Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of tetracycline in a pharmaceutical preparation by complexation with aluminium(III).

A rapid flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric procedure for tetracycline determination is described. It is based on the injection of a 100 microl sample solution containing tetracycline into merged streams of aluminium(III) chloride (0.01 mol 1(-1)) and Tris-buffer in the presence of KCl (0.06 mol l(-1)), pH 7.0, with the same optimum flow rate of 3.2 ml min(-1). A yellow Al(III)-tetracycline complex was monitored at 376 nm. The flow injection system and the experimental conditions were optimized by means of the univariate method. The procedure was applied to the determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical preparations with a high sampling rate of at least 165 h(-1). A high precision with a relative standard deviation was obtained less than 0.72 and 0.30% of 5.0 and 10 microg ml(-1) (n=11), respectively. The detection limit (3sigma) and the quantification limit (10sigma) were 0.07 and 0.72 mg l(-1), respectively. There were no interference effects from traditional excipients in the dosage forms when the method was applied to pharmaceutical preparations. The matrix effect could be reduced by the standard addition method.     

Trace humic and fulvic acid determination in natural water by cloud point extraction/preconcentration using non-ionic and cationic surfactants with FI-UV detection

A preconcentration and determination method for humic and fulvic acids at trace levels in natural water samples was developed. Cloud point extraction was successfully employed for the preconcentration of humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) prior to the determination by using a flow injection (FI) system coupled to a spectrophotometric UV-Vis detector. The quantitative extraction of HA and FA within the pH range 1-12 was obtained by neutralization of the anionic charge on the humic substances with a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). This generated a hydrophobic species that was subsequently incorporated (solubilized) into the micelles of a non-ionic surfactant polyethylene glycol, tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114). The FI method for HA and FA determination was developed by injection of 100 microl of the extracted surfactant-rich phase using an HPLC pump with spectrophotometric detection at 350 nm. A 50 ml sample solution preconcentration allowed an enrichment factor of 167. The limit of detection (LOD) obtained under the optimal conditions was 5 microg l(-1). The precision for ten replicate determinations at 0.2 mg l(-1) HA was 3.1% relative standard deviation (RSD), calculated from the peak heights. The calibration using the preconcentration system for HA and FA was linear with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9997 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 1 mg l(-1). The method was successfully applied to the determination of HA and FA in natural water samples (river water).     

Simple spectrophotometric flow injection system with an in-valve minicolumn for enhancement during the determination of chromium(III) using EDTA.

A simple spectrophotometric flow injection (FI) procedure for the determination of Cr(III) using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was developed. An FI system with a column packed with Amberlite IR-120(H) was employed for sample pretreatment. This leads to the possibility of a single standard calibration. A linear calibration in a range of 10-27 microg Cr(III) was obtained with a detection limit of 1 microg Cr(III) and RSD of 2% (18 microg Cr(III), n=12). The proposed procedure was applied for determination of Cr(III) in leachate and dietary supplement samples. The results agreed with those obtained by the standard methods.     

Rapid determination of dissolved organic phosphorus in soil leachates and runoff waters by flow injection analysis with on-line photo-oxidation

A rapid method suitable for the determination of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) in soil leachates and runoff waters is presented. The flow injection (FI) manifold contains an in-line PTFE reaction coil wrapped around a low power UV lamp and is based on the spectrophotometric determination of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and mineralised DOP at 690 nm after reduction of phosphomolybdate to molybdenum blue with tin(II) chloride. The linear range was 0-1.5 mg 1(-1) PO(4)-P, with a detection limit (3 s) of 7 mug 1(-1) and a sample throughput of 40 h(-1). Tolerance to potential matrix interferences in soil pore waters, particularly Al(III), Si(IV), Fe(II) and Fe(III), was achieved using a combination of on-line sample pre-treatment by a strong acid ion exchange column, low photoreactor pH and acid induced control of the kinetics of the molybdenum blue reaction. The results obtained with this manifold were in good agreement with those obtained by a batch spectrophotometric reference method.     

Flow-injection manifold for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) using 2,2''-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone and a single-line double injection approach

A simple and rapid flow-injection (FI) method is reported for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in pharmaceutical products. The method is based on the reaction of Fe(II) with 2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone (DPPH) in acidic medium to form a water-soluble reddish complex (lambdamax=535 nm). Fe(III) reacts with DPPH under flow conditions only after its on-line reduction by ascorbic acid (AsA). Both analytes were determined in the same run via a double-injection valve, which enabled the simultaneous injection of two sample volumes in the same carrier stream (,,single-line double-injection" approach). The two well-defined peaks produced corresponded to total iron [Fe(II)+Fe(III)] and Fe(II). Speciation of the analytes in their mixtures was achieved by multiple regression analysis. The calibration curves obtained were linear over the ranges 0-30 and 0-50 mg L(-1) for Fe(II) and Fe(II), respectively, and the precision [s(r)=1.0% for Fe(II) and 1.5% for Fe(III)] was satisfactory. The method proved to be selective and adequately sensitive (cL=0.25 and 0.17 mg L(-1) for Fe(III) and Fe(II), respectively, in mixtures). Application of the method to the analysis of pharmaceutical samples resulted in excellent accuracy; the percent mean recoveries were in the range 99.0-102.0% for both Fe(II) and Fe(III) and the mean relative error was e(r)=1.0%.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of anionic surfactants using methyl orange as chromogenic reagent

A flow injection(FI) spectrophotometric method for the determination of anionic surfactants was developed on the basis of the competition for the cationic surfactant cetyl pyridine (CP+) chloride between the acidic dye methyl orange (MO) and anionic surfactants. In a pH 5.0 medium the cation of cetyl pyridine (CP+) reacts with dissociated methyl orange (MO-) to form an ion-associate complex, causing a blue shift of lambda(max) from 465 nm for MO- to 358 nm for the CP+ x MO- associate. The MO- in the ion-associate complex can be quantitatively substituted by such anionic surfactants as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS) or sodium lauryl sulfate (LS), leading to an increase in the absorbance measured at 465 nm. This increased absorbance value is proportional to the concentration of anionic surfactants. Various chemical and physical parameters for the FI spectrophotometric method were optimized, and interference-free levels were examined. At the optimized conditions, Beer's law was obeyed in the range 1.4 approximately 25 mg/L sodium DBS for an injected sample volume of 180 microL, and a detection limit of 0.22 mg/L for sodium DBS was achieved at a sampling rate of 90 h(-1). Eleven determinations of a 16 mg/L sodium DBS solution gave a RSD of 0.4%. The proposed method has successfully been applied to the determination of anionic surfactant concentration in waste water and in detergents.     

Determination of ambroxol in an automated multi-pumping pulsed flow system.

A new flow methodology exploiting the multi-pumping approach was developed for the spectrophotometric determination of ambroxol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations. The flow manifold was implemented by using, exclusively, multiple solenoid-actuated micro-pumps, which acted simultaneously as sample insertion, solutions propelling and reagents commutation units. Linear calibration plots were obtained over an ambroxol concentration ranging from 10 to 200 mg l(-1) (r.s.d. < 0.5%, n = 15) and a sampling rate of about 60 samples per hour (flow rate = 1.92 ml min(-1), sample volume = 80 microl).     

On-line dilution flow injection manifold for the selective spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid based on the Fe(II)-2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone complex formation

A new simple and rapid FI method for the accurate and precise spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid (AsA) in pharmaceutical formulations is reported. The method is based on the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) by the analyte, and the subsequent reaction of the produced Fe(II) with 2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone (DPPH) in acidic medium (pH ca. 2.5) to form a colored complex (lambda(max)=535 nm). An on-line dilution mode using a binary inlet static mixer (BISM) was incorporated in the FI system, allowing the determination of the analyte in a wide concentration range. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 5.7-600.0 mg l(-1) AsA, at a sampling rate of 120 injections h(-1). The method was found to be very precise [s(r)=0.1% at 300 mg l(-1) AsA (n=12)] and the 3delta detection limit (c(L)=1.7 mg l(-1)) was quite satisfactory. The detailed study of various interferences confirmed the high selectivity of the proposed method. Its application to a variety of pharmaceuticals produced excellent results, with a mean relative error of e(r)<1.0%.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of novalgin in pharmaceuticals using micellar medium.

A sensitive flow-injection (FI) procedure with spectrophotometric detection in a micellar medium is proposed for the determination of novalgin. The method is based on the instantaneous formation of a red-orange product (lambda(max) = 510 nm) after the reaction between novalgin and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DAC) in a dilute acid medium. The sensitivity of this reaction was increased by a factor of 5.6 in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Experimental design methodologies were used to optimize the chemical and FI variables. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 1.45 x 10(-6) to 2.90 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) with an excellent correlation coefficient (r = 0.9999). The detection limit was 1.31 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (n = 20, RSD = 2.0%). No interferences were observed from the common excipients. The results obtained by the proposed method were favorably compared with those given by the iodometric reference method at 95% confidence level.     

Rapid flow injection spectrophotometric determination of monofluorophosphates in toothpastes after on-line hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase immobilized on a cellulose nitrate membrane

A new, rapid flow injection (FI) method is reported for the spectrophotometric determination of monofluorophosphate (MFP) ions in toothpastes. MFP ions are hydrolyzed on-line by alkalinephosphatase (APase) immobilized on a cellulose nitrate membrane, prior to injection in the FI system. The yielded orthophosphate ions are determined spectrophotometrically (lambda(max) = 690 nm) using the molybdenum blue approach. The chemical and FI variables that affected the enzymatic reaction were studied and optimized. A study of interferences was also carried out. The proposed method is very precise (s(r) = 0.7% at 1.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) MFP, n = 12), fast (sampling rate of 72 h(-1)) and allows the determination of MFP ions in the range of 4.0 x 10(-5) to 6.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) with a satisfactory 3sigma detection limit of 4.0 x 10(-6) mol l(-1). The application of the proposed FI method to toothpaste samples yielded accurate results (e(r) < 2.0%) compared with a potentiometric reference procedure.     

The quality of our drinking water: aluminium determination with an acoustic wave sensor

A new methodology based on an inexpensive aluminium acoustic wave sensor is presented. Although the aluminium sensor has already been reported, and the composition of the selective membrane is known, the low detection limits required for the analysis of drinking water, demanded the inclusion of a preconcentration stage, as well as an optimization of the sensor. The necessary coating amount was established, as well as the best preconcentration protocol, in terms of oxidation of organic matter and aluminium elution from the Chelex-100. The methodology developed with the acoustic wave sensor allowed aluminium quantitation above 0.07 mg L(-1). Several water samples from Portugal were analysed using the acoustic wave sensor, as well as by UV-vis spectrophotometry. Results obtained with both methodologies were not statistically different (alpha=0.05), both in terms of accuracy and precision. This new methodology proved to be adequate for aluminium quantitation in drinking water and showed to be faster and less reagent consuming than the UV spectrophotometric methodology.     

Assay of naproxen in rat serum by high-performance thin-layer chromatography/densitometry

A simple, sensitive, and reproducible high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method using densitometry is presented for the determination of naproxen in rat serum. Only 0.1 mL serum was used for extraction. Separations were performed on 10 x 10 cm plates coated with silica gel, with toluene-ethyl acetate-acetic acid (82 + 15 + 3) as the mobile phase. Benzophenone was used as the internal standard. Quantification was performed by densitometry at 260 nm. The response response for naproxen was linear (r = 0.992) over the range 2-100 mg/L. Method validation demonstrated good recoveries (92-96%), sensitivity (limit of quantitation, 1 mg/L), repeatability of sample application (4%), repeatability of the method (8%), and intermediate precision (5%). The procedure was applied to the quantitation of naproxen in rat serum.     

Reversed flow-injection manifold for the spectrophotometric determination of captopril based on its inhibitory effect on the Co(II)-2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone complex formation

The present work reports a new, simple and rapid reversed flow-injection (r-FI) method for the accurate and precise spectrophotometric determination of captopril (CPL) in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the inhibitory effect of CPL on the complex formation of Co(II) with 2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone (DPPH). The chemical and FI variables were studied and optimized. The calibration graph was linear in the range 0-250 mg l(-1) CPL, at a sampling rate of 60 injections per hour. The method was found to be very precise [s(r)=0.8% at 100.0 mg l(-1) CPL (n=12)] and the 3sigma detection limit (c(L)=2.5 mg l(-1)) was quite satisfactory. Its application to commercially available pharmaceuticals produced excellent results, with a mean relative error of e(r)<1.0%.     

Determination of trace iron in beer using flow injection systems with in-valve column and bead injection

Three flow injection (FI) systems were investigated for the determination of trace iron in beer: an FI-in-valve column-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FI-FAAS) system, a spectrophotometric FI system with a column placed at the detection point, and an FI-spectrophotometric system with bead injection (FI-BI). Cationic exchange resin Dowex 50W X8 and iminodiacetate chelating resin, Chelex-100, were employed for the FI-spectrophotometric and FI-FAAS systems, respectively. The FI-in-valve column, packed with the resin, enhances the FAAS performance. The spectrophotometric FI system with a column (packed with Chelex-100) placed at the detection point (in a cell holder of a spectrophotometer) is based on the formation of iron (II)–1,10-phenanthroline complex sorbed onto the resin. No eluent has been found to be suitable. The FI-BI for renewable microcolumn has been proven to be an alternative. The FI-FAAS and FI-BI procedures provide online sample preseparation and preconcentration for the determination of iron in beer. Both are simple, rapid, and economical. The procedures also involve sample preparation (decarbonation and suppression of tannin interference by adding ascorbic acid) and standard addition. The results obtained by FI-FAAS and FI-BI agree with those of AOAC spectrophotometric method.     

Stopped-flow injection liquid-liquid extraction spectrophotometric determination of palladium in airborne particulate matter and automobile catalysts

A stopped-flow injection liquid-liquid extraction (SF-EX-FIA) spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of palladium(II), using the 2,2'-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone (DPPH) as a color forming reagent. The colored complex Pd(II)-DPPH was extracted in CHCl(3) and the absorbance was monitored at 560 nm. An injection valve was used as a commutator in order to combine the stopped-flow technique with liquid-liquid extraction FI system. The calibration graph was linear up to 12 mg l(-1) (s(r)=0.27%; r=0.9999) with a detection limit of c(L)=0.007 mg l(-1). The sampling rate was 20 injections per hour. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of palladium in airborne particulate matter (APM) and in automobile exhaust gas converter catalysts.     

Application of flow injection on-line electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry to the determination of rhodium

A fully automated procedure for the determination of rhodium has been developed using flow injection (FI) on-line microcolumn preconcentration coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The proposed FI manifold and its operation make possible the introduction of the total eluate volume into the graphite atomizer, avoiding the necessity for optimisation of subsampling the eluate. Rhodium is adsorbed on a microcolumn packed with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridyl)methylene thiocarbohydrazide immobilized on silica gel (DPTH-gel). Under the optimum conditions, using a 60 s preconcentration time, a sample flow rate of 3.5 mL min(-1) and an injection volume of eluent of 50 microL, a linear calibration graph was obtained from 1 to at least 40 ng mL(-1) and the detection limit was 1 ng mL(-1). The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of samples. Its performance was investigated against certified reference catalyst sample SRM-2557 and by recovery measurements on spiked samples (soil, foods and beverages).     

Automated solid-phase extraction hyphenated to voltammetry for the determination of quercetin using magnetic nanoparticles and sequential injection lab-on-valve approach

In this study, an automated sequential injection lab-on-valve (SI-LOV) system was designed for the on-line matrix removal and preconcentration of quercetin. Octadecyl functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles were prepared and packed into the microcolumn of the LOV as adsorbents. After being adsorbed through hydrophobic interaction, the analyte was eluted and subsequently introduced into the electrochemical flow cell by voltammetric quantification. The main parameters affecting the performance of solid-phase extraction, such as sample pH and flow rate, eluent solution and volume, accumulation potential and accumulation time were investigated in detail. Under the optimum experimental conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 1.0 × 10(-8) to 1 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) with R(2) = 0.9979. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 1.3 × 10(-9) and 4.3 × 10(-9) mol L(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 1.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) quercetin was found to be 2.9% (n = 11) along with a sampling frequency of 40 h(-1). The applicability and reliability of the automated method described here had been applied to the determination of quercetin in human urine and red wine samples through recovery experiments, and the obtained results were in good agreement with those obtained by the HPLC method.     

Creatinine determination in urine samples by batchwise kinetic procedure and flow injection analysis using the Jaffé reaction: chemometric study

The classical Jaffé reaction for the determination of creatinine in urine samples is tested. A comparative study of the main analytical characteristics focussed to minimize the bias error and improve the precision, for the batchwise and flow injection (FI) methods is realized. Also, the effect of the albumin concentration in the determination of creatinine has been studied. Different analytical signals were studied. Absorbance increments at different times permit to estimate the creatinine concentration free from bias error in urine by the batchwise method using the calibration graph obtained with creatinine standards and no measurement of the blank solution is needed. The lineal interval was 0.92-50 mg l(-1) and seven samples can be processed per hour by an operator. No previous treatment of the urine sample is necessary. The FI method provides also good results. The lineal interval was 30-100 mg l(-1) and the sample rate was around 20 samples per hour. If increased albumin levels are detected in the urine, standard addition method or the calibration graphs with standards in presence of albumin are needed in order to obtain accurate results when FI method is employed. The obtained accuracy of the both methods allows its application as diagnostic tool to establish the urinary creatinine levels.     

Determination of cefadroxil by sequential injection with spectrophotometric detector.

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) spectrophotometric procedure for cefadroxil determination has been developed. The SIA instrumentation was modified to achieve the desired function and operations by using the software developed to interface the PC with the conventional SIA system. The method is based on the measurement of a red, water-soluble product formed by the reaction between cefadroxil and 4-aminoantipyrine in the presence of alkaline potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) at 510 nm. Optimum conditions for determining the drug were investigated. Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration ranges of 1 - 10 mg L(-1) and 10 - 50 mg L(-1) with a detection limit (3 sigma) of 0.17 mg L(-1) and a limit of quantification (10 sigma) of 0.56 mg L(-1). The relative standard deviations of 1.98% and 1.93% for 5 mg L(-1) and 30 mg L(-1) of the drug, respectively (n = 11) are obtained. The proposed method has been applied satisfactorily to the determination of cefadroxil in commercial pharmaceutical formulations with a sampling rate of 100 h(-1). Results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the official HPLC method at the 95% confidence level.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of reducing sugars using a focalized coiled reactor in a domestic microwave oven

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric procedure for determining reducing sugars content in sugar cane juices using a focalized PTFE coiled reactor positioned at the output antenna of a domestic microwave oven at 700 W is proposed. In this system, sample solution converge to 1.0 mol l(-1) NaOH and 5.2 mmol l(-1) K(3)Fe(CN)(6) solutions previously mixed and the decrease of hexacyanoferrate(III) concentration was monitored at 420 nm. Under best analytical conditions, there was a direct relationship between absorbance decrease and reducing sugar content (fructose plus glucose concentrations) in the concentration range from 50 to 1200 micromol l(-1) with a detection limit of 15 micromol l(-1). The relative standard deviations (rds) were less than 1.4% for ten injection of 400 and 800 micromol l(-1) fructose solution and the analytical frequency was 70 h(-1). A paired t-test showed that all results obtained for sugar cane juices using this FI procedure and the Somogyi-Nelson batch procedure agree at the 95% confidence level.