Flow injection determination of formaldehyde by its catalytic effect on the oxidation of sulfonazo III by bromate with spectrophotometric detection.

A simple and sensitive flow injection method with spectrophotometric detection was developed for the determination of formaldehyde. The method is based on the catalytic effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of sulfonazo III with bromate in acidic media. The decrease in absorbance of the reaction mixture was measured at 566 nm. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.005 to 2.80 microg ml(-1) formaldehyde at a rate of 38 +/- 4 samples h(-1). The limit of detection was 4 ng ml(-1). The relative standard deviations for ten replicate measurements of 0.20, 0.50 and 1.00 microg ml(-1) formaldehyde were 1.3, 0.8 and 0.7%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in river water, shampoo and melamine-formaldehyde resin.     

Catalytic-kinetic determination of trace amount of formaldehyde by the spectrophotometric method with a bromate-Janus green system

A new simple and rapid catalytic kinetic method for the determination of trace amount of formaldehyde is described. The method is based on the catalytic effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of Janus green by bromate in the present of sulfuric acid. The reaction monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of the reaction mixture at 618 nm. The fixed-time method was used for the first 150 s. For initiation of the reaction, under the optimum conditions, in the concentration range of 0.003-2.5 microg ml(-1) formaldehyde can be determined with a limit of detection 0.0015 microg ml(-1). The relative standard deviation of five replicate measurements is 2.3% for 1.0 microg ml(-1) of formaldehyde. The method was used for the determination of formaldehyde in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of trace amounts of thiocyanate by a new kinetic procedure based on an induction period

A new, simple and sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method with no need for removing of interfering substances is proposed for the determination of thiocyanate ion in biological and water samples. The procedure is based on the inhibiting effect of thiocyanate on the sodium periodate-potassium bromide-meta cresol purple (MCP) system in acidic media. The induction period of the reaction is proportional to the SCN- concentration. The decolorization of meta cresol purple by the reaction products was used to monitor the reaction spectrophotometrically at 525 nm. Under optimum conditions, thiocyanate can be determined in the range of 0.02-0.8 microg ml(-1) with a 3sigma detection limit of 5 ng ml(-1). The relative standard deviations for 10 replicate determinations of 0.060, 0.10 and 0.50 microg ml(-1) thiocyanate are 3.7, 2.4 and 1.0%, respectively. This method has been successfully used to the determination of thiocyanate content in smokers and non-smokers saliva and spiked water sample.     

Rapid determination of chromium(VI) in electroplating waste water by use of a spectrophotometric flow injection system

A new rapid and sensitive FI method is reported for spectrophotometric determination of trace chromium(VI) in electroplating waste water. The method is based on the reaction of Cr(VI) with sodium diphenylamine sulfonate (DPH) in acidic medium to form a purple complex (lambda(max) = 550 nm). Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve is linear in the range 0.04-3.8 microg ml(-1) at a sampling rate of 30 h(-1). The detection limit of the method is 0.0217 microg ml(-1), and the relative standard deviation is 1.1% for eight determinations of 2 microg ml(-1) Cr(VI). The proposed method was applied to the determination of chromium in electroplating waste water with satisfactory results.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of oxalic acid by its catalytic effect on the oxidation of safranine by dichromate

A new catalytic kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of oxalic acid has been described based on its catalytic effect on the redox reaction between safranine and dichromate in dilute sulfuric acid media. The reaction is monitored photometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of safranine at the maximum wavelength of 530 nm. Under the optimum conditions, a calibration graph from 0.10 to 10.00 microg ml(-1) of oxalic acid with a detection limit of 0.08 microg ml(-1) was obtained. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for ten replicate measurements of 1.0 and 5.0 microg ml(-1) oxalic acid was 2.7 and 2.5%, respectively. The purposed method is simple, sensitive, selective and inexpensive. The applicability of the proposed method was determined by the determination of oxalic acid in spinach and wastewater samples with satisfactory results.     

Sequential injection spectrophotometric determination of oxybenzone in lipsticks

A sequential injection (SI) procedure for the spectrophotometric determination of oxybenzone in lipsticks is reported. The colorimetric reaction between nickel and oxybenzone was used. SI parameters such as sample solution volume, reagent solution volume, propulsion flow rate and reaction coil length were studied. The limit of detection was 3 microg ml(-1). The sensitivity was 0.0108+/-0.0002 ml microg(-1). The relative standard deviations of the results were between 6 and 12%. The real concentrations of samples and the values obtained by HPLC were comparable. Microwave sample pre-treatment allowed the extraction of oxybenzone with ethanol, thus avoiding the use of toxic organic solvents. Ethanol was also used as carrier in the SI system. Seventy-two injections per hour can be performed, which means a sample frequency of 24 h(-1) if three replicates are measured for each sample.     

H-point standard addition method for simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Co(II) and Ni(II) by 1-(2-pyridylazo)2-naphthol in micellar media

A very simple and selective spectrophotometric method for simultaneous determination of Co(II) and Ni(II) by 1-(2-pyridylazo) 2-naphthol (PAN), in micellar media, using H-point standard addition method (HPSAM) is described. The ligand and its metal complexes (Co(II)-PAN and Ni(II)-PAN) were made water-soluble by the neutral surfactant Triton X-100, and therefore, no extraction with organic solvents was required. Formation of both the complexes was complete within 10 min at pH 9 (adjusted by ammonia buffer). The linear range was 0.10-2.00 microg ml(-1) for Co(II) and 0.05-1.50 microg ml(-1) for Ni(II). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for the simultaneous determination of 0.50 microg ml(-1) each of Co(II) and Ni(II) was 2.32 and 3.13%, respectively. Interference effects of common anions and cations were studied and the method was applied to simultaneous determination of Co(II) and Ni(II) in alloy samples. The method was compared with derivative spectrophotometric method.     

Spectrophotometric determination of urea in dermatologic formulations and cosmetics

A rapid, relatively sensitive, and low-cost method for the determination of water-soluble urea content in dermatological therapy products and cosmetics is proposed using a new spectrophotometric assay with water as the only extraction solvent. Spectrophotometric methods involve addition of a known excess of bromate to urea in an acid medium, followed by the determination of residual bromine and chlorine reacting with methyl orange and measurement of absorbance at 505 nm. The absorbance increases linearly with urea concentration (r = 0.9998). The systems obey Beer's law for 6 - 90 microg ml(-1). The calculated apparent molar absorbance values are found to be 4.537 x 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1) and the Sandell's sensitivity is 0.013 microg cm(-2). The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated. The relative standard deviation for five-replication determination of 60 microg ml(-1) urea was 2.1% and the detection limit of the method is 0.34 ng ml(-1).     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of low levels of nitrite by catalytic reaction between pyrogallol red and bromate

A kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace nitrite (0.003-1.000 microg/ml) based on its catalytic effect on the reaction between potassium bromate and pyrogallol red in acidic media is described. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing colour of pyrogallol red at 467 nm by the fixed-time method. At a given time of 3.0 min at 30 degrees, the detection limit is 0.001 microg/ml and the relative standard deviation for 0.010 microg/ml nitrite is 1.8% (n = 8). The method is free from most interferences, especially from large amounts of nitrate and ammonium. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of trace nitrite in natural water without preconcentration.     

A simple flow injection spectrophotometric determination of nitrite based on its reaction with thiourea.

A simple flow injection spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite is described. Nitrite injected into the flow system reacts with thiourea in acidic medium and the generated thiocyanate ion reacts with Fe(III) in the reagent solution to produce a highly colored product. The influences of chemical and physical parameters including reagent concentrations, sample volume injected, flow rates of the carrier and reagent solutions, reaction coil length and reaction temperature, were studied and optimum values of these parameters were established. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for nitrite was linear over the concentration range 0.36 - 90 microg ml(-1) without preconcentration and over the range 3.8 - 500 ng ml(-1) with a simple online preconcentration step using an anion exchange column. The corresponding detection limits were 0.36 micro ml(-1) and 3.8 ng ml(-1), respectively. Up to 25 samples can be analyzed per hour, with an average relative standard deviation of < or = 1.2%. Interferences by various foreign ions were studied and the method was applied to the determination of nitrite in water and spiked water samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of thorium in standard samples and monazite sands based on the floated complex of thorium with N-hydroxy-N,N′-diphenylbenzamidine and thorin

A selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of Th(IV) has been based on the reaction with thorin and subsequent extraction of the red-orange coloured complex with N-hydroxy-N,N'-diphenylbenzamidine (HDPBA) in benzene as floated complex at pH 2.2. The complex in ethanol exhibits a maximum absorbance at 495 nm, with a molar absorptivity of 6.0x10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1), with a Sandell's sensitivity of 3.9x10(-3) microg cm(-2). The method follows Beer's law up to 3.0 microg Th(IV) ml(-1). None of the common cations and anions tested interfere. The detection limit of the method is 0.04 microg Th(IV) ml(-1), the RSD (n=10) is 1.4%. The method has been successfully employed for the determination of thorium in various standard and monazite samples.     

Highly sensitive and selective catalytic determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde

A highly sensitive, simple and selective kinetic method was developed for the determination of ultra-trace levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde based on their catalytic effect on the oxidation of N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by tracing the formation of the red-colored oxidized product of DPD at 510nm, within 30s of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were: 20mmolL(-1) DPD, 250mmolL(-1) H(2)O(2), 150mmolL(-1) phosphate, 150mmolL(-1) citrate and pH 6.60+/-0.05 at 25 degrees C. Following the recommended procedure, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde could be determined with linear calibration graphs up to 0.50 and 1.4microg mL(-1) and detection limits, based on the 3S(b)-criterion, of 0.015 and 0.035microg mL(-1), respectively. In addition, analytical data for other 10 aldehydes were also presented. The high sensitivity and selectivity of the proposed method allowed its successful application to rain water, mainstream smoke (MSS) and disposed tips of smoked cigarettes (DTSC). A sample aliquot was directly analyzed for its total water-soluble aldehyde content. A second sample aliquot was heated at 80 degrees C for 10min to expel acetaldehyde and the aliquot was analyzed for its content of other water-soluble aldehydes (expressed as formaldehyde equivalent), and acetaldehyde was determined by difference. The analytical results were in excellent agreements with those obtained following the standard HPLC method based on pre-column derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Moreover, published catalytic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of aldehydes were reviewed.     

Ion chromatography determination of trace level bromate by large volume injection with conductivity and spectrophotometric detection after post column derivatisation

Bromate is a well known by-product produced by the ozonisation of drinking water; the allowed concentration for human consumption has to be regulated to the low microg l(-1) range. A direct injection, ion chromatographic method was developed using a tetraborate eluent with serially connected conductivity and spectrophotometric detection. Bromate was detected after post-column reaction with fuchsin at 520 nm. Sample capacity was investigated by injecting large volumes (up to 6 ml) using a high total hardness and chloride tap water. Linear correlation of bromate response with volumes from 1 ml to 6 ml was demonstrated, the main limitation being the overlapping of the chloride peak with bromate. Up to 1.5 ml sample can be injected without any pre-treatment. With more than 1.5 ml injection volume, a sample pre-treatment with a cartridge in Ag and H form, followed by a 10 min degassing in an ultrasonic bath, was needed. This method was validated by analysing secondary reference materials and real samples from a drinking water treatment plant. The method was linear from the limit of quantification to 20 microg l(-1). Reproducibilities in tap water were 18% (5 microg l(-1), n=12) and 21% (1 microg l(-1), n=4) respectively for 1.5 and 6 ml injection volumes with conductivity detection, and 17% at 0.5 microg l(-1) (n=9) with spectrophotometric detection. Calculated detection limits were 0.5 microg l(-1) (6 ml) ahd 2 microg l(-1) (1.5 ml) for conductivity detection and 0.3 microg l(-1) (1.5 ml) for spectrophotometric detection.     

Rapid test methods for minor components analysis of hydraulic cement. Spectrophotometric determination of manganese oxide content of Portland cement and cement raw meal

A rapid, sensitive and highly selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of manganese oxide content of Portland cement and cement raw meal is developed. The method is based on the reaction of manganese(II) with 1,2,4 trihydroxyanthraquinone (purpurin, PURP) in 50% v/v ethanol-water solution at pH 8.5. The solution equilibria of manganese chelates are demonstrated and characterized for delineating optimal conditions of the complexation reaction and analytical aspect of the Mn-PURP system. The analysis of cement materials of variable manganese content is feasible over the concentration range 1.67-8.13 microg ml(-1) Mn, the limit of detection (at the 95% confidence level) of the method is 68 ng ml(-1) for manganese. Under optimum conditions, the use of first derivative spectrophotometry has the advantage of high sensitivity than normal spectrophotometric method and allows the determination of 0.5 microg ml(-1) of manganese.     

Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for analysis of tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin in pharmaceutical preparations

Sensitive spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods are described for the determination of tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin (dosulepin) hydrochlorides. The two methods are based on the condensation of the cited drugs with the mixed anhydrides of malonic and acetic acids at 60 degrees C for 25-40 min. The coloured condensation products are suitable for the spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric determination at 329-333 and 431-434 nm (excitation at 389 nm), respectively. For the spectrophotometric method, Beer's law was obeyed from 0.5 to 2.5 microg ml(-1) for tramadol, dothiepin and 5-25 microg ml(-1) for acebutolol. Using the spectrofluorimetric method linearity ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 microg ml(-1) for tramadol, dothiepin and 1-5 microg ml(-1) for acebutolol. Mean percentage recoveries for the spectrophotometric method were 99.68+/-1.00, 99.95+/-1.11 and 99.72+/-1.01 for tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin, respectively and for the spectrofluorimetric method, recoveries were 99.5+/-0.844, 100.32+/-0.969 and 99.82+/-1.15 for the three drugs, respectively. The optimum experimental parameters for the reaction has been studied. The validity of the described procedures was assessed. Statistical analysis of the results has been carried out revealing high accuracy and good precision. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of the selected drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations with good recoveries. The procedures were accurate, simple and suitable for quality control application.     

Flow-injection chemiluminescence determination of formaldehyde with a bromate-rhodamine 6G system.

In this paper, a novel flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL) system for the determination of formaldehyde is described. It is based on a strong enhance effect of formaldehyde on the weak CL emission of the reaction between potassium bromate and rhodamine 6G in a sulfuric acid medium. A possible mechanism for this CL reaction is proposed. A CL calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.8 - 200 microg l(-1) and the detection limit was 0.3 microg l(-1) (3sigma). The relative standard deviation was less than 3% for 10 microg l(-1) formaldehyde (n = 11). The method has been applied to determine formaldehyde in the air samples.     

Spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods for determination of some oxicams using 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl)

Two sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods have been developed for the determination of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory oxicam derivatives namely lornoxicam (Lx), tenoxicam (Tx) and meloxicam (Mx) after their complete alkaline hydrolysis. The methods are based on derivatization of alkaline hydrolytic products with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl). The products showed an absorption maximum at 460 nm for the three studied drugs and fluorescence emission peak at 535 nm in methanol. The color was stable for at least 48 h. The optimum conditions of the reaction were investigated and it was found that the reaction proceeds quantitatively at pH 8, after heating in a boiling water bath for 30 min. The methods were found to be linear in the ranges of 1-10 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.5-4.0 microg ml(-1) for Mx for spectrophotometric method, while 0.05-1.0 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.025-0.4 microg ml(-1) for Mx for the spectrofluorimetric method. The validity of the methods was assessed according to USP guidelines. Statistical analysis of the results revealed high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of the above mentioned drugs in pure and dosage forms as well as in the presence of their degradation products.     

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.     

On-line collection/concentration of trace amounts of formaldehyde in air with chromatomembrane cell and its sensitive determination by flow injection technique coupled with spectrophotometric and fluorometric detection

A simple, rapid and highly sensitive method for the determination of trace amounts of formaldehyde in air by using flow injection analysis (FIA) system coupled with a three-hole chromatomembrane cell (CMC) was investigated by using a spectrophotometer and a fluorometer. The CMC was applied to on-line collection/concentration of trace amounts of formaldehyde in air into water as an absorbing solution; formaldehyde in the air was found to be quantitatively transferred into the absorbing solution in CMC. The solution, containing absorbed formaldehyde, was introduced into the carrier stream of the FIA system. The amount of formaldehyde in an absorbing solution was measured spectrophotometrically and fluorometrically after the reaction with a mixed reagent of acetylacetone and ammonium acetate at pH 5.6–5.8. The amount of formaldehyde in the absorbing solution, measured by the proposed system, could be converted to the concentration of formaldehyde in the air sample. A calibration graph prepared by a series of standard formaldehyde aqueous solutions was adopted. The formaldehyde in indoor air, determined as exampled by the proposed spectrophotometric FIA, was found to be 5.14 ± 0.08 ppbv for 20 ml of the air sample at the air flow rate of 6 ml min⁻¹, and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.56%. The limit of detections (LODs) of HCHO in an absorbing solution was 2 × 10⁻⁸ M (0.6 ppb) and 8 × 10⁻⁹ M (0.2 ppb), respectively, by the spectrophotometric and the fluorometric FIA, and the LODs of HCHO in air sample of 40 ml were 0.05 and 0.03 ppbv, respectively. The interferences from foreign species were examined; tolerable concentrations of other aldehydes were more than 50-fold of formaldehyde (1 × 10⁻⁶ M).     

Determination of 0.1 to 1000 μ g/ml cadmium in a hydrometallurgical zinc refining process stream by a flow injection technique with computer controlled injection method

A computer-controlled flow injection system was developed for the determination of cadmium in a hydrometallurgical zinc refining process stream. An anion-exchange method in acidic potassium iodide medium was used for the on-line separation of cadmium from the matrix zinc. 1-(4-Nitrophenyl)-3-(4-phenylazophenyl)triazene (Cadion) was used as the chromogenic reagent for the spectrophotometric detection of cadmium. In order to expand the dynamic range of the flow injection - spectrophotometry, a computer-aided time-based variable-volume injection method has been employed for the introduction of the sample into the flow injection system. Samples ranging from 0.56 to 350 microl can be delivered by controlling the time period of the sample introduction valve and the flow rate of the carrier solution. The system permits a throughput of 5 samples per hour. The reproducibility has been proven to be satisfactory with a relative standard deviation of less than 6.2% (sample injected: 0.56 microl of 850 microg Cd/ml; n=100) and 5.0% (350 microl of 0.14 microg Cd/ml; n=5). The determination limit was 20 microg Cd/ml with 0.56 microl sample injection and 0.05 microg Cd/ml with 350 microl sample injection (the absolute amount of cadmium injected into the system was 11 ng and 17.5 ng, respectively).