Membrane sampling with microdialysis coupled to HPLC/UV for on-line simultaneous determination of melamine and cyanuric acid in non-dairy coffee creamer

An on-line microdialysis/high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the simultaneous determination of melamine and cyanuric acid in non-dairy coffee creamer. To collect these analytes from aqueous samples, the microdialysis system featured a microdialysis probe incorporating a polyarylethersulfone membrane and employed 0.05 M HCl in 0.1% (v/v) MeOH as the perfusate, with optimal efficiency obtained at a flow rate of 1 μL min(-1). The chromatographic conditions were optimized when using a reverse-phase phenyl column and a mobile phase of phosphate buffer solution in 10% (v/v) MeOH, buffered at pH 3.0. Good linearity relationship (r(2) > 0.9987), intra- and inter-day precisions (RSDs < 6.6%), recoveries (96.9 - 105.0%), and limits of detection (melamine, 3 ppb; cyanuric acid, 150 ppb) were observed for the two analytes. This method has been successfully applied to simultaneous determination of melamine and cyanuric acid in commercial creamers with the recoveries in the range of 97.5 to 102.6%.     

Melamine and Cyanuric Acid in Foodstuffs and Pet Food: Method Validation and Sample Screening

Hazardous levels of melamine in food and feed products have been of great concern after the outbreak of contamination reported in Chinese commodities in 2008. Despite the existence of several analytical methods for melamine (MEL) detection in food, few provide a full validation data set, especially when MEL and cyanuric acid (CYA) are analyzed simultaneously. The aim of this study was to validate an analytical methodology for MEL and CYA analysis in foodstuffs by GC-MS after trimethylsilylation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Linearity was obtained in the range of 0.4 to 800 mg/kg for both compounds, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.15 and 0.05 mg/kg for MEL and CYA, respectively. Screening in 20 food products [3 soya milk powder, 1 baby milk powder, 3 soya powder, 13 diversified cookies and biscuits (8 from China and 2 from Portugal), and 3 dog food) revealed MEL incidence in 55% of the cases, with a maximum concentration of 3.4 mg/kg. CYA was not detected in all samples.     

Microwave-assisted extraction and determination of cyanuric acid residue in pet food samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is attracting more attention due to its potential toxicity. In the present work, microwave-assisted extraction method in combination with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was proposed for the determination of CYA in pet food samples. Among different solvents, diethylamine-acetonitrile-water mixture (1:5:4, v/v) was found to be the best one as the extractant due to the strong polarity of CYA in the pet food. An internal standard, (13) C(3) -labeled CYA, was used in the extractions. The separation was performed on a MERCK ZIC HILIC column (150 mm × 2.1 mm id, 5 μm) with gradient elution of 20 mM ammonium acetate solution-acetonitrile. CYA was well retained (Rt = 5.10 min) and eluted with good peak shape. The method could respond linearly with CYA at concentrations from 1.0 to 50 ng/mL with a quantification limit of 0.25 mg/kg. The intra- and inter-day precision was less than 4.0% and the recovery of the assay was in the range of 90.4-108.1%. In the analysis of practical spiked pet food samples, the new method yielded satisfactory results. Due to its simplicity and accuracy the straightforward method is particularly suitable for routine CYA detection.     

Rapid determination of melamine and cyanuric acid in milk powder using direct analysis in real time-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The use of fast semi-automated method employing direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) for analysis of melamine (MEL) and cyanuric acid (CYA) in milk powder and milk based products has been demonstrated in this study. Simple sample extraction procedure employing methanol–5% aqueous formic acid mixture, which enabled disruption of melamine–cyanurate complex, was followed by direct, high-throughput (30 s per run) examination of sample extracts spread on a glass rod by mass spectrometry under ambient conditions, without any prior chromatographic separation. After optimization of instrument parameter settings, limits of detection (LODs) 170 and 450 μg kg⁻¹ were achieved for MEL and CYA, respectively. In the final phase of study, the possibility of minimizing spectral interference, thus improving method performance characteristics through the use of ultrahigh resolving power offered by Orbitrap based mass analyzer is demonstrated.     

Simultaneous Determination of Flunixin,Phenylbutazone, Oxyphenbutazone and γ-Hydroxyphenylbutazone in Equine Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: With Application to Pharmacokinetics

Abstract

A high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of flunixin, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and γ-hydroxyphenylbutazone in equine plasma. Samples of plasma or sera were deproteinated by addition of acetonitrile containing the internal standard naproxen. The concentration step consisted of taking an aliquot of deproteinated plasma, evaporating under nitrogen to dryness and redissolving in mobile phase. The extracts were chromatographed on a Spherisorb 5 μm ODS column using an isocratic mobile phase of methanol (30% v/v), acetonitrile (20% v/v) and pH 3.0 1% acetate buffer (50% v/v) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min using naproxen as the internal standard. The detection limit for flunixin, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and γ-hydroxyphenylbutazone was 50 ng/ml.

The developed chromatographic method was applied to the determination of equine nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment. Plasma samples from clinically treated horses administered flunixin and phenylbutazone simultaneously are reported. Effect of different anticoagulants used in sampling is reported.     

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of n-butyl glycidyl ether

A novel high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique for the determination of n-butyl glycidyl ether (n-BGE) at concentrations down to 1 ppb (1 μg/liter) has been developed. This HPLC procedure is simple, highly sensitive, and rapid within the limits described.     

Applicability of multisyringe chromatography coupled to on-line solid-phase extraction to the simultaneous determination of dicamba, 2,4-D, and atrazine

Simultaneous determination of three herbicides (dicamba, 2,4-D, and atrazine) has been achieved by on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to multisyringe chromatography (MSC) with UV detection. The preconcentration conditions were optimized; a preconcentration flow rate of 0.5 mL min(-1) and elution at 0.8 mL min(-1) were the optimum conditions. A C(18) (8 mm i.d.) membrane extraction disk conditioned with 0.3 mol L(-1) HCl in 0.5% MeOH was used. A 3-mL sample was preconcentrated, then eluted with 0.43 mL 40:60 water-MeOH. A C(18) monolithic column (25 mm × 4.6 mm) was used for chromatographic separation. Separation of the three compounds was achieved in 10 min by use of 0.01% aqueous acetic acid-MeOH (60:40) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min(-1). The limits of detection (LOD) were 13, 57, and 22 μg L(-1) for dicamba, 2,4-D, and atrazine, respectively. The sampling frequency was three analyses per hour, and each analysis consumed only 7.3 mL solvent. The method was applied to spiked water samples, and recovery between 85 and 112% was obtained. Recovery was significantly better than in the conventional HPLC-UV method. These results indicated the reliability and accuracy of this flow-based method. This is the first time this family of herbicides has been simultaneously analyzed by on-line SPE-MSC using a monolithic column.     

Part per billion determination of oxygen containing impurities in ammonia-nitrogen mixtures

Ammonia-nitrogen feedstock streams, free of oxygen containing impurities, are essential reagents for fabricating low oxygen contaminated nitride films. An analytical method is described for determining part per billion levels of oxygen containing impurities, which are converted to nitric oxide (NO) through reaction with microwave discharge produced active nitrogen. Quantitative determinations are then based on detecting the resulting chemiluminescence of NO at characteristic wavelengths. This metastable transfer spectrometric method (MTES) provides direct measurements of oxygen impurities over the 14 to 500 ppb region and has dynamic range extending to 200 ppm. The method, unparalleled in its measurement sensitivity for oxygen impurities in flowing nitrogen gas streams, is calibrated with an NBS standard and applied to the determination of the purification efficiency of an on-line resin system for removal of O₂, CO and NO from ammonia-nitrogen mixtures. Gaseous streams, doped deliberately in the 0.2 to 100 ppm level with either O₂, CO or NO following purification were found to contain less than 10 ppb of the residual impurity. A commercially available 1% ammonia in nitrogen semiconductor grade reagent (99.999%) is shown by MTES to be contaminated with 470 ppb of oxygen impurities.     

Determination of 3-sulfolene in sulfolane by reaction gas chromatography

Summary A simple gas-liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determining 3-sulfolene in sulfolane. The method involves thermal decomposition of sulfolene and determination of the 1.3-butadiene evolved, by GLC. Influence of the operating parameters on quantitative decomposition of sulfolene has been studied. The accuracy of the method as studied in the concentration range from 0.05 to 4.0 % (w/v) of 3-sulfolene in sulfolane is found to be within ±3.0%. It is rapid and sensitive down to 10 ppm and has potentialities for on-line applications also.

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Bestimmung von 3-Sulfolen in Sulfolan durch Reaktions-Gas-Chromatographie

Zusammenfassung Eine einfache gas-chromatographische Methode wurde entwickelt, die auf der thermischen Zersetzung der Probe und der Bestimmung des dabei aus 3-Sulfolen gebildeten 1,3-Butadiens beruht. Der Einfluß der einzelnen Parameter wurde untersucht. Innerhalb eines Konzentrationsbereichs von 0,05–4,0% 3-Sulfolen ergaben sich Fehler von ±3%. Das Verfahren ermöglicht bis herab zu 10 ppm eine schnelle und empfindliche Bestimmung und eignet sich auch zum on-line Betrieb.

     

Evaluation of different sample introduction approaches for the determination of boron in unalloyed steels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An extended study of different sampling introduction approaches using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is presented for the determination of boron in steel samples. The following systems for sample introduction were applied: direct sample solution nebulization by continuous nebulization (CN) using a cross-flow nebulizer and with flow injection (FI), applied to 0.1% (m/v) and 0.5% (m/v) sample solutions, respectively; FI after iron matrix extraction, using acetylacetone–chloroform, and isotopic dilution (ID) analysis as the calibration method; FI with on-line electrolytic matrix separation; and spark ablation (SA) and laser ablation (LA) as solid sampling techniques. External calibration with matrix-matching samples was used with CN, SA, and LA, and only acid solutions (without matrix matching) with FI methods. When FI was directly applied to a sample solution, the detection limit was of 0.15 μg g⁻¹, improving by a factor of 4 that was obtained from the CN measurements. Isotopic dilution analysis, after matrix removal by solvent extraction, made it possible to analyse boron with a detection limit of 0.02 μg g⁻¹ and, with the on-line electrolytic process, the detection limit was of 0.05 μg g⁻¹. The precision for concentrations above 10 times the detection limit was better than 2% for CN, as well as for FI methods. Spark and laser ablation sampling systems, avoiding digestion and sample preparation procedures, provided detection limits at the μg g⁻¹ levels, with RSD values better than 6% in both cases. Certified Reference Materials with B contents in the range 0.5–118 μg g⁻¹ were used for validation, finding a good agreement between certified and calculated values.     

Microcolumn liquid chromatography with thermionic detection of the enantiomers of O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX)

An improved interface for the on-line coupling of microcolumn liquid chromatography (micro-LC) with thermionic detection (TID) is described. Modifications have been made to enable separate adjustment of the eluent introduction and the detector flame temperature in order to improve the sensitivity and ease of use of the system. The micro-LC-TID was used for the chiral separation of the nerve agent O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX). Baseline separation for the enantiomers of VX was obtained on Chiralcel OD using 1% isopropanol in hexane as the eluent. The detection limit of VX using 60 nl injections is ca. 5 μg/ml (ppm range). However, when using large-volume injections (10 μl) the detection limit is ca. 25 ng/ml (ppb range).     

Rapid Analysis for Codeine by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been established for the separation and quantitative determination of the alkaloid codeine in pharmaceutical preparations and in body fluids. The minimum detectable concentrations for body fluids were 5ppb and 7ppb respectively for urine and whole blood with an analysis time of under 5 min. A RP-8 Spheri-5 guard column and a RP-8 Lichrosorb-10 column were used and codeine was detected at its absorption maximum wavelength of 212 nm using an eluting system of methanol: 0.5% w/v aqueous ammonium acetate (70:30) at a pH of about 7.0.     

Configuration and optimization of semiconductor gas sensors as gas chromatographic detectors

A tin oxide, gas-sensitive semiconductor sensor was configured as a gas chromatographic detector and its performance was optimized. Two sensor housings were compared but little difference was found in performance. The flow rate and temperature of the column and the internal heater voltage of the sensor affected both the sensitivity and peak shape. The temperature of the sensor surface was the most critical parameter. Optimal conditions for the gas chromatographic detection of a mixture of alkanes (C₁–C₅) and hydrogen were identified by using the simplex technique. The detection limit for hydrogen was improved by a factor of five to 20 ppb (v/v), illustrating the value of optimization and the excellent sensitivity of the detector. It is concluded that semiconductor gas sensors offer significant advantages as gas chromatographic detectors for the determination of reducing gases.     

Ion chromatographic determination of ammonia in air using a sampling tube of porous carbon.

The ion chromatographic determination of ammonia in air using a sampling tube of porous carbon carbonized at 500 degrees C was examined. When the mean recovery and the reproducibility for a series of five determinations were examined for 1 and 10 ppm ammonia gases, the mean recovery (n = 5) and the relative standard deviation were 97.0% and 3.5% for 1 ppm and 86.9% and 2.8% for 10 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, the recovery from 10 ppm ammonia gas increased with an increase in the extraction time, and a recovery of 99.7% was obtained for 180 min of extraction time. The mean collection efficiency for 1 and 10 ppm ammonia gas was 102.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The relation between the sampling volume and the peak area was linear, and the linearity was 0.999 of the correlation coefficient. The ammonia gas concentration in an actual goat shed could be determined by this sampling device for a sampling volume of 5 L at a flow rate of 1 L/min; 0.79 ppm of the determination value practically agreed as compare with 0.78 ppm from collection by a boric acid solution.     

On-line aluminium preconcentration on chelating resin and its FIA-spectrofluorimetric determination in foods and dialysis concentrates

A new, sensitive and rapid spectrofluorimetric flow-injection method, is presented for the determination of trace levels of aluminium based on the formation of a fluorescent complex between aluminium and 5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol (DBQ) and its extraction into diethylether (λ_exc = 400 nm, λ_em = 525 nm). Experimental conditions such as pH, reagent concentration, flow-rates, sample volume, extraction coil length, etc., have been optimized for on-line and batch procedures. The detection limits are 1 ppb and 0.3 ppb for batch and on-line systems respectively. The coeflicient of variation is 3.0% at the 4 ppb level for the FIA system. To remove interferences and to preconcentrate aluminium, a chelating resin microcolumn which was able to selectively complex A1(III) and was obtained by immobilizing Chromotrope 2B on AG1-X8 ion-exchange resin, was incorporated into the FIA system. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine aluminium in tap water, food samples and dialysis solutions.     

A New First-Derivative Photochemically-Induced Fluorescence Spectrometric Method for the Determination of Sulfapyridine in Milk

Abstract

A new first-derivative photochemically-induced fluorescence (D-PF) method is proposed for the determination of sulfapyridine (SPY) in milk. An 60:40 v/v ethanol-water medium and a 8-min UV irradiation time were selected for D-PF measurements. The method is suitable for SPY concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 ppm. Limits of detection are comprised between 6 and 21 ppb. Recoveries between 95 and 102% are found. This new D-PF method is remarkably simple, rapid, precise, and it allows one to determine low levels of SPY in milk without prior separation.     

Determination of sulphonated azo dyes in food by ion-pair liquid chromatography with photodiode array and electrospray mass spectrometry detection

An ion-pair liquid chromatography method with on-line photodiode-array and electrospray mass spectrometry detection was developed to determine 10 commonly used sulphonated azo dyes (Tartrazine, Amaranth, New Coccine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Allura Red AC, Ponceau R, Ponceau 3R, Orange I, Orange II and Metanil Yellow) in food. A reversed phase C(18) column with gradient elution was utilized to separate these compounds. Triethylamine was added in the mobile phase as an ion-pair reagent for chromatographic separation. Photodiode-array detection was employed for quantitative determination and electrospray mass spectrometry was used for identification. Good linearity (0.05-10 ppm, r(2)=0.999) and detection limit (<0.01 ppm) were determined with 5 mul injection. In addition, precision and accuracy associated with this newly developed method will be presented. A liquid extraction method was also developed to extract these dyes from different foodstuffs. The application of this method was demonstrated by analyzing sulphonated azo dyes in soft drinks, fruit jam, and salted vegetables.     

基于多齿功能单体的三聚氰胺印迹材料的制备及应用

以三聚氰胺(MEL)为模板分子, 采用沉淀聚合方法研究了以衣康酸(IA)为多齿功能单体, 乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯(EGDMA)为交联剂时, 组分之间摩尔比对三聚氰胺印迹聚合物(MIP)选择性的影响. 研究发现, 当MEL与IA摩尔比为1:1.5时, 所合成的MIP对三聚氰胺具有最佳选择性, 选择性系数k=10.41(以三聚氰酸为对照物). 此时IA的识别位点(羧基)与三聚氰胺的可识别位点(胺基)摩尔比为1:1, 因此, 不会出现由过量功能单体引起的非特异性吸附. Scatchard分析结果表明, 这种MIP能够在更宽的三聚氰胺浓度范围(1~100 mg/L)内只表现出特异性吸附. 以灭蝇胺为对照物时, k_NIP<1但k_MIP>1, 该结果证明MIP对分子的形状有良好的识别能力. 最后, 以制备的MIP为固相萃取吸附剂, 结合高效液相色谱/紫外检测器(HPLC/UV)建立了三聚氰胺测定方法. 当牛奶(奶粉)中MEL的加标浓度分别为15, 600和4500 μg/L(μg/kg)时检测的加标回收率为92.34%~109.4%.     

Uniformly sized molecularly imprinted polymer for d-chlorpheniramine. Evaluation of retention and molecular recognition properties in an aqueous mobile phase

Rapid separation and determination of mixtures of L-ascorbic acid, nitrite, sulfite, oxalate, iodide and thiosulfate by conventional ion chromatography is often difficult due to incomplete separation of L-ascorbic acid and nitrite from the water peak when using eluents giving short elution times for iodide and thiosulfate. Separation of the six species within about 15 min has been achieved by isocratic elution using a resin-based ion-exchange column with a carbonate eluent containing a trace amount of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTA) and fluorescence measurement of cerium(III) formed via postcolumn reactions of the separated sample species with cerium(IV). Calibration plots of peak height versus concentration were linear up to 10.0 microM (1.76 ppm) for L-ascorbic acid, 8.0 microM (0.37 ppm) for nitrite, 8.0 microM (0.70 ppm) for oxalate, 80.0 microM (10.2 ppm) for iodide and 25.0 microM (2.80 ppm) for thiosulfate, whilst the sulfite calibration was linear up to 25.0 microM (2.00 ppm) when peak area was plotted against concentration. Detection limits (defined as S/N = 3) were 18 ppb for L-ascorbic acid, 4 ppb for nitrite, 16 ppb for sulfite, 7 ppb for oxalate, 72 ppb for iodide and 37 ppb for thiosulfate. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of L-ascorbic acid, nitrite, sulfite, oxalate, iodide or thiosulfate in water samples.     

A monitor for atmospheric sulphur dioxide,based on enrichment of SO2 by a polydispersive water aerosol

A monitor for continuous analysis of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere at the ppb v/v level (1 ppb v/v = 2.62 g/m³ SO₂) is described. The apparatus operates on the principle of equilibrium accumulation of sulphur dioxide from the air by a polydispersive water aerosol which continuously transfers SO₂ from an air-flow of l/min into microlitre volumes of water condensate. High sensitivity (1 ppb v/v), low relative error (± 5% at 4 ppb v/v SO₂), high selectivity (CO₂ does not interfere at a concentration of 2 × 10³ ppm v/v, interference by NO _x and H₂S is acceptably low), and low response delay (10 s) are provided by a compact coupling of the enrichment procedure with conductivity detection of SO₂ in the film of water aerosol condensate formed directly on the wire-gauze sensor. The reliability of the method has been studied under simulated conditions, with spectrophotometric method as reference. The analyser is computer-controlled, and the detector response is processed on-line and displayed (as g/m³) in real-time on a screen or is transmitted telemetrically to a control centre. It is portable and suitable for use in both stationary and moving locations.The paper is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the birthday of Prof. Josef F. K. Huber