Speciation of trace amounts of aluminium in percolating water of forest soil by online coupling HPLC-ICP-MS

Procedures were developed for the speciation of trace amounts of aluminium present in percolating water of forest soil by online coupling of different chromatographic separation methods to an ICP-MS detection system. Inorganic and organic aluminium species were fractionated on a cation exchange column IONPAC CG12 (10-32). Phytotoxic polymeric aluminium hydroxides, as e.g. Al₁₃ (AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂ ⁷⁺), were determined using pyrocatechol violet (PCV) as a species dependant complexing reagent prior to the cation exchange step. Size fractionation of the organic aluminium species was obtained by size exclusion chromatography using the columns Superdex-75-HR 10/30 and Superdex-Peptide-HR 10/30. Validation of the speciation procedures proved that online coupling HPLC to the element selective and sensitive ICP-MS detection system leads to low detection limits of 0.3–0.6 μg/L and high precision and reproducibility (1.2–3.5%) of the speciation procedures. Speciation data determined for aluminium in a percolating water of the Zierenberg catchment are given.     

Preconcentration extractive separation, speciation and spectrometric determination of iron(III) in environmental samples

Preconcentration, speciation and separation with solvent extraction of Fe(III) from samples of different origin, using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as a solvent and the sodium salt of 2-carboethoxy-1,3-indandione (CEIDNa) as a complexing agent for Fe(III), were studied. CEIDNa reacts with Fe(III) in the pH range 1.5–3.5 to produce a red colored complex of Fe(III)–CEIDNa (1:3 molar ratio) soluble in MIBK. The investigation includes a study of the characteristics that are essential for solvent extraction, spectrophotometric and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination (AAS) of iron. A highly sensitive, selective and rapid spectrometric method is described for the trace analysis of iron(III) by CEIDNa. The complex formed obeys Beer's law from 0.06 to 1.8 mg l⁻¹ with an optimum range. A single step extraction was efficiently used with a distribution ratio (D)=10^3.6. The extracted red colored (1:3) Fe–CEIDNa was measured spectrophotometrically at 500 nm with a molar absorptivity of 1.2×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. In addition, the organic phase was directly aspirated to the flame for AAS determination and the signals related to Fe(III) concentration were recorded at 243.3 nm. The complexation of iron(III) with CEIDNa allows the separation of the analyte from alkali, alkaline earth and other elements, which are not complexed. The proposed preconcentration procedure was applied successfully to the determination of trace Fe(III) in soil, milk and natural water samples.     

Zur Multi-Elementanreicherung aus eisenhaltigen B?den und Sedimenten

Summary Traces of Ag, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, In, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn can be preconcentrated with recoveries R_s 95% from soils and sediments of high iron content by collector precipitation with hexamethylene-ammonium-hexamethylenedithiocarbamate and with a small amount of the iron as a collector element. The trace concentrates are analyzed by AAS and XRF. The relative standard deviation of the combined method of sample decomposition, preconcentration and AAS determination (n = 12) is generally about 0.03; the limit of detection (3 s, n = 20) for different elements was found to be between 0.1 and 1 g·g^–1. The accuracy of the method was verified by certified standard material. The power of detection of XRF for the analysis of trace concentrates obtained from soils and sediments is only sufficient for some of the interesting elements.     

Speciation analysis of bromine-containing drug metabolites in feces samples from a human in vivo study by means of HPLC/ICP-MS combined with on-line isotope dilution

The aim of this work was speciation analysis of metabolites in feces samples collected within a clinical study during which a bromine-containing anti-tuberculosis drug (TMC207) was administered to patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis infection. Owing to slow elimination of the drug, no ¹⁴C label was used within this study. Quantification of the bromine species was accomplished using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (HPLC/ICP-MS) in combination with on-line isotope dilution (on-line ID), while structural elucidation of the species was performed using HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry. The ICP-MS-based method developed shows a good intra- and inter-day reproducibility (relative standard deviation = 3.5%, N = 9); the limit of detection (1.5 mg TMC207 L⁻¹) is of the same order of magnitude as that for HPLC/radiodetection; the dynamic range of the method covers more than two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the column recovery was demonstrated to be quantitative (recoveries between 90.6% and 99.5%). Based on the excellent figures of merit, the “cold” HPLC/ICP-MS approach could be deployed for the actual human in vivo metabolism study, such that exposure of the human volunteers to the ¹⁴C radiolabel was avoided.     

Simultaneous Determination of Caffeine and Theophylline in Human Plasma with a Weak Cation Monolithic SPE-column

A simple reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) method was developed to determine the level of caffeine and theophylline in human plasma samples. The sample clean‐up step involved the on‐line solid‐phase extraction (SPE) of the analytes from plasma samples into a weak cation monolithic column using a column switching system. Separation was performed on a C₁₈ column (5 µm, 150 mm×4.6 mm) with ultraviolet detection at 274 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol‐water (32/68, V/V) under isocratic conditions at a flow rate of 0.6 mL·min⁻¹. The measured concentration of caffeine and theophylline showed a good linear relationship over the concentrations range, 0.1–80.0 µg·mL⁻¹. The absolute recoveries ranged from 77.10% to 85.39%, and the inter‐day and intra‐day relative standard deviations (RSD) were all less than 5%. This method avoids a tedious pretreatment and provides an economic, repeatable and effective method for assaying trace drugs in biological samples.     

Speciation of trace amounts of aluminium in percolating water of forest soil by online coupling HPLC-ICP-MS

Procedures were developed for the speciation of trace amounts of aluminium present in percolating water of forest soil by online coupling of different chromatographic separation methods to an ICP-MS detection system. Inorganic and organic aluminium species were fractionated on a cation exchange column IONPAC CG12 (10-32). Phytotoxic polymeric aluminium hydroxides, as e.g. Al₁₃ (AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂ ⁷⁺), were determined using pyrocatechol violet (PCV) as a species dependant complexing reagent prior to the cation exchange step. Size fractionation of the organic aluminium species was obtained by size exclusion chromatography using the columns Superdex-75-HR 10/30 and Superdex-Peptide-HR 10/30. Validation of the speciation procedures proved that online coupling HPLC to the element selective and sensitive ICP-MS detection system leads to low detection limits of 0.3–0.6 μg/L and high precision and reproducibility (1.2–3.5%) of the speciation procedures. Speciation data determined for aluminium in a percolating water of the Zierenberg catchment are given. Received: 20 November 1998 / Revised: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 1999     

Direct determination of trace aluminum with quercetin by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

The determination of trace levels of aluminum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection using quercetin, a bioactive substance as a pre-column reagent, is developed in this paper. The Al-quercetin chelate was separated on a reversed-phase ODS column with a mobile phase consisting of 70% water (pH 1.0 with perchloric acid) and 30% methanol, and detected at its maximum of 415 nm. The response was linear over the 1.0×10⁻⁷ to 8.0×10⁻⁵ M concentration range with a detection limit of 5.0×10⁻⁸ M and a relative standard deviation of 1.0% at the 5×10⁻⁶ M level. The analysis was free from common ions except iron, which could be successfully screened by 1,10-phenanthroline. This method has been employed to the determination of Al in environmental and biological samples. Moreover, direct speciation of labile monomeric Al, the toxic form of Al, in natural water by the present technique was explored. The coordination ratio of Al complex with quercetin was also elucidated by HPLC combined with molar ratio method. Only a 1:1 complex was formed. Because quercetin exists in body, a preliminary thinking of in vivo determination of Al is provided in this study.     

Determination of trace amounts of lead, arsenic, nickel and cobalt in high-purity iron oxide pigment by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after iron matrix removal with extractant-contained resin

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied to the determination of lead, arsenic, nickel and cobalt in high-purity iron oxide pigment. Samples were dissolved with hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The digest was passed through a column, which was packed with a polymer resin containing a neutral organophosphorus extractant, tri-n-butylphosphate. Iron was sorbed selectively on the resin and the analytes of interest passed through the column, allowing the effective separation of them from the iron matrix. Conditions of separation were optimized. The detection limits (3σ) in solution were 10, 40, 7 and 5 μg L⁻¹, and in pigment were 0.2, 0.8, 0.14 and 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ for lead, arsenic, cobalt and nickel, respectively. The recoveries ranged from 95% to 107% when sample digests were spiked with 5 μg of the analytes of interest, and relative standard deviations (n = 6) were 1.5-17.6% for the determination of the spiked samples. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of these elements in high-purity iron oxide pigment samples.     

Determination of aluminum in highly concentrated iron samples: Study of interferences using high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry

High-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) has been used to investigate spectral and non-spectral interferences found with a conventional line source atomic absorption spectrometer in the determination of aluminum in pharmaceutical products containing elevated iron and sugar concentrations. A transversely heated graphite furnace was used as the atomizer in both spectrometers. The two most sensitive aluminum lines at 309.3 nm and 396.2 nm were investigated and it was found that an iron absorption line at 309.278 nm, in the vicinity of the aluminum line at 309.271 nm, could be responsible for some spectral interference. The simultaneous presence of iron and the organic components of the matrix were responsible for radiation scattering, causing high continuous and also structured background absorption at both wavelengths. The aluminum and iron absorption could not be separated in time, i.e., the iron interference could not be eliminated by optimizing the graphite furnace temperature program. However, an interference-free determination of aluminum was possible carrying out the measurements with HR-CS AAS at 396.152 nm after applying least squares background correction for the elimination of the structured background. Analytical working range and other figures of merit were determined and are presented for both wavelengths using peak volume registration (center pixel ± 1) and the center pixel only. Limits of detection and characteristic masses ranged from 1.1 to 2.5 pg and 13 to 43 pg, respectively. The method was used for the determination of the aluminum contamination in pharmaceutical formulations for iron deficiency treatment, which present iron concentrations from 10 to 50 g l^− 1. Spike recoveries from 89% to 105% show that the proposed method can be satisfactorily used for the quality control of these formulations.     

Preparation and evaluation of a novel molecularly imprinted SPE monolithic capillary column for the determination of auramine O in shrimp

A novel method combining molecular imprinting and SPE was developed in a capillary column for the determination of auramine O in shrimp. The capillary monolithic column was prepared by UV‐initiated in situ polymerization, using auramine O as template and methacrylic acid and ethylene dimethacrylate as functional monomer and cross‐linker, respectively. The properties of the prepared capillary monolithic column were investigated under the optimized conditions coupled with HPLC, and then the morphologies of the inner polymers were characterized by SEM. The calibration curve was expressed as A = 103C + 19.8 (r = 0.9992) with a linear range of 0.25–25.0 μg/mL, and the recoveries of auramine O at different concentrations in shrimp ranged from 90.5 to 92.4% with RSDs ranging from 2.1 to 4.4%. The capacities of the molecularly imprinted polymer and nonimprinted polymer columns were 0.722 and 0.147 μg/mg, respectively, and the LOD (S/N = 3) of auramine O in shrimp was 17.85 μg/kg. Under the selected conditions, the enrichment factors obtained were higher than 70‐fold. The results indicate that the prepared molecularly imprinted capillary monolithic column was reliable and applicable to the analysis of auramine O in shrimp.     

Separation of natural product using columns packed with Fused‐Core particles

Three HPLC columns packed with 3 μm, sub‐2 μm, and 2.7 μm Fused‐Core (superficially porous) particles were compared in separation performance using two natural product mixtures containing 15 structurally related components. The Ascentis Express^TM C18 column packed with Fused‐Core particles showed an 18% increase in column efficiency (theoretical plates), a 76% increase in plate number per meter, a 65% enhancement in separation speed and a 19% increase in back pressure compared to the Atlantis T3^TM C18 column packed with 3 μm particles. Column lot‐to‐lot variability for critical pairs in the natural product mixture was observed with both columns, with the Atlantis T3 column exhibiting a higher degree of variability. The Ascentis Express column was also compared with the Acquity^TM BEH column packed with sub‐2 μm particles. Although the peak efficiencies obtained by the Ascentis Express column were only about 74% of those obtained by the Acquity BEH column, the 50% lower back pressure and comparable separation speed allowed high‐efficiency and high‐speed separation to be performed using conventional HPLC instrumentation.     

Matrix effects in the determination of β‐receptor agonists in animal‐derived foodstuffs by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with immunoaffinity solid‐phase extraction

Matrix effects in determination of three β‐receptor agonists including salbutamol (SAL), clenbuterol, and terbutaline in animal‐derived foodstuffs were studied by ultra‐performance LC‐MS/MS with cleanup of immunoaffinity SPE column (IAC). Some animal tissue samples including pig liver, swine muscle, and fish muscle were hydrolyzed by the mixed enzyme solution or HCl solution, and the cleanup efficiencies with SAL IAC, MCX SPE column, and C₁₈‐SCX tandem columns were examined and compared by using spiked experiments. The results showed that the matrix effects in the determination of SAL and terbutaline can be eliminated with SAL IAC cleanup, and the average recoveries of SAL were 77.4～81.5%, 79.0～80.3%, and 85.0～87.2% in pig liver, swine muscle, and fish muscle, respectively. The decision limit (ccα) and detection capability (ccβ) for SAL in pig liver were 0.02 and 0.05 μg/kg, respectively.     

Simplified liquid-chromatographic determination of residues of tetracycline antibiotics in eggs

Summary A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure is described for the identification and quantification of residues of tetracycline antibiotics (TCA) (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline), in eggs. Spiked and blank samples were prepared by homogenization with 1∶1 (v/v) acetonitrile-mixed Mcllvaine buffer and EDTA solution (pH 4.0) then centrifugal ultrafiltration. HPLC was performed on a reversed-phase column with acetonitrile-5% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid, 35∶65 (v/v), as mobile phase and photo-diode array detection. Average recoveries (each drug spiked at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 μg g⁻¹) were >-77% with standard deviations (SD) between 1.5 and 3.5%. The inter-assay variabilities and theirSD were <3.4% and <0.7%, respectively, and intra-assay variability was between 2.0 and 3.9%. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.064 0.087, 0.121, and 0.131 μg g⁻¹ for OTC, TC, CTC, and DC, respectively. The total time required for the analysis of one sample was less than 30 min.     

Applying Aluminum Oxide Column Chromatography Purify Extracts of Cathuranthus Roseus and Simultaneous Determination of the Indole Alkaloids by HPLC

Indole alkaloid of Cathuranthus roseus was purified by applying aluminum oxide column chromatography and an HPLC method was established to determine it. Applying aluminum oxide column chromatography produced a high purified monomer of alkaloids; the extracts of indole alkaloid were then loaded on the neutral aluminum oxide column chromatography and washed with an organic solvent (a mixture of chloroform, ether, and petroleum ether). Effect of purification was the best when the proportion of chloroform, ether, and petroleum ether was 10:10:1. To determine the content of vindoline, vinblastine, and cathuranthine exactly, the mobile phase of HPLC was water (containing 0.005 mol·L^?1 ammonium hydrogen phosphate), methanol (containing 0.67% triethylamine), and acetonitrile, the proportion of each was nonlinear.     

Arsenic species analysis in freshwater using liquid chromatography combined to hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A novel pretreatment system and method for arsenic species continuous analysis of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenate (MMA) and dimethylarsonate (DMA) in freshwater using liquid chromatography combined to hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-HG-AFS) was designed. Arsenic species of As(III), As(V), MMA and DMA in freshwater samples can be well separated, and the analytical time using the developed method is shortened twice compared to the conventional analytical procedure. Besides, the signal of As(V) can be increased by about 50% and the sensitivity to As(V) has been enhanced. The common coexisting ions in freshwater samples have no interferences with arsenic speciation analysis. A sensitive, low cost and interference-free procedure was developed and successfully applied to arsenic speciation in freshwater with the recoveries of four arsenic species within 89.2–106.2%. LC-HG-AFS has good prospects for speciation analysis of trace and ultra trace elements allowing for hydride generation.     

Quantitative Determination of Aucubin in Seven Plantago Species Using HPLC,HPTLC, and LC-ESI-MS Methods

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of aucubin in Plantago lanceolata. The analyses were carried out on Zorbax SB-C₁₈ column with an aqueous phosphoric acid and acetonitrile gradient. The correlation coefficient of calibration curve showed good linearity (r > 0.9995), with average recoveries between 96.7 and 104.5%. The developed method was applied for quantification in P. atrata, P. bellardii, P. coronopus, P. holosteum, P. reniformis, and P. schwarzenbergiana. The aucubin content in plant extracts was compared by HPLC, HPTLC, and LC-ESI-MS techniques and no significant differences between the conducted methods were observed.     

Fully automated column-switching HPLC determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk using dialysis as sample preparation

A procedure has been developed for the automated determination of aflatoxin M1 in decreamed milk, by using on-line dialysis and subsequent trace enrichment on a reverse phase column. After foreflush to the analytical column the determination is performed with fluorescence detection. Fully automated analysis within 10 min is thus possible with reproducible dialysis recoveries above 50% (CV is 3.3%, n = 20) and detection levels of 50 ng/kg.     

Influence of Column Material on Efficiency in High Speed Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

The influence of column tubular material on column efficiency in high speed liquid chromatography has been examined. For good reproducibility in HETP, the columns were first packed dry with Corasil I (28–37μ) and then heptane saturated with 3,3′-oxydipropionitrile was flown through the column. When steady state conditions were achieved, the % loading of stationary phase was 1.1%. It was found that column materials of precision bore and seamless stainless steel, aluminum, and copper gave equivalent efficiency results for retained and unretained components. Teflon coated aluminum columns were not reproducible, in regard to HETP.     

Correlation between different clean-up methods and analytical techniques performances to detect Ochratoxin A in wine

Three different clean-up methods and two analytical techniques were compared to determine Ochratoxin A (OTA) in wines. The first clean-up used a MycoSep column, the second an immunoaffinity column (IAC) and the third consisted in a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using dichloromethane in acid conditions. Meanwhile, two different OTA determination techniques were also evaluated: a HPLC analysis using a fluorescence detector and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) method.Correlations between clean-up methods and analytical techniques to determine OTA in wine were made evaluating linearity, accuracy and precision.Both the two first clean-up methods (solid-phase extraction, SPE) showed a good linear fit (r² = about 0.9999), followed by LLE. The use of immunoaffinity columns showed the best recoveries, even if also the SPE with MycoSep showed good recoveries while the LLE recoveries were the worst ones. The HPLC analysis showed good precision and accuracy, while ELISA method, even with a sufficient linearity, generally underestimated OTA content in wines.     

Performance comparison between packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and HPLC using cyclandelate as the model analyte

A reproducible and fast method has been developed for the assay of cyclandelate in bulk and drug forms using packed column supercritical fluid chromatography using dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) as internal standard. The drug and the internal standard were resolved by elution with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide doped with 14.29% (v/v) methanol on an RP-C₁₈ column and detected spectrophotometrically at 228 nm. Chromatographic figures of merit using C₈, C₁₈, cyano and phenyl columns have been assessed. Parallel experiments have been performed by HPLC and the data have been compared. Supercritical fluid extraction using CO₂ modified with a small amount of methanol was found to give quantitative analytical recoveries of cyclandelate from a dosage form. SFC has been shown to be a viable, faster alternative technique to HPLC generating less disposable waste.