Optimization of the separation of flavonoids by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography: Effect of organic solvents

Summary A group of flavonoids of special interest to wine quality were separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with diode array detection. Their separation was optimized as a function of the buffer concentration and pH, the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the applied voltage. Selectivity and resolution of the solutes were increased by adding organic solvents to the separation buffer, the best results being obtained at lower concentrations. An optimized buffer with 5% methanol provided optimum separation with regard to efficiency, resolution and migration time. The optimized method was applied to the determination of these compounds in wine samples.     

Analysis of post-harvest fungicides by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was developed for the simultaneous determination of carbendazim, imazalil, methylthiophanate, O-phenylphenol, prochloraz, procimidone, thiabendazole and triadimefon residues in grape, lettuce, orange and tomato. Selectivity and resolution were studied changing the pH and the concentration of the buffer, the type and concentration of surfactant and the methanol content in the mobile phase. A buffer consisting of 4 mM borate with 75 mM sodium cholate (pH 9.2) gave the best results. The recoveries of the fungicides in spiked fruit and vegetable samples ranged from 30 to 105%, and the limits of detection were between 0.1 and 1 mg kg(-1). The reproducibility and repeatability of the combination of SPE pretreatment and MEKC were good for all the compounds, except for imazalil and O-phenylphenol in oranges, due to some matrix compounds interfering with the separation. The method was applied to post harvest treated samples, and the fungicides were sometimes detected at concentration levels lower than maximum residue limits (MRLs).     

Hyphenated techniques in anticancer drug monitoring. II. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry

A micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) method was developed for the separation of ten phenolic acids including cichoric acid and caftaric acids, specific marker phytochemicals of Echinacea purpurea. The MEKC method involved the use of 70 mM sodium deoxycholate (SDC) in 40 mM borate (pH 9.2) buffer and UV detection at 300 nm. The bile acid was used as biosurfactant able to provided a micellar system with different and more selective properties than sodium dodecyl sulfate. The effects of SDC and borate concentration and buffer pH on the analyte resolution were evaluated. The validated method was applied to the determination of cichoric acid and related compounds in E. purpurea root extracts, and in commercial E. purpurea based dried extracts and tablets.     

Enantiomeric separation of ketoconazole and terconazole antifungals by electrokinetic chromatography: Rapid quantitative analysis of ketoconazole in pharmaceutical formulations

EKC using a neutral CD as chiral selector was applied in this work to the development of a method enabling the enantiomeric separation of ketoconazole and terconazole antifungals. The influence of different experimental conditions such as temperature, CD concentration, pH, and nature and concentration of the buffer on the enantiomeric resolution of the compounds studied was investigated. The use of 10 mM heptakis-(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CD in a 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) with a temperature of 15 degrees C allowed the separation of the enantiomers of ketoconazole and terconazole with high resolution (R(s) > 2.0). The rapid separation of ketoconazole enantiomers with an analysis time less than 3 min was carried out after fitting some experimental parameters. The developed method was applied to the determination of ketoconazole in different pharmaceutical formulations.     

Evaluation of the number of components in multi-component liquid chromatograms of plant extracts

Optimization of the chromatographic separation of flavonoid compounds in camomile extracts by the simplex method and the Monte Carlo method is described. Evaluation fo the number of peaks at unit resolution (R_s = 1) is used as the criterion of separation quality. The Davis-Giddings theory is applied in calculating the number of components and the results are validated by numerical simulations. Peak-purity checks for three identified compounds in commercial sample extracts are reported. Capacity factor patterns for 18 flavonoid and phenolic compounds over an extended range of methanol/aqueous buffer (pH 2.8) mobile phases are described.     

Determination of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography and its application to various species of Capsicum, Solanaceae.

An easy, rapid and sensitive method of analysis for capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin and its application for determination of these two amides in fruit extracts of different varieties of Capsicum frutescens by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography has been developed. Optimum separation was achieved with a fused-silica capillary column (600 mm x 0.075 mm I.D) and a running buffer at pH 9.0 prepared from 15 mM sodium tetraborate and 15 mM sodium dihydrogenphosphate, and 67.5 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate. Addition of 15% (v/v) methanol in the running buffer was found to be essential for the separation. The applied voltage was +22.5 kV. The compounds were detected by UV at 214 nm. Both capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin were detected within 11 min, with an excellent resolution.     

Determination of triazine compounds in ground water samples by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

In this work, a capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the determination of a group of eleven triazine compounds by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with diode array detection was developed. The eleven herbicides studied were: desethylatrazin-2-hydroxy (DEA), simazine, prometon, atrazine, simetryn, ametryn, propazine, prometryn, trietazine, terbutylazine, and terbutryn The separation of these compounds was optimised as a function of buffer concentration and pH, concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and voltage applied. To increase the selectivity of the separation and the resolution of the solutes, different organic solvents were tested as buffer additives, obtaining the best results when 1-propanol was used. The optimised buffer (24 mM of sodium borate, 18 mM of disodium hydrogen phosphate, 25 mM of SDS, pH 9.5, and 5% of 1-propanol) provides the best separation in terms of resolution and migration time. This method allowed the determination of these compounds at concentrations of 0.05 μg l⁻¹ in ground water samples pretreated using solid-phase extraction (SPE).     

Comparison of oil-in-water and water-in-oil microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography as methods for the analysis of eight phenolic acids and five diterpenoids

Oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) MEEKC were compared for their abilities to separate and detect eight phenolic acids and five diterpenoids in Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RRSM). The effects of oil type and concentration, organic modifier, SDS, and buffer concentration on separation were examined in order to optimize the two methods. Oil contents and organic modifier were found to markedly influence the separation selectivity for both O/W and W/O systems. SDS concentration rarely affected separation resolution for O/W MEEKC, and separation of eight phenolic acids and five diterpenoids could be improved by changing the buffer concentration for W/O MEEKC. A highly efficient O/W MEEKC separation method, where the 13 compounds were separated with baseline resolution, was achieved by using a microemulsion solution of pH 8.0 containing 0.6% cyclohexane, 3.0% SDS, 6.0% 1-butanol, and 3.0% ACN. The W/O MEEKC was unable to resolve all the components. In addition, the analytic time in O/W MEEKC was shorter than that in W/O MEEKC. Finally, the developed O/W MEEKC method was successfully applied to determine analytic compounds in RRSM samples.     

Microchip capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection for rapid separation and detection of phenolic acids

A microchip capillary-electrophoresis protocol for rapid and effective measurements of food-related phenolic acids (including chlorogenic, gentisic, ferulic, and vanillic acids) is described. Relevant parameters of the chip separation and amperometric detection are examined and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the analytes could be separated and detected in a 15 mM borate buffer (pH 9.5, with 10% of methanol) within 300 s using a separation voltage of 2000 V and a detection voltage of +1.0 V. Linear calibration plots are observed for micromolar concentrations of the phenolic acid compounds. The negligible sample volumes used in the microchip procedure obviates surface fouling common to amperometric measurements of phenolic compounds. The new microchip protocol offers great promise for a wide range of food applications requiring fast measurements and negligible sample consumption. An application on a commercial red wine was performed with minimal sample preparation and promising results.     

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for selected tropane alkaloid analysis in plant extract

Summary Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was applied to the simultaneous analysis of six tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Successful results were obtained using a 30 mM boratephosphate buffer at basic pH (8.5) in the presence of 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. The operating conditions, such as buffer concentration and pH, micelle concentration and organic modifier type and percentage were also discussed on the basis of the results given with a tropane alkaloid mixture. Addition of organic modifiers showed an improvement in separation efficiency and resolution. Moreover, hyoscyamine and littorine, two positional isomers, were only resolved by the addition of organic solvents such as methanol or acetonitrile. The optimized conditions were finally applied to the analysis of tropane alkaloids found in genetically transformed root cultures ofDatura candida x D. aurea. Dedicated to Professor Werner Haerdi on the occasion of his 70^th birthday.     

Analysis of phenolic acids in fruits by HPLC with monolithic columns

Reversed-phase HPLC was optimised for simultaneous determination of several derivatives of benzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids (so-called phenolic acids) in plums using a commercially available monolithic column. Mobile phase pH and concentration of organic modifier (methanol and acetonitrile) were tested in order to obtain the best resolution. Satisfactory separation was achieved in gradient mode with a mobile phase consisting of 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.2 (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B). The limits of detection for a UV detector ranged between 0.098 and 2.04 microg/mL for vanillic acid and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, respectively. The developed method was used for monitoring the content of polyphenolic acids in plums during their ripening process. The presence of these constituents was confirmed by checking their MS spectra.     

Separation and determination of lignans from seeds of Schisandra species by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography using ionic liquid as modifier

In this paper, a micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) method using ionic liquid as modifier for the quantification of the active components of lignans found in the medicinal herbs Schisandra species was developed for the first time. Preliminary investigations employing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant did not lead to the necessary resolution of the studied compounds, the addition of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM-BF4) to the SDS micellar system resulted in the complete separation of all the compounds. The effects on the separation by several parameters such as BMIM-BF4 and SDS concentration, applied voltage, background electrolyte pH and concentration, were evaluated. Under the optimal conditions (5 mM borate-5 mM phosphate buffer in the presence of 20 mM SDS and 10 mM BMIM-BF4, pH 9.2, applied voltage 25 kV and detection at 254 nm), the method successfully applied to the determination of lignans in extracts of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Schisandra henryi C.B. Clarke in less than 13 min. The separation mechanism was also discussed.     

Optimization of separation and migration behavior of chloropyridines in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The separation and migration behavior of pyridine and eight chloropyridines, including three monochloropyridines, four dichloropyridines, and 2,3,5-trichloropyridine were investigated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography using either sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an anionic surfactant or SDS-Brij 35 mixed micelles. Various parameters such as buffer pH, SDS concentration, Brij 35 concentration and methanol content that affect the separation were optimized. Complete separation of these chloropyridines was optimally achieved with a phosphate buffer containing SDS (30 mM) and methanol (10%, v/v) at pH 7.0. The resolution and selectivity of analytes could be considerably affected by the addition of methanol and/or Brij 35 to the background electrolyte. The migration order of these chloropyridines depends primarily on their hydrophobicity. However, electrostatic interactions may also play a significant role in the determination of the migration order of the positional isomers of chloropyridines.     

Enhanced detection of seven glucoconjugated and hydroxylated porphyrins and chlorins by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis combined with stacking

The nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis mode which includes a preconcentration step based on a transient pseudo-isotachophoresis to the simultaneous separation of seven glucoconjugated and hydroxylated porphyrins and chlorins, exhibiting very close structures, is reported. A high methanol content, of the buffer solution, was necessary in order to prevent self-assembly of the compounds and to enhance their solubility during separation. With the addition of 66% (v/v) methanol and 1% (w/v) NaCl in the aqueous sample solution, large volumes could be injected (44% capillary volume) without a loss in resolution. Sensitivity of detection was therefore improved by a 100-fold factor with regard to the method employing normal injection (2% capillary volume). Optimum electrophoretic conditions, in terms of sensitivity and performance, were obtained by using 20 mM phosphoric acid buffer, pH 2.2 and 50% methanol. The method was validated and applied to qualitative analysis of glucoconjugates in serum samples.     

Chromatographic methods for the separation of biocompatible iron chelators from their synthetic precursors and iron chelates

Chromatographic methods have been developed for the separation of the three novel biocompatible iron chelators pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH), salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH), and pyridoxal 2-chlorobenzoyl hydrazone (o-108) from their synthetic precursors and iron chelates. The chromatographic analyses were achieved using analytical columns packed with 5 microm Nucleosil 120-5 C18. For the evaluation of all chelators in the presence of the synthetic precursors, EDTA was added to the mobile phase at a concentration of 2 mM. The best separation of PIH and its synthetic precursors was achieved using a mixture of phosphate buffer (0.01 M NaH2PO4, 5 mM 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium salt; pH 3.0) and methanol (55:45, v/v). For separation of SIH and its synthetic precursors, the mobile phase was composed of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) and methanol (60:40, v/v). o-108 was analyzed employing a mixture of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), methanol, and acetonitrile (60:20:20, v/v/v). These mobile phases were slightly modified to separate each chelator from its iron chelate. Furthermore, a RP-TLC method has also been developed for fast separation of all compounds. The chromatographic methods described herein could be applied in the evaluation of purity and stability of these drug candidates.     

Ionic liquids coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a novel pseudostationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography

A new CE system using ionic liquids coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (ILs-MWNTs) as pseudostationary phase was developed for the simultaneous determination of four flavonoids, four phenolic acids and two saponins. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied, including the choice of ILs, ILs-MWNTs concentration, the respective use of ILs and MWNTs, buffer pH, SDS concentration and borate content. Results revealed that the addition of ILs-MWNTs in running electrolytes enhanced the separation of target compounds compared to conventional micelle because the surface of carbon nanotubes interacted favorably with the analytes. Under the optimum conditions, a baseline separation was achieved for these analytes within 11 min in a 41.5 cm of effective length fused-silica capillary. At a voltage of 28.0 kV, the separation was carried out in a 10mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) containing 100mM SDS, 6% propanol and 4 μg mL(-1) ILs-MWNTs. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r(2)>0.9990) within the test ranges. The intra- and inter-day precisions as determined from standard solutions were below 3.30% and 6.23%, respectively. The recoveries for ten compounds were found to range from 85.5 to 101.8%. The method was successfully applied for the determination of three types of compounds in Qishenyiqi dropping pills. Our experimental results indicated that the proposed method offered new opportunities for the analysis of complex samples.     

Enantioseparation of palonosetron hydrochloride by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with sodium cholate as chiral selector

The enantioseparation of four stereoisomers of palonosetron hydrochloride by micellar electrokinetic chromatography using sodium cholate as chiral surfactant was described. Sodium cholate was shown to be effective in separating palonosetron hydrochloride stereoisomers. For method optimization, several parameters such as sodium cholate concentration, buffer pH and concentration, the types and concentration of organic modifiers and applied voltage, on the enantioseparation were evaluated and the optimum conditions were obtained as follows: 30 mM borate buffer (pH 9.40) containing 70 mM sodium cholate and 20% (v/v) methanol with an applied voltage of 20 kV. Under these conditions, baseline separation of palonosetron hydrochloride stereoisomers was achieved within 18 min.     

Optimization of the separation of ionizable compounds in micellar electrokinetic chromatography by simultaneous change of pH and SDS concentration

A method to optimize the separation in micellar EKC (MEKC) of mixtures of acidic compounds as a function of two parameters, pH and concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate, has been developed. The method considers the prediction of the retention time and the shape of the peaks. The retention time is predicted from the retention factor model and the peak shape by a polynomically modified Gaussian function that considers peak width, asymmetry factor, and height. An algorithm to calculate the global resolution of the separation at any experimental pH and [SDS] has been applied. This algorithm provides a 3-D resolution map to easily detect the areas in which resolution for the separation of the compounds is maximum. Initial experiments to fit the models have been performed with a set of ten phenolic compounds with different hydrophobicities and pK(a) values, and therefore, expected to behave in a different way with changes of pH and surfactant concentration. The experiments encompassed a pH range from 6.7 to 11.1, and a sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration range from 40 to 80 mM. Through the proposed methodology, chromatograms have been simulated at different pH and [SDS] very accurately. Furthermore, the resolution at any experimental point within the studied ranges have been also calculated, giving an optimum resolution value at pH 6.7 and [SDS] = 72 mM.     

Enantiomeric separation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), methyldihydroxyphenylalanine (MDOPA) and hydrazinomethyldihydroxyphenylalanine (CDOPA) by using capillary electrophoresis with sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was successfully applied to the enantiomer resolution of racemic structurally related compounds, namely dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), methyldihydroxyphenylalanine (MDOPA) and hydrazinomethyldihydroxyphenylalanine (CDOPA). The chiral resolution was performed in an untreated fused-silica capillary by using a phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 or 3.0 supplemented with sulfobutylated beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-CD). Resolution was strongly influenced by the concentration of the chiral selector added to the background electrolyte. In fact, 2-5 mM of SBE-CD enabled the resolution of DOPA and MDOPA enantiomers, while CDOPA optical isomers were resolved by using either 0.5 mM or 6-20 mM of SBE-CD. The latter separation conditions (reversed polarity mode) made it possible to obtain inversion of migration order.     

Analysis of phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil by using reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

In this work, the simultaneous separation of ten phenolic compounds (protocatechuic, p-coumaric, o-coumaric, vanillic, ferulic, caffeic, syringic acids, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and oleuropein) in extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) by isocratic RP CEC is proposed. A CEC method was optimized in order to completely resolve all the analyzed compounds by studying several experimental parameters. The influence of the stationary phase type (C(18) and C(8) modified silica gel), buffer concentration and pH as well as the organic modifier content of the mobile phase on retention factors, selectivity and efficiency were evaluated in details. A capillary column packed with Cogent bidentate C(18) particles for 23 cm and a mobile phase composed by 100 mM ammonium formate buffer pH 3/H(2)O/ACN (5:65:30 v/v/v) allowed the baseline resolution of the compounds under study in less than 35 min setting the applied voltage and temperature at 22 kV and 20 degrees C, respectively. A study, evaluating the intra- and interday precision as well as LOD and LOQ and method linearity was developed in accordance with the analytical procedures for method validation. LODs were in the range of 0.015-2.5 microg/mL, while calibration curves showed a good linearity (r(2) >0.997). The CEC method was applied to the separation and determination of these compounds in EVOO samples after a suitable liquid-liquid extraction procedure. The mean recovery values of the studied compounds ranged between 87 and 99%.