Development of a capillary electrophoresis system coupled to sequential injection analysis and evaluation by the analysis of nitrophenols

A combination of a laboratory-made capillary electrophoresis system and a sequential injection analysis equipment is described. For characterization, the system was successfully applied to the separation and quantification of nitrophenols. A blue LED was used as light source, and hydrodynamic injection was carried out by using a pressure-stable solenoid valve and an inflatable pressure reservoir. A good reproducibility of migration time (0.5%) and peak heights (5%) were obtained. The calibration by using peak heights was found to be linear up to 776?µmol?L^?1 for all three compounds. The system was robust and reliable for autonomous analysis without observation. All maintenance requirements including the conditioning of the capillary and flushing of both buffer reservoirs were carried out automatically. Instrumentation aspects of the capillary electrophoresis part are compared with former described hyphenated flow systems showing maximal operation versatility. Instrumental control and data evaluation were carried out using the software package AutoAnalysis.     

Flow injection analysis of potassium using an all-solid-state potassium-selective electrode as a detector

The concentration of potassium was determined by a combination of flow injection analysis (FIA) with an all-solid-state potassium sensor detection. The all-solid-state potassium-selective electrode possessing long-term potential stability was fabricated by coating an electroactive polypyrrole/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) film electrode with a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane containing valinomycin. The simple FIA system developed in this laboratory demonstrated sensitivity identical to that in the batch system and achieved considerably rapid assay (150 samples h⁻¹). Analyses of soy sauce and control serum samples by this FIA system yielded results in good agreement with those obtained by conventional measurements.     

Determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations using a sequential injection system

A simple method for the rapid determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations is described. The method involves oxidation of paracetamol by potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) and a subsequent reaction with phenol in the presence of ammonia. The blue complex formed is measured at 630 nm. The system has a sample frequency of 27 samples per h with a detection limit of 0.2 mg l⁻¹. The calibration curve is linear up to 60 mg l⁻¹ with a relative standard deviation of 1.2% (n=10).     

Determination of boron as boric acid in eye lotions using a sequential injection system

A simple and reliable sequential injection analysis (SIA) system is described for the determination of boron as boric acid in eye lotions. This method is based on the complexation reaction between d-sorbitol and boric acid followed by the acid-base reaction with methyl orange (MO). The colour change reaction is monitored at 520 nm. The system is able to monitor boron at a frequency of 30 samples per h with a relative standard deviation of less than 0.6%. The calibration graph is linear up to 12-mg l(-1). The system has a detection limit of 0.06-mg l(-1). No significant differences (at 95% probability level) were found between the proposed SIA method and the reference method.     

Comparison of soluble manganese(IV) and acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection using flow injection and sequential injection analysis for the determination of ascorbic acid in Vitamin C tablets

The limits of detection (3s) for ascorbic acid were 5×10⁻⁸ M with acidic potassium permanganate using both flow injection analysis (FIA) and sequential injection analysis (SIA) whereas the soluble manganese(IV) afforded 1×10⁻⁸ M and 5×10⁻⁹ M for FIA and SIA, respectively. Determinations of ascorbic acid in Vitamin C tablets were achieved with minimal sample pretreatment using a standard additions calibration and gave good agreement with those of iodimetric titration.     

药物中抗坏血酸的顺序注射光度法的研究

基于抗坏血酸在H2SO4介质中能把Fe3 还原成Fe2 ,并与2,2′ 联吡啶生成有色络合物的原理,建立了顺序注射分光光度测定药物中抗坏血酸的方法。实验参数采用单因素法进行优化,优化后Fe3 的浓度为0 005mol L,2,2′ 联吡啶的质量浓度为2 5g L,流速为6mL min。在300μL进样体积下方法的检出限为0.18μg mL(3σ),RSD为1.6%(n=11),采样频率为60样 h。一般的赋形剂不产生干扰,测定结果与标准方法无显著性差异,适合于制药过程中的质量在线监测。     

A reagent-free method based on a photo-induced fluorimetry in a sequential injection system

According to the current demands of environmentally friendly analytical chemistry and with a view to achieving lower reagent consumption with improved analytical performance, an automatic methodology composed of a photoreactor and fluorimetric detection (λ_exc = 287 nm, λ_em = 378 nm) was developed. To this end, a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system was developed for indomethacin determination using ultra-violet (UV) light which promotes an increase in the fluorescence of indomethacin. This increase in sensitivity makes it possible to apply this methodology to a dissolution test and to determine indomethacin in pharmaceutical formulations.The calibration graph for indomethacin was linear between 4.10 × 10⁻⁶ and 9.00 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹and the detection limit was 1.23 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The method was proven to be reproducible with a R.S.D. < 5% and sampling rate of approximately 20 per hour. The potential effect of several compounds commonly used as excipients on analytical signals was studied and no interfering effect was observed. Statistical evaluation at the 95% confidence level showed good agreement between the results obtained for the pharmaceutical samples with both the SIA system and comparison batch procedures.     

Lactate determination in human vitreous humour by capillary electrophoresis and time of death investigation

Forensic inquests, particularly, in assessing time since death currently recognize the importance of the analysis of vitreous humour (VH) biomarkers. Present research, studies, and validates the determination of lactate (La) in VH by CZE with indirect UV detection. The BGE (pH 8.9) consisted of Tris buffer (37 mM) containing 4-methoxybenzoic acid (4 mM) and alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (1.2 mM). Each VH specimen was diluted with a butyric acid solution (internal standard 0.057 mM) and La and butyrate were separated within 3–5 min (30 kV). The La LOQ and LOD were 4 and 2 mM, respectively. The calibration curve linearity ranged from 4 to 80 mM; intra- and interruns precisions were less than 10% for standard as well as for VH specimen, respectively. To investigate postmortem interval (PMI) and VH lactate level correlation, human VH specimens were collected during autopsy (n = 40) and stored at −20°C until assay. La levels ranged from 16 to 42 mM; PMI values ranged from 10 to 141 h. La (mM) and PMI (h) correlation was statistically significant (r² = 0.527; p < 0.05). In conclusion, the present CZE analysis is efficacious to determine VH La as a biomarker for PMI investigation.     

Chemiluminescence determination of antibacterial drug trimethoprim by automated sequential injection technique with permanganate and hexametaphosphate as reagents

Antibacterial drug trimethoprim [2,4-diamino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-pyrimidine] (I) was determined in pharmaceutical formulations by using a lab-made PC-controlled SIA analyser linked to conventional HPLC fluorimetric detector equipped with a chemiluminescence module. The chemical principle is the oxidation of I by KMnO(4) in acid medium; the reaction is accompanied by the emission of chemiluminescence, which is enhanced in the presence of hexametaphosphate (HMP). The optimum sequence and the flow parameters and concentrations and volumes of reagents aspirated optimised by a computer-aided simplex method were, 100 mul of 5 mM HMP, 40 mul of a test solution of I, 2 mul of 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) and 20 mul of 1 mM KMnO(4); the luminescing zone was pushed into the detector at a flow rate of 49 mul s(-1). The calibration graph relating the intensity of luminescence to concentration of I was parabolic (r=0.9994) in the range 0.5-100 mug ml(-1) of I with rectilinear part (r=0.9999) in the range 20-100 mug ml(-1) of I; the limit of detection was 0.1 mug ml(-1) of I. The method was used for the assay of Triprim(R) tablets (with nominal content 100 or 200 mg of I) for the active substance as well as for content uniformity tests; the R.S.D. values did not exceed 1% (n=5). The SIA results did not show statistical difference from those obtained by pharmacopoeial acidimetric titration in non-aqueous medium; the excipients such as microcrystalline cellulose, maze starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate and gelatin did not interfere.     

A thionine-based reversible redox sensor in a sequential injection system

According to the current demands of Green Analytical Chemistry and regarding the need for lower reagent consumption with improved analytical performance, an automatic methodology with a flow-through optosensor incorporating solid-phase spectrophotometric detection was developed. The sensor used in this work was based on the redox state of thionine whose oxidized form is blue and reduced form is colorless with monitoring carried out at 621 nm. This redox indicator was immobilized on gel beads and subsequently packed into a flow-through cell. It was then assembled into a sequential injection system and was shown to be an excellent alternative to monitor enzymatic redox reactions automatically as the redox catalysis is performed by glucose dehydrogenase. This enzyme is a representative dehydrogenase enzyme and uses NAD⁺ as cofactor, promoting the oxidation of glucose to glucono-lactone and reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH. The produced NADH promotes color depletion on the surface of the sensor. The calibration graph for glucose was linear between 5.74 × 10⁻⁴ and 2.00 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ and detection limit was 1.72 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. Glucose concentration in different samples including sera, salines, perfusion solutions, powder for preparing oral solutions and solutions for hemodialysis was determined. The method proved to be reproducible with a RSD < 5% for glucose determinations.     

Reversed flow injection and sandwich sequential injection methods for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) with cuprizone

Two new flow methods, flow injection analysis (FIA) and sequential injection analysis (SIA), for the spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in water at trace levels have been developed and optimised. Both methods are based on the reaction with oxalic acid bis(cyclohexylidene hydrazide) (cuprizone) in alkaline media. The two procedures have been developed for the final aim to compare their performances and to offer new rapid heavy metals analysis tools, avoiding the use of extraction steps. A detailed study of the physico-chemical parameters affecting the systems performances has been carried out. The reversed FIA and sandwich SIA approaches offered the best sensitivity. In both cases, an extremely good linearity has been obtained within the range 0.06-4 μg ml⁻¹ (correlation coefficient r=0.9999), whereas the observed detection limits were 0.013 and 0.004 μg ml⁻¹, for FIA and SIA, respectively. Furthermore, due to the great similarity of the diffusion zones in the reaction slugs, our approach offers the opportunity to compare the two methods in analogous conditions. This SIA method, besides keeping its typical reagent saving features, offered analytical performances equivalent to those of FIA. To obtain these results, an original “stop-flow like” method was successfully employed in the SIA approach. Both methods were validated by analysis of real water samples, after copper addition, and certified reference samples of fortified and waste waters.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminum in drinking waters by sequential injection analysis

A selective procedure for the determination of Al³⁺ in drinking and natural waters is proposed. The analytical procedure is based both on the complex formation between Al³⁺ and 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid (HQS) and on a fluorimetric detection of the complex. The reaction was carried out in presence of thioglycolic acid as a masking agent. This procedure has been adapted to a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system. Operative conditions both for batch and SIA procedures were investigated including reagent concentration, volumes, pH and wavelengths used for the fluorimetric detection. Batch procedure allows determination of Al³⁺ at ppb level (LOQ: 2.8 μg l⁻¹) within a working range of 2.2-300 μg l⁻¹. The SIA procedure was successfully employed for the determination of Al³⁺ in several commercial drinking and tap waters.     

Determination of cadmium with a sequential injection lab-on-valve by anodic stripping voltammetry using a nafion coated bismuth film electrode

This work exploited a sequential injection lab-on-valve (LOV) system for the determination of cadmium by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). A miniaturized electrochemical flow cell (EFC) was fabricated in LOV, in which a nafion coated bismuth film electrode was used as working electrode. The cadmium was electrodeposited on the electrode surface in bismuth solution, and measured with the subsequential stripping scan. Under optimal conditions, the proposed system responded linearly to cadmium concentrations in a range 2.0-100.0 μg L⁻¹. The detection limit of this method was found to be 0.88 μg L⁻¹. By loading a sample volume of 800 μL, a sampling frequency of 22 determinations h⁻¹ was achieved. The repeatability expressed as relative standard derivation (R.S.D.) was 3.65% for 20 μg L⁻¹ cadmium (n = 11). The established method was applied to analysis of trace cadmium in environmental water samples and the spiked recoveries were satisfactory.     

On-line separation, simultaneous dilution and spectrophotometric determination of zinc in fertilisers with a sequential injection system and xylenol orange as complexing agent

A dialyser unit, equipped with a passive neutral membrane, was incorporated into the conduits of a sequential injection (SI) system for the on-line removal of suspended solids and simultaneous dilution of the analyte before reaction and detection of the analyte. The system was applied to the determination of zinc(II) in fertilisers. The fully automated system is able to analyse zinc at a sampling frequency of ten samples per hour at a %R.S.D. of better than 0.55. The calibration graph was linear between 10 and 50 mg l⁻¹. The detection limit was found to be 4.75 mg l⁻¹. The results obtained with the proposed SI analyser compared favourably with the standard manual flame atomic absorption spectrometric method.     

Immunosensor for the determination of azidothymidine: its utilization as detector in a sequential injection analysis system

An amperometric immunosensor based on graphite paste (graphite powder and paraffin oil) has been constructed for the assay of azidothymidine (AZT). The graphite paste is impregnated with anti-AZT. The immunosensor can be reliably used for the assay of AZT in its pharmaceutical formulation. The potential used for AZT assay was 435 mV vs Ag/AgCl electrode. The surface of the immunosensor can be regenerated by simply polishing, obtaining fresh immunocomposite ready to be used in a new assay. Due to its reliability, the immunosensor was successfully used as a detector in a sequential injection analysis system, and gave reliable results for on-line assay of AZT purity in raw material and AZT contents in pharmaceutical formulations.     

At-line determination of formaldehyde in bioprocesses by sequential injection analysis

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) method for the at-line determination of formaldehyde in a cultivation process of Pichia pastoris is presented. A genetically modified yeast strain was used for cultivation processes wherein methanol feed induced the production of the recombinant protein 1-3del I-TAC. Recurring measurements of culture medium, its blank and including standard addition were performed with Nash reagent using an automated syringe device and photometric detection. The apparatus was coupled via a laboratory-made flow-through adapter to a continuous filtered and cell-medium flow from the bioreactor. At-line monitoring of formaldehyde was performed at two cultivations, each of 250 h during fed-batch phases with glycerol and methanol as carbon sources. High reliability, robustness and reproducibility of the method, the software and the instrumentation as well as the high selectivity of the reaction were demonstrated.     

Determination of aluminum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy in lubricating oils emulsified in a sequential injection analysis system

The sequential injection (SIA) technique was applied for the on-line preparation of an “oil in water” microemulsion and for the determination of aluminum in new and used lubricating oils by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) with Zeeman-effect background correction. Respectively, 1.0, 0.5 and 1.0 ml of surfactants mixture, sample and co-surfactant (sec-butanol) solutions were sequentially aspirated to a holding coil. The sonication and repetitive change of the flowing direction improved the stability of the different emulsion types (oil in water, water in oil and microemulsion). The emulsified zone was pumped to fill the sampling arm of the spectrometer with a sub-sample of 200 μl. Then, 10 μl of this sample solution were introduced by means of air displacement in the graphite tube atomizer. This sequence was timed to synchronize with the previous introduction of 15 μg of Mg(NO₃)₂ (in a 10 μl) by the spectrometer autosampler. The entire SIA system was controlled by a computer, independent of the spectrometer. The furnace program was carried out by employing a heating cycle in four steps: drying (two steps at 110 and 130 °C), pyrolisis (at 1500 °C), atomization (at 2400 °C) and cleaning (at 2400 °C). The calibration graph was linear from 7.7 to 120 μg Al l⁻¹. The characteristic mass (mo) was 33.2 pg/0.0044 s and the detection limit was 2.3 μg Al l⁻¹. The relative standard (RSD) of the method, evaluated by replicate analyses of different lubricating oil samples varied in all cases between 1.5 and 1.7%, and the recovery values found in the analysis of spiked samples ranged from 97.2 to 100.4%. The agreement between the observed and reference values obtained from two NIST Standard Certified Materials was good. The method was simple and satisfactory for determining aluminum in new and used lubricating oils.     

顺序注射化学发光联用技术测定空气中的SO2

基于在酸性溶液中SO32-被Ce4 氧化成SO42-产生很强的化学发光的原理,将顺序注射(SI)进样和化学发光(CL)检测方法联用,以0.012%三乙醇胺作吸收液,成功地测定了空气中的SO2。其浓度与发光信号强度在6.40×10-9～1.28×10-5mol/L范围内呈线性关系。方法的检出限(3σ)为4.80×10-9mol/L,对3.20×10-7mol/L的SO32-溶液9次测定的相对标准偏差为2.9%,方法回收率为98.45～103.6%。分析频率为90样/h。     

Determination of carbonate and hydrogencarbonate by titration using sequential injection analysis

A fully automated spectrophotometric sequential injection titration system has been developed for the determination of carbonate and hydrogencarbonate in water samples. The sample is titrated against hydrochloric acid using phenolphthalein and methyl orange as indicators; the absorbance is measured at 430 nm. A logarithmic relationship is obtained between the peak width and the absorbance. The logarithmic range for carbonate is 0.0008-0.01 M, and for hydrogencarbonate is 0.001-0.01 M. Reproducibility is good (<2% for carbonate and <1.5% for hydrogencarbonate) and the results obtained agree well with those obtained using a potentiometric titration. The sample throughput is 12 samples h⁻¹.     

顺序注射化学发光联用技术测定食品中的碘

基于酸性溶液中HCHO存在下,KMnO4可氧化I-产生很强的化学发光的原理,建立了一个简单快速测定微量碘的顺序注射化学发光分析方法。I-在3.0×10-8~8.0×10-6mol/L范围内与发光强度呈良好线性关系。对2.0×10-6mol/L I-11次重复测定的相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.6%,方法的检出限(3σ)1.3×10-8mol/L,测定了4种食品中的碘量,回收率为92.8%~107.7%。分析频率为70 h。