The identification of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel particulate extracts and their potential formation as artifacts during particulate collection

Summary The highly complex matrix of diesel particulate extracts was analyzed for nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) using fused-silica capillary-column gas chromatography along with a thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detector (TID) and high-performance liquid chromatography followed by on-line catalytic reduction of the nitro-PAH to amino-PAH and subsequent fluorescence detection. Positive isomer identification and quantitation of nitro-PAH are from retention times of authentic standards and their mass spectra. The ease of nitro-PAH formation by nitration of PAH raises the question regarding the origin of these species, whether they are produced as “native” products during the engine combustion process and/or in the exhaust, or instead, formed as the result of chemical conversion to produce artifacts during the sampling procedure. This problem is assessed examing 1-nitropyrene-concentration in particulates of three light-duty diesel engines for different sampling times. 1-Nitropyrene concentrations show only a moderate increase with sampling time under average sampling conditions. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Determination of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aerosol samples by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Fine and ultrafine particles are probably responsible for numerous health effects, but it is still unclear whether and to what extent the particle itself or organic compounds adsorbed or condensed on the particle are responsible for the effects observed. One important class of particle-bound substances are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their oxygenated derivatives. To improve the tools used for chemical characterization of particulate matter analytical methods for the determination of PAH and oxygenated PAH in aerosol samples of different origin have been developed and optimized. PAH on high-volume filters and on soot aerosols were analyzed by using accelerated solvent extraction for extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for separation and quantification. Total PAH concentrations were in the range 0.3–9.3 ng m^–3. For analysis of selected oxygenated PAH on high-volume filters a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and optimized. Preliminary investigations showed that oxygenated PAH at pg m^–3 concentrations can be determined.     

Analysis of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by glass capillary gas chromatography using different detectors

Glass capillary gas chromatography has been investigated as a method for the analysis of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) using both splitless and on-column injection techniques. The nitro-PAH showed good chromatographic performance and thermal stability under the GC conditions used. Retention times and response factors of several nitro-PAH were compared to those of conventional PAH. Simultaneous flame ionization and thermionic nitrogen selective detection was used to facilitate identification of nitro-PAH in complex samples. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated on two samples of commercial carbon black. Besides 1-nitropyrene several isomeric dinitropyrenes have been identified.     

Evaluation of soot particles of biomass fuels with endocrine-modulating activity in yeast-based bioassay

Exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from the combustion of biomass fuels is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In the work discussed in this paper we evaluated the endocrine activity of soot particles from biomass fuels by using yeast bioassay. These pollutants could have -galactosidase activity with a relative potency (RP) about 10^–7–10^–9 that of estradiol. Soot particles from wood and straw combustion only partially induced -galactosidase activity whereas others produced fully inductive activity in the yeast assay system. These pollutants did not have estrogen antagonist and progesterone agonist activity within the defined concentration range. However, these pollutants require 2–4 orders of magnitude higher IC50 to inhibit the activity of progesterone in a similar dose-response manner to mifepristone. We therefore propose that the endocrine activity of some environmental pollutants may be because of inhibition of the progesterone receptor (hPR). GC–MS results showed that substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, substituted phenolic compounds and derivatives, aromatic carbonyl compounds, and phytosteroids in these soot particles may be mimicking endogenous hormones.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulate matter of Valencia city

Summary Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in atmospheric particulate matter in 11 sites of the Valencia area and at several times during the year. Sample analysis was carried out by ultrasonic acetonitrile extraction followed by reverse phase HPLC separation and fluorescence detection. The maximum concentration of total PAH developed in winter and spring. Mean values per sampling site varied from 0.193 to 1.668 g/m³ of filtered air. Environmental noise and temperature were determined at those same 11 sites and correlated with PAH levels.     

Analysis of nitro-PAHs in diesel exhaust particulate extracts with multicolumn HPLC

Summary A method is described for the determination of nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs), in particular 1-nitropyrene, in diesel particulate extracts. The method employs a multidimensional HPLC (column switching) technique with final on-line peak identification by UV-VIS spectral comparison with standards. To achieve exceptional chromatographic selectivity for nitro-PAHs, a new pyrene butyric acid amide phase has been prepared which is capable of forming donor-acceptor complexes with them. With this technique it is possible to confirm the presence of 1-nitropyrene in the range 3–100 ng/mg on filter-collected diesel soot. Its utility was demonstrated with diesel exhaust extracts spiked with varying levels of 1-nitropyrene and proved to be highly selective.Parts of this work have been presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984.Dedicated to Prof. J. F. K. Huber at the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Continuous-flow separation and pre-concentration coupled on-line to solid-surface fluorescence spectroscopy for the simultaneous determination of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> o</Emphasis>-phenylphenol and thiabendazole

A novel and single flow-injection system combined with solid-surface fluorescence detection is proposed in this work for the resolution of a mixture of two widely used pesticides (o-phenylphenol and thiabendazole). The continuous-flow methodology is based on the implementation of on-line pre-concentration and separation of both analytes on the surface of C₁₈ silica gel beads placed just inside the flow cell, implemented with gel-phase fluorimetric multi-wavelength detection (using 305/358 and 250/345 nm as excitation/emission wavelengths for thiabendazole and o-phenylphenol, respectively). The separation of the pesticides was possible owing to the different retention/desorption kinetics of their interactions with the solid support in the zone where the stream impinges on the solid material. No previous separation of the analytes before they reach the flow cell is needed thereby simplifying substantially both the procedure and the manifold. By using a sample volume of 2,600 L, the system was calibrated in the range 0.5–16 and 5–120 ng mL^–1 with detection limits of 0.09 and 0.60 ng mL^–1 for thiabendazole and o-phenylphenol, respectively. The RSD values (n=10) were about 1% for both analytes. The proposed methodology was applied to environmental water samples and also to various commercial pesticide formulations containing both analytes. Recovery percentages were 97–103% and 98–102% for thiabendazole and o-phenylphenol, respectively.     

Study of the disulfide reduction of denatured proteins by liquid chromatography coupled with on-line cold-vapor-generation atomic-fluorescence spectrometry (LC–CVGAFS)

Hydrophobic-interaction chromatography coupled on-line with chemical-vapor-generation atomic-fluorescence spectrometry (HIC–CVGAFS), optimized recently for the analysis of thiol-containing proteins under denaturing conditions, has been used to study the chemical reduction of denatured proteins. Four proteins chosen as models (human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), -lactalbumin (-Lac) from bovine milk, and lysozyme from chicken egg (Lys)) were denatured with urea and reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT), with selenol as catalyst. The method is based on derivatization of the –SH groups of proteins with p-hydroxymercurybenzoate (PHMB), followed by HIC separation and post-column on-line reaction of the derivatized reduced, denatured proteins with bromine generated in situ. Hg^II, derived from rapid conversion of uncomplexed and protein-complexed PHMB, is selectively detected by AFS in an Ar/H₂ miniaturized flame after sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) reduction to Hg°. The yield of the reduction was studied as a function of reductant concentration, reduction time (t_red), and urea concentration. Results showed that the optimum values for DTT and selenol concentrations and for t_red were between 1 and 100 mmol L^–1 and between 1 and 20 min, respectively, depending on the protein studied. The percentage disulfide bond reduction increases as the urea concentration used for protein denaturation increases, giving a single-step sigmoid increment for single-domain, low-MW proteins (-Lac and Lys), and a two-step sigmoid increment for multi-domain, high MW proteins (HSA and BSA). The shapes of plots of percentage reduced disulfide against urea concentration are characteristic of each protein and are correlated with the location of S–S in the protein. Under the adopted conditions complete protein denaturation is the conditio sine qua non for obtaining 100% S–S reduction. The detection limit for denatured, reduced proteins examined under the optimized conditions was found to be in the range 1–5×10^–12 mol L^–1 (10–30 pg), depending on the protein considered.     

Detection and quantification of PAH in drinking water by front-face fluorimetry on a solid sorbent and PLS analysis

The direct determination in drinking water of perylene, chrysene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene, by front-face synchronous fluorimetry on a commercial SPE disk, has been evaluated. Sorbent treatment, influence of humic substances, and pH effect are discussed. In pure water the detection limits were estimated to be in the range 0.03–0.01 g L^–1. A working pH in the range 10–11 was found to minimize the fluorescence quenching effect of humic substances. The proposed method combined with a partial-least-square (PLS) treatment was tested for quantitative analysis of mixtures of four PAH in a spiked drinking water.     

Determination of organometallics in intra-oral air by LT-GC/ICP-MS

Low temperature gas chromatography (LT-GC) coupled on-line with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used to identify volatile metal and metalloid compounds in human breath. After cryogenic sampling, the gas sample has been separated without any clean-up by increasing the temperature (–100 to +200° C). Simultaneous determination of 11 elements with ICP-MS was used for screening analysis. The detection limits of volatile compounds in intra-oral air are in the range of ng m^–3. Dimethyl selenium has been determined in each gas sample from six test persons in the range of 0.08 to 0.98 g m^–3.     

Analysis of anthropogenic and biogenic lipids in the aerosol of a coastal area in East Mediterranean Sea

Summary The concentrations of lipids were determined in atmospheric particle samples, collected seasonally, in an urban coastal area of the Island of Crete. Lipid compound classes, such as n-alkanes, hopanes and steranes, PAH, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty acids selts, were determined by GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. The concentrations ranged between 56–215 ng/m³ for n-alkanes, 10–52 ng/m³ for PAH, 2–31 ng/m³ for fatty alcohols, 13–279 ng/m³ for fatty acids and 24–220 ng/m³ for fatty acid salts. -Oxocarboxylic acids were also determined as salts, indicating the atmospheric oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids.     

Solid-phase reactor flow-injection on-line oxidizing spectrofluorimetry for determination and dissolution studies of folic acid

A simple, sensitive and specific flow-injection spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of folic acid in pharmaceuticals. The method is based on use of a lead dioxide solid-phase reactor for on-line oxidation of folic acid into a strongly fluorescent compound with a maximum excitation wavelength of 281 nm and an emission wavelength of 450 nm. Under optimum conditions the fluorescence intensity of oxidation product is proportional to the concentration of folic acid over the range 0.008–2.5 g mL^–1. The detection limit is 0.0001 g mL^–1, the relative standard deviation is 0.85% for 11 replicate determinations of 0.05 g mL^–1 folic acid, and the sample throughput is 20 h^–1. In combination with an on-line filter and dilution, an automated drug-dissolution system was established. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of folic acid in pharmaceutical preparations and dissolution testing.     

Enantiomeric separation of D/L-carnitine using HPLC and CZE after derivatization

Summary Carnitine is an essential component in tissues of animals, higher plants and many microorganisms. Whereas the L-carnitine enantiomer plays an important role in the metabolism of long chain fatty acids, D-carnitine has a considerable toxic influence on biochemical processes. The analytical separation of D-and L-carnitine depends upon derivatization with UV-or fluorescently active substances, e.g. FMOC and (+)/(–)-FLEC. The separation of diastereomeric (+)- and (–)-FLEC carnitine esters was performed successfully with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and HPLC, after optimization of the derivatization process and of the composition and pH of the buffer, using UV- and fluorescence detection. With HPLC separation a detection limit of the carnitine esters of 5 mol/l when using fluorescence detection was achieved. With both separation systems baseline resolution and short analysis times could be obtained. The enantiomeric FMOC derivatives could be separated using the electrophoretic system and acidic buffers with high concentrations of an osmotic flow modifier together with -cyclodextrine as chiral selector. The applicability of the optimized separation conditions are demonstrated in the analysis of agar culture medium inoculated withPseudomonas putida and of pharmaceutical formulations. In all samples very low amounts of D- or L-carnitine could be determined in the presence of the other enantiomeric form. Problems caused by the impurity of the carnitine standards or the derivatization agent (+)/(–)-FLEC are discussed.     

Quantification of Neurotransmitter Amino Acids in Human Serum by Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection is developed as a simple and sensitive method for the quantification of arginine (Arg), tyrosine (Tyr) and glutamic acid (Glu) in human serum. The separation conditions and the derivatization conditions with fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC) were investigated. Regression equations revealed a linear relationship (correlation coefficients: 0.9927–0.9998) between the peak area and concentration of each analyte. For the amino acids detected, 10^–10M detection limits were reached, and the levels of these amino acids in human serums were easily determined with recoveries of 93.5–106.5%.     

Characterisation of organic compounds in aerosol particles from a Finnish forest by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

During the European Union project Quantification of Aerosol Nucleation in the European Boundary Layer (QUEST), which began in spring 2003, atmospheric aerosol particles were collected in a Finnish Scots pine forest using a high-volume sampler. The organic compounds in the filter samples were then analysed by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SFE–LC–GC–MS). The sample was first extracted by SFE. During LC the extracts were fractionated into three fractions according to polarity. The final separation was carried out by GC–MS. A fraction volume as high as 840 L was transferred to the GC, using the partial concurrent eluent evaporation technique. The same instrumentation, with an in-situ SFE derivatisation method, was used to analyse organic acids. Major compounds such as n-alkanes and PAH were analysed quantitatively. Their concentrations were lower than those usually observed in urban areas or in other forest areas in Europe. The wind direction was one of the most important factors affecting changes in the daily concentrations of these compounds. Scots pine needles were analysed with the same system to obtain reference data for identification of biogenic compounds in aerosol particles. Other organic compounds found in this study included hopanes, steranes, n-alkanals, n-alkan-2-ones, oxy-PAH, and alkyl-PAH; some biogenic products, including oxidation products of monoterpenes, were also identified.     

Microdialysis sampling and high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection for in-vivo on-line determination and study of the pharmacokinetics of levodopa in blood

A simple, reliable, and reproducible method for in-vivo on-line separation and determination of levodopa has been based on microdialysis then high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection. The perfusate is perfused at a flow rate of 5 L min^–1. The concentration of levodopa in the dialysate is determined on line with a chemiluminescence system. The dialysate sample volume is approximately 20 L. The response of the system is linearly related to the concentration of levodopa in the range 1×10^–8 to 1×10^–6 g mL^–1 (r²=0.9995) with a detection limit (3) of 3×10^–9 g mL^–1 and sample throughput of 12 h^–1; RSD is 2.8% (n=11). The method has been successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of levodopa in vivo; the values of the pharmacokinetics parameters C_max, AUC_0–t and T_max were 16.60, 20.92 ng mL^–1, and 90 min, respectively.     

Studies on the Determination of Mercury by On-line Solvent Extraction and Non-Aqueous Media Hydride Generation Non-Dispersive Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

A new method for on-line solvent extraction covalent hydride generation in a non-aqueous extraction phase is proposed. Both liquid–liquid extraction and gas–liquid separation steps are accomplished in an online mode and with AFS as detector. Hydride generation is carried out in an aliquot of metal-complex extraction solution by sodium tetrahydroborate in N,N-dimethylformamide solution and anhydrous acetic acid. An improved U-type gas–liquid separator was used. The working conditions and manifolds scheme of flow injection were optimized. The detection limit attained for mercury was 20ngL^–1. The precision of the determination at a concentration level of around 20 times the detection limit was 5.6%. The proposed method gives improved sensitivity and eliminates interference. The method has been applied to the determination of mercury in certified reference materials with good accuracy and precision.     

Determination of an opiate pentapeptide by on-line reversed phase preconcentration and ligand exchange chromatography with spectrofluorometric detection

Summary In order to study the occurrence of the opiate pentapeptide -[D-Ala^2,4, Tyr⁵] CM-5-NH₂ in the 10^–9–10^–5 M concentration range, we have developed a new method consisting of extraction of the peptide from its buffered aqueous medium onto a reversed phase cartridge of 50 L void volume, followed by on-line injection onto a Cu(II) modified silica gel column. The acetonitrile-rich mobile phase allows detection of the natural fluorescence of the peptide at the picomole level.     

Simultaneous Determination of Oxytetra- cycline, Doxycycline, Tetracycline and Chlortetracycline in Tetracycline Antibiotics by High-Performance Liquid Chromatog- raphy with Fluorescence Detection

A simple, rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous determination of oxytetracycline, doxycycline, tetracycline and chlortetracycline was developed, and successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tetracycline antibiotics. The separation was performed on a reverse-phase C₁₈ column with a gradient elution composed of methanol and sodium acetate buffer (containing disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate and calcium chloride, pH 8.10) as the mobile phase, and fluorescence detection at 532 nm (excitation at 380 nm). The detection limits for oxytetracycline, doxycycline, tetracycline and chlortetracycline were 0.1, 0.5, 0.3 and 0.4 g L^–1, respectively. Data with respect to precision and accuracy were reported and discussed.     

Determination of organic,inorganic and particulate iodine in the coastal atmosphere of Japan

A reliable method for the sampling and analysis of atmospheric iodine species was developed. The air filtering system consisted of a 0.4 m Nuclepore^® filter, 47 mm in diameter, for particulate collection followed by two, 47 mm in diameter, cellulose filters for inorganic iodine collection. The latter filters had been impregnated with 1N LiOH in a 10% glycerol-water mixture. The organic iodine was collected by two beds holding 0.2 g of fibriform activated charcoal produced from phenol resin. Supplementation of the charcoal with triethylendiamine (TEDA) enhanced the sorption ability for gaseous iodine. The filters were analyzed by neutron activation analysis. The background radioactivity could be reduced by using the fibriform activated charcoal due to the low content of impurities in the phenol resin. The background count for¹²⁸I (443 keV) obtained from the fibriform activated charcoal was about one order of magnitude lower than that of the conventional granular one (plant origin). Approximate detection limits for particulate, inorganic and organic iodine were 1, 0.5 and 0.5 ng/m³, respectively, when 50 m³ of air was sampled by this system. The air was sampled at two locations along the coast of Ibaraki, Japan. The concentration ranges of particulate, inorganic and organic iodine were 0.3–3.4, 1.2–3.3 and 7.8–20.4 ng/m³, respectively. Almost 90% of the atmospheric iodine was in a gaseous form in which organic iodine was dominant.