Determination of phenol in landfill leachate by using microchip capillary electrophoresis with end-channel amperometric detection

Phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) were baseline separated by using a homemade microchip CE with an end-channel amperometric detector where a 50 microm Pt microdisk working electrode (WE) and a Pt cathode were integrated onto the microchip itself. Separation parameters such as injection time and voltage, pH of the buffer, online pretreatment condition for WE, reproducibility, and detection potential were investigated. Under the selected separation conditions, the linear ranges for phenol, 2,4-DCP, and 2,4,6-TCP were 2-200, 4-400, and 4-400 microM, respectively. The LODs were 0.4, 0.5, and 0.7 microM for phenol, 2,4-DCP, and 2,4,6-TCP, respectively (S/N = 3). The standard addition method was successfully applied to the analysis of landfill leachate samples and the concentration of phenol in the landfill leachate samples was measured to be 0.32 and 0.21 mM, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 85-103% and corresponding RSDs were less than 5.5%.     

Simplified current decoupler for microchip capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical and pulsed amperometric detection

There is a need to develop broadly applicable, highly sensitive detection methods for microchip CE that do not require analyte derivatization. LIF is highly sensitive but typically requires analyte derivatization. Electrochemistry provides an alternative method for direct analyte detection; however, in its most common form, direct current (DC) amperometry, it is limited to a small number of easily oxidizable or reducible analytes. Pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) is an alternative waveform that can increase the number of electrochemically detectable analytes. Increasing sensitivity for electrochemical detection (EC) and PAD requires the isolation of detection current (nA) from the separation current (muA) in a process generally referred to as current decoupling. Here, we present the development of a simple integrated decoupler to improve sensitivity and its coupling with PAD. A Pd microwire is used as the cathode for decoupling and a second Au or Pt wire is used as the working electrode for either EC or PAD. The electrode system is easy to make, requiring no clean-room facilities or specialized metallization systems. Sensitive detection of a wide range of analytes is shown to be possible using this system. Using this system we were able to achieve detection limits as low as 5 nM for dopamine, 74 nM for glutathione, and 100 nM for glucose.     

In-channel indirect amperometric detection of heavy metal ions for electrophoresis on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip

In-channel indirect amperometric detection mode for microchip capillary electrophoresis with positive separation electric field is successfully applied to some heavy metal ions. The influences of separation voltage, detection potential, the concentration and pH value of running buffer on the response of the detector have been investigated. An optimized condition of 1200 V separation voltage, −0.1 V detection potential, 20 mM (pH 4.46) running buffer of 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) + l-histidine (l-His) was selected. The results clearly showed that Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ were efficiently separated within 80 s in a 3.7 cm long native separation PDMS/PDMS channel and successfully detected at a single carbon fibre electrode. The theoretical plate numbers of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ were 1.2 × 10⁵, 2.5 × 10⁵, and 1.9 × 10⁵ m⁻¹, respectively. The detection limits for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ were 1.3, 3.3 and 7.4 μM (S/N = 3).     

Microchip capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection for several carbohydrates

Microchip capillary electrophoresis (μCE) with amperometric detection at Cu electrode benefited fast separation and direct detection of carbohydrates. The working electrode of 50-μm Cu wire attached nearly against the channel outlet—4 μm, where it benefited collecting detection current and suppressing overwhelming noise. The use of alkaline medium was essential to separating and detecting carbohydrates, which dissociated into the sensitive alcolate anions. The 10-cm serpentine chip, though lengthening the migration time, it provided better efficiency. Sucrose, cellobiose, glucose, and fructose migrated from the outlet in 400 s +2000 V. The linear calibration plots ranging from 10 to 1000 μM with regression coefficients better than 0.996 were obtained. The injection-to-injection reproducibility of 1.24% (n=7) for glucose in peak current and 0.6% for migration times were excellent. The detection limit was low, down to 2.3 μM for glucose (S/N=3) or 27.6 attomole in mass detection.     

毛细管电泳-安培检测法测定3种拟肾上腺素药物

建立了毛细管电泳-安培检测法测定盐酸去氧肾上腺素(phenylephrine hydrochloride, PHE)、重酒石酸间羟胺(metaraminol bitartrate, MR)和盐酸异丙肾上腺素(isoprenaline hydrochloride, IP)3种拟肾上腺素药物的方法。检测电位为0.950 V(Ag/AgCl为参比电极),硼酸盐浓度为50 mmol/L(pH 10.00),分离电压为18 kV,进样时间为10 s。在最佳实验条件下,3种物质在18 min内达到基线分离,在2～100 μmol/L浓度范围内峰面积与浓度呈良好的线性关系,线性相关系数不小于0.9991。盐酸去氧肾上腺素、重酒石酸间羟胺和盐酸异丙肾上腺素的检出限分别为0.8、0.8和1.0 μmol/L。将所建立的方法应用于针剂样品的分析,结果令人满意。     

Voltage control for microchip capillary electrophoresis analyses

This paper presents an inexpensive and easy-to-implement voltage sequencer instrument for use in microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) actuation. The voltage sequencer instrument takes a 0–5 V input signal from a microcontroller and produces a reciprocally proportional voltage signal with the capability to achieve the voltages required for MCE actuation. The unit developed in this work features four independent voltage channels, measures 105 × 143 × 45 mm (width × length × height), and the cost to assemble is under 60 USD. The system is controlled by a peripheral interface controller and commands are given via universal serial bus connection to a personal computer running a command line graphical user interface. The performance of the voltage sequencer is demonstrated by its integration with a fluorescence spectroscopy MCE sensor using pinched sample injection and electrophoretic separation to detect ciprofloxacin in samples of milk. This application is chosen as it is particularly important for the dairy industry, where fines and health concerns are associated with the shipping of antibiotic-contaminated milk. The voltage sequencer instrument presented represents an effective low-cost instrumentation method for conducting MCE, thereby making these experiments accessible and affordable for use in industries such as the dairy industry.     

毛细管电泳-安培检测法测定女贞子中齐墩果酸的含量

女贞子又名冬青子,性凉,味甘、微苦,归肝、肾经,具有滋补肝肾、明目乌发的功能.女贞子主要有效成份为齐墩果酸Oleanolic Acid(OA)[1],其化学结构式如图1所示.OA是天然产物化学成分,毒性很低,具有多种生物活性如抗病毒、消炎、增强免疫和抑制免疫、抑制血小板凝集、降血脂、降糖、保肝、护肾、抗艾滋病毒等[2],故测定其含量可为药品的含量控制提供科学依据.     

微芯片毛细管电泳快速测定加替沙星注射液中加替沙星的含量

研究了用微芯片毛细管电泳非接触电导检测系统快速测定加替沙星注射液中加替沙星的方法。对缓冲液的类型、浓度、分离电压以及进样时间等因素进行了优化。最佳条件为:缓冲液5.0 mmol/L HAc,分离电压2.0 kV,进样时间15.0 s。在该条件下,可在1.0 min内实现加替沙星的快速含量测定。线性范围为4.0～150μg/mL,检出限为1.0μg/mL,加标回收率为95.7%～101%,可成功测定注射液中加替沙星的含量。     

Protein-aptamer binding studies using microchip affinity capillary electrophoresis

The use of traditional CE to detect weak binding complexes is problematic due to the fast-off rate resulting in the dissociation of the complex during the separation process. Additionally, proteins involved in binding interactions often nonspecifically stick to the bare-silica capillary walls, which further complicates the binding analysis. Microchip CE allows flexibly positioning the detector along the separation channel and conveniently adjusting the separation length. A short separation length plus a high electric field enables rapid separations thus reducing both the dissociation of the complex and the amount of protein loss due to nonspecific adsorption during the separation process. Thrombin and a selective thrombin-binding aptamer were used to demonstrate the capability of microchip CE for the study of relatively weak binding systems that have inherent limitations when using the migration shift method or other CE methods. The rapid separation of the thrombin-aptamer complex from the free aptamer was achieved in less than 10 s on a single-cross glass microchip with a relatively short detection length (1.0 cm) and a high electric field (670 V/cm). The dissociation constant was determined to be 43 nM, consistent with reported results. In addition, aptamer probes were used for the quantitation of standard thrombin samples by constructing a calibration curve, which showed good linearity over two orders of magnitude with an LOD for thrombin of 5 nM at a three-fold S/N.     

Determination of heavy metal ions by microchip capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity detection

An integrated detection circuitry based on a lock-in amplifier was designed for contactless conductivity determination of heavy metals. Combined with a simple-structure electrophoresis microchip, the detection system is successfully utilized for the separation and determination of various heavy metals. The influences of the running buffer and detection conditions on the response of the detector have been investigated. Six millimole 2-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid + histidine were selected as buffer for its stable baseline and high sensitivity. The best signals were recorded with a frequency of 38 kHz and 20 V(pp). The results showed that Mn(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2+) can be successfully separated and detected within 100 s by our system. The detection limits for five heavy metals (Mn(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2+)) were determined to range from about 0.7 to 5.4 μM. This microchip system performs a crucial step toward the realization of a simple, inexpensive, and portable analytical device for metal analysis.     

Microchip capillary electrophoresis with a boron-doped diamond electrochemical detector for analysis of aromatic amines

The attractive features of a boron-doped diamond (BDD) thin-film detector for microchip capillary electrophoretic (CE) separations of dye-related amino-substituted aromatic compounds are described. The diamond electrode was employed in the end-column amperometric detection of 4-aminophenol (4-AP), 1,2-phenylenediamine (1,2-PDA), 2-aminonaphthalene (2-AN), 2-chloroaniline (2-CA), and o-aminobenzoic acid (o-ABA), and its attractive behavior was compared to commonly used screen-printed carbon and glassy-carbon electrodes. These conventional electrode materials exhibit a significant degree of passivation and low sensitivity to the above-mentioned environmental pollutants. The diamond-based electrochemical detection system displayed a favorable analytical performance, including lower noise levels, higher peak resolution with enhanced sensitivity, and improved resistance against electrode passivation. Factors influencing the on-chip analysis were assessed and optimized. The diamond detector displayed detection limits of 2.0 and 1.3 microM for 4-AP and 2-AN, respectively, and a wide linear response for these compounds over the 2-50 microM range. The enhanced stability was demonstrated by relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 1.4% and 4.7% for 100 microM 1,2-PDA and 200 microM 2-CA, respectively, for repetitive detections (n = 7). Besides, the simultaneously observed current decrease was 2.4 and 9.1% for 1,2-PDA and 2-CA, respectively (compared to 21.8 and 41.0% at the screen-printed carbon electrode and 28.3 and 34.1% at the glassy carbon electrode, respectively). The favorable properties of the diamond electrode indicate great promise for environmental applications in CE and other microchip devices.     

Application of an external contactless conductivity detector for the analysis of beverages by microchip capillary electrophoresis

Quantitative total ionic analysis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages was performed by microchip capillary electrophoresis with external contactless conductivity detection. An electrolyte solution consisting of 10.5 mM histidine, 50 mM acetic acid, and 2 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 4.1 was used for the determination of NH(4) (+), K(+), Ca(2+), Na(+), and Mg(2+). Fast analysis of Cl(-), NO(3) (-), and SO(4) (2-) was achieved in 20 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid /histidine electrolyte solution at pH 6.0 and the simultaneous separation of up to 12 inorganic and organic anions was performed in a solution containing 10 mM His and 7 mM glutamic acid at pH 5.75. Limits of detection ranged from 90 to 250 mug/L for inorganic cations and anions, and from 200 to 2000 mug/L for organic anions and phosphate. Calibration curves showed linear dependencies over one to two orders of magnitude when the stacking effect was minimized by injecting standard solutions prepared in background electrolyte solutions. Total analysis times of 35 and 90 s were achieved for the determination of 5 inorganic cations and for the simultaneous determination of 12 inorganic and organic anions, respectively, which represents a considerable reduction of analysis time compared to conventional separation methods used in food analysis.     

新型芯片电泳柱端安培检测系统的构建与评价

自行设计开发了一套便于与电泳芯片集成的一体式柱端安培检测池系统．该系统由整块透明有机玻璃精密加工而成,包括电泳芯片支架和安培检测池两部分,芯片可通过芯片插槽和不锈钢夹具固定在芯片支架上,各种检测用电极可直接通过螺母固定在安培检测池中．以100μmol／L的DA为模式分析物,分别采用直径为100、300和500μm的铂金圆盘电极与表观直径为240μm的碳纤维电极作为工作电极均在该装置上实现了良好组装和高灵敏检测．采用碳纤维工作电极对该系统的检测参数进行了优化．测试结果表明该系统在电化学清洗程序下连续六次测定100μmol／L多巴胺的峰电流相对标准偏差为3．2％,保留时间相对标准偏差为0．5％,DA的检测限为0．4μmol／L（按照S／N=3计）．该系统体积小巧,测试稳定,检测灵敏度较高,工作电极更换方便,适合作为芯片电泳柱端安培检测通用平台．     

Modified Hadamard transform microchip electrophoresis

Sensitivity is a crucial point in the development applications for medicine or environmental samples in which the analytes are present in the nanomolar range. Besides further technical development of detection systems, the multiplex sample injection technique can be applied for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. Hadamard transform is easily applied to microchip electrophoresis due to the fact that sample injection is generally achieved through cross, double-tee, or tee injector structures. This paper reports the first demonstration of a modified Hadamard transform electrophoresis on a microchip by using an amperometric detector. Contrary to the previous Hadamard applications, the resolution (number of points per unit of time) of electropherograms obtained is independent of the number of injections.     

Electrochemical detection of phenolic compounds using cylindrical carbon-ink electrodes and microchip capillary electrophoresis

A simple method to fabricate cylindrical carbon electrodes for use in capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchips is described. The electrodes were fabricated using a metallic wire coated with carbon ink. Several experimental variables were studied in order to establish the best conditions to fabricate the electrode. Finally, the electrodes were integrated in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip and used for the analysis of phenolic compounds. Using the optimum conditions, the analysis of a mixture of dopamine, epinephrine, catechol, and 4-aminophenol was achieved in less than 240 s, showing good linear responses (R² = 0.999) in the 0.1-190 μM range, and limits of detection (without the use of stacking or a decoupler) of 140 and 105 nM for dopamine and epinephrine, respectively.     

Determination of vitamin C and preservatives in beverages by conventional capillary electrophoresis and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection

The separation and detection of commonly used preservatives (benzoate, sorbate) and vitamin C by both conventional CE and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is presented. The separation was optimized by adjusting the pH-value of the buffer and the use of hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HP-beta-CD) and CTAB as additives. For conventional CE, optimal separation conditions were achieved in a histidine/tartrate buffer at pH 6.5, containing 0.025% HP-beta-CD and 0.1 mM CTAB. LOD ranged from 0.5 to 3 mg/L (S/N = 3) and the RSDs for migration time and peak area were less than 0.1 and 2%, respectively. A considerable reduction of analysis time can be accomplished by using microchip electrophoresis without significant loss in sensitivity under optimal separation conditions. A histidine/tartrate buffer at pH 6.5, incorporating 0.06% HP-beta-CD and 0.25 mM CTAB, gave detection limits ranging between 3 and 10 mg/L and satisfactory reproducibilities of < or =0.4% for the migration time and < or =3.5% for the peak area. The methods developed are useful for the quantitative determination of food additives in real samples such as soft drinks and vitamin C tablets.     

Determination of active constituents in Lonicera confusa DC. by capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection

A method based on capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection has been developed for the determination of luteolin, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid in the dried flower buds, leaves and stems (three medicinal parts) of Lonicera confusa DC., respectively. The effects of several important factors such as detection potential, the concentration of the running buffer, separation voltage and injection time were investigated to acquire the optimum conditions. The detection electrode was a 300 microm diameter carbon disc electrode at a working potential of + 0.90 V (vs saturated calomel electrode). The four analytes can be well separated within 10 min in a 40 cm-long fused silica capillary at a separation voltage of 12 kV in a 50 mM borate-25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). The relationship between peak current and analyte concentration was linear over about 3 orders of magnitude with detection limits (S/N = 3) ranging from 0.35 to 0.52 microM for all analytes. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the monitoring of bioactive constituents in the real plant samples with satisfactory assay results.     

Fabrication of SU-8 based microchip electrophoresis with integrated electrochemical detection for neurotransmitters

A new SU-8 based microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) device has been developed for the first time with integrated electrochemical detection. Embedded electrophoretic microchannels have been fabricated with a multilayer technology based on bonding and releasing steps of stacked SU-8 films. This technology has allowed the monolithic integration in the device of the electrochemical detection system based on platinum electrodes. The fabrication of the chips presented in this work is totally compatible with reel-to-reel techniques, which guarantee a low cost and high reliability production. The influence of relevant experimental variables, such as the separation voltage and detection potential, has been studied on the SU-8 microchip with an attractive analytical performance. Thus, the effective electrical isolation of the end-channel amperometric detector has been also demonstrated. The good performance of the SU-8 device has been proven for separation and detection of the neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and epinephrine (EP). High efficiency (30,000-80,000 N/m), excellent precision, good detection limit (450 nM) and resolution (0.90-1.30) has been achieved on the SU-8 microchip. These SU-8 devices have shown a better performance than commercial Topas (thermoplastic olefin polymer of amorphous structure) microchips. The low cost and versatile SU-8 microchip with integrated platinum film electrochemical detector holds great promise for high-volume production of disposable microfluidic analytical devices.     

Integrated capillary electrophoresis amperometric detection microchip with replaceable microdisk working electrode. II. Influence of channel cross-sectional area on the separation and detection of dopamine and catechol

The interference of separation high voltage with the electrochemical detection is a major challenge to the microchip capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical detection systems with end-channel detection mode. Using dopamine and catechol as model analytes, the influences of channel cross-sectional area and channel-to-electrode distance on the high-voltage interference, accordingly on the separation and detection performances of the microchip capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical detection system were investigated. With the increase of the channel cross-sectional area from 312 through 450-615 microm2, the apparent half-wave potentials of hydrodynamic voltammetry for dopamine at the field strength of 288 V/cm shifted positively from 285 through 330-400 mV. By using a chip with the smallest channel cross-section (312 microm2 with top width of 37.3 microm and depth of 8.9 microm) the residual high-voltage field in the detection cell was small, so that detection was conducted at a channel-to-electrode distance of 20 microm to achieve better performances of separation and detection.     

Sensitive amperometric detection for capillary electrophoresis of phenol carbamates with in‐line thermal hydrolysis strategy

A strategy on amperometric detection for CZE of phenol carbamates as model analytes with a facile in‐line thermal hydrolysis was presented, in which a thermal hydrolysis, subsequent CZE separation and final column‐end amperometric detection were accomplished in an intact capillary. Key parameters of hydrolysis dynamics of carbamates and electrochemical detection of the hydrolysates were studied, as well as electrophoretic conditions. Under the optimal conditions, the capillary was utilized as chambers for in situ hydrolysis, CZE separation, and electrochemical detection. The successive separation of hydrolysates of five carbamates (propoxur, carbofuran, 3‐OH‐carbofuran, carbaryl and bendiocarb) were achieved within 17 min. Applied to vegetable samples, the recoveries of carbamates fortified at 0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg were ranging in 88–107.2 and 86.3–107.3%, respectively. The success in the implementation of such a scheme resulted in a simple instrument as compared with those current analytical methods with post‐column derivization or pre‐column hydrolysis, or online enrichment in chip, respectively. This protocol might possess a potential utility for the sensitive amperometric detection of phenol carbamates.