Preconcentration and matrix isolation of heavy metals through a two-stage solvent extraction in a flow system

Metal ions (Cd, Cu, Pb, Co and Ni) in trace amounts were isolated from sample matrices and concentrated by extraction in a flow system. The sample flow was first mixed with buffer and reagent (carbamates) and the combined aqueous flow was next segmented with trichlorotrifluoroethane (Freon 113). The metal complexes were extracted into the organic phase in a 2-m long coil which was followed by a separator with a teflon membrane. The organic phase passed on to a second segmentor where an acidic, aqueous mercury(II) solution was added. Back-extraction to the aqueous solution took place in a 1-m long coil. The Freon was removed in a second membrane separator and the aqueous phase was collected and analyzed by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The enrichment factors were of the order of 15–20 and the recoveries were 90–100% from the sub-μg l^?1 level up to 20–50 μg l^?1. The recoveries decrease at concentrations above 50 μg l^?1, presumably because of slow dissolution of precipitated complexes in the sample solutions. The observed recoveries for copper were generally somewhat lower, being in the range 80–90%.     

Determination of total phosphorus in waters with amperometric detection by coupling of flow-injection analysis with continuous microwave oven digestion

For the determination of total phosphorus in waters by flow-injection analysis, a continuous microwave oven decomposition with subsequent amperometric detection of orthophosphate is proposed. The percentage digestion was examined for two different decomposition reagents and by varying the pH of the carrier and the length and diameter of the digestion coil. With potassium peroxodisulphate decomposition the recoveries of phosphorus vary from 91 to 100% for organic phosphorus compounds, and with perchloric acid decomposition the recoveries vary from 60 to 70% for inorganic polyphosphates. Calibration graphs are linear for up to 30 mg P l^?1, the determination limit is 0.1 mg P l^?1 and the precision of the method is 3% (relative standard deviation) (n = 5) at 5 mg P l^?1. The sampling rate is 20 h^?1. Good recoveries of phosphorus after addition to domestic waste water sample are obtained.     

Immobilization of lactate as an electroactive indicator on pencil graphite electrode for the development of a new electrochemical biosensor for the detection of lactate dehydrogenase

A biosensor was developed for the detection of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme using a lactate modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The sensor relies on the immobilization of the lactate on PGE, and LDH detection is based on the decrease of lactate peak current following oxidation to pyruvate in the presence of LDH. Square wave voltammetric technique was used for the assay of signals in the range of ?0.6 to 0.8 V and a frequency of 25 Hz for the determination of LDH. The dependence of the response was investigated in terms of reaction time, washing time and LDH and NAD⁺ amounts. Also, the electrochemical behavior of LDH treatment on the lactate modified PGE was studied. The electrode showed good selectivity, repeatability and an operational stability of about 90% of its original response for two weeks. Moreover, the sensor displayed a linear response range from 0.36?C2.13 U ??l^?1 for LDH with a detection limit of 0.16 U ??l^?1. The response time of the LDH-treated lactate modified PGE was found to be 2 s. The relative standard deviation (RSD) obtained was 3.5% (for LDH 0.71 U ??l^?1 and n = 3).     

Continuous-flow extraction of organophosphorus pesticides coupled on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography

A continuous-flow extraction system coupled on-line with a high-performance liquid chromatograph with an ultraviolet detector is used to study the extraction of three organophosphorus pesticides (fenthion, azinphos methyl and diazinon) from aqueous samples with n-heptane as the organic solvent. Diazinon was not extracted significantly. The influence on the extraction of different parameters (coil length, flow rate and phase volume ratio) were studied. The calibration graphs are linear for 0.5–7 mg l^?1 and 8–20 mg l^?1 foor azinphos methyl where the percentage extraction (E%) is 90% and 70%, respectively, and up to 4 mg l^?1 for fenthion, where the E% is 33%. The detection limits and the relative standard deviations are 0.04 and 0.09 mg l^?1, and 3.4 and 5.3%, for azinphos methyl fenthion, respectively. Other pesticides and related compounds were found not to interfere. The sample throughput of this method was 15 h^?1.     

Bioluminescent Flow Sensors: L-Alanine Determination in Serum and Urine

Abstract

A continuous flow bioluminescent method for L-alanine analysis in serum and urine has been developed. Serum can be analyzed directly after simple filtration. Response is linear from 50 to 1500 pmoles in biological matrix. Alanine dehydrogenase is immobilized onto a nylon coil separated from the reactor coil containing bioluminescent enzymes. The stability of nylon immobilized enzymes is high (over three months) and more than 900 samples can be analyzed with few mg of enzymes. The results obtained with the bioluminescent sensor agree well with those obtained by ion exchange chromatography (amino acid analyzer).     

Bioluminescent assays with immobilized firefly luciferase based on flow injection analysis

A flow-injection manifold incorporating immobilized firefly luciferase is described. The detector design and reaction conditions are discussed and results are presented for the determination of adenosine-5′-triphosphate over the range 1 × 10^?12?1 × 10^?5 M. Modifications for creatine phoshokinase (10–400 U l^?1) and creatine phosphate (10^?t–10^?1 M), both determined indirectly via ATP, are also described.     

Flow-injection technique for the determination of low levels of phosphorus in natural waters

An inexpensive flow-injection instrument for determining low concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus in natural waters is reported. The unique feature is the use of an inexpensive detector consisting of a flow cell and a simple photometer that incorporates a super-bright light-emitting diode as the source and a photodiode as the detector. The tin(II) chloride-molybdate method was optimized using a modified simplex optimization method. Silicate interference up to 5 mg Si l^?1 was removed by addition of 0.10% (w/v) tartaric acid. Using the tartaric acid-modified optimized reagents, a detection limit of 0.6 μg P l^?1 was achieved. The method was linear over the range 0–100 μg P l^?1 with an excellent precision (r.s.d. 2.9% at 2.0 and 0.5% at 50 μg P l^?1). An in-line pre-concentration anion-exchange column was used to obtain an even lower detection limit of 0.1 μg P l^?1 and applied to the analysis of real samples.     

Electrochemical Reduction and Voltammetric Determination of Metronidazole Benzoate at Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

Abstract

A metalloporphyrin incorporated carbon paste sensor has been developed for the determination of metronidazole benzoate (MTZB). Zn(II) complex of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenyl) porphyrin (TMHPP) was used as the active material. The MTZB gave a well-defined reduction peak at?0.713 V in 0.1 mol l^?1 phosphate buffer solution of pH around 7. Compared with bare carbon paste electrode (CPE), the TMHPP Zn(II) modified electrode significantly enhanced the reduction peak current of MTZB as well as lowered its reduction potential. Under optimum conditions the reduction peak current was proportional to MTZB concentration over the range 1 × 10^?3 mol l^?1 to 1 × 10^?5 mol l^?1. The detection limit was found to be 4.36 × 10^?6 mol l^?1. This sensor has been successfully applied for the determination of MTZB in pharmaceutical formulations and urine samples.     

The kinetic determination of clinically significant enzymes in an automated flow-injection system with fluorescence detection

An automated flow-injection manifold is described for the kinetic determination of enzyme activities by a stopped-flow procedure with fluorescence detection. The linear calibration range for alkaline phosphatase is 0/2-250 U l^?1 with a precision of 2%; sample thoughput is 35/2-40 h^?1. Linear responses were also obtained for lipase (0/2-100 U l^?1), acethylcholinesterase (0/2-500 U l^?1) and chymotrypsin (0/2-200 U l^?1). The advantages of this approach to the determination of plasma enzyme activities include sensitivity and the small sample and reagent volumes needed.     

Determination of Ammonia in Water Using Flow Injection Analysis with Automatic Pervaporation Enrichment

Abstract

An automated ammonia monitoring system has been developed by putting a pervaporation unit in an enrichment cycle used in flow injection analysis mode. In the proposed system, an enrichment cycle was equipped to enable the adjustment for the measuring range of ammonium by controlling the duration of the enrichment circulation. Therefore, the system was capable to determine ammonia in both the surface water with low ammonia concentration and the ammonia-rich wastewater with the linear dynamic range of 0.05–15 mg l^?1 and 15–50 mg l^?1, respectively. The relative standard deviations were less than 1.9% and the quantification limit is as low as 0.03 mg l^?1. The sampling frequency is 8–10 h^?1.     

Sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of zinc at ultra-trace levels

An ultra-trace method based on the reaction of zinc with salicylthiocarbohydrazone (SATCH) and Triton X-100 as a non-ionic surfactant was developed for the fluorimetric determination of zinc at the picogram level. The reaction is carried out in the pH range 4.4–4.7 in an aqueous ethanolic medium [52% (v/v) ethanol]. The influence of the reaction variables is discussed. The detection limit is 10 pg ml^?1 and the range of application is 0.01–500 μg l^?1, with an optimum range of 0.04–400 μg l^?1. The relative standard deviations are 0.68% (0.01–0.1 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.41% (0.1–1.0 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.64% (1–10 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.82% (10–100 μg l^?1 of zinc) and 0.15% (100–500 μg l^?1 of zinc). The method is highly sensitive and selective in the presence of Cd^II and Hg^II. The effect of interferences from other metal ions and anions was studied; the masking action is discussed. The advantages of the proposed method include its high sensitivity, simplicity and selectivity.     

Ultrasensitive Assay of Gatifloxacin at Picogram Level Based on its Enhancing Effect on the Myoglobin‐Luminol Chemiluminescence Reaction

Abstract

Picogram‐level gatifloxacin was determined based on its significantly catalyzed effect on myoglobin‐luminol chemiluminescence (CL) reaction in the flow injection system. The enhanced chemiluminescence intensity was linear with gatifloxacin concentration in the range from 50 ngl^?1–10 µg l^?1 (r²=0.9995), and the detection limit was 20 ng l^?1 (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 ml min^?1 for each line, a complete analytical process could be performed within 0.5 min, including sampling and washing, with a relative standard deviation of less than 4.0% (n=7). The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of gatifloxacin in tablets, human serum and urine samples with the recovery from 97.4–104.5%.     

The application of strongly oxidizing agents in flow injection analysis : Part 4. Manganese(VI) and Copper(III)

The application of manganese(VI) and copper(III) in strongly alkaline solutions as strong oxidizing reagents in flow injection analysis is described. Both reagents were prepared under batch conditions and fed to the flow from a stock solution. The reactions of most analytes tested with manganese(VI) required the use of a heated (65° C) reaction coil. The main application appears to be for the determination of monosaccharides in the 10^?4–10^?5 mol l^?1 range.     

Determination of total chromium by flow injection analysis

The determination of total chromium by flow injection analysis is described. Cerium(IV) and nitric acid are used to convert chromium(III) to chromium(VI); the oxidation rate is enhanced by placing the reaction coil in an 80°C oil bath. 1,5-Diphenylcarbazide is used to form a colored complex with chromium(VI) that is measured at 540 nm. For both chromium(III) and chromium(VI), relative standard deviation of less than 1% is achieved with a sampling rate of 40 per hour. Linear response is obtained for 0.5–10 mg l^?1 chromium.     

Picomole‐level Formaldehyde Determination in Gaseous and Beer Samples Using Flow Injection Chemiluminescence Analysis

Based on the linear enhancement of formaldehyde (FA) within 7.0 ～ 1000 pmol l^?1 on luminol—bovine serum albumin (BSA) chemiluminescence (CL) system, FA determination in air and beer samples using CL with flow injection (FI) was proposed. The detection limit was 2.5 pmol l^?1 (3σ) and the relative standard deviations were less than 4.5% (n = 7). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL min^?1, a whole analysis from sampling to washing only needed 32 s, offering a sample throughput of 112 h^?1. This proposed method was successfully utilized to determine FA vapor pressure in liquid (121.8 ± 3.8 Pa), FA content in real air sample (8.93 ± 0.03 mg m^?3), and FA levels in beer (199.5 ± 5.6 ～ 225.2 ± 3.5 mg l^?1), giving determination recoveries from 90.7% to 109.3%. The mechanism of BSA—FA interaction was also investigated, showing FA binding to BSA was a spontaneous process mainly through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force by FI‐CL, with binding constant K of 1.89 × 10⁶ l mol^?1 and the number of binding sites n of 0.86. Molecular docking analysis further revealed FA could enter into the pocket at subdomain IIA of BSA, with K of 1.71 × 10⁵ l mol^?1 and ΔG of ‐29.68 kJ mol^?1.     

Determination of Enzymatic Activities Based on an Optical Flow-Through p-Nitrophenol Sensor

Abstract

An optical flow-through biosensor based on the transient retention of p-nitrophenol on an ion-exchange support packed in the flow cell is presented. The approach was applied to the determination of the activity of some enzymes which catalyze the conversion of p-nitrophenyl-derivatives into p-nitrophenol. The method was first developed for determination of p-nitrophenol yielding a linear range between 0.1–5 μg/mL (r² = 0.9922, r.s.d.% less than 2.5), then, it was also applied to the determination of β-D-glucuronidase activity in serum, with a linear range between 0.1–20 U/L (r² = 0.9976, r.s.d.% less than 3.0), and a sampling frequency of 20 h^?1. The application of the method to the determination of the enzyme activity in serum samples provided results consistent with those obtained by a conventional method and recoveries within 95–104%.     

Flow‐Based Fluorimetric Determination of Furosemide in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Biological Samples: Use of Micelar Media to Improve Sensitivity

Abstract

Two fast flow injection procedures with fluorimetric detection based on the furosemide emission are presented. The first configuration used a phosphate buffer solution pH 3.00, 0.2 ionic strength (μ) solution flowing at 3.0 ml min^?1 as carrier, a 80 cm sample loop (400 µl total sample injection), and a 40 cm long reactor coil, which was kept at room temperature; the second has a unique difference: the introduction of a new channel of surfactant solution with reduction of flow rate. The excitation and emission were carried out at 270 and 410 nm, respectively; both systems presented linear dynamic range from 1.0×10^?7 to 1.0×10^?5 mol l^?1. The limit of detection (3σ/slope) was 3.0×10^?8 mol l^?1, to the first system, and 10^?8 mol l^?1 for the second one. Both proposed methods were applied to three commercial samples from different suppliers, as tablets and ampoules, and a synthetic urine sample spiked with the analyte. They presented an analytical frequency of 90 and 60 measurements per hour, respectively to phosphate and micelar media. The results agreed with those from the label and determined by a UV‐Vis spectrophotometric comparative procedure. Recoveries around 101% were found in the commercial formulations and synthetic urine matrixes.     

Determination of uranium using a flow system with reagent injection. Application to the determination of uranium in ore leachates

The determination of uranium by a flow system with reagent injection is based on the reaction of U(IV) with Arsenazo III in 3.6 M HCl; U(IV) is generated by reduction of uranyl ion in a lead reductor minicolumn installed in the sample channel of the manifold. The interference effect caused by several ions is studied. The calibration graph is linear up to 1.0 × 10^?5 M (2.4 mg l^?1) and the detection limit is 2.8 × 10^?8 M (6.6 μg l^?1). The modification of the manifold by including a second valve to by-pass the reducing column allows the measurement of the difference in peak heights, which makes the method specific for uranium.     

Flow characteristics in a segmented closed-tube design for ion-mobility spectrometry

Closed-tube design with unidirectional flow of drift gas in ion-mobility spectrometry (i.m.s) was found to provide residence times for analyte from 10 s to 10 min based on drift gas flow rate. The volume of drift gas necessary to restore reactant ions completely to the original intensity, after addition of excess (>900 mg l^?1) of analyte to the ion source, was three times the inner volume of the tube, regardless of flow rate. Contamination of the i.m.s. tube from analyte in the external atmosphere occurred readily in the open-tube design and in the closed-tube design with or without a slight vacuum attached to the tube. Rates of migration of analyte from outside to inside the tube were similar in all designs and the present closed-tube design was largely non-resistant to external contamination. Product-ion intensities for aromatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were independent of drift flow rate from 100 to 800 ml min^?1 in the closed-tube design with no formation of artifacts. Plots of ion intensity vs. concentration of o-xylene were linear int wo ranges, 0.05–0.08 μg l^?1 and 0.1–2 μg l^?1, with slopes of 1.2 × 10^?9 A l μg^?1 in the first range and 1.0 × 10^?11 A l μg^?1 in the second range. No changes in mobility of aromatic product-ion peaks were seen with increases in concentration when the analyte was added to the drift gas rather than near the reaction region in unidirectional flow.     

Spectrophotometric determination of lithium ion with the chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4

A spectrophotometric method of determining alkali metal ions with a chromogenice crown ether reagent was found to be more selective and sensitive than an ion-pairing method based on the same size of crown ether cavity. It is shown that in the ion-pairing method, the sensitivity toward lithium ion was 5.685 × 10^?4 absorbance/mg l^?1, with sodium interfering at 300 mg l^?1. The chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromeethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4, was much superior to benzo-14-crown-4. The sensitivity of the chromogenic crown ether was 1.69 × 10^?3 absorbance/mg l^?1. This represents a three-fold increase in sensitivity and less reagent is needed (2 × 10^?4 M for the chromogenic method versus 1.4 × 10^?3 M for ion-pairing). Interference from sodium decreased to 3000 mg l^?1. The reagent was used to determine lithium ion in treated blood serum samples in both a batch and flow injection method and results were compared with data obtained with atomic absorption; excellent agreement was obtained in all cases.