Determination of alkylamines by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column fluorescence derivatization

A styrene/divinylbenzene polymer column and an amino column are compared for the non-aqueous separation of primary, secondary and tertiary alkylamines. Post-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde/2-mercaptoethanol is selective for primary amines and derivatization with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl) is selective for secondary amines after on-line masking of primary amines. This procedure can tolerate 0.4 M butylamine. The limit of detection is 18.5 mM for dioctylamine (with NBD-Cl) and 0.18 mM for decylamine and tetraethylenepentamine (with o-phthalaldehyde/2-mercaptoethanol).     

Determination of citrulline and homocitrulline by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of citrulline and homocitrulline using a post-column colorimetric reaction with o-phthaladehyde and N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine. Citrulline and homocitrulline were determined with no interferences from protein amino acids. The results show that the level of citrulline in the plasma of patients with uremia on intermittent hemodialysis is higher than that in healthy human plasma, and that homocitrulline is excreted into the urine of healthy adults.     

Determination of oxytetracycline in blood serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with direct injection.

A direct injection analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for oxytetracycline in serum of animals and fish. A Hisep shielded hydrophobic phase column (15 cm x 4.6 mm I.D.) and a mobile phase of methanol-0.2 M oxalic acid (10:90, v/v, pH 7.0) with ultraviolet detection at 360 nm were used. The standard calibration curves in serum of chicken, hog, cattle and rainbow trout were linear over the range 0.1-20 micrograms/ml. The recoveries of oxytetracycline from all serum samples determined at two different concentrations (0.5 and 2.0 micrograms/ml) were 88-103%. The detection limit was 0.05 micrograms/ml for every serum sample.     

Determination of vitamin B5 in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

In the present work, we have developed a simple and rapid liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for the identification and quantification of vitamin B5 in human urine. Urine was spiked with vitamin B5 internal standard, hopantenic acid (HOPA), and then diluted with the LC mobile phase prior to its analysis by LC/MS. The quantification was performed in single ion monitoring mode. The calibration curve was linear (r2 = 0.999) between 0.25 to 10 microg/mL. With a limit of detection of 0.1 microg/mL the method was sensitive enough to determine low levels of vitamin B5 in urine. The overall quantitative efficiency of the method was evaluated by spiking urine samples with four different concentrations of vitamin B5; the intra-assay coefficient of variation was below 5% and the recoveries were between 96 to 108%. The results of the present study show that the proposed method is selective and sensitive enough for the quantification of vitamin B5 in urine.     

Determination of vitamin B<Subscript>1</Subscript> in seawater and microalgal fermentation media by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection has been developed for determination of vitamin B₁. Vitamin B₁ was converted into a fluorescent compound by treatment with hydrogen peroxide–horseradish peroxidase and the derivative was subsequently analyzed by HPLC on a Waters Spherisorb ODS2 column (250 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 μm) with 40:60 methanol–pH 8.5 acetate buffer solution as mobile phase and fluorescence detection at 440 nm (with excitation at 375 nm). The calibration graph was linear from 5.00×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ to 5.00×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for vitamin B₁ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991 (n=9). The detection limit was 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The method was successfully used for determination of vitamin B₁ at pg mL⁻¹ levels in microalgal fermentation media and seawater after solid-phase extraction. Recovery was from 89 to 110% and the relative standard deviation was in the range 1.1 to 4.3%.     

Determination of hydroxy-PCBs in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with solid-phase extraction and derivatization

A sensitive derivatization and extraction method is proposed for the determination of hydroxy-PCBs in urine. Phenolic hydroxyl groups of PCBs were allowed to react with five different reagents such as iodomethane, iodoethane, iodopropane, BSTFA and MTBSTFA. Propylated products at 100 °C for 30 min showed the best sensitivity with mass selective detector. Extraction recoveries and relative standard deviations of hydroxy-PCBs by SPE using C2 column were in the range of 78.0-112.3% and 2.5-9.6%, respectively. Instrumental detection limits for derivatized hydroxy-PCBs were in the range of 1-2 pg and were 10-1000 times more sensitive than those of non-derivatized hydroxy-PCBs. The correlation coefficients of the linear regression curves exceed 0.99, and the intra- and inter-day precisions were evaluated by RSDs within 10% at the concentrations of 0.4 and 4.0 ng/mL.     

Determination of zeolite-a in detergent powders as acid-soluble aluminum by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the rapid determination of zeolite-A in detergents as acid-soluble aluminum. Detergent samples are dissolved by digestion with nitric acid. Chromatographic separation on a strong cation exchanger in acidic ammonium sulfate media is combined with the highly selective color reaction of acid-soluble aluminum with pyrocatechol violet. Interferences of the chelating agents in detergents are thus eliminated. After the digestion, determinations take 8 min per sample. The relative standard deviation is less than 1% and quantitative recoveries are obtained. Several commercial detergents were analyzed successfully. The results obtained by the proposed method and by compleximetric titration agreed very closely for zeolite-A contents in the range 2–22%.     

Determination of ketorolac enantiomers in plasma using enantioselective liquid chromatography. Application to pharmacokinetic studies

Summary Residual synthetic adsorbent, cross-linked polystyrene, used in drug purification has been analyzed quantitatively by Curie-point pyrolysis gas chromatography. The peaks of intact polystyrene adsorbent in the pyrogram were used as key peaks for quantitative measurement of residues of the adsorbent in vitamin B₁ and streptomycin sulfate. It was shown that them-ethylstyrene orp-ethylstyrene peaks in the pyrolyzates were suitable for determination of polystyrene adsorbent content. The levels of residual adsorbent in the drugs were found to be <0.1 %, the value stipulated by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). In quantitative evaluation of an adsorbent content of 0.1 % the precision was 3.6 % and 2.7 % for vitamin B₁ and streptomycin sulfate, respectively.     

Determination of amphetamines in human urine by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection using a solid-phase extraction procedure

A precise and feasible HPLC method has been developed for the analysis of amphetamine (AMPH), methamphetamine (MAMPH) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in human urine. A chromatographic run on a C8 Genesis (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column maintained at 30 degrees C lasts about 17 min, using a mobile phase composed of ACN (12%) and a pH 2.5 phosphate buffer (88%) containing 0.3% triethylamine. Mirtazapine was used as the internal standard. Good linearity was found in the 100-2000 ng/mL concentration range for AMPH and MAMPH and in the 12-2000 ng/mL concentration range for MDMA. The pretreatment of urine samples was carried out by means of a careful SPE procedure on C2 cartridges. The extraction yields were very satisfactory for all analytes, with average values greater than 97%. The leading conditions allowed the determination of AMPH, MAMPH and MDMA with satisfactory precision and accuracy. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in urine of AMPH users.     

Simultaneous determination of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-glucose in rat serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column fluorescence derivatization

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-glucose in rat serum is described; this method is based on a post-column fluorescence derivatization. The sugars are automatically converted into fluorescent derivatives by reaction with meso-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylenediamine in an alkaline medium after their separation on a strong anion exchanger column (TSK gel Sugar AXG). The detection limits (S/N = 3) for 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-glucose in rat serum are 0.52 and 0.56 nmol/ml, respectively.     

Determination of fluoroquinolones in urine and serum by using high performance liquid chromatography and multiemission scan fluorimetric detection

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of four fluoroquinolones. The studied compounds have been enoxacin (ENO), norfloxacin (NOR), ofloxacin (OFLO) and enrofloxacin (ENRO). An isocratic elution method, using a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (8%) and phosphate buffer (pH 3.00, 30.0 mM, 92%) as mobile phase, has been developed. Fluorimetric detection, exciting at 277 nm, and multiemission scan (407 nm for ENO, 444 nm for both NOR and ENRO and 490 nm for OFLO) has been used. Detection limits of 500, 14.7, 25.2 and 15.0 ng mL⁻¹ for ENO, NOR, OFLO and ENRO, respectively, have been obtained. The proposed method has been satisfactorily applied to analyze NOR, OFLO and ENRO in human urine and serum samples.     

Determination of alpha-tocopherolquinone in human serum samples by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and on-line post-column derivatization

A HPLC/fluorescence method with on-line post-column derivatization by a photoreactor was developed, where alpha-, beta + gamma- and delta-tocopherolquinone (TQ) are separated on a 250 mm x 4.6 mm RP-18 column. The LOD is about 250 pg for all TQs. In combination with a two-step sample preparation procedure, this method was successfully employed for measurement of alpha-TQ in human serum samples. Recovery for alpha-TQ from spiked serum was excellent (99 +/- 5%) and results of alpha-TQ determinations in 111 serum samples are reported. Additionally, possibilities for determination of other TQs in serum and alternative derivatization with a zinc reduction column are discussed.     

Determination of bovine blood oleandrin by high-performance liquid chromatography and postcolumn derivatization

A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure with a postcolumn fluorescence derivatization is developed for the analysis of oleandrin in bovine blood. Oleandrin is separated by an octadecylsilane-bonded column with a mobile phase containing dehydroascorbic acid. The effluent of the column is mixed with concentrated hydrochloric acid and passed through poly(tetrafluoroethylene) tubing maintained at 70 degrees C. The resultant fluorophores are detected at 465 nm with excitation at 348 nm. Simple solid-phase extraction using Sep-Pak tC2 is effective for sample purification. We found the minimal detectable quantity of oleandrin in plasma to be 1.5 ng/mL at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1.     

Determination of methimazole in urine by liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatography methodology is developed and validated for detection and quantification of methimazole in urine. The approach is based on derivatization with 2-chloro-1-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of so formed methimazole 2-S-quinolinium derivative from other urine matrix components, followed by detection and quantification with the use of ultraviolet–visible detector. Neither extraction, nor preconcentration of the sample are necessary. The methimazole standards added to normal urine before derivatization step show that the response of the detector, set at 345 nm, is linear within the concentration range studied, that is, from 0.25 to 50 mg/l urine. The relative standard deviation values for precision and recovery within the calibration range were from 1.8 to 5.0% and from 95.7 to 103.3%, respectively. Lower limits of detection and quantitation were 0.15 and 0.25 mg/l urine, respectively.     

Determination of sugars by liquid chromatography with post-column catalytic derivatization and fluorescence detection

Summary A method for the determination of reducing sugars such as fructose and glucose and nonreducing sugar such as sucrose by high performance liquid chromatography followed by an acidic hydrolysis and a derivatization with benzamidine has been developed. After separation of sugars on a gel column packed with a polymer-based cation exchange material (Sugar-Pak I, Waters-Millipore), the sucrose is first hydrolysed in a solid phase reactor to convert it into reducing subunits. A post-column fluorigenic reaction with benzamidine under alkaline condition allows the selective determination of both natural and converted reducing carbohydrates.This procedure has proven to be selective (fluorigenic detection) and highly sensitive (allowing detection as little as picomoles amounts), reproducible and linear over a broad range of concentrations: 5×10^–4 to 1.0×10^–2 M.The applicability of this method to natural matrices such as plant extracts and beverages is also described. The sugar content of a barley extract has been determined and compared with a specific enzymatic test. The determined sugar content of natural and commercial lemon juices as well as of Cola beverages has been compared with those found by the conventional LC refractive index analytical procedure. In all cases, the results were comparable and were within the experimental errors of the methods.     

Determination of sparfloxacin in serum and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A specific and sensitive analytical method for the determination of sparfloxacin in serum and urine is described. Serum proteins are removed by precipitation with acetonitrile after the addition of ofloxacin as an internal standard. The supernatant solvent is evaporated in a vacuum concentrator and the dry residue is redissolved in the mobile phase. Separation is performed on a cation-exchange column (Nucleosil 100 5SA, 125 x 4.0 mm I.D., 5 microns particle size) protected by a guard column (Perisorb RP-18, 30 x 4.0 mm I.D., 30-40 microns particle diameter). The mobile phase consisted of 750 ml of acetonitrile and 250 ml of 100 mmol/l phosphoric acid (v/v) to which sodium hydroxide had been added. The final concentration of sodium was 23 mmol/l and the pH was 3.82. Sparfloxacin and ofloxacin were determined by spectrofluorimetry (excitation wavelength 295 nm; emission wavelength 525 nm). The flow-rate was 1.5 ml/min and the retention times were 4.7 (sparfloxacin) and 8.0 (ofloxacin) min. Validation of the method yielded the following results for serum: detection limit 0.05 mg/l; precision between series 10.4-3.6%; recovery 99.5-100.0%; comparison with a microbiological assay c(bioassay) = 1.035c(HPLC) - 0.06. The test organism was Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. For urine the results were: detection limit 0.5 mg/l; precision between series 7.8-5.0%; recovery 97.0-97.8%; method comparison c(bioassay) = 1.092c(HPLC) - 1.09. No interferences were observed in human volunteers. The method can also be applied to stool samples.