trace amounts of copper, cobalt and silver in different samples, using a column packed with modified Amberlyst®15 resin is developed. Amberlyst®15 resin was modified with 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine and then the modified resin was used as a support material for the solid phase extraction and preconcentration of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) ions from aqueous solution in the pH range 3.5–4.5. The adsorbed metal ions on the column were quantitatively eluted with a 7% thiourea solution prepared in 2?mol?L^?1 HNO₃, which were detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of analytical parameters including pH of the solution, eluent type, flow rate of samples, eluent and matrix ions were investigated for optimization of the presented procedure. The detection limits were 2.1, 0.9 and 0.9?ng?mL^?1 for Cu(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) ions, respectively based on the three times the standard deviations of the blanks. The preconcentration factor was 112.5. The calibration graphs were obtained in the ranges of 0.05 to 10.0, 0.03 to 13.0 and 0.04 to 9.0?µg?mL^?1 for Cu(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) ions concentrations, respectively. Relative standard deviations (n?=?7) for Cu(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) ions were found ±2.5 %, ±0.84% and ±3.8% respectively. The method was applied to the determination of mentioned ions in well water, waste water and lettuce sample.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical formulations using a solid-phase reactor with copper(II) phosphate

In this work, a flow-injection spectrophotometric method for dipyrone determination in pharmaceutical formulations was developed. Dipyrone sample solutions were injected into a carrier stream of deionized water and the reaction was carried out in a solid-phase reactor (12 cm, 2.0 mm i.d.) packed with Cu₃(PO₄)_2(s) entrapped in a matrix of polyester resin. The Cu(II) ions were released from the solid phase reactor by the formation of Cu(II)-(dipyrone)_n complex. When the complex is released, it reacts with 0.02% m/v alizarin red S in deionized water to produce a Cu(VABO₃)₃ complex whose absorbance was monitored at 540 nm. The calibration graph was linear over the range 5.0×10^?5–4.0×10^?4 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 2.0×10^?5 mol L^?1 and relative standard deviation for 10 successive determinations of 1.5% (2.0×10^?4 mol L^?1 dipyrone solution). The calculated sample throughput was 60 h^?1. The column was stable for at least 8 h of continuous use (500 injections) at 25°C. Pharmaceutical formulations were analyzed and the results from an official procedure measurement were compared with those from the proposed FIA method in order to validate the latter method.      

Tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium thiocyanate adsorbent supported on naphthalene for the preconcentration and determination of cobalt in aluminium alloys and steels using atomic absorption spectrometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (TDBA) and ammonium thiocyanate on naphthalene provides a simple, rapid and selective technique of preconcentrating cobalt from up to 200 ml of aqueous solution. Cobalt reacts with sodium 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate (nitroso-R salt) to form a brown, water-soluble chelate anion. The chelate anion forms a water-insoluble Co-nitroso-R salt-TDBA complex on naphthalene packed in a column and trace cobalt is quantitatively retained on the naphthalene in the pH range 2.7–11.0 at a flow-rate of 2 ml min^?1. The solid mass is stripped from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and cobalt is measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) at 241 nm. The calibration graph is linear over the concentration range 0.5–15μg Co in 5 ml of dimethylformamide solution. Seven replicate determinations of 9 μg of cobalt gave a mean absorbance of 0.095 with a relative standard deviation of 1.7%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.0834μg ml^?1 (0.240 μg ml^?1 for direct AAS on the aqueous solution). The proposed method was utilized for the determination of cobalt in standard aluminium alloys and steel samples.     

Direct GC determination of methylmercury chloride on HBr-methanol-treated capillary columns

Summary Gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) for the analysis of methylmercury choloride (MMC) using a packed column and a capillary column has been investigated. The columns were 2% silicone OV-227 Uniport HP glass column and a DB-17 capillary column, each pretreated by about ten injections of HBr-methanol solution. MMC was separated as a sharp peak by the HBr-teated column and determined directly by ECD without derivatisation. The mass spectrum of MMC indicated that halide exchange from chloride to bromide proceeded during separation. The minimum detectable concentrations were approximately 5 ng mL⁻¹ on the packed column, and 2 ng mL⁻¹ on the capillary. Calibration curves showed good linearity between 5–200 ng mL⁻¹ for the packed column, and between 2–200 ng mL⁻¹ for the capillary. Relative standard deviations of peak areas were 0.95% for the packed column and 0.43% for the capillary at the level of 100 ng mL⁻¹ in both cases. The column treatment technique was applicable to determination of methylmercury in fish samples.     

Determination of trace amounts of plutonium in low-active liquid wastes from spent nuclear-fuel reprocessing plants by flow injection-based solid-phase extraction/electrochemical detection system

A flow injection-based electrochemical detection system coupled to a solid-phase extraction column was developed for the determination of trace amounts of plutonium in low-active liquid wastes from spent nuclear-fuel reprocessing plants. The oxidation state of plutonium in a sample solution was adjusted to Pu(VI) by the addition of silver(II) oxide. A sample solution was made up in 3 mol L^?1 HNO₃ and loaded onto a column packed with UTEVA^® with 3 mol L^?1 HNO₃ as the carrier. Plutonium(VI) was adsorbed onto the resin, and interfering elements were removed by rinsing the column with 3 mol L^?1 HNO₃. Subsequently, the adsorbed Pu(VI) was eluted with 0.01 mol L^?1 HNO₃, and then introduced directly into the flow-through electrolysis cell with boron-doped diamond electrode. The eluted Pu(VI) was detected by an electrochemical amperometric method at a working potential of 0.1 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The current produced on reduction of Pu(VI) was continuously monitored and recorded. The plutonium concentration was calculated from the relationship between the peak area and concentration of plutonium. The relative standard deviation of ten analyses was 1.1% for a plutonium solution of 25 μg L^?1 containing 50 ng of Pu. The detection limit calculated from three-times the standard deviation was 0.82 μg L^?1 (1.6 ng of Pu).     

Integrated Retention/Spectrophotometric Detection Method for the Determination of Formaldehyde

Abstract

An integrated-sensor method for the determination of formaldehyde based on retention of the reaction product of the analyte with p-rosaniline and sulfite in a flow-cell packed with Dowex 1-X-8 anion exchange resin was developed. The method has a good selectivity with a detection limit of 0.3 μg ml^?1 (1 ml sample) or 75 ng ml^?1 (2 ml sample), and a linear range between 1–30 μg ml^?1. The relative standard deviations (n = 11) were 2.8 and 1.3% for 2 and 20 μg ml^?1 formaldehyde, respectively. Depending on the working conditions, the sampling frenquency ranged between 10 and 18 h^?1. The method was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in well water.