Nanometer‐sized alumina packed microcolumn solid‐phase extraction combined with field‐amplified sample stacking‐capillary electrophoresis for the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples

In this paper, a new method of nanometer‐sized alumina packed microcolumn SPE combined with field‐amplified sample stacking (FASS)–CE‐UV detection was developed for the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples. Self‐synthesized nanometer‐sized alumina was packed in a microcolumn as the SPE adsorbent to retain Se(IV) and Se(VI) simultaneously at pH 6 and the retained inorganic selenium was eluted by concentrated ammonia. The eluent was used for FASS–CE–UV analysis after NH₃ evaporation. The factors affecting the preconcentration of both Se(IV) and Se(VI) by SPE and FASS were studied and the optimal CE separation conditions for Se(IV) and Se(VI) were obtained. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs of 57 ng L^?1 (Se(IV)) and 71 ng L^?1 (Se(VI)) were obtained, respectively. The developed method was validated by the analysis of a certified reference material of GBW(E)080395 environmental water and the determined value was in a good agreement with the certified value. It was also successfully applied to the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples, including Yangtze River water, spring water, and tap water.     

Capillary electrophoresis‐laser‐induced fluorescence detection of rat brain catecholamines with microwave‐assisted derivatization

In this study, a rapid and sensitive method is described for the catecholamines detection in rat brain. CE with LIF detection for the determination of FITC derivatized catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) was demonstrated. Conventional water bath and microwave‐assisted derivatization methods were employed and a significant reduction in the derivatization time from 2 h for the conventional water bath at room temperature (ca. 25°C) to 2 min for the microwave‐assisted derivatization was achieved. Online sample concentration of field‐amplified sample stacking (FASS) method was employed to achieve higher sensitivities (the detection limits obtained in the normal injection mode ranged from 2.6 to 4.5 ng L^?1 and in the FASS mode ranged from 22 to 34 pg L^?1). Furthermore, this microwave‐assisted derivatization CE–LIF method successfully determined catecholamines in rat brain with as low as 100 ng L^?1 (FASS mode) to 10 μg L^?1 (normal injection mode). This CE–LIF method provided better detection ability when compared to the best reports on catecholamines analyses.     

A poly (4‐vinylpridine‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolithic concentrator for in‐line concentration‐capillary electrophoresis analysis of phenols in water samples

A poly(4‐vinylpridine‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolith was synthesized in a capillary and constructed as a concentrator for the in‐line polymeric monolith microextraction coupling with capillary electrophoresis. The integrated system was then used for the simultaneous determination of five trace phenols (2‐nitrophenol, 3‐nitrophenol, 4‐nitrophenol, 2‐chlorophenol, and 2,4‐dichlorophenol) in water samples. The experimental parameters for in‐line solid‐phase extraction, such as composition and volume of the elution plug, pH of sample solution, and the time for sample loading were optimized. The sensitivity for the mixture of phenols (2‐nitrophenol, 3‐nitrophenol, 4‐nitrophenol, 2‐chlorophenol, and 2,4‐dichlorophenol) enhanced to 615–2222 folds at the optimum condition was compared to the sensitivity for a normal hydrodynamic injection in capillary electrophoresis. Linearity ranged from concentration of 10–500 ng mL^?1(R² > 0.999) for all five phenols with the detection limits of 1.3–3.3 ng mL^?1. In tap, snow and Yangtze River water spiked with 20 ng mL^?1 and 200 ng mL^?1, respectively, the recoveries of 84–105% were obtained. It has been demonstrated that this work has great potential for the analysis of phenols in genuine water samples.     

Separation of aromatic amines by an open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography method

A new and simple open‐tubular CEC (OT‐CEC) method with a novel diblock copolymer poly(butyl methacrylate)₇₁‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate)₉ as the coating based on its self‐assembled properties has been developed. Compared with the bare capillary, this coating could act as a surfactant and improve the separation efficiency of aromatic amines. Meanwhile, the effects of pH value, buffer concentration, and the copolymer block ratio on the separation efficiencies were investigated in detail. It has been found that the three tested aromatic amines could be baseline separated by the OT‐CEC method with the cooperation of SDS. The proposed OT‐CEC method showed good repeatability with RSDs <3.2% for testing the EOF. Moreover, it was also well validated by satisfactory linearity and favorable recovery, which ensured its successful application in the separation of aromatic amines in nail polish samples. The results revealed the potential applicability of the OT‐CEC method in cosmetic analysis.     

Silicomolybdate‐Incorporated‐Glutaraldehyde‐Cross‐Linked Poly‐L‐Lysine Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode as Amperometric Sensor for Bromate Determination

Silicomolybdate‐doped‐glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked poly‐L ‐lysine (PLL‐GA‐SiMo) film modified glassy carbon electrode was successfully prepared by means of electrostatically trapping the silicomolybdate anion in PLL‐GA cationic coating. The PLL‐GA‐SiMo film was stable and the charge transport through the film was fast. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards bromate reduction with significant reduction of overpotential. In amperometric determination of bromate, the calibration plot was linear over the concentration range of 5×10^?5 to 1.2×10^?3 M with a sensitivity of 3.6 μA mM^?1. Furthermore, PLL‐GA‐SiMo film electrode showed fast response and good stability.     

Nano‐amylose‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐silica hybrid sol immobilized on open tubular capillary column for capillary electrochromatography enantioseparation

The chiral organic‐inorganic hybrid materials can exhibit a high loading, and the chiral selector nanoparticles can create efficient stationary phases for open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT‐CEC). Hence, a novel protocol for the preparation of an OT column coated with nano‐amylose‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) (nano‐ABDMPC)‐silica hybrid sol through in situ layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly method was developed for CEC enantioseparation. By controlling the assembly cycle number of nano‐ABDMPC‐silica hybrid sol, a homogeneous, dense and stable coating was successfully prepared, which was confirmed by SEM and elemental analysis. As the main parameter influencing the chiral separating effect, the nano‐ABDMPC bearing 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues concentration was investigated. The experimental results showed that 10.0 mg/mL nano‐ABDMPC bearing 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues coated OT capillary column possessed chiral recognition ability toward the six enantiomers (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenethyl alcohol, 1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, and Tröger's base) at some of the different conditions tested. Additionally, the coated OT column revealed adequate repeatability concerning run‐to‐run, day‐to‐day and column‐to‐column. These results demonstrated the promising applicability of nano‐ABDMPC‐silica hybrid sol coated OT column in CEC enantioseparations.     

Separation of tryptic peptides of native and glycated BSA using open‐tubular CEC with salophene–lanthanide–Zn2+ complex as stationary phase

Open‐tubular CEC (OT‐CEC) with a new stationary phase, salophene–lanthanide–Zn²⁺ complex, has been applied to the separation of tryptic peptides of native BSA and BSA glycated by glucose and ribose. Glycation of proteins (non‐enzymatic modification by sugars) significantly affects their properties and it is of great importance from a physiological point of view. Separation of tryptic peptides of glycated BSA by CZE was poor because of their strong adsorption to the bare fused silica capillary. An improved separation of tryptic peptides of both native and glycated BSA was achieved by OT‐CEC in the fused silica capillary non‐covalently coated with salophene–lanthanide–Zn²⁺ complex, which suppressed the adsorption of peptides to the capillary and via specific interactions with some (glyco)peptides enhanced selectivity of the separation. Significant differences have been found in OT‐CEC analyses of tryptic hydrolysates of native and glycated BSA. In OT‐CEC‐UV profile of tryptic peptides of native BSA, 44 peaks could be resolved, whereas a reduced number of 38 peaks were observed in the profile of tryptic peptides of glucose‐glycated BSA and only 30 peaks were found in the case of ribose‐glycated BSA. The developed OT‐CEC can be potentially used for monitoring of protein glycation.     

Chiral separation of amides of amino acid on a (S)‐N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)leucine‐N‐phenyl‐N‐propylamide‐bonded silica using nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography

(S)‐N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)leucine‐N‐phenyl‐N‐propylamine‐bonded silica was used as a chiral stationary phase for separation of a set of racemic π‐acidic and π‐basic α‐amino acid amides in electrolyteless ACN‐water eluents by CEC in the RP and polar organic (PO) modes. The effect of the amount of water in the ACN‐water eluent on chiral separation was examined. As water is added to ACN, retention was shortened but resolution and selectivity deteriorated severely. Retention, enantioselectivity, and resolution factors obtained in 100% ACN were compared with those in an n‐hexane‐isopropanol eluent with a small amount of water by normal phase (NP) CEC. Much shorter retention times with comparable enantioselectivities were observed with 100% ACN, demonstrating the advantage of separation on (S)‐N‐(DNB)leucine‐N‐phenyl‐N‐propylamine‐bonded silica in PO‐CEC over NP‐CEC.     

Analysis of phospholipids using an open‐tubular capillary column with a monolithic layer of molecularly imprinted polymer in capillary electrochromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, an open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT‐CEC) column with a monolithic layer of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and 4‐styrenesulfonic acid was utilized for the simultaneous separation and characterization of phospholipid (PL) molecular structures by interfacing with electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS‐MS). Introducing an MIP‐based monolith along with charged species at the OT column made it possible to separate PL molecules based on differences in head groups and acyl chain lengths in CEC. For the interface of OT‐CEC with ESI‐MS‐MS, a simple nanospray interface utilizing a sheath flow was developed and the resulting OT‐CEC‐ESI‐MS‐MS was able to separate PL standards (phosphatidylserines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidic acid, and lysophosphatidylglycerols). The developed method was applied to human urinary lipid extracts, and resulted in the separation and structural identification of 18 molecules by data‐dependent collision‐induced dissociation.     

Preparation,Characterization, and Bioelectrocatalytic Properties of Hemoglobin Incorporated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes‐Poly‐L‐lysine Composite Film Modified Electrodes Towards Bromate

The present work describes preparation of hemoglobin‐incorporated multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐poly‐L ‐lysine (MWCNT‐PLL)/Hb) composite modified electrode film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and its electrocatalytic behavior towards reduction of bromate ( ) in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6). The modified electrode has been successfully fabricated by immobilizing hemoglobin on MWCNT dispersed in poly‐L ‐lysine. The surface morphologies of MWCNT, PLL and Hb were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The voltammetric features suggested that the charge transport through the film was fast and the electrochemical behavior resembles that of surface‐confined redox species. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrocatalytic behavior of the modified electrode towards bromate and was compared with that of the CNT‐modified as well as bare electrode. The analytical determination of bromate has been carried out in stirred solution at an optimized potential with a sensitivity of 7.56 μA mM^?1 and the calibration curve was linear between 1.5×0^?5 to 6.0×0^?3 M.     

Paper‐Based Electronic Tongue

We present a low cost paper‐based electronic tongue capable of discriminating forged water samples. System comprises of 4 paper‐based potentiometric sensors (sensitive to Cl^?, Na⁺/K⁺, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺, ) and a traditional Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Different electrode materials and methods of insulation were tested with best results obtained for pencil graphite and lamination. The presented electronic tongue was able to distinguish tap and lake water from mineral water samples (PCA – Principal Component Analysis and KNN ? K‐nearest neighbour). In total 14 different water samples were used in this study. Sensors presented good signal repeatability, selectivity and reasonable sensitivity.     

Open‐tubular capillary electrochromatographic determination of ten sulfonamides in tap water and milk by a metal‐organic framework‐coated capillary column

In this study, a metal‐organic framework (MOF), [Mn(cam)(bpy)], was synthesized and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. An open‐tubular capillary column was fabricated from [Mn(cam)(bpy)] via the amide coupling method. Ten types of sulfonamides were separated through the fabricated capillary column, which showed a good limits of detection (<0.07 μg/mL) and linear ranges (1–100 or 5–100 μg/mL) with a high correlation coefficients (R² > 0.9987). The intra‐day, inter‐day and column‐to‐column relative standard deviations (RSDs) in the migration times ranged from 0.44 to 4.87%, and the peak area RSDs ranged from 0.80 to 7.28%. The developed capillary electrochromatography method can be successfully utilized for the determination of sulfonamides in tap water and milk samples.     

Analytical Applications of 2,6‐Diacetylpyridine‐bis‐4‐phenyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazone (2,6‐DAPBPTSC): Determination of Cd(II) in Foods and Water Samples

To the determination of trace amount of Cd(II) present in food and water samples, a selective and extractive spectrophotometric method were developed with 2,6‐diacetylpyridine‐bis‐4‐phenyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazone as a complexing agent. The yellowish orange colored metal complex, Cd(II)‐2,6‐DAPBPTSC with 1:1 (M:L) composition was extracted in to cyclohexanol at pH 9.5 and was shows maximum absorbance at λ_max 390 nm. This method obeys Beer's law in the range of 1.12‐11.25 ppm with 0.972 correlation coefficient of Cd(II)‐2,6‐DAPBPTSC complex, which is indicates linearity between the two variables. The molar absorptivity and sandell's sensitivity were found to be 6.088 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 and 0.0018 μg cm^?2, respectively. The instability constant calculated from Asmus' method (1.447 × 10^?4)at room temperature. The precision and accuracy of the method were checked by relative standard deviation (n = 5), 0.929 and its detection limit, 0.0060 μg mL^?1. The interfering effects of various cations and anions were also studied. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) in foods and water samples, and was evaluated its performance in terms of Student ‘t’ test and Variance ‘f’ test, which indicates the significance of present method. The inter comparison of the experimental values, using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS), was also repoted.     

Determination of Se(IV) in On‐Line System by Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

A sensitive and selective on‐line voltammetric procedure for determination of traces of Se(IV) is presented. The pulsed potential accumulation was proposed for minimization of interferences of surface active substances and foreign ions. The calibration plot was linear from 1×10^?9 mol L^?1 to 4×10^?8 mol L^?1 for accumulation time of 180 s. The relative standard deviation was 6.1% (n=5) for a Se(IV) concentration of 1×10^?8 mol L^?1. The detection limit estimated from (3 σ) for an accumulation time of 180 s was about 4×10^?10 mol L^?1. The validation of the procedure proposed was made by a recovery tests for tap and river water samples.     

Voltammetric Determination of Neonicotinoid Pesticides at Disposable Screen‐Printed Sensors Featuring a Sputtered Bismuth Electrode

This work reports the determination of 5 neonicotinoid pesticides (Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Nitenpyram and Dinotefuran) in water samples by cathodic differential pulse (DP) voltammetry at screen‐printed disposable sensors featuring a sputtered bismuth thick‐film working electrode, a Ag reference electrode and a carbon counter electrode. The performance of the bismuth thick‐film electrodes was compared to that of a home‐made bismuth thin‐film electrode and a bismuth‐bulk electrode. The electrodes were further characterized by electrochemical and optical techniques. The effect of the pH of the supporting electrolyte on the DP reduction currents of the 5 pesticides was studied. The limits of quantification (LOQs) in 4 water matrices (distilled water, tap water, mineral water and surface water) were in the range 0.76 to 2.10 mg L^?1 but severe matrix effects were observed in the analysis of mineral and, especially, surface water samples. Using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure using Lichrolut EN cartridges and elution with methanol, the matrix effects were substantially reduced and the LOQs were in the range 9 to 17 µg L^?1_. The recoveries of surface water samples spiked with the 5 target neonicotinoids at two concentration levels (20 and 50 µg L^?1) were in the range 89 to 109 % and the % relative standard deviations ranged from 4.3 to 7.2 %.     

Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of 2‐Methyl‐4,6‐Dinitrophenol using Bismuth Bulk Electrode

This work reports the application of bismuth bulk electrode (BiBE) for the determination of 2‐methyl‐4,6‐dinitrophenol (MDNP) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in Britton‐Robinson buffer of pH 12.0 as an optimal medium. BiBE was prepared by transferring molten bismuth into a glass tube under constant stream of nitrogen. The linear concentration dependences were measured from 1 to 10 μmol ? L^?1 and from 10 to 100 μmol ? L^?1 by using optimum accumulation potential of ?0.7 V and optimum accumulation time 30 s. Under these conditions limit of determination and limit of quantification was 0.45 and 1.5 μmol ? L^?1, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of tap water as a model sample.     

Separation and determination of corynoxine and corynoxine B using chiral ionic liquid and hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as additives by field‐amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis

A sensitive, fast, and effective method, field‐amplified sample stacking (FASS) in capillary electrophoresis, has been established for the separation and determination of corynoxine and corynoxine B. Hydroxypropyl‐β‐CD (HP‐β‐CD) and tetrabutylammonium‐L‐glutamic acid (TBA‐L‐Glu) were used as additives in the separation system. Electrokinetic injection was chosen to introduce sample from inlet at 10 kV for 50 s after a water plug (0.5 psi, 4 s) was injected to permit FASS. The running buffer (pH 6.1) was composed of 40 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate solution, 130 mM HP‐β‐CD, and 10 mM TBA‐L‐Glu and the separation voltage was 20 kV. Under the optimum conditions, corynoxine and corynoxine B were successfully enriched and separated within 12 min and the sensitivity was improved approximately by 700–900 folds. Calibration curves were in a good linear relationship within the range of 62.5–5.00 × 10³ ng/mL for both corynoxine and corynoxine B. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) and quantitation (S/N = 10) were 14.9, 45.2 ng/mL for corynoxine and 11.2, 34.5 ng/mL for corynoxine B, respectively. Finally, this method was successfully applied for the determination of corynoxine and corynoxine B in the stems with hooks of Uncaria rhynchophylla and its formulations.     

Selective Pre-concentration and Solid Phase Extraction of Mercury（Ⅱ） from Natural Water by Silica Gel-loaded （E）-N-（1-Thien-2＇-ylethylidene）-1,2-phenylenediamine Phase

Silica gel-loaded （E）-N-（1-thien-2＇-ylethylidene）-1,2-phenylenediamine （TEPDA） phase was synthesized based on physical adsorption approaches. The stability of a chemically modified TEPDA especially in concentrated hydrochloric acid that was then used as a recycling and preconcentration reagent allowed the further uses of silica gel-loaded immobilized TEPDA phase. The application of this silica gel-loaded phase to sorption of a series of metal ions was performed by using different controlling factors such as the pH of the metal ion solution and the equilibration shaking time by the static technique. This difference was interpreted on the basis of selectivity incorporated in these sulfur containing silica gel-loaded TEPDA phases. Hg（Ⅱ） was found to exhibit the highest affinity towards extraction by these silica gel-loaded TEPDA phases. The pronounced selectivity was also confirmed by the determined distribution coefficients （Kd） of all the metal ions, showing the highest value reported for mercury（Ⅱ） extraction by the silica gel immobilized TEPDA phase. The potential applications of the silica gel immobilized TEPDA phase to selective extraction of mercury（Ⅱ） from aqueous solution were successfully accomplished and preconcentration of low concentration of Hg（Ⅱ） （30 pg·mL^-1） from natural tap water with a preconcentration factor of 200 for Hg（Ⅱ） off-line analysis was conducted by cold vapor atomic absorption analysis.     

Analysis of short‐chain aliphatic amines in food and water samples using a near infrared cyanine 1‐(ε‐succinimydyl‐hexanoate)‐1′‐methyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indocarbocyanine‐5,5′‐disulfonate potassium with CE–LIF detection

Precolumn derivatization of six short‐chain aliphatic amines by a near‐infrared dye, 1‐(ε‐succinimydyl‐hexanoate)‐1′‐methyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indocarbocyanine‐5,5′‐ disulfonate potassium (MeCy5‐OSu), followed by MEKC–CE–LIF detection has been developed as a method for the determination of aliphatic amines in environmental water and food. Optimum derivatization was operated nicely in pH 9.0 borate buffer at 20°C for 30 min. Well separated peaks were observed with a pH 9.5 BGE containing 10 mmol L^?1 phosphoric acid, 20 mmol L^?1 SDS, and 7% methanol buffered with 1.0 mol L^?1 NaOH. The separation procedure was rapidly achieved within 11 min and the matrix interferences could be effectively eliminated. A linear calibration graph was obtained for 5–200 nmol L^?1 analytes with a correlation coefficient in the range 0.9933–0.9995 for amines. This method was successfully utilized to determine aliphatic amines in lake, sewage water, and red wine with recoveries ranging from 96.4 to 105% and the RSDs ranging from 0.9 to 2.9%. Near‐infrared, LIF‐detector‐compatible MeCy5‐OSu was proved suitable for the accurate, sensitive, and rapid separation and determination of aliphatic amines in water and food samples.     

Graphene oxide coated capillary for the analysis of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals by open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography with amperometric detection

A graphene oxide‐coated capillary was fabricated by using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane as the cross‐linking agent. It was used for the separation and detection of three endocrine‐disrupting chemicals, including bisphenol A, 4‐nonylphenol, and 4‐octylphenol by capillary electrochromatography. Due to the hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding, and π–π interaction between graphene oxide and the analytes, the three analytes could be well separated in pH = 11.0, 20 mmol/L Na₂B₄O₇‐NaOH/methanol mobile phase (50:50, v/v) within 950 s. After preconcentration, the detection limits were 6.7 × 10^?10, 3.3 × 10^?9, and 6.7 × 10^?10 mol/L (S/N = 3) for bisphenol A, nonylphenol, and octylphenol, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of the above analytes in water samples. The satisfactory result demonstrated that the graphene oxide coated capillary used in capillary electrochromatography with amperometric detection was convenient to prepare, highly stable, and had good reproducibility.