Electrosorptive detection in liquid chromatography of simple charged organic compounds

Summary The applicability of electrosorptive (ES) detection in liquid chromatography to charged organic species, specifically amines, alkanolamines, and alkylsulfonates is demonstrated. Separations can be carried out using ion-pair chromatography, and detection acieved by measuring changes in differential double-layer capacitance (DLC), C_d, brought about by analyte adsorption at potentials either well negative or positive of the potential of zero charge (pzc), depending on whether cationic or anionic forms, respectively, are being determined. The C_d-analyte concentration response curves are linear over a limited range. A welcome feature of the technique is that organic modifiers may be used in the mobile phase without deleterious consequence to the detection. Attempts were also made to detect these charged species as ion pairs by DLC at potentials close to the pzc. This approach, however, appears to have less practical utility.     

Thin-layer cell with a rapidly dropping mercury electrode for liquid chromatographic detection

Summary A thin-layer cell with a horizontally positioned, rapidly dropping mercury electrode (TL-RDME) was developed for use in electrochemical detection in liquid chromatography. A specific application to electrosorptive detection based on the measurement of differential doublelayer capacitance, C_d, is detailed. The construction is of both Kel-F and acrylic materials, the latter chosen for ease of viewing. Interchangeable capillaries of varying internal diameter combined with gasket-determined channel thickness allows for a variation in drop times from below 10 ms to more than 200 ms. A drain solution flowing past the reference electrode, which is positioned upstream of the working electrode, provides a convenient electrolyte make-up stream. Typical C_d responses are compared to those obtained using a largevolume wall-jet cell/electrode geometry.     

Single ion activity coefficients in concentrated aqueous hydrogen chloride solutions

The adsorption behaviour of the steroids: ouabagenin, ouabain, proscillaridin, digoxin, and k-strophanthine was studied by a.c. polarography and capacitance—time curves at the dropping mercury electrode. The steroids behave like strongly surface-active substances: the relative capacitance decrease ΔC/C₀ depends linearly both on the concentration of the solution and on the root of the drop age. The surface area determined for ouabagenin to be 125 Ų on the basis of adsorption kinetics corresponds roughly to the maximum crosssection of the molecule. With glycosides, the surface area increases with the number of monosaccharide molecules being attached in position 3 of the steroid. It was inferred, therefore, that the adsorbed molecule rests with its steroid and sugar moiety flat on the electrode. A capacitance minimum with sharply defined edges (pit) occurs in the a.c. polarograms of ouabain. In this potential area, the dependences Δ/₀=f(c) and ΔC/C₀=f(t) show a step-like course with two plateaus, which is discussed to be due to association of the adsorbed molecules.     

Pulse Enhanced Electrosorptive Detection of Ions at Silver in Ion Chromatography

Abstract

Differential double-layer capacitance measurements applied to the silver-aqueous interface may serve as the basis of detection for surface-active ions in ion chromatography. There is a caveat to this approach, though, and that is that the electrode is subject to gradual fouling due to the accumulation of adsorbed matter. We report here on the incorporation of potential pulsing sequences to counter this damaging effect. Two approaches have been taken: 1) inclusion of a periodic potential cleaning pulse in the conventional, fixed-potential double-layer capacitance measurement scheme, and 2) utilization of a potential-pulse/coulometric measurement technique. the potential-pulse/coulometric procedure entails measurement of the change in charge required to charge the electrical double layer in response to specific adsorption of analyte. Its response-concentration behavior is similar to that observed for differential capacitance detection. the use of a combined, dual-potential (sequential) capacitive/amperometric detection scheme that provides unique complementation to either amperometric or capacitance detection is also discussed.     

Anodic Protection. Theory and Practice in the Prevention of Corrosion.: O.L. Riggs,Jr. and C.E. Locke,Plenum Press,New York, 1981, 284 pp., US$39.50.

The specific adsorption of chloride, bromide, iodide, azide, and thiocyanate has been studied at an electropolished polycrystalline silver-aqueous interface using differential capacitance measurements. For chloride, bromide, and azide, quantitative estimates of the surface concentration of specifically adsorbed anions were obtained from capacitance-potential data in mixed fluoride electrolytes having a constant ionic strength of 0.5. The dependence of the measured capacitance upon the ionic strength of sodium fluoride was also investigated in order to check the behavior of the polycrystalline surface in comparison with the predictions of conventional double-layer models. Estimates of the specifically adsorbed charge densities of chloride, bromide, and thiocyanate anions were also obtained from a “kinetic probe” technique which entailed monitoring the response of the outer-sphere reduction rate of CO(NH₃)₅F²⁺ and Co(NH₃)₆³⁺ to the addition of the appropriate adsorbing anion. At the average potential of zero charge for the polycrystalline silver surface, the standard free energies of adsorption ? Δ₃^o for chloride, bromide, and azide were found to be within ca. 5 kJ mol^?1 of the corresponding quantities obtained at mercury electrodes. However. significantly greater increases in ? Δ₃^o in the sequence Cl^? < N₃^? < Br^? are seen at silver compared to mercury. Electrochemical roughening in chloride media, giving silver surfaces displaying intense surface Raman scattering, yields only minor changes in the surface concentration of specifically adsorbed chloride anions.     

Determination of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil added to blood serum by liquid chromatography with anodic amperometric detection

Liquid chromatography with on-line anodic amperometric detection is used after a liquid/solid extraction step for the determination of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil added to blood serum. A detection limit of 15 ng ml^?1 can be achieved. The anodic electrochemical behaviour of the drug at a mercury electrode, which is the basis of the detection principle, is also described. Anodic amperometric detection at a mercury electrode is compared with detection at a glassy carbon electrode in terms of sensitivity, linearity and selectivity.     

Hysteresis in the measurement of double-layer capacitance at the gold–ionic liquid interface

The capacitance of the polycrystalline gold electrode–ionic liquid BMIMTf [1-butyl-3- methyl imidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate)] interface has been studied using ac voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Slow potential scanning reveals a massive hysteresis between potential scans toward negative or positive directions and provides a distorted C(E) curve. Kinetic studies indicate that 10 min wait times are required after each potential step for system relaxation. EIS resolves the overall series capacitance into contributions from ion adsorption and double-layer capacitance, C_DL. Isolation of C_DL reveals that even 10 min of equilibration time is insufficient to completely remove the hysteresis. The shape of the negative-going C_DL(E) curve is camel-shaped whereas the shape of the positive-going curve is bell-shaped.     

Three-dimensional bundle-like multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite for supercapacitor electrode application

Bundle-type mutil-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite electrode is the first investigation and publication for the supercapacitor application. According to the thermogravimetric analysis results, as-synthesized BCNTs are considered as the electrode materials for supercapacitors and electrochemical double-layer capacitor in this study. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of as-prepared bundled carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) is 95.29 m²/g given to a type III isotherm and H3 hysteresis loops. Slow scanning rates promote and enhance to achieve high C_b because of the superior conductivity of CNT bundles and one side close-layered Ni/Mg/Mo alloy inside the BCNT-based electrode and facile electron diffusivity between electrolyte and electrode. The specific capacitance C_s (1,560 F/g) is nearly equal to the maximum specific capacitance, which the BCNT-based composite electrode can actually be able to charge or fill in. The maximum energy density value is 195 Wh/kg with corresponding power density values of 0.21 kW/kg. Furthermore, the active 3D BCNTs material fabricated electrode enhances to contact the electrolyte directly and decreases the ion diffusion limitation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy spectrum summarized as the low-frequency area controls by mass transfer limitation, and the high-frequency area dominates by charge transfer of kinetic control. After 2,000 consecutive cyclic voltammetry sacnings and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 1.67 A/g performs, the specific capacitance retentions of 3D BCNTs electrodes achieved 128.2 and 77.3%, respectively. Three-dimensional BCNT composite electrodes exhibit good conductivity and low charge transfer resistance, which is beneficial to fast charge transfer between the BCNTs electrode materials and electrolytes.     

Analysis and physical significancy of the kinetic parameters associated with albumin adsorption onto glassy carbon obtained by electrochemical impedance measurements

The kinetics of albumin adsorption onto a glassy carbon rotating disk electrode in a phosphate buffer, is reported from the time variations of the double-layer capacitance C_d, of the charge transfer resistance R_t and of the Tafel coefficient of the electrochemical reaction b; these three electrical quantities are determined by electrochemical impedance and faradaic current I measurements. The variations of C_d, 1/R_t, b  (R_tI)⁻¹ and I can be written under the form: α₀ + α₁ e^−t/τ1 + α₂ e^−t/τ2, where α₀, α₁, α₂, τ₁, τ₂ characterize a given electrical quantity. We demonstrate that this type of variation validates a two-step adsorption mechanism already proposed, starting from simply taking into account C_d(t). We analyze and discuss comprehensively various possibilities of interpreting the shifts between the time-constants associated with thevarious quantities as well as the correlations between these constants and those associated with physical adsorption phenomena.     

Differential double-layer capacitance of a mercury-drop electrode attached to a platinum wire: Frequency dispersion due to the measuring bridge and to the geometry at pendant and sessile electrodes

The frequency dependence of the double-layer capacitance has been studied at the interface Hg/0.116 M KCl in water at ?1.200 V vs. a reversible calomel electrode at 25°C. Two drop electrodes attached to 0.1-mm platinum wire have been used, one sessile with a narrow wedge, the other pendant with a widely open wedge between drop surface and support. The operation of the a.c. resistor-ratio arms bridge has been analysed in a manner generally applicable to series-R, C measurements. On that basis the effect of stray capacitances could be compensated and the frequency dispersion due to the measuring system reduced to a minimum. Both electrodes show a low-frequency dispersion of the measured series capacitance C(ω) and resistance R(ω), ω being the angular frequency. This dispersion has been analysed with a simple R, C network. In series with the bulk resistance R₃ this network has two mutually parallel series R, C's: R₁, C₁ of the drop itself and R₂, C₂ of its edge (neck). From the actual C(ω), R(ω) data follow correct capacitance data C₁, while R₂ and C₂ show a relatively stronger dependence on frequency and kind of electrode (pendant or sessile). Moreover, a sessile electrode exhibits a wedge or shielding effect above a much smaller ω (=ω_h >ω₁, the frequency above which the edge effect becomes insignificant) than a pendant electrode. Conclusions drawn from this information are: in the frequency domain (ω_h?ω₁) diffusive mass transport may be studied without interference from any geometric effect, which is probably also true at small electrolyte concentrations. This study should be performed with a pendant electrode, since it has the largest (ω_h?ω₁) domain.     

Adsorption of long-chain aliphatic amines—components of corrosion inhibitors

Adsorption of certain long-chain aliphatic amines with 6–18 carbon atoms is studied on a stationary mercury drop electrode using the impedance method. It is found that adsorption of amines with C₆–C₁₂ results in the formation of an adsorption layer with the limiting capacitance of about 5 μF/cm². In the case of amines with C₁₄–C₁₆, the limiting capacitance is approximately 0.5–0.7 μF/cm². The most probable reason for such abrupt decrease in the adsorption layer capacitance is the formation of condensed layers of adsorbate molecules at the electrode surface. The adsorption parameters are calculated for hexylamine. The surface activity is estimated for amines with 10–14 carbon atoms in their chains.     

The importance of concentration effects at the electrode surface in anodic stripping voltammetric measurements of complexation of metal ions at natural water concentrations

The influence of the ligand/metal ion concentration ratio on the shape, peak current and peak potential of curves obtained by anodic stripping voltammetry (a.s.v.) at the hanging mercury drop electrode is described, particularly with respect to the use of a.s.v. for speciation of metal ions at very low concentrations as is often found in natural waters. The lead(II)/triethylenetetramine system is used as a model of a fully labile reversible system. It is shown that the total metal ion concentration at the electrode surface (C^o_M) during the stripping step may be much larger (30–300 times in typical conditions) than that in the bulk solution (C_M), the exact value depending on the deposition time t_d. Consequently, changes in the peak characteristics are observed when the ligand/metal concentration ratio in the bulk of the solution, C_L/C_M, is less than 1000. Semi-empirical equations, experimentally tested, are given, which enable C^o_M/C_M to be estimated for a specified solution and a.s.v. conditions, which correct for the “surface concentration effect” when a.s.v. is used to measure complexation, and which describe the influence of the parameters such as stirring efficiency, radius of the mercury drop and C_L/C_M. The implications of the results are discussed for determinations of total metal ion in complex media, of speciation based on peak-potential shifts or stripping voltammetric curves, and of complexation capacity.     

Applications of electrosorptive detection in ion chromatography

Summary Illustrative applications to simulated and real-world samples are presented for electrosorptive detection in ion chromatography. Detection is demonstrated at both mercury and silver surfaces utilizing changes in double-layer capacitance as the primary means of detection. Strategies for dealing with the gradual fouling of the solid electrode are briefly discussed.This work was conducted in the laboratory of Professor Michael J. Weaver.     

Polydiphenylamine-dodecyl sulfate films for the simultaneous amperometric determination of electroinactive anions and cations in ion-exclusion cation-exchange chromatography

An amperometric detector with two working electrodes both modified with polydiphenylamine-dodecyl sulfate (PDPA-DS) was successfully used for the simultaneous determination of electroinactive anions (SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–, NO₃ ^–) and cations (Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and K⁺) in single-column ion-exclusion cation-exchange chromatography (IEC-CEC). The PDPA-DS chemical modified electrode (CME) was based on the incorporation of dodecyl sulfate (DS) into PDPA by electropolymerization of diphenylamine in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The electrochemical responses against the anions and cations at the PDPA-DS CME in differential pulse voltammetry were studied. A set of well-defined peaks of electroinactive anions and cations were obtained. The anions and cations were detected conveniently and reproducibly in a linear concentration range 0.01–5.0 mmol/L and their detection limits were in the range 5–9 μmol/L at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3). The proposed method was quick, sensitive and simple and was successfully applied to the analysis of lake water samples. The working electrode was stable over one week period of operation with no evidence of chemical and mechanical deterioration.     

Liquid Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection for Speciation of Mercury

Liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) at an Au electrode was successfully applied for speciation of mercury: inorganic mercury, methylmercury and ethylmercury. The optimized conditions for triple-step potential waveforms utilized in PAD were: E₁ 1800 mV, t₁ 50 ms; E₂ 300 mV, t₂ 3850 ms; E₃ 750 mV, t₃ 100 ms; mercury oxidation was monitored at E₃. With the eluent of HClO₄ (0.10 M) + KCl (1.0 mM) + CH₃CN (1.0%) at a flow rate 0.80 mL/min, three mercury species were fully separated in 6 min on a glass column (3 mm × 10 cm) packed with Chemcosorb C₁₈ (5 μm). However, the first peak (inorganic mercury) was commonly overlapped by the solvent front. The relative standard deviations (n = 6) for methylmercury (15 ppb) and ethylmercury (30 ppb) were 4.2% and 2.8%, respectively. The linear range tested was 2 – 500 ppb (r = 0.9998) for methylmercury, and was 4 – 1000 ppb (r = 1.000) for ethylmercury. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 1.2 ppb and 1.8 ppb for methylmercury and ethylmercury, respectively. The results of determination of the mercury-containing species thimerosat in three commercial contact-lens solutions agreed satisfactorily with the expected values.     

Indirect Electrosorptive Detection via Kinetic Facilitation in Ion Chromatography

Abstract

A new technique based on electrosorption is presented for the determination of selected anions in ion chromatography. Unlike conventional methods, which are based on the measurement of nonfaradaic currents, the present method utilizes a kinetic facilitation imparted to the electroreduction of a cationic “adsorbate probe” by specifically adsorbed anions, and hence involves the measurement of faradaic currents. Amminated, transition-metal salts of Co(III) have been found most useful as adsorbate probes for this application. The current enhancement-analyte concentration response curves obtained were determined to be linear over a limited range at mercury, but show curvature at virtually all concentrations at silver. Detection limits for this technique are slightly higher than those realized using more conventional double-layer capacitance methods. A brief discussion of the future prospects for this new approach is given.     

Determination of furazolidone in urine by square-wave voltammetric method

A fast, simple and sensitive square-wave voltammetric (SWV) method for the determination of trace amounts of furazolidone (FZ) in urine is reported. A three-electrode system containing stationary mercury dropping (SMDE) working electrode, Pt auxiliary electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode was used throughout. Briton-Rabinson buffer solution is used as both pH adjusting agent and supporting electrolyte. The calibration graph showed good linearity in the concentration range of 20–900 ng ml^?1 of furazolidone with a regression coefficient of 0.9996. The equation Δ(i) = 0.0095C_FZ + 0.234 was used for calculation of furazolidone concentration in the sample solution, where C_FZ is the concentration of furazolidone in ng ml^?1 and Δ(i) is the difference between voltammogram peak currents of sample and blank solution. The RSD for 8 replicate measurements of a 60 ng ml^?1 solution and LOD of the proposed method were found to be 2.2% and 5.2 ng ml^?1, respectively. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of furazolidone in urine samples.     

Analysis of experimental data on the EDL capacitance for different metals in asymmetrical electrolytes: Accounting for the solution nonideality

Potential dependences of differential capacitanceC are measured in diluted aqueous La₂(SO₄)₃ solutions on Hg, Tl-Ga, and Cd-Ga electrodes and in aqueous Na₂SO₄ solutions on the Cd-Ga electrode. The 1/C vs. 1/C_d dependences (where C_d is the differential capacitance of the diffuse layer) are linear and have a unit slope at the potential of zero charge, provided C_d is calculated using the Gonzalez-Sanz theory. Calculations based on the Gouy-Chapman-Grahame theory yield inadequate results.     

The electrochemical reduction and determination of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in acidic media

The apparent reduction of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in acidic media at a static mercury drop electrode was investigated. A simple, quick pretreatment procedure was developed to convert the NADH to its acid-hydrated form. This adsorbs on the mercury surface during a film deposition time and the film is then reduced. The adsorption is diffusion-controlled and hence the peak currents for square-wave and linear-scan voltammetry are proportional to Ct^1/2_pAf and Ct^1/2_pAv, respectively, where t_p is the effective film deposition time, C the concentration of NADH, A the electrode area, f the square-wave frequency, and ν the linear scan rate. Several electrochemical techniques were compared for the determination of NADH; the method of choice is square-wave voltammetry, although staircase or linear scan voltammetry can also be used. The detection limit is less than 7 nM, and the range of linear response covers 2–3 orders of magnitude of NADH concentration.     

Simultaneous determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate in urine by ion-exclusion chromatography with electrochemical detection

Summary A sensitive ion-exclusion chromatographic method has been developed for determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate. The method is based on separation of these anions on a polymethacrylate-based, weakly acidic cation-exchange resin (TSKgel OApak-A) and detection by means of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode electrochemically modified with polyvinylpyridine (PVP), palladium, and iridium oxide (PVP/Pd/IrO₂). The electrochemical behavior of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate at this chemically modified electrode (CME) have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results indicated that electrocatalytic oxidation of these anions by the electrode was efficient and that the sensitivity, stability, and lifetime of the electrode were relatively high. Combined with ion-exclusion chromatography the PVP/Pd/IrO₂ electrode was used as the working electrode for amperometric detection of these anions. All linear ranges were over two orders of magnitude and detection limits, defined asS/N=3, were 9.0×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for oxalate, 6.7×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for thiosulfate, and 5.6×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for thiocyanate. Correlation coefficients were all>0.998. Coupled with microdialysis sampling the method has been successfully applied to the determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate in urine.