Indirect amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids in microcolumn liquid chromatography with carbon film based ring-disk electrodes

An indirect amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids has been developed using a carbon film based ring-disk electrode (CFBRDE) in microcolumn liquid chromatography (LC). Bromide present in the mobile phase could be efficiently oxidized to bromine at the upstream (disk) electrode, and was subsequently detected at the downstream (ring) electrode. Most of the underivatized amino acids that are electroinactive under conventional amperometric conditions react rapidly with the electrogenerated bromine, the concentration of amino acids can therefore be indirectly determined by continuously monitoring the reduction current of bromine. The signal monitored at the downstream electrode was largely dependent on the bromide concentration in the mobile phase. Under optimized conditions, the response linearly increased with the concentration for most of the amino acids over a concentration range of 1-100 microM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.990-0.993. The detection limits for most of the amino acids were below 1 microM (0.2 pmol). It was demonstrated that detection with a ring-disk electrode offers the advantages of achieving a much higher collection efficiency caused by a decrease in flow rate in the microcolumn LC.     

Carbon-nanotube/copper composite electrodes for capillary electrophoresis microchip detection of carbohydrates

The preparation of carbon nanotube (CNT)/copper composite electrodes, based on co-mixing CNT and Cu powders within mineral oil, is described. The new composite electrode is used for improved amperometric detection of carbohydrates following their capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchip separations. The CNT/Cu composite electrode detector displays enhanced sensitivity compared to detectors based on copper or CNT alone. The marked catalytic action of the CNT/Cu composite material permits effective low potential (+0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl) amperometric detection, and is coupled to the renewability, bulk modification and versatility advantages of composite electrodes. The CNT/Cu composite surface also leads to a greater resistance to surface fouling compared to that observed at the copper electrode. Factors affecting the electrocatalytic activity and the CE microchip detection are examined and optimized. The CNT/Cu composite electrode is also shown to be useful for the detection of amino acids as indicated from preliminary results. While the present work has focused on the enhanced CE microchip detection of carbohydrates and amino acids, the CNT/metal-composite electrode route should benefit the detection of other important groups of analytes.     

Determination of free nitrilotriacetic acid in environmental water samples by ion chromatography with potentiometric and amperometric detection with a copper electrode

An ion-chromatographic method is described for the analysis of free nitrilotriacetic acid in water samples. Separations are achieved on a polymer-based anion-exchange column with 6 mM nitric acid as eluent. Both potentiometric and amperometric detection have been applied using metallic copper as the indicator electrode. Detection limits are at about 500 ng injected in the potentiometric mode and 100 ng in the amperometric mode. On-line sample preconcentration is possible for volumes up to 2 ml of river water samples. The response of the detector to other aminopolycarboxylic and aminopolyphosphonic acids has been investigated.     

Determination of underivatized amino acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection at an amino acid oxidase immobilized CuPtCI6 modified electrode

An amperometric sensor for amino acids based on the immobilization of amino acid oxidase on the surface of a CuPtCl(6)/GC is described. The amperometric current is due to the oxidation of H2O2 liberated during the enzyme reaction on the surface of the enzyme electrode. The electrode response characteristics as well as kinetic parameters have been evaluated. The enzyme electrode was characterized as an electrochemical biosensor, which was used as detector in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of a mixture of amino acids with satisfactory results.     

Liquid chromatography amperometric detection of carboxylic acids and phenolic acids with a copper-based chemically-modified electrode

A copper-based chemically-modified electrode has been constructed and characterized by various experimental parameters in flow-through amperometric detection of carboxylic acids and phenolic acids. Novel hydrodynamic voltamperograms were first obtained in flow-through amperometric detection with the Cu-based CME and subsequently negative and positive peaks were observed in a single chromatogram. This unique and flexible potential dependence could be of great benefit in chromatographic speciation and quantification. These observations suggest that the detector response was governed by the complexation reaction of copper ions with the solutes.     

Determination of underivatized amino acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection at an amino acid oxidase immobilized CuPtCl6 modified electrode

An amperometric sensor for amino acids based on the immobilization of amino acid oxidase on the surface of a CuPtCl₆/GC is described. The amperometric current is due to the oxidation of H₂O₂ liberated during the enzyme reaction on the surface of the enzyme electrode. The electrode response characteristics as well as kinetic parameters have been evaluated. The enzyme electrode was characterized as an electrochemical biosensor, which was used as detector in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of a mixture of amino acids with satisfactory results. Received: 31 Jaunary 2000 / Revised: 31 March 2000 / Accepted: 3 April 2000     

The Direct Electrochemical Detection of Amino Acids at a Platinum Electrode in an Alkaline Chromatographic Effluent

Abstract

It is the general experience that most organic compounds including amino acids do not produce reversible or even quasi-reversible anodic waves at a Pt electrode under conditions of conventional cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, amperometric detection of these compounds at a constant electrode potential is not successful because of the accumulation of adsorbed reaction products and/or an oxide film at the electrode surface. However, it is observed that a Pt electrode surface is cleaned quite effectively of adsorbed organic molecles and radicals simultanaeously with the anodic formation of the oxide layer. This oxidation of adsorbed organic species is concluded to be electrocatalyzed by PtOH formed as the first step in the production of the oxide layer (PtO). A pulsed-potential waveform applied at a frequency of ca. 1 Hz is demonstrated to provide direct amperometric detection of adsorbed amino acids at a Pt electrode. Satisfactory analytical precision (i.e., < 3% rel. std. dev.) results because the waveform reproducibly generates the catalytically active surface state at the Pt electrode. Both primary and secondary amino acids are determined with satisfactory detection limits: e.g., ca. 13 ng for glycine, 7 ng for phenylamine and 23 ng for hydroxyproline in 50-μL samples. Analytical response is concluded to depend on the adsorption isotherm of the amino acid being detected. Hence, the calibration plot of I/I_peak vs. 1/C^D is linear for low surface coverages. Results are shown for amperometric detection of a synthetic mixture of amino acids by anion-exchange chromatography using NaOH as the eluent and supporting electrolyte.     

Carbon paste-based electrochemical detectors for microchip capillary electrophoresis/electrochemistry

The first reported use of a carbon paste electrochemical detector for microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) is described. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microchip CE devices were constructed by reversibly sealing a PDMS layer containing separation and injection channels to a separate PDMS layer that contained carbon paste working electrodes. End-channel amperometric detection with a single electrode was used to detect amino acids derivatized with naphthalene dicarboxaldehyde. Two electrodes were placed in series for dual electrode detection. This approach was demonstrated for the detection of copper(II) peptide complexes. A major advantage of carbon paste is that catalysts can be easily incorporated into the electrode. Carbon paste that was chemically modified with cobalt phthalocyanine was used for the detection of thiols following a CE separation. These devices illustrate the potential for an easily constructed microchip CE system with a carbon-based detector that exhibits adjustable selectivity.     

Nickel-titanium alloy electrodes for stable amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids in anion-exchange chromatography

Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy electrode was used as an electrochemical detector for the analysis of underivatized amino acids in flow systems. In strong alkaline solution, an oxide film on the Ni-Ti alloy electrode surface exhibited a high catalytic activity toward the oxidation of amino acids. Cyclic voltammetry experiments confirmed that electrogenerated Ni(III)O(OH) functioned as the key redox mediator associated with the oxidation of the amine group in amino acids. The electrochemical behavior of the Ni-Ti electrode in alkaline medium was very similar to the Ni electrode. However, the oxide film was found to be much stable on Ni-Ti than on Ni. Consequently, the Ni-Ti alloy electrode exhibited an excellent stability for constant-potential amperometric detection of amino acids in flow systems. For example, the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for the repetitive 100 injections of 50 muM (1.2 nmol) glycine over 10 h was less than 1%. It was postulated that the presence of Ti in the alloy stabilizes the microstructure of oxide layer on the electrode surface. The sensitivities of amino acids at the electrode were different, depending on their chemical structures. The detection limits obtained in a range from 0.9 pmol for arginine to 90.2 pmol for leucine and isoleucine. The Ni-Ti alloy electrodes have been demonstrated to be very suitable for the amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids in anion-exchange chromatography.     

A dynamically modified microfluidic poly(dimethylsiloxane) chip with electrochemical detection for biological analysis

Separation and direct detection of amino acids, glucose and peptide in a 3.1 cm separation channel made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with end-column amperometric detection at a copper microdisk electrode was developed. This system is the integration of a normal sized working electrode with electrochemical detection on a PDMS microfabricated device. The PDMS channels dynamically modified by 2-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid (MES) show less adsorption and more enhanced efficiency than that of unmodified ones when applied to separations of these biological molecules. The migration time is less than 100 s and the reproducibility of migration time is satisfactory with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.8% in 19 successive injections. The limits of detection of arginine (Arg), glucose, and methionine-glycine (Met-Gly) are estimated to be 2.0, 8.5, and 64.0 microM at S/N = 3, approximately 0.5-16.0 fmol, respectively. Variances influencing the separation efficiency and amperometric response, including injection, separation voltage, detection potential, or concentration of buffer and additive, are assessed and optimized.     

A nickel oxide amperometric detector in the chromatographic separation of amino acids

Reverse-phase ion-pair chromatography with a nickel oxide amperometric detector is evaluated for separation and detection of several amino acids. A simple T-junction allows post-column mixing of detector electrolyte. Mixer and detector dimensions are shown to contribute negligibly to band spreading. Picomole amounts of some amino acids can be detected. The system is evaluated for determination of amino acids in hydrolyzed bovine A-chain insulin and urine samples.     

Amperometric detection of amines using cobalt electrodes after separation by ion-moderated partition chromatography

A simple and low-cost amperometric sensor for amines has been developed using a cobalt wire electrode working in alkaline solution. The sensor may be used as a detector for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that avoids the need for derivatization or post-column reaction. Experimental conditions for flow injection analysis (FIA) and HPLC separation, including the applied potential, pH and concentrations of organic modifier and carrier solution, were optimized. A cobalt wire electrode, in the constant potential amperometric mode, gives an excellent response toward amines in ion-exclusion chromatography in unbuffered solution. The sensitivities of the detection and separation of amines on the column are affected by flow rate, the concentration of the mobile phase and the concentration of organic solvent in the mobile phase, whereas the applied potential only affects the sensitivity of the detector. A cobalt electrode is more sensitive than a copper electrode, and comparable in sensitivity to a UV detector for most amines tested. The detection sensitivity is comparable to that obtained with GC methods, but the procedures are far simpler. The detection limits of the order of nanomoles obtained under the chromatographic conditions used offer an alternative for the determination of amines in a variety of matrices, such as in environmental, biomedical and pharmaceutical samples.     

Pulsed amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids using polypyrrole modified copper electrode in acidic solution

The successful pulsed amperometric detection of underivatized amino acids have been carried out in an acidic media on a polypyrrole (PPy) modified Cu electrode. The formation of PPy film doped with glutamate (glu) on a Cu electrode surface changes the mechanism of Cu dissolution. After application of multistep potential waveform, the PPy film was glu free due to the electro-reduction and overoxidation. High anodic potential polarization treatment yielded partially overoxidized PPy film as long as the Cu surface dissolution and amino acid permeation through the film was well controlled. This overoxidized PPy film acted as a charge and size exclusion barrier in order to improve the selectivity and stability of a Cu electrode. Various process parameters such as film modification time, detection and cleaning potential and pH of solution have been optimized to maximize the beneficial electrocatalytic properties of the electrode surface. At an optimized condition, detection limits for positively charged histidine and arginine are 19 and 22 pg respectively, whereas the neutral amino acids detected in amounts of 0.9–2.3 ng. Furthermore, the PPy coated Cu electrode response was long lived, stable and reproducible.     

Amperometric detection of amino acids with a passivated copper electrode

The amperometric behaviour of a copper electrode towards amino acids is studied by means of a rotating disc electrode. A theoretical model describing the anodic background current in a buffer solution and the increase of the current caused by amino acids is checked experimentally. The influences of the amino acid concentration, the rotation speed of the electrode and the composition of the buffer solution are studied. It is proved that chemical dissolution of a passivating film on the electrode surface, which is enhanced by the complexation reaction between the amino acid and copper(II) ions, is the principle of the phenomena observed. The applicability to flow systems is demonstrated.     

Amperometric detection of unithiol complexes of heavy metals in high-performance liquid chromatography

It was demonstrated that Pb(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) can be indirectly determined as their unithiol complexes by amperometric detection under static and HPLC conditions. Factors affecting the Chromatographic separation and amperometric detection of metal complexes of unithiol were studied. Two designs of flow electrochemical cells (thin-layer and wall-jet cells) and three electrode materials (platinum, graphite, and glassy carbon) were compared. The best sensitivity was attained for an amperometric detector with wall-jet flow cell and a graphite indicator electrode. The detection limits for Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) were 0.9, 0.3, and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. The Chromatographic determination of heavy metals in a sample of waste water was carried out using the amperometric detector     

Sheath-flow electrochemical detection of amino acids with a copper wire electrode in capillary electrophoresis

Here, we report the detection of native amino acids using a sheath-flow electrochemical detector with a working electrode made of copper wire. A separation capillary that was inserted into a platinum tube in the detector acted as a grounded electrode for electrophoresis and as a flow channel for sheath liquid. Sheath liquid flowed outside the capillary to support the transport of the separated analytes to the working electrode for electrochemical detection. The copper wire electrode was aligned at the outlet of the capillary in a wall-jet configuration. Amino acids injected into the capillary were separated following elution from the end of the capillary and detection by the copper electrode. Three kinds of copper electrodes with different diameters-50, 125, and 300 μm-were examined to investigate the effect of the electrode diameter on sensitivity. The peak widths of the analytes were independent of the diameter of the working electrode, while the 300-μm electrode led to a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio compared with the 50- and 125-μm electrodes, which showed no significant difference. The flow rate of the sheath liquid was also varied to optimize the detection conditions. The limits of detection for amino acids ranged from 4.4 to 27 μM under optimal conditions.     

Simultaneous determination of rocuronium and its eight impurities in pharmaceutical preparation using high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

A sensitive and selective HPLC method with amperometric detection (HPLC-ED) for the determination of rocuronium bromide and its eight impurities has been developed. The analysis was performed on Hypersil 100 Silica column 5 microm (250 mm x 4.6 mm; Thermo Electron). The mobile phase consisting of 4.53 g l(-1) solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide adjusted to pH 7.4 with 85% phosphoric acid:acetonitrile (1:9), was found the best for the separation and determination of the studied compounds. The chromatograms were recorded over 10 min using the amperometric detection at a potential +0.9 V of the glassy carbon electrode versus the reference electrode Ag/AgCl. The limit of quantitation was 45 ng ml(-1) for rocuronium and from 25 to 750 ng ml(-1) for the examined impurities. The proposed HPLC-ED method was successfully applied to the analysis of rocuronium and its impurities in Esmeron solution for injection.     

HPLC analysis of thimerosal and its degradation products in ophthalmic solutions with electrochemical detection

A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay using amperometric detection on a glassy-carbon electrode has been developed for analysis of thimerosal and its main degradation products, thiosalicylic acid and dithiodibenzoic acid, in ophthalmic formulations. A potential value of 0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl was chosen for simultaneous detection of thimerosal and thiosalicylic acid, obtaining limits of detection of 1.0 and 0.2 ng injected, respectively. A potential value of 1.2V was applied for simultaneous determination of all three compounds studied, obtaining in this case limits of detection of 3,4 and 4 ng injected for thimerosal, thiosalicylic acid and dithiodibenzoic acid, respectively. The results obtained reveal the utility of the HPLC method in quality control of commercial products containing thimerosal with good detectability.     

Analysis of phenolic acids in plant materials using HPLC with amperometric detection at a platinum tubular electrode

The suitability of a simple amperometric platinum tubular detector for HPLC analysis of selected phenolic acids in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae) is reported. The detector offers good overall limits of detection for the phenolic acids of interest. Three different types of extracts from yacon leaves were analyzed and compared with respect to their content of phenolic acids. Caffeic acid was found in all yacon extracts, whereas the content of chlorogenic acid depends more on the extraction procedure used. It has been demonstrated that no complicated and sophisticated equipment is needed and HPLC with amperometric detection seems to be a very useful technique for analysis of plant extracts containing phenolic acids.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection applied to the screening of 1,4-dihydropyridines in human plasma

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection has been developed for the determination of six 1,4-dihydropyridines: nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nicardipine, felodipine and lacidipine. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Supelcosil LC-ABZ+Plus C₁₈ column. A mobile phase of methanol–water (70:30), containing 2 mM CH₃COOH–CH₃COONa at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min and a pH of 5.0, was used. The temperature was optimized at 30±0.2°C. The amperometric detector, equipped with a glassy carbon electrode, was operated at 1000 mV versus Ag/AgCl in the direct current mode. The method was applied to the determination of these compounds at ng/ml concentrations, obtaining intra-day reproducibilities of lower than 5.0% in terms of relative standard deviations and detection limits ranging from 16 to 44 ng/ml. The method was applied to the screening of 1,4-dihydropyridines in spiked plasma samples, with a total elution time of lower than 18 min, obtaining the best recoveries for nimodipine and felodipine (91 and 88%, respectively). These recoveries together with the low detection limits achieved allow its application to the analysis of these drugs in human plasma.