Efficient flow injection and sequential injection methods for spectrophotometric determination of oxybenzone in sunscreens based on reaction with Ni(II)

Spectrophotometric determination of a widely used UV-filter, such as oxybenzone, is proposed. The method is based on the complexation reaction between oxybenzone and Ni(II) in ammoniacal medium. The stoichiometry of the reaction, established by the Job method, was 1:1. Reaction conditions were studied and the experimental parameters were optimized, for both flow injection (FI) and sequential injection (SI) determinations, with comparative purposes. Sunscreen formulations containing oxybenzone were analyzed by the proposed methods and results compared with those obtained by HPLC. Data show that both FI and SI procedures provide accurate and precise results. The ruggedness, sensitivity and LOD are adequate to the analysis requirements. The sample frequency obtained by FI is three-fold higher than that of SI analysis. SI is less reagent-consuming than FI.     

Efficient flow injection and sequential injection methods for spectrophotometric determination of oxybenzone in sunscreens based on reaction with Ni(II)

Spectrophotometric determination of a widely used UV-filter, such as oxybenzone, is proposed. The method is based on the complexation reaction between oxybenzone and Ni(II) in ammoniacal medium. The stoichiometry of the reaction, established by the Job method, was 1:1. Reaction conditions were studied and the experimental parameters were optimized, for both flow injection (FI) and sequential injection (SI) determinations, with comparative purposes. Sunscreen formulations containing oxybenzone were analyzed by the proposed methods and results compared with those obtained by HPLC. Data show that both FI and SI procedures provide accurate and precise results. The ruggedness, sensitivity and LOD are adequate to the analysis requirements. The sample frequency obtained by FI is three-fold higher than that of SI analysis. SI is less reagent-consuming than FI.     

A DNA assay protocol in a lab-on-valve meso-fluidic system with detection by laser-induced fluorescence

An automatic protocol for in-situ assay of dsDNA is presented by employing a micro-sequential injection lab-on-valve meso-fluidic system, which facilitates precise fluidic handling at the 0.1-10 microl level. Sub-nano-liter to a few micro-liters of DNA sample and ethidium bromide (EB) solutions were introduced into the meso-fluidic system, where EB binding onto DNA takes place and an intercalated DNA-EB adduct was formed, which was afterwards excited in the flow cell of the LOV by a 473 nm laser beam, and the emitted fluorescence was monitored in-situvia optical fibers. The experimental variables, i.e., pH of the buffer solution, the concentration and volume of EB solution, the reaction time and the fluid flow rates, were investigated. By loading 600 nl sample and 1.0 microl EB solution, a linear calibration graph was obtained within 0.03-3.0 microg ml(-1)(dsDNA), and a detection limit (3sigma) of 0.009 microg ml(-1) was achieved, along with a sampling frequency of 60 h(-1) and a precision of 1.9% at the 1.0 microg ml(-1) level. The detection limit was further improved to 0.006 microg ml(-1) by increasing the sample volume to 2.0 microl. Plasmid DNA in E. Coli extraction and lambda-DNA/Hind III in four synthetic samples were assayed by using this procedure. For the plasmid DNA, a good agreement with the documented UV method was obtained, while spiking recoveries for the synthetic samples were 95.6-103.4%.     

Determination of copper and zinc in serum by derivative atomic absorption spectrometry using the microsampling technique

A method has been developed for the determination of copper and zinc in the serum of rats by derivative microsampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry (D-MFAAS). The microsampling volume, solution uptake rate and other figures of merit of the proposed methodology were studied. For a 100 microl volume, the characteristic concentrations and detection limits (3s) of D-MFAAS were 0.023 and 0.013 microg ml(-1) for copper and 0.0066 and 0.0080 microg ml(-1) for zinc, which were 4.5-6.5-fold better than those of microsampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry (MFAAS). The detection limits and sensitivities of D-MFAAS were 6.4- and 16-fold for 300 microl volume for copper, 14- and 13-fold for 250 microl volume for zinc, better than those of MFAAS. The method demonstrates high tolerance to interferences, and the analytical results obtained for a certified reference material, GBW 08551 Pork Liver, were in good agreement with the certified values. The recovery with the standard additions method was good, in the range 97.6-101.5%, and precisions (relative standard deviations) obtained for a diluent sample containing 0.5 microg ml(-1) copper and 0.7 microg ml(-1) zinc were 4.0% and 3.5% (n = 15) for copper and zinc, respectively.     

Determination of formaldehyde in foodstuffs by flow injection spectrophotometry using phloroglucinol as chromogenic agent

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of formaldehyde in foodstuffs was described by using phloroglucinol as the chromogenic agent. The reaction between formaldehyde and phloroglucinol could occur rapidly at room temperature under mild conditions. The spectrophotometric measurements were conducted at 474nm of an unstable intermediate orange product of the reaction, which greatly increased the sample throughput. Flow injection technique was used to control the merging and reaction timing of the reagents and sample. A detection limit (3sigma) of 0.023microg ml(-1) was achieved. The relative standard deviation was 0.29% for the determination of 7microg ml(-1) formaldehyde (n=11). The proposed method was applied to the analyses of formaldehyde in several preserved foodstuffs and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by a standard method.     

Spectrofluorimetric flow injection determination of trace amounts of periodate

A sensitive, rapid and selective procedure is proposed for the flow injection determinations of periodate by spectrofluorometric detection. The method is based on the reaction of periodate with Alizarin Navy Blue in basic solution. The reagents and manifold variables influence on the sensitivity have been investigated and the optimum conditions are established. Periodate can be determined for the range of 0.250-5.00 microg ml(-1) with a limit of detection of 0.08 microg ml(-1), and with a sample rate of 15 +/- 2 samples h(-1). The relative standard deviations for eight replicate determination of 0.500 and 5.00 microg ml(-1) was 1.3 and 1.1%, respectively. Periodate can be determined in the presence of iodate and bromate. The proposed method was used to determination of periodate in water samples.     

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.     

Univariate and simplex optimization for the flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of copper using nitroso-R salt as a complexing agent.

A simple colorimetric flow-injection system for the determination of Cu(II) based on a complexation reaction with nitroso-R salt is described. The chemical and FIA variables were established using the univariate and simplex methods. A small volume of Cu(II) was mixed with merged streams of nitroso-R salt and acetate buffer solutions. The absorbance of the complex was continuously monitored at 492 nm. The calibration curve over the concentration range 1.0-7.0 microg ml(-1) was obtained. The relative standard deviation for determining 4.0 microg ml(-1) Cu(II) was 0.47% (n = 11). The detection limit (3sigma) was 0.68 microg ml(-1) and the sample throughput was 150 h(-1). The validity of the method has been satisfactorily examined for the determination of Cu(II) in wastewater and copper ore samples. The accuracy was found to be high, because the student t-values were calculated to be less than the theoretical values when the results were compared with those obtained by FAAS.     

Dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction of alcohols

A method was developed using dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for extraction and determination of 9 alcohols from water samples. Four different solvents, hexyl acetate, n-octanol, o-xylene and n-decane were studied as extractants. The analytes were extracted using 0.8 microl of n-octanol from the headspace of a 2 ml sample solution. The effect of sampling volume, solvent volume, sample temperature, syringe plunger withdrawal rate and ionic strength of the solution on the extraction performance were studied. A semiautomated system including a variable speed stirring motor was used to ensure a uniform movement of syringe plunger through the barrel. The method provided a fairly good precision for all compounds (5.5-9.3%), except methanol (16.4%). Detection limits were found to be between 1 and 97 microg/l within an extraction time of approximately 9.5 min under GC-MS in full scan mode.     

Simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine by flow injection-solid phase spectrometry using C18 silica gel as a sensing support.

A continuous and simple UV-photometric flow-through biparameter-sensing device has been developed for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine at 275 nm. The sensor is based on temporary sequentiation in the arrival of the analytes to the sensing zone by on-line separation using C18 bonded phase beads (the same as that used in the sensing zone) placed into a minicolumn just before the flow cell. The sample containing these compounds is injected into the carrier solution; paracetamol is determined first because it passes through the minicolumn, while caffeine is strongly retained in it. Then, caffeine is conveniently eluted from the precolumn and develops its transitory signal. Using 200 microl of a sample and deionized water as a carrier, the analytical signal showed a very good linearity in the ranges of 10-160 microg ml(-1) and 3.5-50 microg ml(-1) with detection limits of 0.75 and 0.56 microg ml(-1) for paracetamol and caffeine, respectively. If deionized water with the pH adjusted at 12 was used as a carrier solution, these parameters were 25-400 and 4-55 microg ml(-1) with 2.0 and 0.50 microg ml(-1) as the detection limits, respectively. The biparameter optosensor was satisfactorily applied to the simultaneous determination of these two analytes in pharmaceuticals.     

On-line preconcentration and determination of Zn in natural water samples employing a styrene-divinylbenzene functionalized resin and flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

In this work, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used as a detector for the determination of zinc in natural water samples with a flow-injection system coupled to solid-phase extraction (SPE). In order to promote the on-line preconcentration of zinc from samples a minicolumn packed with 35 mg of a styrene-divinylbenzene resin functionalized with (S)-2-[hydroxy-bis(4-vinylphenyl)methyl]pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid ethyl esther was utilized. The system operation was based on Zn(II) ion retention at pH 9.5 +/- 0.5 in such a minicolumn with analyte elution, at the back flush mode, with 1 mol L(-1) HCl directly to the FAAS nebulizer. The influence of the chemical (sample pH, buffer concentration, HCl eluent concentration and effect of the ionic strength) and flow (sample and eluent flow rates and preconcentration time) parameters that could affect the performance of the system were investigated as well as the possible interferents. At the optimum conditions, for 2 min of preconcentration time (9.9 ml of sample volume), the developed methodology presented a detection limit of 1.1 microg L(-1), a RSD of 3.5% at 10 microg L(-1) and an analytical throughput of 24 h(-1). Whereas, for 4 min of the preconcentration time (19.8 ml of sample volume) a detection limit of 0.98 microg L(-1), a RSD of 6.5% at 5 microg L(-1) and a sampling frequency of 13 h(-1) are reported.     

Highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of ropinirole hydrochloride in tablets

Three sensitive, selective, accurate spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods have been developed for the determination of ropinirole hydrochloride in tablets. The first method was based on measuring the absorbance of drug solution in methanol at 250 nm. The Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 2.5-24 microg ml(-1). The second method was based on the charge transfer reaction of drug, as n-electron donor with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), as pi-acceptor in acetonitrile to give radical anions that are measured at 842 nm. The Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 0.6-8 microg ml(-1). The third method was based on derivatization reaction with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) in borate buffer of pH 8.5 followed by measuring the fluorescence intensity at 525 nm with excitation at 464 nm in chloroform. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 0.01-1.3 microg ml(-1). The derivatization reaction product of drug with NBD-Cl was characterized by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy. The developed methods were validated. The following analytical parameters were investigated: the molar absorptivity (epsilon), limit of detection (LOD, microg ml(-1)) and limit of quantitation (LOQ, microg ml(-1)), precision, accuracy, recovery, and Sandell's sensitivity. Selectivity was validated by subjecting stock solution of ropinirole to acidic, basic, oxidative, and thermal degradation. No interference was observed from common excipients present in formulations. The proposed methods were successfully applied for determination of drug in tablets. The results of these proposed methods were compared with each other statistically.     

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).     

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.     

Native fluorescence flow-through optosensor for the fast determination of diphenhydramine in pharmaceuticals.

A single, rapid flow-through optosensor spectrofluorometric system is proposed for the determination of diphenhydramine in different pharmaceutical preparations. This sensor was developed in conjunction with a monochannel flow-injection analysis system with fluorometric solid-phase transduction. Diphenhydramine was directly injected into a carrier stream of ethanol/water, 50% (v:v), and transitorily retained on a sorption gel Sephadex G-15 placed in the detection area into the cell. The determination was carried out without any derivatization reaction by directly measuring the intrinsic fluorescence of the analyte and using the peak height as an analytical signal. The chemical and instrumental variables were optimized, and the influence of some foreign substances that can be found in typical pharmaceutical samples containing diphenhydramine was also investigated. Diphenhydramine could be determined in the concentration ranges of 0.5 - 8 microg ml(-1) and 0.1 - 1.2 microg ml(-1) with detection limits of 0.088 and 0.019 microg ml(-1) at sampling rates of 30 and 19 h(-1) for 200 and 800 microl of the sample volume, respectively.     

Spectrophotometric determination of aluminum with m-carboxyphenylfluorone, a novel chemical probe, and its application.

A highly spectrophotometric method for the determination of aluminum was developed. This method used the color reaction between m-carboxyphenylfluorone (MCPF) as a novel chemical probe and aluminum in the presence of a surfactant, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, K-90) (0.03 - 1.40 microg of aluminum in a final volume of 10 ml at 561 nm). The proposed method showed excellent sensitivity (molar absorptibity of 1.70 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1)) and reproducibility (within-day precision: RSD = 0.35% n = 6, between-day precision: RSD = 0.44% n = 6). Linearity was achieved over the range 3 - 140 microg L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, and the effects of foreign substances were low.     

Determination of trace amount of carbon disulfide in water by the spectrophotometric reaction-rate method.

Carbon disulfide (CS2) was determined at trace levels by its induction effect on the reaction of triiodide with azide in acidic media. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by the decreased absorbance of triiodide over a period of 30 - 180 s from the initiation of the reaction at 350 nm, with calibration linear range of 0.020 - 1.870 microg/ml CS2. The limit of detection is 0.013 microg/ml CS2. A carbon-active column was used for sample solution clean up. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace carbon disulfide in natural water.     

Use of Sequential Injection technique and robotics for the automation of rhFXIII fluorometric activity assay. case study

This paper evaluates the feasibility of two systems—the Sequential Injection (SI) analyzer and the Zymark Benchmate (ZB) robot—for the automation of a recombinant human Factor Thirteen (rhFXIII) fluorometric assay. The goal was to develop a routine analytical procedure suitable for the quality control lab environment. The experimental efforts focused on monitoring of the product formation for the condensation reaction between monodansyl cadaverin and dimethyl casein. The acquired kinetic data demonstrated that both systems are capable of automating the solution handling operations associated with the assay. Using a method developed with the SI system, samples containing 0–410 μg/ml of rhFXIII were analyzed, with a throughput of one sample per 8 min, and a total solution consumption of 0.8 ml. The relative standard deviation for 10 injections of 100 μg/ml rhFXIII sample was 0.91%. With the ZB robot, samples containing 0–2500 μg/ml of rhFXIII were analyzed, and the linear response was obtained for a concentration range between 0 and 1250 μg/ml of rhFXIII. The method had a sample throughput of one sample per 11 min and a total solution consumption of 6.3 ml for each analysis. Due to its commercial availability, the ZB system was preferred over the experimental SI system for the purpose of routine automated analysis of a large number of samples in the quality control lab environment.     

Rapid quantification of HIV protease inhibitors in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

HIV protease inhibitors are important antiretroviral drugs which have substantially reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1 infection. Recent data have shown relationships between plasma concentrations of the protease inhibitors and clinical response, which makes therapeutic drug monitoring valuable. We have developed and validated an assay, using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), for the routine quantification of the six licensed protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir) and the pharmacologically active nelfinavir metabolite M8 in plasma. The sample pretreatment consisted of protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol and acetronitrile using only 100 microl of plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS3 column (50 x 2.0 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm), with a quick stepwise gradient using an acetate buffer (pH 5) and methanol, at a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1). The analytical run time was 5.5 min. The use of a 96-well plate autosampler allowed batch sizes up to 150 patient samples. The triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over the concentration ranges 0.01-10 microg ml(-1) for indinavir and saquinavir, 0.1-10 microg ml(-1) for amprenavir, 0.05-10 microg ml(-1) for nelfinavir and ritonavir, 0.1-20 microg ml(-1) for lopinavir and 0.01-5 microg ml(-1) for M8. Saquinavir-d(5) and indinavir-d(6) were used as internal standards. The coefficients of variation were always <10% for both intra-day and inter-day precisions for each compound. Mean accuracies were also between the designated limits (+/-15%). The validated concentration ranges proved to be adequate in daily practice. This robust and fast LC/MS/MS assay is now successfully applied for routine therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies in our hospital.     

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.