Novel determination system for urea in alcoholic beverages by using an FIA system with an acid urease column.

A novel determination method for urea using an acid urease column-FIA system was developed, and the system was applied to the determination of urea in rice wine. This novel FIA system was characterized by CO2 detection due to the property of acid urease and by a microfluidic gas-diffusion device with the use of an ultra-thin hollow fiber membrane. A biosensing system fabricated in this study was assembled with a double-plunger pump, a sample-injection valve, an immobilized acid urease column as a recognition element for the assay of urea, a gas-diffusion unit, and a flow-type spectrophotometer. The gas-diffusion unit consisted of a double-tubing structure in which the outer tubing was made of PTFE (i.d. 1.0 mm; o.d. 1.5 mm) and the inner tubing was of porous PTFE (i.d. 0.19 mm; o.d. 0.25 mm). Standard urea solutions (20 microl) were measured through monitoring variations in the absorbance of a coloring agent solution resulting from a pH shift due to carbon dioxide molecules being enzymatically generated. A wide and linear relationship was obtained between the concentration of urea (16 microM - 1.0 mM) and the change in absorbance. This FIA system has great advantages that the system did not suffer from ammonia and ethanol in samples. This system, armed with a microfluidic gas-diffusion device, was applicable to the determination of various substrates of many kinds of decarboxylase, amino-acid oxidase, and amino-acid oxygenase, producing CO2 and NH3 molecules.     

Simultaneous determination of Cl(-), Br(-), I(-) and F(-) with flow-injection/ion-selective electrode systems

Flow-through ion-selective electrodes were constructed from compressed pellets (8-10 mm thick, 13 mm diameter, 10 tons/cm(2) pressure) of Ag(2)S/AgX (X = Cl(-), Br(-) or I(-)) drilled longitudinally (1.5 mm diameter hole) to be suitable for use in flow-injection analysis. A column of AgCl (5.5 cm long, 2-3 mm i.d.) was included in the Cl(-)-electrode manifold to remove interferences from 10(-4)M Br(-) and 3 x 10(-5)M I(-) and S(2-). A column of amalgamated lead (2-3 cm long, 2-3 mm i.d.) was used in the Br(-) electrode manifold to remove interference from 2 x 10(-5)M I(-), 3 x 10(-5)M S(2-) and 7 x 10(-4)M Cl(-). These columns and the addition of ascorbic acid were not required when I(-) was determined with the iodide electrode. The carrier stream was 0.1M sodium perchlorate (pH 4) at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min. The sample pH could be 4-7. Simultaneous determination of Cl(-) and I(-), Cl(-), I(-) and Br(-) and Cl(-), I(-), Br(-) and F(-) ions was possible with combinations of the corresponding electrodes and columns in series and/or parallel in specially designed manifolds. Calibration plots were linear, with almost theoretical slopes, down to 10(-6)M I(-), 5 x 10(-6)M Br(-), 10(-4)M Cl(-) and 5 x 10(-6)M F(-), with precision better than 1%. Sampling rates for single-ion determinations were 72, 102, 90 and 80 per hr for the one-, two-, three- and four-electrode systems respectively. Determinations of these ions in water samples by the recommended procedure and by established batch methods showed no significant difference at the 95% confidence limits in a paired comparison t-test.     

Sequential determination of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids by amperometric multisite detection flow injection analysis

An amperometric multisite detection flow injection analysis (FIA) system was developed for sequential determination of 2 analytes with a single sample injection and single detector. Tubular composite carbon electrodes with an inner diameter similar to that of the FIA manifold tubing were constructed so that measurements could be made without impairing the sample plug hydrodynamic characteristics. The electrochemical behavior of the tubular voltammetric cell in a low-dispersion FIA manifold and the behavior of the FIA system incorporating this type of voltammetric cell intended for multisite detection were evaluated by performing measurements with potassium hexacyanoferrate(II). Feasibility of the approach was demonstrated in the sequential determination of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids in pharmaceutical products at a fixed potential of 0.98 V. The system allows sequential determination of salicylic acid concentrations ranging from 1.0 x 10(-5) to 5.0 x 10(-5) M and acetylsalicylic acid concentrations between 1.0 x 10(-3) and 5.0 x 10(-3) M with good precision on both detection sites and with relative standard deviations (RSDs) > or = 1.5% (n = 10) and 2.1% (n = 10), respectively. A comparison of these results with those of the U.S. Pharmacopeia procedure showed RSDs <5.0 and 1.0% for salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid, respectively. The proposed method enables 15 determinations per hour, which corresponds to the analysis of approximately 8 samples per hour. The detection limits of the methodology were approximately 3.5 x 10(-6) and 1.1 x 10(-5) M, respectively, for the first and second monitoring sites.     

Determination of some antirheumatics by capillary isotachophoresis

Isotachophoresis (ITP) was applied for the determination of some antirheumatic drugs (fenoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, and ketoprofen) in human serum. The leading electrolyte contained hydrochloric acid (10 mmol x L(-1)), creatinine (pH 4.5) and methylhydroxyethyl cellulose (0.1%). The terminating electrolyte was 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (10 mmol x L(-1)) adjusted with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane to pH 6.9. The ITP separations were carried out in column-coupling configuration of the separation unit provided with a preseparation column of 160 x 0.8 mm inner diameter (ID) and analytical column of 160 x 0.3 mm ID. The limit of detection for ibuprofen, fenoprofen, and naproxen in serum by direct sampling was 0.008, 0.005 and 0.004 mmol x L(-1). The limit of detection for ketoprofen in serum after ethanol precipitation was 0.001 mmol x L(-1).     

Monitoring the removal of carbonate from alkali metal hydroxide solutions using gas diffusion flow injection

Monitoring the removal of carbonate from alkali metal hydroxide (MOH, M = K, Na) solutions with calcium oxide (CaO) was studied using a newly developed method for the determination of trace amounts of total carbonate (TC) in alkaline solutions based on a flow injection (FI) technique coupled with a gas diffusion system. The optimized conditions of the FI system were as follows: the flow rate of each carrier, reaction solution (H2SO4) and receptor solution (Cresol Red, pH 8.9) was 0.25 ml min(-1), the sample size was 0.1 ml and the concentration of H2SO4 in the reaction solution was 0.09 M. The limit of detection of TC by the proposed method was 4 x 10(-7) M. The removal efficiency of carbonate was affected by the amount of CaO added, the shaking time of the solutions and the concentration of MOH. For 1 M NaOH and KOH solution, the removal efficiency of carbonate was about 99% and the concentration of residual carbonate was 4 x 10(-5) and 1.2 X 10(-4) M, respectively, when the amount of CaO added was 2 g l(-1) and the shaking time was 16 h.     

Flow-injection analysis method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in natural water samples using a chemiluminescence NOx monitor.

A flow-injection analysis method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in natural water samples has been developed that consists of two systems based on their reduction to NO with hydrazine and/or ascorbic acid, followed by chemiluminescence detection. The procedure of sweeping the generated NO into an NOx monitor, by means of a gas-liquid separating coil consisting of microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing, offers practical advantages. The adjustment of the carrier gas-flow rates could yield the same calibration graphs for the two measurement systems, and the accumulation sweeping mode provides a higher sensitivity. Chemiluminescence detection allows a wide linear calibration range of 5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-5) M. The detection limits for nitrate and nitrite, defined as three-times the standard deviation of measurement blanks, are 2 x 10(-8) M and 1 x 10(-8) M, respectively, and the average precision was 3.2% at ambient natural concentration levels. Recovery tests were between 94% and 106% for a variety of natural water samples. The method is relatively free from interferences from the substances normally found in natural water, and only ferric ion has an effect for the nitrite determination.     

Post-column reactor of coaxial-gap mode for laser-induced fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis

A post-column reactor with coaxial-gap mode is developed for laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF) in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The reactor can be assembled simply and conveniently, in which a thin polyimide sleeve of 10-mm length obtained from the capillary coating is used to align separation and reaction capillary with a 20 microm gap. Naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol are used as derivatization reagents and delivered into the reaction capillary through the annulus between the separation capillary and polyimide sleeve and the gap of two capillaries by gravity. A reaction distance from the gap to detection point is 5mm. For the post-column reactor of CE-LIF, several configuration parameters are optimized, including liquid level difference between the derivatization solution and outlet buffer, annular dimension between the outer diameter of etched separation capillary and the inner diameter of polyimide sleeve, and reaction distance, etc. The detection limits in the range from 8.0x10(-8) to 1.0x10(-6) mol/L and linear calibration range more than two orders of magnitude are obtained for amino acids. The separation efficiency ranges from 1.35x10(5) to 1.67x10(5) theoretical plates.     

An interface chip connection between capillary electrophoresis and thermal lens microscope

A thermal lens microscope (TLM) detection of capillary electrophoresis (CE) utilizing microchip technology was developed. Fused-silica capillaries with an inner diameter of 50 microm were directly connected to a microchannel in a microchip. The detection limit by TLM was estimated as 2.8 x 10(-7) absorbance by measuring pure water. The detection limit of derivatized amino acids determined by CE-TLM was estimated as 2.4 x 10(-8) M, which was 100 times lower than that of conventional absorbance detection.     

Fluorometric determination of nitrite in natural waters with 3-aminonaphthalene-1,5-disulphonic acid by flow-injection analysis

Nitrite in river and sea-water was determined fluorometrically by flow-injection analysis. In acidic medium, nitrite was reacted with 3-aminonaphthalene-1,5-disulphonic acid (C-acid) to form the diazonium salt, which was converted into the fluorescent azoic acid salt in an alkaline medium. The carrier stream, into which the sample solution was injected, was distilled water. The reagent solution stream, which contained C-acid, EDTA and hydrochloric acid, was mixed with the carrier stream in a 13-m length of Teflon tubing (bore 0.5 mm) maintained at 90 degrees in a thermostatic bath. After passing through the mixing coil, the stream was mixed with an alkaline solution. The fluorescence intensity (excited at 365 nm) was measured at 470 nm. The detection limit (S N = 3) was 1 x 10(-9)M (14 ng 1 . nitrite-nitrogen) and the RSD of 10 injections of 10(-6)M nitrite was 0.4%. Analyses can be done at a rate of up to 45 hr .     

Determination of iodide in samples with complex matrices by hyphenation of capillary isotachophoresis and zone electrophoresis

A method has been developed for the determination of iodide in mineral water, seawater, cooking salt, serum, and urine based on hyphenation of capillary ITP and zone electrophoresis. A commercially available instrumentation for capillary ITP with column-switching system was used. ITP served for removal of chloride present in the analyzed samples in a ratio of 10(6)-10(7):1 to iodide, zone electrophoresis was used for evaluation. Isotachophoretic separation proceeded in a capillary made of fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer of 0.8 mm id and 90 mm total length to the bifurcation point filled with a leading electrolyte (LE) composed of 8 mM HCl + 16 mM beta-alanine (beta-Ala) + 10% PVP + 2.86 mM N(2)H(4)x2HCl, pH 3.2; and a terminating electrolyte composed of 8 mM H(3)PO(4) + 16 mM beta-Ala + 10% PVP + 5 mM N(2)H(4), pH 3.85 for all the matrices except seawater. For ITP of seawater the LE consisted of 50 mM HCl + 100 mM beta-Ala + 10% PVP + 2.86 mM N(2)H(4)x2HCl, pH 3.52. Distance of conductivity detector from the injection point and bifurcation point was 52 and 38 mm, respectively. Zone electrophoresis was performed in a capillary made of fused silica of 0.3 mm id and 160 mm total length filled with LE from isotachophoretic step. LODs reached for all matrices were 2-3x10(-8) M concentration (2.5-4 microg/L) enabled monitoring of iodide in all analyzed samples with RSD 0.4-9.3%. Estimated concentrations of iodide in individual matrices were 10(-6)-10(-8) M.     

Electroanalytical properties of aldehyde biosensors with a hybrid-membrane composed of an enzyme film and a redox Os-polymer film.

Aldehyde biosensors were constructed by cross-linking formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) or aldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH) and bovine serum albumin on the surface of a redox Os-polymer-coated electrode. The prepared aldehyde biosensors responded rapidly (within 30 s) to aldehydes without the addition of a soluble mediator, because the inner redox Os-polymer film effectively mediated the electron transfer from NADH generated enzymatically into the outer enzyme film to a glassy carbon electrode. An FDH/Os-polymer electrode responded linearly over the concentration range of 2 x 10(-6)-5 x 10(-4) M for formaldehyde, while an ADH/Os-polymer electrode, though responding similarly to long chain aldehydes, such as propionaldehyde and butylaldehyde, responded linearly over the concentration range of 4 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-4) M for acetaldehyde.     

Conversion of bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate to phosgene and reactivity of triphosgene, diphosgene, and phosgene with methanol(1)

Triphosgene was decomposed quantitatively to phosgene by chloride ion. The reaction course was monitored by IR spectroscopy (React-IR), showing that diphosgene was an intermediate. The methanolysis of triphosgene in deuterated chloroform, monitored by proton NMR spectroscopy, gave methyl chloroformate and methyl 1,1, 1-trichloromethyl carbonate in about a 1:1 ratio, as primary products. The reaction carried out in the presence of large excess of methanol (0.3 M, 30 equiv) was a pseudo-first-order process with a k(obs) of 1.0 x 10(-)(4) s(-)(1). Under the same conditions, values of k(obs) of 0.9 x 10(-)(3) s(-)(1) and 1.7 x 10(-)(2) s(-)(1) for the methanolysis of diphosgene and phosgene, respectively, were determined. The experimental data suggest that, under these conditions, the maximum concentration of phosgene during the methanolysis of triphosgene and diphosgene was lower than 1 x 10(-)(5) M. Methyl 1,1,1-trichloromethyl carbonate was synthesized and characterized also by the APCI-MS technique.     

A Simple and Economical Apparatus for Developing Thin-layer Chromatography Plates in the Anticircular Mode

Abstract

An improved method for developing thin layer chromatography plates in the anticircular mode is described. The apparatus consists of two glass dishes arranged concentrically. The outer dish has a diameter of 98 mm × 15 mm deep, and the inner one a diameter of 92 mm × 13 mm deep. The inner dish rests on four small pieces of glass (5 × 5 × 2 mm). A paper wick, (16 mm wide × 1.5 mm thick) sits between the two dishes and transfers the solvent from the outer dish to the thin layer plates. The plate sits on the paper wick with the adsorbent facing down. To ensure an even solvent flow, the dishes are situated on a platform which has adjustable legs, and an horizontal level. Up to 50 samples can be analyzed on one 10 × 10 cm plate in 5 minutes. Less than 10 ml of solvent are needed.     

Nafion membrane electrophoresis with direct and simplified end-column pulse electrochemical detection of amino acids

A novel electrophoresis technique, in which the separation column was replaced by a strip of Nafion membrane (5.0 cm x 0.20 mm x 0.25 mm), was developed for the separation of an amino acid mixture (glycine, asparic acid and lysine), followed by quadruple-pulse electrochemical detection. Nafion membrane contains hydrophilic pores (10-20 A and 50-60 A in size) acting as very narrow electrophoresis channels. The fixed-charge sites (-SO(3) (-)) on the hydrophilic pore surface provide a strong charged background. A platinum disk electrode (0.90 mm inner diameter) was employed as the detection electrode and the electrophoresis cathode was used as the quasi-reference and counter electrode for the end-column electrochemical detector, without decoupler. Under optimized conditions the mixture of amino acids could be separated at a voltage of only 90 V with a detection limit of 10(-7) M, indicating that Nafion membrane electrophoresis is a potentially attractive technique for the separation of small organic molecules or ions.     

Enhanced chemiluminescent determination of chloramphenicol and related nitro compounds by 'on-line' photochemical reaction

The viability of tandem photochemical reaction-chemiluminescence detection was studied for a heterogeneous family of nitro compounds using chloramphenicol as a test substance. The 'on-line' chemical photodegradation of chloramphenicol was performed in a flow injection assembly by using a photoreactor consisting of a 725 cm x 0.5 mm id piece of PTFE tubing coiled around an 8 W low-pressure mercury lamp. Photodegraded chloramphenicol was detected by oxidizing photo-fragments from the parent compound and their subsequent reaction with a luminol-Co(II) system. The calibration graph was linear up to 3 x 10(-5) mol l-1 chloramphenicol, the limit of detection was 3 x 10(-9) mol l-1, the relative standard deviation was 1.8% for 2 x 10(-6) mol l-1 of the drug and the sample throughput was 60 h-1. The proposed method was used to determine chloramphenicol in pharmaceutical formulations and its application to other related nitro compounds was studied.     

Resonance Raman study of the polyiodide complex formed in the reaction of iodine with the polysulphur cyclic base 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexathiacyclooctadecane

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the reaction of iodine with the interesting polysulphur cyclic base, 1,4,7,10,13,16,-haxathiacyclootadecane (HTCOD). The results indicate that the complex [(HTCOD)2]+ x I5- is formed. The I5- unit exists in the form of distorted I2 linked to I3- unit which has two unequivalent I-I bonds. The v(I-I) for I2 occurs at 194 cm(-1) while for I-I, inner and outer bonds in I3- at 143 and 160 cm(-1), respectively.     

Comparison of the use of single capillaries and coupled capillaries based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and sweeping-MEKC modes

The use of single capillaries (25 and 50 microm inner diameter (ID)) and coupled capillaries of different diameters (100-50 and 75-25 microm ID) based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and sweeping-MEKC modes is compared and reported. Naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA)-derivatized dopamine was selected as the model compound by examining the fluorescence intensity when a violet (410 +/- 7 nm, 2 mW) light-emitting-diode (LED) was used as the light source. When a single capillary (50 microm ID) was used, the detection limit for NDA-derivatized dopamine was determined to be 2.0 x 10(-7) M (Signal-to-nose ratio S/N = 3) based on the MEKC mode. This was improved to 4.0 x 10(-9) M when the sweeping-MEKC mode was applied. In addition, this can be further improved to 1.0 x 10(-9) M and 5.6 x 10(-10) M when 100-50 and 75-25 microm ID coupled capillaries are used. The use of the coupled capillary is also helpful for improving the separation efficiency. Based on the sweeping-MEKC mode, the number of theoretical plates (N) for the detected peaks were determined to be 6.3 +/- 2.7 x 10(5) by means of a single capillary (50 microm ID). This can be improved to 9.4 +/- 3.6 x 10(5) and 9.4 +/- 0.9 x 10(6) when the 100-50 and 75-25 microm ID coupled capillaries were applied.     

Luminescent properties of water-soluble conjugated metallopolymers and their application to fluorescent nitric oxide detection

Water-soluble pi-conjugated polymers (CPs) incorporating 5,5'-(2,2'-dipyridyl) (CP1) or 6,6'-(2,2'-dipyridyl) (CP2) units within the pi-conjugated backbone were prepared as scaffolds for macromolecular metal complexation. The response of CP emission to a range of metal ions was investigated in water, 10 mM aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate, and acetonitrile/water (95:5). Cupric ions are the most efficient quenchers of CP emission, with K(SV) = 1.1 x 10(5) and 5.2 x 10(4) M(-1) in water for CP1a (40% bipyridyl monomer units) and CP1b (20% bipyridyl monomer units), respectively. Quenching is approximately twice as effective in acetonitrile/water (95:5) (K(SV) = 3.1 x 10(5) M(-1) for CP1a and 1.1 x 10(5) M(-1) for CP1b). Partial restoration of emission was observed upon exposure of Cu(II)-CP solutions to excess NO(g) in acetonitrile/water (95:5) or 10 mM SDS(aq).     

Flow-through micro sensor using immobilized peroxidase with chemiluminometric FIA system for determining hydrogen peroxide.

A micromachined flow cell (overall size; 25 x 25 x 1 mm3) was designed for the fast determination of hydrogen peroxide, based on a luminol-H2O2 chemiluminescence reaction catalyzed by immobilized peroxidase (POD). The flow cell consisted of a sandwich of anisotropically etched silicon and glass chips and contained a spiral channel (20 turns, 50 cm long, 150 microm wide, 20 microm depth, channel volume 1.4 microl) and two holes (1 mm diameter). POD was covalently immobilized with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldietylenetriamine and glutaraldehyde on the inner surface of the channel. The chip was placed in front of a window of a photomultiplier tube and used as a flow cell in a single-line flow-injection analysis system using a luminol solution as a carrier solution. The sample volume for one measurement was 0.2 microl. The maximal sampling rate was 315 h(-1) at a carrier solution flow rate of 10 microl min(-1). A calibration graph for H2O2 was linear for 5 nM - 5 microM; the detection limit (signal-to-noise = 3) was 1 nM (7 fg in 0.2 microl injection). The H2O2 concentration in rainwater was determined using this sensor system.     

Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin enhanced fluorimetric method for the determination of melatonin and 5-methoxytryptamine

The effects of native cyclodextrins (alpha, beta or gamma), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin solubilized in urea, soluble starch and glucose in water solution on the fluorescence behaviour of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) (M) and 5-methoxytryptamine [5-methoxy-3-(2-aminoethyl)indole] (5M) were determined. In addition, the effect of methanol and propanol with and without beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was assessed. From the fluorescence changes with pH, the values of the pKa for the ground (9.9 +/- 0.2) and the excited state (7.7 +/- 0.2) for 5M were determined. From the fluorescence changes with beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, the association constants of M, 5MH [5-methoxy-3-(2-ammoniumethyl)indole] and 5M with the two hosts were determined. The values with beta-cyclodextrin were KAssoc5MH = (1.4 +/- 0.4) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, KAssoc5M = (1.6 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3 and KAssocM = (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, and with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin KAssoc5MH = (1.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, KAssoc5M = (2.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3 and KAssocM = (1.51 +/- 0.07) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3. The ratios of the fluorescence quantum yields for the bound and free substrate (phi b/phi f) were in the range 1.15-1.48. The detection limits under the optimum conditions were 0.381 +/- 0.001 ng cm-3 for the complex 5MH-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in water and 0.290 +/- 0.001 ng cm-3 for the complex M-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in water with 5% of methanol. The recovery of melatonin from pharmaceutical preparations was 98-103% with an RSD of 2%. The recovery from rat pineals was also good. The method is direct, simple and accurate.