Off-line coupling of pressurized liquid extraction and LC/ED for the determination of retinyl acetate and tocopherols in infant formulas

An analytical methodology including pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) as sample treatment to isolate retinyl acetate and tocopherols from infant formulas has been developed. The milk extracts were kept at −18 °C for 30 min and after filtration could be injected directly into the chromatographic system. Thus, a rapid and simple routine control method of these products is possible.

The parameters affecting both the extraction process and the liquid chromatography (LC) system were optimized. PLE was performed using one cycle of extraction during a static time of 5 min. Methanol was chosen as the extraction solvent for a temperature of 50 °C. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using a RP-18 column; the mobile phase used was methanol–water (94:6, v/v) containing 2.5 mM acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer. Electrochemical detection in amperometric mode with a glassy carbon electrode at +1100 mV was applied. The proposed methodology was successfully used for the determination of retinyl acetate, δ-tocopherol, (β + γ)-tocopherol and -tocopherol in different infant formulas. The analytes were evaluated in the same chemical form present in the samples. Recoveries were between 92 and 106%. A certified reference material of milk powder was also analyzed.     

Development of a new method for analysis of Sudan dyes by pressurized CEC with amperometric detection

A new analytical method, pressurized CEC (pCEC) with amperometric detection (AD) using 1.5 microm RP nonporous silica packed columns has been developed for the rapid separation and determination of four Sudan dyes in hot chilli. The influence of several experimental parameters on the retention behavior has been investigated. The electrochemical oxidation of Sudans I-IV separated by pCEC can be reliably monitored with a carbon electrode at +0.95 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Fast and efficient separation of the analytes was achieved within 7 min by pCEC under the optimum conditions with an ACN/water (95:5%) mobile phase containing formic acid (pH 4.3), 5% acetone and 0.002% triethylamine using a separation voltage of 12 kV. The detection limits for four Sudan dyes ranged from 8.0 x 10(-7) to 1.2 x 10(-6) mol/L. To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of this method, the proposed pCEC-AD method was further demonstrated with hot chilli samples spiked with Sudan dyes.     

CZE separation of amitrol and triazine herbicides in environmental water samples with acid-assisted on-column preconcentration

A simple analytical scheme for the detection and quantification of amitrol and triazine herbicides (atrazine, ametryn and atraton) and degradation product (2‐hydroxyatrazine) in environmental water samples by CZE is reported. On‐column preconcentration of analytes from untreated water samples (mineral, spring, tap and river water) is accomplished by introducing an acid plug (200 mM citrate of pH 2.0) after the sample and then proceeding with the CZE separation, using 100 mM formiate buffer of pH 3.5 as running buffer and 25.0 KV as separation voltage. UV detection at 200 nm provides LODs from 50 to 300 nM in untreated samples and they were lowered tenfold by sample preconcentration by evaporation. Calculated recoveries were typically higher than 90%. Minimal detectable concentration of the electroactive amitrol could be decreased about 20‐fold when electrochemical detection was employed by monitoring the amperometric signal at +800 mV using a carbon paste electrode (LOD of 9.6 nM, 0.81 μg/L, versus 170 nM, 14.3 μg/L, using amperometric and UV detection, respectively) in untreated water samples.     

Electrochemiluminescent Detection Method for Glyphosate in Soybean on Carbon Fiber-ionic Liquid Paste Electrode

A carbon fiber paste electrode using ionic liquid as the binder (CFILE) was fabricated. The electrochemical characteristics of the electrode was examined in ferro‐/ferricyanide solution and showed better conductivity and reversibility when compared with graphite paste‐ionic liquid electrode (GPILE) and a little better than that on the carbon nanotube paste‐ionic liquid electrode (CNTILE). Glyphosate (GLY), a pesticide, exhibited excellent catalysis to the oxidation of Ru(bpy)²⁺₃ on CFILE and brought an obvious enhancement to the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of Ru(bpy)²⁺₃. Based on the catalytic ability of GLY, a simple ECL method for GLY detection had been established. Under optimum conditions, the enhanced ECL intensities were found to had linearly respond to the GLY concentration between 3.0×10^?7 and 3.0×10^?5 mol/L, and the detection limit (S/N=3) was 2.0×10^?7 mol/L. The electrode also showed excellent sensitivity in detecting GLY‐spiked soybean samples. The linear range for GLY in soybean samples was 1.0×10^?6–4.0×10^?5 mol/L and the detection limit was 5.0×10^?7 mol/L, equal to 8.45 µg GLY in per gram of soybean. The detection limit in soybean sample was lower than the USA, EU regulation and so on. If the method is coupled with the separation technology, it can be applied to detect the GLY in the contaminated samples.     

Electrochemical detection of phenolic estrogenic compounds at carbon nanotube-modified electrodes

The use of a carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode (CNT-GCE) for the LC-EC detection of phenolic compounds with estrogenic activity is reported. Cyclic voltammograms for phenolic endocrine disruptors and estrogenic hormones showed, in general, an enhancement of their electrochemical oxidation responses at CNT-GCE attributable to the electrocatalytic effect caused by CNTs. Hydrodynamic voltammograms obtained under flow injection conditions lead to the selection of +700 mV as the potential value to be applied for the amperometric detection of the phenolic estrogenic compounds, this value being remarkably less positive than those reported in the literature using other electrode materials. Successive injections of these compounds demonstrated that no electrode surface fouling occurred. A mobile phase consisting of a 50:50 (v/v) acetonitrile:0.05 mol l⁻¹ phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 was selected for the chromatographic separation of mixtures of these compounds, with detection limits ranging between 98 and 340 nmol l⁻¹. Good recoveries were obtained in the analysis of underground well water and tap water samples spiked with some phenolic estrogenic compounds at a 14 nmol l⁻¹ concentration level.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection for the simultaneous determination of vitamin A, D3 and E in milk.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic electrochemical detection for the rapid and simultaneous determination of the vitamin A, D3 and E is described. The separation is carried out by using a C18 reversed-phase column and 0.1 M LiClO4 in methanol-water (99:1, v/v) as the mobile phase. The compounds are eluted with good resolution in the above order within about 15 min and are determined by amperometric detection with a glassy carbon electrode at +1050 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The method gave reproducible results and the detection limits were of the order of 0.07, 4 and 0.2 ng of vitamin A, D3 and E, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of vitamin A, D3 and E in liquid cow milk and milk powder samples. After saponification, fat-soluble vitamins were extracted with hexane and a methanolic solution of the dried extract was injected directly into the chromatographic system, avoiding the clean-up step that is necessary for vitamin D3 when electrochemical detection is not used. Good recoveries were obtained.     

pCEC coupling with ESI‐MS for the analysis of β2‐agonists and narcotics using a poly‐(1‐hexadecene‐co‐TMPTMA) monolithic column

A pressure‐assisted CEC with ESI‐MS based on poly(1‐hexadecene‐co‐trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) monolithic column for rapid analysis of two β₂‐agonists and three narcotics was established in this article. After the organic polymer‐based monolithic column was prepared by an in‐situ polymerization procedure, a systematic investigation of the pressure‐assisted CEC separation and ESI‐MS detection parameters was performed. Baseline separation of the studied analytes could be obtained using the solution containing 75% ACN v/v and 20 mmol/L ammonium acetate with pH 8.0 as running buffer, when applying separation voltage of 20 kV and assisted pressure of 5 bar. Under the optimized conditions, two β₂‐agonists and three narcotics could be completely resolved and accurately determined within 15 min. Finally, the proposed method was successfully used for real urine samples detection.     

Determination of Taurine in Lycium Barbarum L. and Other Foods by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A method based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrochemical detection (ED) was developed for the determination of taurine in Lycium Barbarum L., LIPOVIYAN beverage and milk powder. The effects of some important factors such as the acidity of the running buffer, separation voltage, injection time, and applied potential to working electrode were investigated. Operated in a wall‐jet configuration, a 300 μm diameter carbon‐disk electrode was used as the working electrode, which exhibits good responses at +1.05 V (vs. SCE) for taurine. Excellent linearity was obtained in the concentration range from 5.0×10^?4 mol/L to 5.0×10^?6 mol/L. The detection limit (S/N=3) was 1.0×10^?7 mol/L. This proposed method has been successfully applied to analyze the actual samples with satisfactory assay results.     

Determination of tryptophan and kynurenine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection with multi-wall carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel method was developed for the simultaneous determination of kynurenine and tryptophan by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection at multi‐wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)‐modified glassy carbon electrode. The separation and detection conditions were optimized. The typical HPLC experiments were conducted by using a reversed‐phase ODS column with a mobile phase consisting of stock acetate buffer (pH 5)–methanol (4:1, v/v) using an isocratic elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The obtained LODs for kynurenine and tryptophane were 0.5 and 0.4 µmol/L, respectively. The analytical method for human plasma samples was validated and confirmed by LC‐UV and LC‐MS. The recoveries were in the range of 84.8–110%, and the precision was lower than 5.9%. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TiO2‐modified Carbon Paste Electrode as a Sensor for the Assay of Weak Organic Acids/Bases and Complex Matrix Samples

The construction, general performance characteristics and analytical application of a titanium dioxide–modified carbon paste electrode sensitive to hydrogen ions, based on incorporation of titanium dioxide in a carbon paste matrix, is described. The proposed electrochemical sensor exhibits a linear response in the pH range from 2 to 10, at 25 °C, with a sub‐Nernstian slope. The value of a slope is in a direct correlation with the electrode composition – the optimum content of a titanium dioxide in carbon paste is 30 %. Titanium dioxide‐modified carbon paste electrode shows fast response time and reproducibility, confirmed by different compounds determination in both, individual and complex material, namely, in synthetic and real samples. Besides, the electrode shows high selectivity in the presence of the alkali and the alkaline earth ions as Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. The standard deviation of the investigated acids (acetic, oxalic, 5‐sulfosalicylic, p‐toluensulfonic acid, and amino acid‐glycine) and bases (N,N′‐diphenylguanidine and collidine) is less than 1.3 %. The obtained data are compared with those obtained by using a conventional glass pH‐electrode under the same experimental conditions and indicate a high correlation between them.     

A molecularly imprinted monolith for the fast chiral separation of antiparasitic drugs by pressurized CEC

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) monoliths with (S)‐ornidazole ((S)‐ONZ) as the template molecule have been designed and prepared by the simple thermal polymerization of methacrylic acid, 4‐vinylpyridine, and ethylene dimethacrylate in the presence of a binary porogenic mixture of toluene and dodecanol. The influences of polymerization mixture composition on the chiral recognition of ONZ have been evaluated, and the imprint effect in the optimized MIP monolith has been clearly demonstrated. The new monolithic stationary phase with optimized porous property and good selectivity was used for the chiral separation of ONZ by pressurized CEC. The pressurized CEC conditions were also optimized to obtain the good chiral separation. The enantiomers were rapidly separated within 9 min on the MIP‐based chiral stationary phase, whereas the chiral separation was not obtained on the nonimprinted polymer. Additionally, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the chiral separation of ONZ in tablet samples by injection of the crude sample. The cross‐selectivity for similar antiparasitic drug was investigated. The results indicated that the chiral separation of secnidazole could also be obtained on the optimized MIP monolith within 14 min.     

Metal‐organic framework ZIF‐8 nanocrystals as pseudostationary phase for capillary electrokinetic chromatography

The outstanding properties such as large surface area, diverse structure, and accessible tunnels and cages make metal organic frameworks (MOFs) attractive as novel separation media in separation sciences. However, the utilization of MOFs in EKC has not been reported before. Here we show the exploration of zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8), one of famous MOFs, as the pseudostationary phase (PSP) in EKC. ZIF‐8 nanocrystals were used as the PSP through dispersing in the running buffer (20 mM phosphate solution containing a 1% v/v methanol (pH 9.2)) to enhance the separation of the phenolic isomers (p‐benzenediol, m‐benzenediol, o‐benzenediol, m‐nitrophenol, p‐nitrophenol, and o‐nitrophenol). ZIF‐8 nanocrystals in the running buffer were negatively charged, and interacted with the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the analytes, and thus greatly improved the separation of the phenolic isomers. Inclusion of 200 mg L?¹ ZIF‐8 in the running buffer as the background electrolyte gave a baseline separation of the phenolic isomers within 4 min. The relative standard deviations for five replicate separations of the phenolic isomers were 0.2–1.1% for migration time and 4.5–9.7% for peak area. The limits of detection varied from 0.44 to 2.0 mg L?¹. The results show that nanosized MOFs are promising for application in EKC.     

Determination of Cyanuric Acid in Milk Powder and Swimming Pool Water by Ion‐pair Reversed‐phase Liquid Chromatography

An ion‐pair reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic method, using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as ion‐pair reagent, has been developed for the analysis of cyanuric acid (CA) in milk powder and swimming pool water. It was found that the effect of the concentrations of ion‐pair reagent on the retention of cyanuric acid was different for standard solution and different real samples. The separation was carried out on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column with 85:15 (V/V) water‐acetonitrile (ACN) containing different concentration of TBAB as mobile phase for different samples. The linear range of the calibration curve for CA was 0.1–100 mg·L^?1. The detection limits calculated at S/N=3 was 0.11 mg·L^?1 for the analysis of milk powder and 0.31 mg·L^?1 for the analysis of swimming pool water, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of CA in milk powder and swimming pool water.     

Application of Novel Zn‐Ferrite Modified Glassy Carbon Paste Electrode as a Sensor for Determination of Cd(II) in Waste Water

This paper describes the preparation of a new sensor based on Zn‐ferrite modified glassy carbon paste electrode and its electrochemical application for the determination of trace Cd(II) ions in waste waters using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Different Zn/Ni ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The prepared ferrite nanoparticles were used for the preparation of Zn‐ferrite‐modified glassy carbon paste electrode (ZnMGCPE) for determination of Cd(II) at nanomolar levels in waste water at pH 5. The different parameters such as conditions of preparation, Zn²⁺/Ni²⁺/Fe²⁺ ratio and electrochemical parameters, percentage of modifier, accumulation time, pH and accumulation potential were investigated. Besides, interference measurements were also evaluated under optimized parameters. The best voltammetric response was observed for ZnFe₂O₄ modifier, when the percentage of modifier was 3 %, accumulation time 9 min, pH of supporting electrolyte 5 and accumulation potential ?1.05 V. Thus prepared electrode displays excellent response to Cd(II) with a detection limit of 0.38 ppb, and selective detection toward Cd(II) was achieved.     

Electrochemistry and Voltammetric Determination of Adenosine with N‐Hexylpyridinium Hexafluorophosphate Modified Electrode

An ionic liquid N‐hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (HPPF₆) modified carbon paste electrode was fabricated for the sensitive voltammetric determination of adenosine in this paper. Carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was prepared by mixing graphite powder and HPPF₆ together and the CILE was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. The electrochemical behaviors of adenosine on the CILE were studied carefully. Compared with the traditional carbon paste electrode (CPE), a small negative shift of the oxidation peak potential appeared with greatly increase of the oxidation peak current, which indicated the presence of ionic liquid in the carbon paste not only as the binder but also as the modifier and promoter. Under the optimal conditions the oxidation peak current increased with the adenosine concentration in the range from 1.0×10^?6 mol/L to 1.4×10^?4 mol/L with the detection limit of 9.1×10^?7 mol/L (S/N=3) by differential pulse voltammetry. The proposed method was applied to the human urine samples detection with satisfactory results.     

Electrochemical Detection of Melamine

Poly(caffeic acid) polymer was immobilized onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode via electropolymerization. Voltammetry shows a signal related to the two‐electron oxidation of the immobilized hydroquinone groups in the caffeic acid monomer units. The modified electrode in aqueous solution shows complexation of the electrogenerated o‐quinone species with melamine thus allowing in the electrochemical detection of melamine by recording the shift in potential of the oxidation signal of the polymer. Melamine detection was investigated in pure aqueous solutions and in the presence of milk powder solutions and the proposed analytical method of melamine detection in milk powder was applied successfully with an average recovery of ca. (91±7.9)%.     

Genipin‐Cross‐Linked Chitosan as a Support for Laccase Biosensor

In this study a biosensor with laccase immobilized in a chitosan matrix was developed. Prior to the laccase immobilization the chitosan was cross‐linked with genipin, a naturally‐occurring cross‐linking agent, and incorporated into a carbon‐paste electrode. Analytical parameters for caffeic acid, such as repeatability (2.7 %), reproducibility (3.0 %), linearity (0.27 and 33 µM; r²≥0.9983), limit of detection (LOD=0.18 µM) and recovery (96–103 %), were determined. The method was applied in the determination of the total phenolic content of mate herb samples. The good performance of the method can be attributed to the effective immobilization of laccase in the cross‐linked support.     

Separation of catechins and methylxanthines in tea samples by capillary electrochromatography

In this paper, the simultaneous separation of several polyphenols such as (+)‐catechin, (–)‐epicatechin, (–)‐epigallocatechin, theophylline, caffeine in green and black teas by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was developed. Several experimental parameters such as stationary phase type, mobile phase composition, buffer and pH, inner diameter of the columns, sample injection, were evaluated to obtain the complete separation of the analysed compounds. Baseline resolution of the studied polyphenols was achieved within 30 min by using a capillary column (id 100 μm) packed with bidentate C₁₈ particles for 24.5 cm and a mobile phase composed of 5 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 4 with H₂O/ACN (80:20, v/v). The applied voltage and the temperature were set at 30 kV and 20°C. Precision, detection and quantification limits, linearity, and accuracy were investigated. A good linearity (R² > 0.9992) was achieved over a concentration working range of 2–100 μg/mL for all the analytes. LOD and LOQ were 1 and 2 μg/mL, respectively, for all studied compounds. The CEC method was applied to the analysis of those polyphenols in green and black tea samples after an extraction procedure. Good recovery data from accuracy studies ranged between 90% and 112% for all analytes.     

Selective Electrochemical Determination of Uric Acid in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with β‐Cyclodextrin

Uric acid (UA) was determined in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) by using a carbon paste electrode modified superficially by a β‐cyclodextrin film (CPE/β‐CD). The surface carbon paste electrode was prepared applying a 30 cycles potential program and using a 1 M HClO₄+0.01 M β‐CD electrolytic solution. The UA and AA solutions were used to evaluate the electrode selectivity and sensitivity by cyclic voltammetric and amperometric methods. In these experiments the detection limit for UA was (4.6±0.01)×10^?6 M and the RSD calculated from the amperometric curves was 10%. From the data obtained it was possible to quantify UA in the urine and saliva samples. Selective detection of UA was improved by formation of an inclusion complex between β‐CD and UA. The results show that the CPE/β‐CD is a good candidate due to its selectivity and sensitivity in the UA determination in complex samples like the biological fluids.     

Electrochemical Determination of Synephrine by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography Using a Zwitterionic Monolith Column

A sensitive method for the electrochemical determination of synephrine (SYN) by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) has been developed. Optimal chromatographic separation and high sensitive determination by HILIC with electrochemical detection (HILIC‐ECD) was achieved using a sulfobetaine‐type zwitterionic monolith column (100×1.02 mm, i.d.), a mixture of 10 mM sodium phosphate (pH 4) and acetonitrile (20 : 80, v/v) as mobile phase, and a glassy carbon working electrode which was applied with a potential at +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The chromatographic peak height of SYN was proportional to the concentration from 5.0 µg/L to 1.0 mg/L (r=0.999). The detection limit of SYN (S/N=3) was 3.7 pg on the column. Moreover, the present HILIC‐ECD could be applied to the accurate and precise determination of SYN in Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that an ECD is one of useful detection methods applicable to HILIC.