Evolution of ochratoxin A content from must to wine in Port Wine microvinification

To study the evolution of ochratoxin A (OTA) content from must to wine during the making of Port Wine, grapes from the five most common varieties of Port Wine were harvested and combined in equal percentages in order to perform microvinifications. Three sets of assays were studied: a blank (A), where the most common Port Wine-making process was used; in the second (B), a solution of OTA was added to the initial must; in the third (C), the grapes were aspersed with an inoculating solution of OTA-producing fungi. Samples were collected, in duplicate, on four different occasions throughout the process. The influence of the addition of SO₂ to the must was also assessed in each set. The quantification of OTA was based on the standard reference method for wines (European Standard prEN 14133), which includes clean-up via immunoaffinity columns and HPLC with fluorescence detection. The limits of detection were 0.076 g/l for wine and 0.114 g/l for must. The method was validated by assessing the precision, accuracy and by obtaining an estimate of the global uncertainty. Overall, the levels of OTA observed during the vinifications dropped by up to 92%, and no grapes used in this work were contaminated naturally.     

Determination of Benzimidazole Fungicides by HPLC with Fluorescence Detection After Micellar Extraction

An analytical method was developed to determine the benzimidazole fungicides and their residues (benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole and fuberidazole) in real water samples. Analyses were performed by reverse phase (RP) HPLC with direct fluorescence detection with mobile phase methanol:water, 40:60 (v/v) with 0.6% (v/v) ammonia. The extraction of analytes from water samples was performed with the use of micellar systems. Specifically, oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) and polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) were used as extractants. The recoveries of fungicides obtained in spiked water samples ranged from 68% to 94% for Genapol and from 68% to 96% for POLE. The limit of detection (LOD) was lower than 6 g L^–1 for carbendazim, 7 g L^–1 benomyl, 0.15 g L^–1 for thiabendazole and 0.01 g L^–1 for fuberidazole in both surfactants.     

Determination of sulphathiazole in the presence of sulphametazine by first-derivative solid-phase spectrophotometry

Sulphathiazole in the presence of sulphametazine is determined by a method based on derivative solid-phase spectrophotometry. Both compounds are fixed on a dextran-type cation-exchange gel. The absorbance of the gel, packed in a 1-mm silica cell, is measured directly. The range of application is between 0.20 and 18.0 g/ml of sulphathiazole in the presence of up to 20 g/ml of sulphametazine, the relative standard deviation is 0.6% and the detection limit is 0.05 g/ml. The method has been applied to the determination of sulphathiazole in synthetic mixtures and pharmaceuticals, with recoveries of 95.0 to 102.5%     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of molybdenum (VI) based on catalytic reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride

Summary A simple and rapid kinetic method for the determination of traces of molybdenum (0.1–4.0 g/ml) based on its catalytic effect on the reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride is reported. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing absorbance of safranine at 520 nm by the fixed time method. The method is sensitive, precise and free from interferences from many anions and cations. The experimental limit of detection is 100 ng/ml and the relative standard deviation for 1.0 g/ml Mo(VI) is 1.56%. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of molybdenum in a steel alloy.     

Chromatographic preconcentration of copper in environmental and biological samples using 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine-tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent

A method was established for the determination of trace amounts of copper using chromatographic preconcentration of copper(I) with 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and tetraphenylborate. Copper is quantitatively adsorbed on this adsorbent in the pH range 1.8–10.5 and at flow-rates of 0.2–10 ml/min. The solid mass consisting of copper complex along with naphthalene is dissolved from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide. A calibration curve is obeyed over the concentration range 0.2–10.0 g of copper in 5 ml of dimethylformamide. Eight replicate determinations of 3 g of copper gave a mean absorbance of 0.185 with a relative standard deviation of 1.4%. The characteristic concentration for 1% absorption is 0.0143 g/ml (0.103 gmg/ml for direct AAS in aqueous medium). The interference of various ion and salts has been studied and the proposed method has been employed to the determination of copper in biological and water samples.     

Chromatographic analysis of penstemide and serrulatoloside by high-performance liquid chromatography and gradient thin-layer chromatography

Summary A sensitive capillary gas chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of lidocaine, tetracaine, procaine and dibucaine. The method was applied to the determination of anesthetics in tissue homogenates incubated at 38°C at doses between 10 and 400 mg/kg. In the liver tissue thein vitro metabolization of the studied anesthetics is most rapid for tetracaine, also fast for procaine, while for lidocaine and dibucaine the metabolization is very slow. In brain tissue thein vitro metabolization of anesthetics is very slow.The method shows good analytical parameters: linearity between 5 and 40 g/ml; day-to-day reproducibility ca. 8% for a concentration of 20 g/ml, precision ca. 7% for a concentration of 20g/ml. Accuracy is also very good.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of benzoylurea insecticides residues in grapes and wine using liquid and solid-phase extraction

A method for the determination of the benzoylurea insecticides diflubenzuron, triflumuron, teflubenzuron, lufenuron and flufenoxuron in grapes and wine by HPLC has been developed and validated. Grape samples (50 g) were homogenized and extracted with ethyl acetate-sodium sulfate and further cleaned-up by solid-phase extraction on silica sorbent. Wine samples (10 ml) diluted with water (1:3) were solid-phase extracted on an octadecyl sorbent using methanol as the eluent. The pesticides were separated on a reversed-phase octadecyl narrow-bore column by gradient elution and the residues were determined with a UV diode array detector. The calibration plots were linear over the range 0.05-5 micrograms/ml. Recoveries of benzoylurea pesticides from spiked grapes (0.02-2.0 mg/kg) and wine (0.01-0.2 mg/l) were 85.8-101.6% and 69.1-104.8%, respectively, and the limits of quantification for these insecticides were < 0.01 mg/kg for grapes and < 0.01 mg/l for wine. The method was applied to the determination of flufenoxuron and teflubenzuron residues in grapes from treated fields and in produced wine.     

Zur coulometrischen Chloridbestimmung in konzentrierten S?uren mit potentiometrischer Indizierung und Polarisationsspannungsindikation

Zusammenfassung Die coulometrische Bestimmung geringer Chloridmengen im Gemisch von Methanol und 35%iger Schwefelsäure, 53%iger Phosphorsäure oder 37%iger Perchlorsäure kann ohne den Zusatz eines Leitelektrolyten sowohl mit potentiometrischer Indizierung als auch mit Polarisationsspannungsindikation vorgenommen werden. Das Verfahren mit potentiometrischer Indizierung, bei dem sich das Gesamttitrationsvolumen aus 10 ml Säure und 40 ml Methanol zusammensetzt, erlaubt die Bestimmung von 2,0 g/ml mit einer relativen Standardabweichung von 0,5%. Die kleinste noch bestimmbare Konzentration liegt bei 1,0 g/ml. Eine Erweiterung des erfaßbaren Konzentrationsbereiches ermöglicht die Anwendung der Polarisationsspannungsindikation. Im Gemisch von 1 ml Säure und 8 ml Methanol können noch 0,4 g/ml mit guter Genauigkeit titriert werden. Bei 2,0 g/ml Chlorid beträgt die relative Standardabweichung 2%. Für die Konzentration an der Nachweisgrenze errechnet sich 0,08 g/ml.

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Summary The coulometric estimation of small contents of chloride in a mixture of methyl alcohol and 35% sulphuric, 53% phosphoric or 37% perchloric acids can be performed without adding any supporting electrolyte. Both the two coulometric methods, with potentiometric indication as well as by indicating the end point with two identical electrodes polarized by practically constant current can be used. The potentiometric indication method, whereby the total titration volume consists of 10 ml of acid und 40 ml of methyl alcohol, permits the determination of 2.0 g/ml chloride with a relative standard deviation of 0.5%. The smallest concentration which is just possible to be determined is 1 g/ml. By application of the second coulometric method the estimation limit can be minimized. In a mixture of 1 ml of acid and 8 ml of methyl alcohol, it is possible to titrate 0,4 g/ml. The relative standard deviation for the concentration of 2,0 g/ml has been found to be 2%. The limit of detection is 0.08 g/ml.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. M. von Stackelberg zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.

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Wir danken Herrn Chem.-Ing. K. Zinke für seine Mitarbeit.     

Determination of ascorbic acid in asparagus by differential pulse polarography

A useful method for the determination of ascorbic acid in a vegetable product (asparagus) by differential pulse polarography has been set up and evaluated. Extraction and instrumental conditions were optimized. The analytical parameters are: linearity (0–18.18 g/ml); detection limit (0.182 g/ml); instrumental and method precision (2.77% and 4%, respectively); accuracy (96.9–113.4%). These data show that the method is sufficiently sensitive, reliable and accurate. It was also compared with the official fluorometric AOAC method.     

Changes of organic acids and phenolic compounds contents in grapevine berries during their ripening

Changes of total content of phenolic substances, alteration in total titratable acidity and differences in tartaric acid content in grapes of four white (Müller-Thurgau — MT, Pinot Blanc — Rulandské bílé in Czech, RB, Sauvignon (Sg), and Muscat Ottonel — Mu?kát Ottonel in Czech, MO) and two blue (Dornfelder — Df and Blue Frankish — Frankovka in Czech, Fr) grapevine varieties throughout their growth, ripening and maturing (July–November). Potentiometric titration was applied for the determination of total titratable acids in grapes (expressed as tartaric acid equivalents in g L^?1). A spectrophotometric method according Rebelein based on the formation of a colored complex of ammonium metavanadate and tartaric acid was used for determination of tartaric acid in green juice made by pressing unripe grapes. A spectrophotometric method based on reduction of phosphomolybdato-tungsten complex in alkaline solution using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent was applied for determination of total content of phenolic substances (TCP).

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Simultaneous determination of cobalt,nickel and iron by multi-wavelength spectrophotometry

A method for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of cobalt, nickel and iron based on the formation of their complexes with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridylmethylene) thiocarbonohydrazide is proposed. The absorption curves of these complexes overlap severely in the scanning range 390–510 nm. The analyte concentrations are calculated by a least squares fit of the pure spectra to the mixture spectra, which therefore makes the simultaneous determination of these metallic ions possible without tedious pretreatment. The detection limits afforded by the proposed method range from 0.05 g/ml for Fe and Ni to 0.1 g/ml for Co. Root-mean-squared errors of prediction of 0.085 g/ml for Co, 0.048 g/ml for Ni and 0.1172 g/ml for Fe were obtained using the wavelength range 400–510 nm and 0.147 g/ml for Co, 0.107 g/ml for Ni and 0.127 g/ml for Fe using the wavelength range 420–434 nm. The effect of interferences is studied and the proposed method is applied to analysis for the above elements in synthetic samples and real samples, such as biological materials and alloys.     

Preconcentration and determination of naphthalene in air and water using activated carbon adsorption,carbon disulfide extraction and gas chromatography

A new method for the determination of naphthalene in air and water has been developed. The naphthalene was preconcentrated using activated carbon adsorption with carbon disulfide extraction and determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The chromatographic peak of naphthalene was separated well from the potential interferents turpentine, terpenene, isoborneol, camphor and isobornyl acetate. The detection limit was 0.52 g/ml of CS₂, equivalent to 2.6 g/m³ of air or 0.05 g/ml in 50 ml of water. The precision for 10 g/ml naphthalene was 1.7%. The adsorption capacity, sampling efficiency and desorption efficiency of 100 mg of activated carbon for naphthalene in air were 8.8 mg, 98.8% and 95.2%, respectively. The extraction efficiency of 5 ml of carbon disulfide for naphthalene in water was 97.6%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of naphthalene in air and water from an industrial plant.     

Fluorimetric determination of the rodenticide ANTU in spiked wheat grain

A rapid and simple spectrofluorimetric method for determining residues of the rodenticide ANTU in wheat grain is described. The method is based on the alkaline hydrolysis of the rodenticide to its main metabolite, -napthylamine. A detailed study of the parameters affecting the chemical hydrolysis is presented and the results are discussed. The calibration graph was linear from 0.05 to 1.00 /ml, with a limit of detection of 0.01 g/ml. The precision of the method is 3.4% at the 0.5 g/ml level. Recoveries of ANTU from spiked wheat grain samples ranged from 91 to 103%.     

The mutual catalytic effect in kinetic reactions and its application to simultaneous determination of binary components

The mutual catalytic effect between iron(II) and antimony(III) on the chromium(VI)-iodide kinetic reactions has been studied by stopped-flow FIA. The concept of mutual catalytic coefficient is defined. The deviations from additive principles of absorbance within certain concentration ranges in previous procedures can be compensated effectively, by introducing the mutual catalytic coefficient into the simultaneous determination of a binary mixture with stopped-flow-FIA method. The linear concentration ranges have been enlarged, 0–3.5 g/ml Fe(II) and 0–3.7 g/ml Sb(III) compared with 0–1.2 g/ml Fe(II) and 0–2.0 g/ml Sb(III) without use of the coefficient. Iron and antimony contents in wastewater, a simulated sample and a zinc standard were determined, the recoveries and relative standard deviations being, respectively, 99.8–101.3% and 2.7–3.6% for iron and 95.4–100.3% and 2.3–5.3% for antimony compared with 95.2–98% and 3.0–4% for iron and 96–104% and 4.5–4.8% for antimony, assuming additivity.     

Selective determination of neodymium and erbium in mixtures with other lanthanides by second-derivative spectrophotometry of complexes with benzoyl-indan-1,3-dione and cetylpyridinium chloride

The absorption spectra of 4f electron transitions of the neodymium and erbium complexes with benzoyl-indan-1,3-dione and cetylpyridinium chloride have been studied by conventional and derivative spectrophotometry. The second-derivative spectrum has been used to eliminate the interference of the other lanthanides, and to increase the sensitivity by a further factor of 4–6. Beer's Law is obeyed for 6–29 g/ml Nd and 7–33 g/ml Er. The relative standard deviations evaluated from 10 independent determinations of 5.0 g/ml Nd and Er were 1.1% (Nd) and 1.6% (Er). The detection limits obtained from the sensitivity of the calibration graphs and 3s _b, (standard deviation of the blank,n = 11) were 0.63 g/ml Nd and 0.61 g/ml Er. The quantification limits (10s _b) were 2.1 g/ml Nd and 2.0 g/ml Er. A method for the direct determination of neodymium and erbium in rare earth mixtures with good accuracy and selectivity is proposed.     

Piezoelectric enzyme sensor with improved temperature characteristics for determining urea in urine

Based on the conductivity change produced by the urea/urease reaction, a piezoelectric enzyme sensor is applied to the detection of urea in urine. The influence of the variation in solution temperature on frequency measurement is greatly reduced by using a buffer giving solution conditions with a near-zero frequency temperature coefficient for the sensor. The sum of the frequency shifts over the reaction time was used to increase the sensitivity of the determination. The linear range of the method is 1–30 g/ml for urea, with RSDs of 1–2.6%. The detection limit is 0.01 g/ml.     

Spectrophotometric determination of gold by reaction with molybdate and nile blue in the presence of PVA

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of gold has been developed, based on the reaction of gold(III) with molybdate and nile blue (NB) to form an ion-association complex in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol). The molar absorptivity at 595 nm is 2.71 × 10⁵ l mol^–1 cm^–1. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0–16 g of gold per 25 ml. The relative standard deviation evaluated from seven independent determinations of 0.4 g/ml of gold is 2.6%. The limit of detection is 0.011 g/ml. The molar ratio of Au to NB in the complex is established to be 1 2. Over 30 foreign ions were tested for interference; Pt(IV), Sb(III), W(VI) and SiO ₃ ^2– interfered and had to be separated from gold on polyurethane foam. The method can be applied to the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of gold in powdered carbon and some ores.     

2,6-Bis[(o-hydroxy)phenyliminomethyl]-1-hydroxybenzene as a reagent for the selective spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminium

A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of aluminium at ng/ml level has been developed. The method is based on the formation of a fluorescent 11 complex between Al(III) and 2,6-bis[(o-hydroxy)phenyliminomethyl]-1-hydroxybenzene at an apparent pH of 5.0 in an aqueous-ethanol medium (70% v/v ethanol). The influence of reaction variables is discussed. The range of concentration of the method is 1.0–10.0 ng/ml aluminium, the relative standard deviation 1.5% and the limit of detection 0.1 ng/ml. The advantages of the proposed method include high sensitivity and selectivity. The method has been applied to the determination of aluminium in natural waters.     

Simultaneous determination of zinc and mercury with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-chloro-4-sulfophenyl)porphine by differential rate kinetics and flow injection analysis

A rapid and sensitive differential rate kinetic method for the simultaneous and sequential determination of zinc and mercury with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(3-chloro-4-sulfophenyl)porphine (m-Cl-TPPS₄) has been based on flow injection spectrophotometry. By proper stopped-flow of the merging zone, the metalloporphyrin complexes of zinc and mercury were simultaneously determined at the maximum absorbance wavelength of 425.7 nm with the proportional equation. The relative standard deviations for 1.0 g/ml zinc and 5.0 g/ml mercury with 100 l sampling volume were 0.43% and 0.62%, respectively, for 8 parallel determinations. The calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range 0–3.0 g Zn/ml and 0–12.0 g Hg/ml. The method has been applied to the analysis of synthetic water samples with satisfactory recovery.     

Utilization of tetrazolium blue for the colorimetric assay of tannins in tea

A simple, rapid and accurate colorimetric method is proposed for the determination of tannins, based on the reduction of tetrazolium blue in alkaline medium by tannins at 90 ± 2 °C for 15 min, leading to the formation of a highly coloured formazan derivative. Absorbance measurements were made at 527 nm and the calibration graph was linear for 0.2-9.0 g/ml of tannic acid. For more accurate analysis, the Ringbom optimum concentration range was found to be 0.5–8.2 g/ml. The relative standard deviation for the determination in a tea sample containing 7.55% tannins was 1.65%. Most of the ingredients commonly found in tea samples do not interfere with the determination. Several tea samples were analysed using the proposed method.