Rapid assay of vitamin E in vegetable oils by reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

A rapid capillary electrochromatographic (CEC) method for the analysis of vitamin E in vegetable oils is reported. Vitamin E consists of a group of eight isomers, tocopherols (TOHs) and tocotrienols. The separation of four TOHs (alpha-, gamma-, delta-TOH), alpha-tocopherol acetate (alpha-TOH-Ac), and an antioxidant compound, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) used to prevent TOH autoxidation, was optimized. The CEC experiments were carried out in a 75 microm inner diameter (ID) fused-silica capillary, partially packed with 3 microm C(18 )stationary phase (33 cm total length, 8.4 cm and 7 cm effective and packed lengths, respectively). The optimum mobile phase was a polar organic phase composed of a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile in the ratio 50/50 v/v containing 0.01% ammonium acetate, applying a voltage and temperature set at -25 kV and 20 degrees C, respectively. The tocopherols and the BHT were successfully separated within 2.5 min using the short-end injection method. Under these experimental conditions, repeatability of retention time and peak area, analyte detection and quantitation limits, linearity, precision, and accuracy were studied. The CEC method was applied to determine the content of TOHs in different commercially available oils of virgin olive, hazelnut, sunflower, and soybean. The extraction of vitamin E isomers from oil samples was achieved using methanol and a methanol-isopropanol mixture.     

Normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Comparison of different chromatographic columns

Natural vitamin E is composed of eight different vitamers (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols and alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols). As these eight vitamers have different antioxidant and biological activities, it is necessary to have quantitative data on each substance separately. The aim of this study was to find universal HPLC columns for the separation of all eight components and to test if a few columns of the same material (different batches) will give reproducible results. Normal-phase HPLC separations of vitamin E compounds in a prepared mixture (containing oat extracts, palm oil and tocopherol standards) were tried on six silica, three amino and one diol columns. As shown by calculations of retention factors (k), separation factors (alpha), numbers of theoretical plates (N) and resolutions (Rs), the best separations were obtained on three silica columns and two amino columns using 4 or 5% dioxane in hexane as the mobile phase as well as on a diol column using 4% tert.-butyl methyl ether in hexane as the mobile phase.     

Analysis of wax esters in edible oils by automated on-line coupling liquid chromatography-gas chromatography using the through oven transfer adsorption desorption (TOTAD) interface

An automated method for the direct analysis of wax esters in edible oils is presented. The proposed method uses the TOTAD (through oven transfer adsorption desorption) interface for the on-line coupling of normal phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. In this fully automated system, the oil with C32 wax ester as internal standard and diluted with heptane is injected directly with no sample pre-treatment step other than filtration. The proposed method allows analysis of different wax esters, and is simpler and faster than the European Union Official Method, which is tedious and time-consuming. The obtained results closely match the certified values obtained from the median of the analytical results of the inter-labs certification study. Relative standard deviations of the concentrations are less than 5%. The method is appropriate for routine analysis as it is totally automated.     

Miniaturisation of solid phase extraction method for determination of retinol,alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in human serum using new technologies

The aim of this study was to develop rapid and simple solid phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC methods for simultaneous determination of retinol, gamma- and alpha-tocopherol in human serum using a special auto sampler with micro titration plates.

Separation of vitamins was performed at ambient temperature using monolithic column on a HPLC containing rack changer for micro titration plates. As the mobile phase methanol with flow rate 2.5 mL min^?1 was used. The injection volume was 20 µL. Retinol was detected at 325 nm, gamma- and alpha-tocopherol were carried out at 295 nm, respectively. The total time of analysis was 1.8 minutes. Extraction method was developed using Spe-ed 96 C18, 100 mg/2 mL micro titration plates and SPE vacuum manifold. The consumption of the sample was 50 µL. Time of the analysis for 96 samples on one micro titration plate was 1.5 hour. In order to validate the developed method, precision, accuracy, linearity, detection and quantitation limits were evaluated. This method is suitable for rapid automated large-batch analysis of retinol, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in small sample volumes of human serum.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of tocopherols and tocotrienols in vegetable oils, formulated preparations, and biscuits

A precise and selective liquid chromatographic procedure for determining tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers in vegetable oils, formulated preparations, and biscuits was developed and validated. The proposed method quantitates vitamin E in better conditions of recoverability and reproducibility than the standard saponification procedure. Tocopherols and tocotrienols were extracted in hexane from vegetable oils, passed through a silica Sep-pak, chromatographed on a mu-Bondapak C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (95 + 5, v/v), identified at 292 nm, and detected with fluorescence procedure (excitation 296 nm, and emission 330 nm). The correlation coefficient on the calibration curve was 0.9995 over the range of 0.1 to 100 microg/mL. Overall recovery of vitamin E isomers was 93%; coefficients of variation for intra- and interday precision, < 2.25%. The results obtained from extraction methods 1 (with saponification) and 2 (without saponification) were compared by ANOVA test. Significant differences appeared between vitamin E isomers (p < or = 0.05).     

Simple reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for determination of tocopherols in edible plant oils

A simple and rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for determination of alpha-, (beta + gamma), and delta-tocopherols in edible plant oils has been developed. Oils are diluted in 2-propanol and injected directly onto Symmetry C18 column. Methanol and acetonitrile (1:1) are used as a mobile phase. Tocopherols are detected using fluorescence detector set at excitation and emission wavelength 295 nm and 325 nm, respectively. The method is precise (R.S.D. not higher than 2.24%) and sensitive-detection limits (DL) are 8 ng/ml for gamma- and delta-tocopherols and 28 ng/ml for alpha-tocopherol; quantification limits (QL) were calculated as three times higher than DL.     

Use of a polar-embedded stationary phase for the separation of tocopherols by CEC

A polar-embedded stationary phase (ULTIMA C18) has been investigated for the separation of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols by CEC in comparison with commercially available C(18) and C(30) n-alkyl RPs. The behavior of this stationary phase was tested for different mobile phases based on methanol, ACN, or mixtures thereof and different separation parameters such as retention factors and resolution were evaluated. The main feature of this stationary phase is the improved selectivity for the separation of beta- and gamma-tocopherols (positional isomers) when compared with the pure n-alkyl C(18) material, which was unable to resolve these compounds. Additionally, it is possible to observe a reversal in the elution order of the beta- and gamma-tocopherol isomers with respect to that obtained on the C(30) column. The resulting data indicate that the enhanced selectivity obtained with the polar-embedded stationary phase, with respect to the conventional C(18) material, is due to the participation of both hydrophobic and polar interactions: these latter are of the hydrogen bridge type with the amide group of the polar-embedded stationary phase, which increases the retention of the tocopherols and facilitates the discrimination between the beta- and gamma-isomers. Adequate separation of the four tocopherols was obtained by CEC using the polar-embedded stationary phase and 95:5 v/v methanol/water (5 mM Tris, final concentration) as the mobile phase.     

Liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of tocopherols in malt sprouts with supercritical fluid extraction.

A simple, specific and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of tocopherols in malt sprouts. A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) procedure was used to isolate tocopherols from the vegetal matrix before quantitative analysis. The analytes were separated on a Zorbax reversed-phase column using methanol-water as mobile phase and quantified by measuring its fluorescence at lambda(em)=328 nm after excitation of the analytes at lambda(exc)=303 nm. The limits of detection for alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols were 0.04, 0.05, and 0.05 microg/ml, respectively. The calibration graphs of the method were linear from 0.1 to 1.5, 0.2 to 2.5, and 0.2 to 2.0 microg/ml, for alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols, respectively. This SFE and HPLC procedure is simple, precise and accurate for the determination of tocopherols in malt sprouts.     

Determination of vitamin B12 in milk products and selected foods by optical biosensor protein-binding assay: method comparison

Biomolecular interaction analysis was evaluated for the automated determination of vitamin B12 in a range of foods. The analytical technique was configured as a biosensor-based, nonlabeled inhibition protein-binding assay using nonintrinsic R-protein. Sample extraction conditions were optimized, and both ligand specificity and nonspecific binding considerations were evaluated. Performance parameters included a quantitation range of 0.08-2.40 ng/mL, recoveries of 89-106%, agreement against assigned reference values for 3 independent certified food reference materials, and a mean between-laboratory reproducibility relative standard deviation of 4.9%. The proposed method was compared with reference microbiological and radioisotope protein-binding methods for a range of food samples. A wide selection of milks, infant formulas, meats, and liver were evaluated for their vitamin B12 content. The influence of season was studied in herd milk, early lactation was followed for a single animal, and the cobalamin content of bovine, caprine, and ovine milks was compared.     

A convenient ultrasound‐assisted saponification for the simultaneous determination of vitamin E isomers in vegetable oil by HPLC with fluorescence detection

An efficient ultrasound‐assisted saponification was developed for simultaneous determination of vitamin E isomers in vegetable oil by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The samples were saponified ultrasonically with potassium hydroxide solution for only 7 min, then the analytes were extracted with ether. Vitamin E isomers were separated on a C₁₈ column at 25°C with a mobile phase of methanol/acetonitrile (81:19, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Fluorescence detection was operated at 290 nm of excitation wavelength and 327 nm of emission wavelength. Under the optimized conditions, good linearities over the range of 0.001–8.00 μg/mL (r > 0.999) were obtained. Mean recoveries of the method were 88.0–106%, with intra‐ and interday RSDs less than 11.8 and 12.8%, respectively. The detection limits and quantification limits of the method were 0.30–1.8 and 1.0–6.1 μg/kg, respectively. The recoveries of this method were much higher than that of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method and direct dilution method, but were similar to those of hot saponification. This proposed method provides reliable, simple, and rapid quantification of vitamin E isomers in vegetable oils. Five kinds of vegetable oils were analyzed, the quantification results were within the ranges reported by other authors.     

CP/MAS 13C NMR characterization of the isomeric states and intermolecular packing in tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum(III) (Alq3)

The isomeric states and intermolecular packing of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum(III) (Alq(3)) in the alpha-, gamma-, and delta-crystalline forms and in the amorphous state, which are important for understanding the light-emitting and electron-transport properties, have been analyzed by CP/MAS (13)C NMR. This simple NMR experiment shows that the isomeric state of alpha- and amorphous Alq(3) is meridional, whereas that of gamma- and delta-Alq(3) is facial. In the amorphous Alq(3), the inclusion of facial isomers has been under debate. Our experiments show that meridional isomers are dominant in the amorphous Alq(3), although the existence of facial isomers cannot be completely denied. The local structure of amorphous Alq(3) is similar to that of alpha-Alq(3) and is significantly different from those of gamma- and delta-Alq(3). Among these Alq(3) samples, the effect of intermolecular interaction is not found only for gamma-Alq(3). This finding can explain the good solvent solubility of gamma-Alq(3), compared with the other crystalline forms. It is also shown that the structures are locally disordered not only for amorphous Alq(3) but also for alpha-Alq(3), although clear X-ray diffraction peaks are observed for alpha-Alq(3). In contrast, the local structures of gamma- and delta-Alq(3) are well defined. A clear relation is found between the spectral patterns of CP/MAS (13)C NMR and the fluorescence wavelengths; the samples, which consist of facial isomers, show blue-shifted fluorescence compared with those of meridionals.     

An automated neutron activation procedure for screening PCB content of oil

An analytical procedure for rapidly screening large numbers of oils for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) content has been developed and is now in routine use. Pontential levels of PCBs are inferred from chlorine concentrations as determined using the automated neutron activation analysis (NAA) facility at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Omega West Reactor. The technique is designed to screen up to 200 oil samples per eight hour working day, using a sample volume of approximately 1 milliliter. Because of the automated nature of the analysis, elements in addition to chlorine are determined, when present. These include fluorine, bromine, iodine and sulfur. U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standard Reference Materials are routinely analyzed for quality assurance purposes. The results of our analyses of these materials for certified elements is discussed as well as results for other non-certified elements observed in the standard materials.     

Method for simultaneous analysis of eight vitamin E isomers in various foods by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

The objective of this study was to optimize a method to investigate the occurrence and to quantify the full isomeric composition of vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols) in 6 vegetables (raw and cooked), 3 herbs/spices, raw and cooked eggs, vegetable oils (canola, olive and soybean), flaxseed and sorghum (flour and seeds) and soy (flour) by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Different conditions of extraction and analysis were tested. The optimized method consisted of direct extraction with solvent (hexane:ethyl acetate, 85:15, v/v). For analysis normal phase column was used with mobile phase consisting of hexane:isopropanol:acetic acid (98.9:0.6:0.5) with isocratic elution and fluorescence detection. Excellent separation of all isomers was obtained along with adequate quantification in the foods analyzed. Recovery rates of standards ranged from 91.3 to 99.4%. The linearity range for each isomer varied from 2.5 to 137.5 ng/mL (R2 greater than 0.995 in all cases). Detection limits ranged from 21.0 to 48.0 ng/mL for tocopherols and from 56.0 to 67.0 ng/mL for tocotrienols, while quantification limits ranged from 105.0 to 240.0 ng/mL for tocopherols and from 280.0 to 335.0 ng/mL for tocotrienols. The optimized method was considered simple, fast and reliable, and also preserved vitamin E isomers when compared to validated methods involving saponification.     

Quantification of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid geometrical isomers formed during fish oil deodorization by gas-liquid chromatography

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) of the n-3 series and especially eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA, respectively) have important biological properties. The main dietary sources of LC-PUFAs are fish and fish oil. Geometrical isomerization is one of the main reactions happening during the thermal treatment of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Refined fish oils are used to supplement food products in LC-PUFAs and the quality of these nutritional ingredients have to be controlled. In the present study, a suitable method for the quantification of EPA and DHA geometrical isomers in fish oils by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) is presented. A highly polar capillary column (CP-Sil 88, 100 m) operating under optimal conditions was used. Method selectivity was studied by GC-mass spectrometry. The performance characteristics of the quantification method were studied using samples of fish oil deodorized at 220 degrees C for 3 h. The linearity of the method was assessed by analyzing composite samples obtained by mixing fish oil deodorized at 220 degrees C with semi-refined fish oil (control). Precision was evaluated by analyzing the same samples in triplicate. Results showed that the validated method is suitable to quantify low amounts of geometrical (trans) isomers of EPA and DHA in refined fish oils. The limits of quantification of the EPA and DHA geometrical isomers are 0.16 and 0.56 g/100 g of fish oil, for EPA and DHA, respectively. Commercially available LC-PUFA oil samples were evaluated by using the validated method. The results show that the oils analyzed contain low amounts (<1% of total fatty acids) of geometrical isomers of EPA and DHA.     

关于毛细管气相色谱与质谱或保留值配合定性问题

利用色谱－质谱和色谱－保留指数两种不同的定性方法,针对随机挑选的精油进行分析,利用所得结果再次强调指出色谱定性中众所周知但又未受到足够重视的一条原则,即仅靠一种方法很难对色谱峰准确定性,只有两种不同方法配合使用才能提高定性结果的可靠程度。即使质谱和保留值定性结果吻合,也只能认为获得初步的定性结果;为了确证定性结果,用标样核对有时仍属必要。     

Selected applications of cyclodextrin selectors in capillary electrophoresis.

Through the use of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin as stereospecific selectors or electrolyte modifiers, both in capillary zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis, selected model isomeric compounds (including optical isomers) were resolved. Soluble alkylhydroxyalkylcellulose derivatives were further added to the cyclodextrin-modified background electrolytes under study. Their presence was found to be essential, as demonstrated by improvements in both enantioselectivity and separation efficiency. The results obtained in both electrophoretic modes, under optimized conditions, are compared and discussed.     

Chiral Resolution of Cypermethrin on Cellulose-tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) Chiral Stationary Phase

Cellulose-tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)was synthesized and coated on aminopropylsilica to prepare a chiral stationary phase. Cypermethrin, alpha-, theta-and beta-cypermethrin were well resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography on this material using n-hexane as mobile phase and isopropyl alcohol as modifier. Two columns of different length were used, and the influence of the volume percentage of isopropyl alcohol in the mobile phase was studied. The impact of temperature on the separation of alpha- and theta-cypermethrin was also investigated. The two enantiomers of alpha- and theta-cypermethrin were both complete resolved. The four isomers of beta-cypermethrin and the seven of eight isomers of cypermethrin were separated.     

Application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the measurement of vitamin D in foods and nutritional supplements

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)/MS/MS was applied to measure vitamin D in various foods and nutritional supplements. The run-time of the chromatographic separation was cut from 20 min in HPLC/MS/MS to 10 min in UPLC/MS/MS, while equal or better separation efficiency was achieved to deal with complex food matrixes. Under the optimized conditions, all the previtamins of vitamin D3, D2, and isotope-labeled vitamin D3 were baseline-separated from their corresponding vitamins. It was also demonstrated that many sterol isomers in complex food matrixes that interfere in the analysis could be well-separated from the analytes. Accuracy of this method was evaluated by analysis of NIST SRM 1849 infant formula reference material. With eight replicates, the average vitamin D3 concentration was 0.251 +/- 0.012 mg/kg, an excellent agreement with the certified value of 0.251 +/- 0.027 mg/kg. In addition, spike recovery from a commercial infant formula matrix was in the range of 100 to 108% for both vitamins D3 and D2 at three spike concentration levels. The spike recovery for an even more complex matrix, pet food, was 101-105%. LOQ values were 0.026 and 0.033 IU/g, or 0.086 and 0.11 IU/mL in solution, for vitamins D3 and D2, respectively. The dynamic range had three orders of magnitude, which made the method flexible and useful to deal with the wide concentration range of vitamin D in various samples. The method was robust based on the results of changing the parameters of LC separation and MS measurement. This accurate and reliable vitamin D method increased instrument efficiency and analysis productivity significantly.     

Application of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the measurement of vitamin D in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula: First Action 2011.11

In an effort to measure vitamin D, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied to samples. The use of UHPLC-MS/MS decreased the run time by 50%. The UHPLC-MS/MS achieved equal or better separation efficiency with complex food matrixes compared to HPLC-MS/MS. It was also observed that under the optimized conditions of UHPLC, all previtamins of vitamin D3, D2, and isotope-labeled vitamin D3 were baseline-separated from their corresponding vitamins. The sterol isomers found in complex food matrixes that interfere in the analysis were well separated from the analytes. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material 1849 infant reference material. The average vitamin D3 concentration was 0.251 +/- 0.012 microg/g. This showed excellent agreement with the certified value of 0.251 +/- 0.027 microg/g. The spike recovery study of a commercial infant formula matrix showed a range of recovery from 100 to 108%. The LOQ values determined were 0.0022 and 0.0028 microg/g for vitamins D3 and D2, respectively; LOD values were 0.00065 and 0.00083 microg/g for vitamins D3 and D2, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of retinol and tocopherols by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method to determine retinol and all four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-) simultaneously was established using a reversed-phase column (YMC-PACK A-302 S-5 120A ODS). The HPLC conditions were mobile phase 65% isopropanol, sample solvent 99.5% methanol and temperature 30 degrees C. Retinol and tocopherols were measured in rat liver.