Stabilization of sulfide and sulfite and ion-pair chromatography of mixtures of sulfide, sulfite, sulfate and thiosulfate

Ion chromatography of sulfide, sulfite, sulfate and thiosulfate in a mixture is often difficult because of instability of sulfide and sulfite, poor separation of sulfide from common anions such as bromide or nitrate and similar elution-times for sulfite and sulfate. An ion-pair chromatographic method for the determination of these sulfur anions has been established by stoichiometric conversion of sulfide and sulfite into stable thiocyanate and sulfate, respectively, prior to the chromatographic run. Sulfate, thiosulfate and thiocyanate were resolved on an octadecylsilica column with an acetonitrile-water mobile phase containing tetrapropylammonium salt (TPA) as an ion-paring reagent, and thiosulfate and thiocyanate in the effluent could be measured with a photometric detector (220 nm) and sulfate with a suppressed conductivity detector. When an acetonitrile-water (6:94, v/v) mobile phase (pH 5.0) containing 15 mM TPA and small amounts of acetic acid was used at a flow-rate of 0.6 ml min(-1), the three anions could be eluted within 32 min. Calibration plots of peak height versus concentration for sulfide (detected as thiocyanate) and thiosulfate gave straight lines up to 35 and 60 microM, respectively. The calibration plot for sulfide coincided with that obtained by using thiocyanate. A calibration plot for sulfite, measured as sulfate, was also linear up to 135 microM and was in accord with that of sulfate. Each calibration plot gave a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999. For six replicates obtained for a mixture of 30.0 microM sulfide, 50.0 microM sulfite, 50.0 microM sulfate and 20.0 microM thiosulfate, the proposed method gave a mean value of 30.1 microM with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.77 microM and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.6% for sulfide, 101 microM (SD = 3.5 microM, RSD = 3.5%) for the total of sulfite and sulfate and 20.1 microM (SD = 0.44 microM, RSD = 2.2%) for thiosulfate. Recoveries for sulfide, sulfite plus sulfate, and thiosulfate in hot-spring water samples using the proposed method were found to be quantitative.     

Synthesis of thiamono- and thiabicyclanes from sodium sulfide and methanethiolate

1-[5-Acetyl-3-(methylthiomethyl)tetrahydro-3-thiopyranyl]-1-ethanone was obtained by the interaction of sodium sulfide and sodium methanethiolate with formaldehyde and acetone. The intramolecular crotonate condensation of the product leads to 4-methyl-1-methylthiomethyl-7-thiabicyclo[3.3.1]non-3-en-2-one. The participation of 3-methylthiomethyl-3-buten-2-one in the formation of a thiamono-cyclane is clarified. A probable scheme for the conversions is proposed.     

Ion chromatographic determination of sugar phosphates in physiological samples

Ion chromatography is shown to be capable of simultaneous determination of biologically important anions. Application of this technique is illustrated for the separation and quantification of the major anions present in rat brain and liver tissues. Sugar phosphates and carboxylic acids are separated on high-performance anion-exchange columns and are detected using chemically suppressed conductivity. Detection limits range from 20 to 100 pmol for the anions tested, including inositol phosphates, lactate, pyruvate, glucuronic acid-1-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate. The coefficient of variation for the determination of most anions was in the range 5-10%. Many of these anions are either difficult to separate with other methods, or require expensive radiochemical techniques for detection. This method should be applicable to other biological studies, from the flow of carbons in photosynthesis to the study of synaptic transmission.     

Gas chromatographic determination of dimethylarsinic acid in aqueous samples

Procedures are described for the determination of dimethylarsinic acid in aqueous samples by gas chromatography of iododimethylarsine. Dimethylarsinic acid is converted into iododimethylarsine rapidly and quantitatively by treatment with hypophosphorous acid and potassium iodide, the resulting iododimethylarsine is extracted with toluene and determined with a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture detector. The detection limit is 0.005 ppm as As. Recoveries from urine are over 95%. Other arsenicals do not give any response in the chromatography. The method has been applied to the determination of dimethylarsinic acid in urine and in water extracts of sea-weeds.     

The paper chromatographic isolation of nuclides in air samples

A method is outlined for the quantitative transfer of nuclides of strontium, barium, cerium, zirconium, lanthanum, yttrium, and niobium from solution to a paper for Chromatographic separation. Carrier quantities of iron are precipitated as the hydroxide from a carbonate solution and filtered directly onto the Chromatographic paper. A two-dimensional development is utilized to isolate the individual nuclides.This separation procedure is applied to air dust samples containing nuclear debris. Radiometric determinations may be conveniently made by γ-spectrometric or conventional low-background β-measurements.     

Ion chromatographic method for the analysis of sulfate in complex carbohydrates

A procedure is described for the quantitation of sulfate in complex carbohydrates. Samples are taken to dryness in the presence of a small amount of sodium hydroxide and the sulfate is liberated by pyrolysis. Sulfate is then quantitated by single-column ion chromatography eliminating the interference by ions such as phosphate, chloride, sodium and calcium which frequently occurs with colorimetric methods. The reproducibility of the method is approximately 10%. This approach cannot be directly applied to glycoproteins because a portion of the sulfur in sulfur-containing amino acids appears to be converted to sulfate. However, this method can be used to measure sulfate in oligosaccharides of glycoproteins if the protein components are removed prior to analysis.     

Ion chromatographic determination of cyanate in saline gold processing samples.

An ion chromatographic method was developed for the determination of cyanate (CNO-) in saline gold processing samples. The method is based on the use of a very weak-eluting buffer (5 mM sodium borate) and a Dionex AS4A-SC anion-exchange column. This weak-eluting buffer facilitates the wide chromatographic separation of chloride (Cl-) from CNO-. After CNO- has been eluted, the switch to 1.8 mM Na2CO3-1.7 mM NaHCO3 buffer allows the fast elution of other major inorganic and organic anions. Validation of this method, including identification of interferences, has shown that this method is reliable, accurate, sensitive (detection limit, 0.1 mg/l CNO-) and reproducible.     

Ion chromatographic determination of hydrolysis products of hexafluorophosphate salts in aqueous solution

In this work, hydrolysis of three different hexafluorophosphate salts in purified water was investigated. Aqueous samples of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF₆) and potassium hexafluorophosphate (KPF₆) were prepared and stored for different times. Ion chromatography (IC) with UV as well as non-suppressed and suppressed conductivity detection was used for the analysis of the reaction products. For the detection and identification of the formed decomposition products, an IC method using IonPac AS14A 250 mm × 4.0 mm i.d. column and 2.5 mM KHCO₃–2.5 mM K₂CO₃ eluent was established. Besides hexafluorophosphate, four other anionic species were detected in fresh and matured aqueous solutions. The hydrolysis products fluoride (F⁻), monofluorophosphate (HPO₃F⁻), phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) and difluorophosphate (PO₂F₂⁻) were found and were unambiguously identified by means of standards or electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). It was shown that stability of hexafluorophosphate solutions depends on the nature of the counter ion and decreases in the order potassium > sodium > lithium.     

Ion chromatographic determination of transition metals in irradiated nuclear reactor surveillance samples

The determination of transition metal ions in radioactive (+/-25 microCi/g) low-alloy steels (nuclear reactor surveillance samples) by ion chromatography (IC) is described. The analysis has been done directly without prior separation of the iron matrix. The eluted metal ions have been detected with a UV-visible spectrophotometric detector after post-column complexation with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol. The results are in a good agreement with the certified values for the standard reference material used. The method was applied to nuclear reactor surveillance samples for the determination of Cu, Mn, Co and Ni.     

Derivatisation in gas chromatographic determination of acidic herbicides in aqueous environmental samples

This paper reviews derivatisation processes applied in chromatographic determination of acidic herbicides (with carboxyl and phenol groups), mainly in aqueous environmental samples. The discussion focuses on the basic derivatisation reactions used to convert herbicides to derivatives to make them analysable by gas chromatography, and possibly to reduce detection limits and/or increase extraction recovery from aqueous samples. The reactions are transesterification, esterification, silylation, alkylation, and extractive and pyrolytic alkylation. The reagents used to conduct the reactions are numerous. Diazomethane is a very efficient methylation reagent but explosive and toxic. Methyl iodide also ensures rapid and efficient methylation. Benzyl bromide can be used directly in water but derivatisation yield is low and reproducibility is poor. Butyl chloroformate and dimethyl sulfite can also be used for derivatisation in water, and acetic anhydride can be used for in-situ derivatisation of phenolic herbicides. For increasing selectivity of GC detection pentafluorobenzyl bromide (for ECD) and (2-cyanethyl)dimethyl(diethylamino)silane (for NPD) have been applied. Very characteristic ions are produced in mass spectra if silyl groups are introduced, e.g. by using bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Tetramethylammonium, trimethylphenylammonium, tetraalkylammonium, and trimethylsulfonium hydroxides and salts can by used for derivatisation at elevated temperature in the GC injection port. Extractive alkylation is relatively efficient if tetraalkylammonium salts with long chain alkyl groups are used.     

Ion chromatographic determination of transition metals in irradiated nuclear reactor surveillance samples

The determination of transition metal ions in radioactive (±25 Ci/g) low-alloy steels (nuclear reactor surveillance samples) by ion chromatography (IC) is described. The analysis has been done directly without prior separation of the iron matrix. The eluted metal ions have been detected with a UV-visible spectrophotometric detector after post-column complexation with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol. The results are in a good agreement with the certified values for the standard reference material used. The method was applied to nuclear reactor surveillance samples for the determination of Cu, Mn, Co and Ni.     

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of nitrilotriacetic acid in environmental aqueous samples

This study describes a fast and accurate method for the sample preparation, identification, and quantitation of nitrilotriacetic (NTA) acid in environmental aqueous samples at a concentration of ppb level. The method is sensitive, specific, and free from the interferences of fatty and amino acids. The tri-n-propyl- and tri-n-butyl-NTA acid esters were prepared by the reaction of n-propyl-HCl and n-butyl-HCl solutions and NTA acid, respectively. The derivatives were analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometric detector. The method detection limit, 0.006 mg/L of each NTA ester, was determined and validated by an analysis of a fortified water sample. The overall recoveries were 103-115%, n = 8. The method was applied to a real sample and a 0.90 mg/L concentration of NTA acid was found. Mass fragmentation patterns of the derivatives are also reported.     

Gas chromatographic profiling and screening for phenols as isobutoxycarbonyl derivatives in aqueous samples

An efficient method is described for the simultaneous determination of phenol and 49 substituted phenols present in aqueous samples. The method is based on the extractive two-phase isobutoxycarbonyl (isoBOC) derivatization with subsequent solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the direct analysis by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phenolic hydroxyl groups in acidic aqueous solutions were allowed to react with isobutyl chloroformate present in the dichloromethane phase containing triethylamine. The resulting isoBOC derivatives were then recovered by SPE using Chromosorb P in normal-phase partition mode, followed by direct GC and GC-MS analysis. Using this combined procedure, linear detector responses were obtained in the concentration range of 0.5-8 microg ml(-1), with correlation coefficients varying from 0.925 to 0.999 for most of the phenols studied except for 2,4-dinitorphenol (0.789). The temperature-programmed retention index (I) sets as measured on DB-5 and DB-17 dual-capillary columns of different polarity were characteristic of each isoBOC phenol derivative and thus, useful in the screening for isomeric phenols by I matching only. The mass spectral patterns, exhibiting characteristic [M-100]+, [M-200]+ and [M-300]+ ions for the mono-, di- and trihydroxybezenes, respectively with common ions at m/z 57, facilitated their rapid structural confirmation. The present method allowed rapid screening for phenols when applied to water samples spiked with phenols.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of aqueous ozone reactions with bromide, sulfite, hydrogen sulfite, iodide, and nitrite ions

Reactions of ozone with Br(-), SO(3)(2-), HSO(3)(-), I(-), and NO(2)(-), studied by stopped-flow and pulsed-accelerated-flow techniques, are first order in the concentration of O(3)(aq) and first order in the concentration of each anion. The rate constants increase by a factor of 5 x 10(6) as the nucleophilicities of the anions increase from Br(-) to SO(3)(2-). Ozone adducts with the nucleophiles are proposed as steady-state intermediates prior to oxygen atom transfer with release of O(2). Ab initio calculations show possible structures for the intermediates. The reaction between Br(-) and O(3) is accelerated by H(+) but exhibits a kinetic saturation effect as the acidity increases. The kinetics indicate formation of BrOOO(-) as a steady-state intermediate with an acid-assisted step to give BrOH and O(2). Temperature dependencies of the reactions of Br(-) and HSO(3)(-) with O(3) in acidic solutions are determined from 1 to 25 degrees C. These kinetics are important in studies of annual ozone depletion in the Arctic troposphere at polar sunrise.     

Gas chromatographic determination of perfluorocarboxylic acids in aqueous samples – A tutorial review

Determination of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) by gas chromatography (GC) has been undertaken since 1980. However, only small number of studies can be found in the literature due to the major drawbacks associated with the GC determination of PFCAs such as high detection limits, a small range of analytes, long analysis time, and laborious derivatization prior to chromatographic separation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS²) can overcome these limitations of GC, and therefore has become the method of choice for the determination of PFCAs since 2001. Nevertheless, GC as a low-cost and commonly available analytical technique should not be ignored because of its inherent advantage over LC to identify PFCA isomers in environmental and biological matrices owing to its high-resolution power. In addition, GC provides an opportunity to crosscheck LC–MS² results that are often suspicious due to background contamination. This tutorial provides an overview of GC methods that have been used for the determination of PFCAs after derivatization. Moreover, performance characteristics of GC–MS are compared with that of LC–MS². PFCAs in aqueous samples were determined by both analytical techniques, and two sets of measurements were compared using the Bland-Altman plot. For both methods, reasons for false-positive and false-negative results (overestimation and underestimation of the PFCA concentration, respectively) are discussed, and accordingly some advice is offered on how to avoid erroneous results. Finally, major applications of GC and its future perspectives for the determination of PFCAs are discussed.     

Electrochemical determination of sulfide and sulfite ions by pneumatoamperometry

Sulfide and sulfite ions in aqueous solution are converted through acidification to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, which are purged from solution with nitrogen carrier gas. The volatile species are detected through oxidation in 1 M sulfuric acid at an anodically polarized platinum electrode separated from the gas stream by a gas-permeable polymer membrane. Mixtures of sulfide and sulfite are separated and determined independently through pH control during acidification. Interferences from metal ions, which form sulfide precipitates, and other anions, which form volatile species on acidification, are discussed.     

Determination of ammonia in air and aqueous samples with a gas-sensitive semiconductor capacitor

The properties of a new type of ammonia gas-sensitive semiconductor capacitor are described. The sensor is based on a palladium MOS field-effect capacitor with a thin layer (3 nm) of iridium surrounding the palladium gate. The lower limit of detection for ammonia in air is 1 ppm (0.59 mg kg^?1). The analytical characteristics and temperature-dependence of the sensor in measurements of ammonia in air are evaluated. Ammonia in aqueous solutions is determined by the use of a continuous flow system utilizing a gaspermeable membrane in combination with the sensor. The calibration plot of the voltage drop of the capacitor vs. ammonia concentration in 150-μl samples is linear in the concentration range 0.2 × 10^?6–5 × 10^?5 M. Ammonia is determined in rain and river water as well as in whole blood and blood serum; 15 samples per hour can be assayed. Analytical recovery studies and the selectivity properties of the system are described and discussed. Finally, the properties of the flow-through system in continuous monitoring are described.     

Distillation preconcentration and clean-up of aqueous samples for direct aqueous injection-gas chromatographic determination of volatile polar organic pollutants

The applicability of distillation to concentrate and clean up heavily loaded aqueous samples for the analysis of volatile polar organic compounds by means of direct aqueous injection-gas chromatography was studied. Recoveries for acetone, acetonitrile, acrolein, acrylonitrile, butanone, 1,4-dioxane, ethyl acetate, and 3-pentanone were in the range of 60.6 to 73.4% with relative standard deviations of 3.6 to 5.5%. The corresponding enrichment factors were in the order of 200. The recovery did not depend on the concentration in the studied range of 0.70 to 89 μg/kg. The detection limits with the mass selective detector operating in the selected ion monitoring mode were in the order of 0.1 μg/kg. The method was successfully applied to treated waste water from a pharmaceutical factory. The content of the above analytes in the real sample ranged from below 0.1 to ca. 83 μg/kg. Received: 16 December 1996 / Revised: 9 April 1997 / Accepted: 16 April 1997