Characterization of lubricity improver additive in diesel by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The characterization of lubricity improver additives by GC-MS-SIM is an important tool for the development and monitoring of new formulations as well as for quality control of additives in diesel. A simple method for the quantification of a linoleic oil additive derivative in diesel has been developed. Calibration is performed by analysis of standard solutions containing 2-hydroxy-ethyl linoleate with pentadecanoyl propanoate as the internal standard. The proposed method permitted the quantification of the linoleate ester at a concentration of 300 microg/mL in the additived diesel. The recovery of additive and the repeatability of the quantitative results are evaluated.     

Determination of phenoxy herbicides in water samples using phase transfer microextraction with simultaneous derivatization followed by GC‐MS analysis

A sensitive and accurate method for the determination of two model phenoxy herbicides, 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy acetic acid and 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy propanoic acid, in water is explained. This method utilizes a simple phase transfer catalyst‐assisted microextraction with simultaneous derivatization. Factors affecting the performance of this method including pH of the aqueous matrix, temperature, extraction duration, type and amount of derivatization reagents, and type and amount of the phase transfer catalyst are examined. Derivatization and the use of phase transfer catalyst have proven to be especially vital for the resolution of the analytes and their sensitive determination, with an enrichment factor of 288‐fold for catalyzed over noncatalyzed procedure. Good linearity ranging from 0.1 to 80 μg L^?1 with correlation of determination (r²) between 0.9890 and 0.9945 were obtained. Previous reported detection limits are compared with our new current method. The low LOD for the two analytes (0.80 ng L^?1 for 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy propanoic acid and 3.04 ng L^?1 for 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy acetic acid) allow for the determination of low concentrations of these analytes in real samples. The absence of matrix effect was confirmed through relative recovery calculations. Application of the method to seawater and tap water samples was tested, but only 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy propanoic acid at concentrations between 0.27 ± 0.01 and 0.84 ± 0.06 μg L^?1 was detected in seawater samples.     

Selective and sensitive analysis of 1-nitropyrene in diesel exhaust particulate extract by multidimensional HPLC

Summary A multicolumn (MC) HPLC method for the determination of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) at trace-levels via on-line reduction to 1-aminopyrene and fluorescence detection is presented. On the first column, packed with a pyrenebutyric acid amide stationary phase, the nitro-derivatives of PAHs are strongly retained and separated from other matrix components. The nitro-PAHs-containing fractions are transferred onto a RP₁₈-column via stepwise gradient elution and finally separated according to their various lipophilicities and sizes. To increase the overall selectivity and sensitivity of the multidimensional method (MD-HPLC system) post-column, on-line reduction of the nitro-PAHs to the respective amino-PAHs via a short catalysis column is performed thus enhancing the sensitivity significantly (to low pg levels). The applicability of this method for the determination of trace amounts of 1-NP in real samples (diesel particulate extracts) is demonstrated.     

Simultaneous determination of Cs and Sr in the high level waste by ion-chromatography

A method based on ion-chromatography has been developed for determination of Cs and Sr in high level waste (HLW) without matrix separation. The acidity of HLW (3 M HNO₃) was decreased to 0.01 M by addition of NaOH. Chromatographic separation of Cs⁺ and Sr⁺⁺ in presence of bulk Na⁺ has achieved using methane sulphonic acid as mobile phase in isocratic and gradient mode. The calibration plot was linear for the concentration range of 0.5–12 mg/L for Cs and 0.025–6 mg/L for Sr with regression coefficients close to 1. RSD obtained for Cs and Sr was 1 and 5 % respectively. Detection limit calculated as 3(S/N) was found to be 20 μg/L for Cs and 30 μg/L for Sr. The standard addition procedure was used to validate the developed method. The samples received from PREFRE, Tarapur and WIP, BARC were analyzed by the new method and the results are presented.     

A NEW ROUTE FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF STYRYLBENZYLSULFONES,PRECURSORS OF 1-BENZYLSULFONYL-2-ARYLCYCLOPROPANES

Abstract

A novel method for the synthesis of E-styrylbenzylsulfones from E-sodium styrysulfinates and benzyl chlorides has been described. The cyclopropanation of these compounds with dimethylsulfonium methylide gave E-1-benzylsulfonyl-2-arylcyclopropanes in good yields. The corresponding Z-isomers have been obtained by the cycloaddition of benzylthiocarbenes to styrenes under phase transfer catalysis. Their geometry has been assigned based on IR and ¹H NMR spectral data.     

Determination of volatile fatty acid ethyl esters in raw spirits using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography

An analytical method for the determination of fatty acid ethyl esters in raw spirits of different quality or produced from various raw materials has been developed and optimized. A combination of headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) as the extraction technique and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) as the determination technique was utilized. HS-SPME conditions such as: type of the stationary phase of the fiber, ethanol content, sample volume, extraction temperature and time, salt addition and sample agitation were investigated to determine the most suitable conditions for the analysis of volatile fatty acid ethyl esters in raw spirits. The quantification method was an internal standardization using methyl octanoate as the internal standard. The method's detection limits (MDLs) for the individual ethyl esters ranged from 26.8 to 0.0470 μg L⁻¹ 20% EtOH. The feasibility of SPME for the quantitative analysis of fatty acid ethyl esters in raw spirits of different organoleptic quality was demonstrated. High precision and simple sample preparation enable the use of this method for routine investigations in both industrial and research laboratories.     

QuEChERS Technique for the Gas Chromatographic Determination of Organophosphate Residues in Strawberries

This study describes the validation of an analytical method employing gas chromatography with flame photometric detection for the determination of organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, disulfoton, parathion, chlorpyrifos, and malathion) in strawberries. The method employed a QuEChERS dispersive solid phase extraction for the sample preparation. QuEchERS is inexpensive, fast, and easy for the separation of the analytes from the matrix. In addition, the method provided linear calibration curves, ranging from 0.10–1.00 µg g^?1, for diazinon, disulfoton, parathion, and chlorpyrifos, and 0.10–2.00 µg g^?1 for malathion. Recovery studies yielded values in the range from 81.64 to 100.00%. These results demonstrated the potential of the technique for the determination of organophosphate residues in strawberries.     

Nitrite electrochemical sensor for food analysis based on direct immobilization of hemoglobin on multi-walled carbon nanotube ionic liquid electrode

A novel nitrite biosensor was constructed by simultaneous immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) and a room temperature ionic liquid, octylpyridinium chloride ([OcPy][Cl]), on multi-walled carbon ionic liquid electrode (MWILE). The direct electron transfer of Hb showed a pair of redox peaks with a formal potential of ?0.187 V vs. Ag/AgCl in pH 5.0 acetate buffer solution. Nitrite (NO₂ ^?) catalysis on the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The biosensor exhibited a wide linear range for NO₂ ^? detection from 0.01 to 15 mM, with a detection limit (3σ) of 1.46 μM. MWILE provided an excellent matrix for protein immobilization and biosensor fabrication which could be used for the determination of NO₂ ^? with a low detection limit, fast response, long linearity, and excellent sensitivity.     

Determination of tributyltin in marine sediment and waters by pressurised solvent extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, tributyltin (TBT) was extracted from marine sediment matrix with the use of pressurised solvent extraction (PSE), which uses high-temperature and -pressure conditions to increase extraction efficiency. The analyte was chromatographically resolved using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system with a pentafluorophenyl (PFP) column and a methanol/aqueous formic acid mobile phase gradient, and was detected by MS/MS as product fragments after collisionally induced dissociation (CID) of the cationic parent molecule. This study represents the first application of PSE extraction combined with LC-MS/MS analysis for the determination of TBT in sediments. The method has been validated according to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 17025:2001 and affords automated extraction of sediment samples with high-sensitivity analysis. The full method limit of detection was established as 1.25 ng Sn g^?1 with an instrument detection limit of 0.01 ng Sn g^?1. The chromatographic procedure may also be applied for the direct analysis of water matrices without the need for sample manipulation, and therefore represents a combined analytical approach for the monitoring of TBT contamination in marine or estuarine ecosystems.     

A Sensitive Flow Injection Fluorimetry for the Determination of Carbamazepine in Human Plasma

Abstract

A simple, sensitive, and specific flow injection fluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of carbamazepine (CBZ). The proposed method is based on use of a solid‐phase reactor containing lead dioxide for on‐line oxidization of CBZ into a strongly fluorescent compound in a medium of phosphoric acid. The product has a green‐yellow fluorescence at a maximum excitation wavelength of 355 nm and an emission wavelength of 478 nm. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of CBZ ranging from 0.0005 to 4.000 µg mL^?1. The detection limit is 5.7×10^?5 µg mL^?1 (2.4×10^?10 mol L^?1) and the relative standard deviation is 1.4% at the sampling rate of 45 h^?1. The proposed method has been applied to clinical estimation of CBZ in real patients' plasma samples with the results compared with those obtained by HPLC method.     

Headspace Single Drop Microextraction for the Analysis of Fire Accelerants in Fire Debris Samples

Fire accelerants such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel have commonly been used in arson cases. Improved analytical methods involving the extraction of fire accelerants are necessary to increase sample yield and to reduce the number of uncertain findings. In this study, an analytical method based on headspace single drop microextraction (HS-SDME) followed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) has been developed for the analysis of simulated fire debris samples. Curtain fabric was used as the sample matrix. The optimized conditions were 2.5 μL benzyl alcohol microdrop exposed for 20 min to the headspace of a 10 mL aqueous sample containing accelerants placed in 15-mL sample vial and stirred at 1500 rpm. The extraction method was compared with the solvent extraction method using n-hexane for the determination of fire accelerants. The HS-SDME process is driven by the concentration difference of analytes between the aqueous phases containing the analyte and the organic phase constituting the microdrop of a solvent. The limit of detection of HS-SDME for kerosene was 1.5 μL. Overall, the HS-SDME coupled with GC-FID proved to be rapid, simple and sensitive and a good alternative method for the analysis of accelerants in fire debris samples.     

Cloud point extraction and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions in water samples by 5-Br-PADAP using partial least squares regression

In this work, a new method has been proposed to simultaneously determine V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution by spectrophotometry after cloud point extraction using partial least squares regression (PLS). The metal ions in 10 ml of aqueous solution (containing 0.2 M sodium acetate buffer solution, pH 3.5) were formed complexes with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP). Then, Triton X-114 (2 %, v/v) was added to the solution. By increasing the temperature of the solution up to 55 °C, a phase separation occurred. After centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 min, the surfactant-rich phase was dissolved and diluted to 0.5 mL with ethanol. The metal ions were then determined using spectrophotometry. At these optimal extraction and operating conditions, linearity was obeyed in the range 7–300, 3–100 and 15–700 ng mL^?1 of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II), with the detection limit of 2.2, 1.0 and 4.5 ng mL^?1, respectively. The relative predictive error for the simultaneous determination of 15 test samples of different concentrations of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) was 3.28, 3.64 and 4.04 %, respectively. The root mean square error of prediction for applying the PLS method to 15 synthetic samples in the linear ranges of these metal ions was 3.4, 1.6 and 18.1 ng mL^?1. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the simultaneous determination of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions in real matrix samples with the recoveries of 96.75–104.80 %.     

Determination of 13 Free Fatty Acids in Pheretima Using Ultra-Performance LC-ESI-MS

A simple and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of thirteen free fatty acids (FFAs) in Pheretima has been developed and validated. Measurements for each FFA were linear over a wide range (0.05–3.95 μg mL^?1) with good correlation coefficients (>0.99). The limit of detection and limit of quantification for all the fatty acids were below 26 and 78 ng mL^?1, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy for the thirteen FFAs fell well within the predefined limits of acceptability. Satisfactory recoveries were in the range of 96–103%.     

Development of a molecularly imprinted polymer-matrix solid-phase dispersion method for selective determination of β-estradiol as anabolic growth promoter in goat milk

A simple, fast, and sensitive method for determination of 17 β-estradiol (E2) in goat milk samples has been developed by combining selective molecularly imprinted matrix solid-phase dispersion (MIP–MSPD) and liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (DAD). The molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by use of 17β-estradiol as template molecule, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker monomer, azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator, and acetonitrile as porogen, and was used as selective solid support for matrix solid-phase dispersion. The selected dispersant had high affinity for E2 in the goat milk matrix and the extract obtained was sufficiently clean for direct injection for HPLC analysis without any interferences from the matrix. The proposed MIP–MSPD method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ), in accordance with European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria. Linearity ranged from 0.3–10 μg g^?1 (correlation coefficient r ²?>?0.999). Mean recovery of E2 from goat milk samples at different spiked levels was between 89.5 and 92.2%, with RSD values within 1.3–2%. CCα and CCβ values were 0.36 and 0.39 μg g^?1, respectively. The developed MIP–MSPD method was successfully applied to direct determination of E2 in goat milk samples.

Phase Transfer Catalysis: Preparation of Alkyl Thiocyanates

Phase transfer catalysis has been employed for many nucleo-philic substitution reactions.¹ Generally these reactions have employed quaternary ammonium salts as catalysts. Among the displacement reactions reported is the formation of thiocyanates.² Tertiary amines have also been used as catalysts for phase transfer generation of carbenes.³ Recently we reported the preparation of alkyl cyanides to be catalyzed by amines under phase transfer conditions.⁴     

Determination of Trace Levels of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Aviation Fuel by GC × GC–FID and Comparison with the Reference GC–MS Method

Due to the negative impact of the presence of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene for the aviation industry, in this work a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography method with flame ionization detector for the determination of trace levels of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene was developed. It is based on the use of a first dimension polar column and a second dimension non-polar column. Identification of fatty acid methyl esters is based on retention times and the external standard calibration is used for quantitation. Results were compared with those obtained from the GC–MS reference method; good recoveries, close to 100 %, and limit of detection in a range from 3 to 6 μg kg⁻¹ were found without requiring a specific detector.

     

An LC–MS–MS Method for the Simultaneous Quantitation of Acyclovir and Valacyclovir in Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive and selective LC–MS–MS method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of acyclovir and valacyclovir in human plasma. Acyclovir and valacyclovir in plasma were concentrated by solid phase extraction and chromatographed on a C18 column using a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid: methanol (30:70% v/v). The method was validated over a linear range of 47–10,255 and 5–1,075 ng mL^?1 for acyclovir and valacyclovir respectively. The LOQs were 47.6 and 5.0 ng mL^?1. The validated method was applied for the quantitation of acyclovir and valacyclovir from plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study.     

Determination of Urea in Milk by Liquid Chromatography-Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry

A definitive method based on liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) has been developed for the determination of milk urea, an indicator of nutrition status for the lactating animals. The milk samples were treated twice by sequentially adding acetonitrile and chloroform to precipitate proteins and then were directly separated using normal phase liquid chromatography without chemical derivatization. After the matrix separation, exact matching IDMS was used for the determination of milk urea, with high accuracy, high precision, good linearity and low uncertainty. The recoveries obtained for the four spiked milk samples were 100.6–102.2%. The linear range of signal responses was 10–2000 mg · kg^?1 with a linearity coefficient of 0.9995. The intraday and interday precisions in terms with relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 0.17–0.38% and 0.28–0.40%, respectively. The uncertainties of the whole sample analysis process were estimated to be 0.83%, 0.60%, and 0.64% for three samples with concentrations of 151.28, 184.36, and 266.66 mg · kg^?1.     

A sensitive spectrophotometric determination of atrazine in micellar medium and its application in environmental samples

A sensitive analytical procedure based on solid phase extractive-spectrophotometry has been established for the determination of the widely used herbicide atrazine .The method is based on the Konig reaction in which atrazine reacts with pyridine reagent to form a quaternary pyridinium halide, which further forms glutaconic aldehyde in the presence of alkali. Glutaconic aldehyde is subsequently coupled with 4-aminoacetanilide in the micellar medium of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate to give a yellow-orange dye. The produced dye was enriched on a C₁₈ cartridge and is measured spectrophotometrically at 460 nm. The sensitivity and selectivity of the method was largely enhanced in the micellar media and SPE on the C₁₈ cartridge and avoids the use of toxic solvents. Beer’s law was obeyed in the range 0.012–0.12 μg mL^?1. Molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity were found to be 1.52 × 10⁶ L mol^? 1 cm^?1 and 0.0002 μg cm^?2, respectively. The limit of detection and quantification were 0.001 and 0.003 μg mL^?1, respectively. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of atrazine in environmental and biological samples with a recovery range of 96–101 %. The method was found to be free from interference of a large number of foreign species. The accuracy and reliability of the method was further established by parallel determination by the reference method, and by recovery studies.     

Rapid Determination of Cichoric Acid by Argentation Complex Chromatography and Study on Related Mechanisms of Coordination Simultaneously Used in Rapid Determination of Salvianolic Acid B

Cichoric acid is a water-soluble phenolic acid in Echinacea purpurea and has a high medicinal value. A rapid and novel argentation complex liquid chromatography method has been developed and validated for determination of cichoric acid in E. purpurea extract. The determination of cichoric acid was carried out on a Restek Pinnacle 11 C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), using acetonitrile-deionized water (38:62, v/v, with 6 mmol L^?1 AgNO₃ and 0.8% acetic acid) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 within 10 min. The wavelength was set at 326 nm. It improved the effect of determination by adding AgNO₃ in the mobile phase while cichoric acid coordinated with Ag⁺. The mechanism of coordination between cichoric acid and Ag⁺ has been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The mechanism which improved the effect of determination of cichoric acid is analyzed and applied in the rapid determination of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) in Danshen extract solution which has been stored for half a year. The possible structures of the complex and complex ratio are all provided in this article. The experiments have facilitated the study of cichoric acid–Ag⁺ and Sal B–Ag⁺ complex and provide a theoretical basis for industrialized extraction of cichoric acid and Sal B in the future.