Selective determination of caffeine and trigonelline in aqueous extract of green coffee beans by FT-MIR-ATR spectroscopy

A non-destructive, fast, simple and reliable Fourier transform mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FT-MIR-ATR) method for the selective determination of caffeine and trigonelline in the aqueous extract of green coffee beans was developed and validated. The calibration curves were linear in the range 2000 − 7000 mg/L for caffeine and trigonelline with R² ≥ 0.9997. The limits of detection (LOD) were 140 and 100 mg/L and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 470 and 330 mg/L for caffeine and trigonelline, respectively. The precision (% RSD) was 3.0% and 4.3% for caffeine and trigonelline, respectively. The developed method was applied to 20 samples of green coffee beans to determine the two alkaloids. The amount of caffeine and trigonelline in the green coffee beans were found in the range 0.84 − 1.15% (w/w) and 0.83 − 1.13% (w/w), respectively. The accuracy of the developed analytical method was evaluated by spiking standard caffeine and trigonelline to green coffee beans and the average recoveries were 93 ± 5% and 98 ± 4%, respectively. Therefore, the developed FT-MIR-ATR methods can be used for direct determination of the two alkaloids in the green coffee beans.     

Gas chromatographic determination of the fatty-acid content of heat-treated green beans

A gas chromatographic method that employs flame ionization detection, a DB-Wax capillary column with helium as the carrier gas, and a split-splitless (1:15) injector was used to determine the effects of different heat treatments on the fatty-acid content of whole green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.). A one-step-extraction-methylation method was used to obtain fatty acid methyl esters from raw and steamed, boiled, pressure-cooked, and microwave-cooked green beans. The fatty-acid profile changed slightly, but heat treatment produced an increase in the fatty-acid content.     

Enzymatic-spectrophotometric determination of sucrose in coffee beans

A spectrophotometric method for determining sucrose is proposed. Sucrose is hydrolyzed by invertase into glucose and fructose. Then, glucose is oxidized in presence of glucose oxidase and the produced hydrogen peroxide reacts with phenol-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt and 4-aminoantipyrine in presence of peroxidase, yielding a pink dye with an absorption maximum at 505 nm. This method was validated following the EURACHEM and VAM project guidelines for method validation. Trueness, precision, robustness, sensitivity and linearity were considered. The method was applied to the determination of sucrose in green and roasted coffee beans. A comparison with the HPLC method with pulsed amperometric detection was carried out.     

Surfactant-sensitized malachite green method for trace determination of orthophosphate in aqueous solution

A surfactant-sensitized spectrophotometric method for determination of trace orthophosphate has been developed using anion surfactant (Ultrawet 60 L) with molybdate and malachite green in low acidic medium (pH_T 1.0). The method detection limit (3 × standard deviation of blank, n = 10) was 8 nM and the calibration curve was linear over a range of 10-400 nM (r² = 0.997). The molar absorptivity was 1.26 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 600 nm with the background correction at 530 nm. The precision of method was 3.4% at 50 nM and 2.4% at 100 nM orthophosphate (n = 10). The hydrolysis of eight organic phosphorus and polyphosphate compounds was less than 2% of the total phosphorus present (5-10 μM). This method showed less arsenate interference than previous methods, with only 3% even in the presence of orthophosphate in the samples. No interference of silicate up to 40 μM was observed. Background anions (in an order of SO₄²⁻ > NO₃⁻ > Cl⁻) have greater effects than cations (Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Na⁺) on the reagent blank and the molar absorptivity of the color product.     

Indirect voltammetric determination of caffeine content in coffee using 1,4-benzoquinone modified carbon paste electrode

In this paper a simple and highly sensitive electroanalytical method for the determination of caffeine content using 1,4-benzoquinone modified carbon paste electrode is presented. The method is based on suppression of 1,4-benzoquinone peak current on addition of caffeine. Square-wave and cyclic voltammetric techniques were utilised for the investigation. The 1,4-benzoquinone modified electrode exhibited a well-defined peak with reproducible peak current values for repetitive measurements; and showed a decrease in peak current value with an increase in caffeine content. The result revealed two linear range regions between 0 mmol L⁻¹ and 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ and 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ and 8.0 mmol L⁻¹, with detection limits of 0.3 μmol L⁻¹ and 5.1 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. The method was then successfully applied to the determination of caffeine content in coffee samples. The effects of pH, electrode composition, step potential, pulse amplitude and square-wave frequency on the voltammetric responses were also investigated.     

Development of visual analytical methods for trace determination.

In this paper our recent progress in the field of simple analytical methods is reviewed, with particular focus on the development of rapid, inexpensive, yet sensitive techniques to visualize trace elements of medical, industrial, and environmental importance. Our objective is to solve long-standing practical problems in these fields. We have repeatedly shown that visual perception is remarkably sensitive when used with our new techniques. The applicability of the proposed methods to real samples is also discussed. Making measurements visually is a method free from machinery malfunctions and serves as a simple and sensitive analytical technique, avoiding all of the practical disadvantages associated with sophisticated instrumentation as well as tedious procedures.     

Uncertainty in chemical analysis for the example of determination of caffeine in coffee

The comprehensive quantifying of uncertainty for the determination of caffeine in coffee is given according to the EURACHEM/CITAC Guide. The cause–effect diagram is very useful for the identification of the sources of uncertainty and the relationship between them. In this case the uncertainty caused by the pipette, the stock solution and the calibration curve are the three main sources. Concerning the concentration of the stock solution the purity of the caffeine was most important. The combined uncertainty showed that none of the three parts (stock solution, pipette, calibration curve) can be neglected. The expanded uncertainty (coverage factor k=2) is about 5.4%.     

UV spectrophotometric determination of theobromine and caffeine in cocoa beans

A rapid, simple and accurate method for individually determining theobromine and caffeine in cocoa beans is presented. Caffeine alone is completely extracted into chloroform from an aqueous solution at a pH between 12.5 and 12.7, and can be determined by UV spectrophotometry at 275.9 nm. For the theobromine remaining in the aqueous solution, a wavelength of 272.7 nm is used. The results were reproducible with a relative standard deviation of about 0.65%.     

A new approach for one-pot,green synthesis of new polycyclic indoles in aqueous solution

Electro-oxidation of phenylamine derivatives (1a and 1b) have been studied in the presence of pyrazolidine-3,5-dione (3) as a nucleophile in phosphate buffer solution mixed with ethanol, using voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques. The obtained results indicated that the oxidized form of phenylamines (2a and 2b) participate in Michael addition type reactions with pyrazolidine-3,5-dione (3) and via ECECCCCC mechanisms convert to the corresponding new polycyclic indoles (12a and 12b). In the present study, new polycyclic indole derivatives were synthesized with good yields and high purity using a facile, one-pot and environmentally friendly electrochemical method, without any chemical catalysts, toxic solvents and hard conditions.     

Salting-out gradients in centrifugal partition chromatography for the isolation of chlorogenic acids from green coffee beans

In addition to sample solubility constraints, the use of polarity gradients in normal-phase centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) for the purification of complex mixtures is also limited by the instability of biphasic systems as a consequence of dramatic changes in the settling times along the gradient, leading in many cases to column bleeding when working under maximum efficiency conditions. In this paper an electrostriction approach is proposed as a strategy in reversed-phase CPC to fractionate intermediate polarity extracts in a single run by bringing its components into the “sweet spot” in a controlled fashion through a stepwise reduction of salt concentration in the aqueous mobile phase. The salting-out gradient method was successfully tested with the separation of the major chlorogenic acids (CGAs, hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids) present in green coffee beans (5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), 5-feruloylquinic acid (5-FQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA)) using ethyl acetate-hexane as the stationary phase and an ionic gradient of LiCl (5.0, 2.5 and 0.1 M) as the mobile phase in one case and (NH₄)₂SO₄/KNO₃ (3.0 and 1.5 M/1.5 M) in another. Regioisomers of each chlorogenic acid obtained by base-catalyzed isomerisation were also separated by CPC using isocratic elution. The best resolution for both FQAs and diCQAs was achieved with a chloroform–n-butanol–0.01 M pH 2.5 phosphate buffer (84:16:100; v/v) system, while CQAs were best isolated using chloroform–n-butanol–0.01 M pH 2.5 phosphate buffer/5.0 M LiCl (82:18:100; v/v).     

Fourier transform infrared determination of caffeine in roasted coffee samples

A new procedure has been developed for the FT-IR determination of caffeine in roasted coffee samples. The method involves wetting the coffee samples with a 0.25 M aqueous NH₃ solution, extracting the caffeine with CHCl₃, and measuring absorbance at 1659 cm^–1 using a baseline established between 1900 and 830 cm^–1. The procedure proposed is fast, only requiring a total extraction time of 16 min for each sample, and provides a drastic reduction of the organic solvent consumed, from the 200 mL diethyl ether and 50 mL CHCl₃ required for each sample by the reference chromatographic UV-spectrometric determination to only 5 mL CHCl₃. The method provides a limit of detection of the order of 3 mg L^–1 caffeine and a relative standard deviation of 0.4% for 3 independent analyses of a sample containing 18.6%mg/g caffeine. The accuracy of the FT-IR procedure was evaluated from recovery experiments on spiked samples providing values from 94.4 to 100.1% and from the comparison of results found for a series of commercial samples, by both FT-IR and the official reference procedure. Received: 9 July 1999 / Revised: 23 September 1999 / /Accepted: 24 September 1999     

Fourier transform infrared determination of caffeine in roasted coffee samples

A new procedure has been developed for the FT-IR determination of caffeine in roasted coffee samples. The method involves wetting the coffee samples with a 0.25 M aqueous NH3 solution, extracting the caffeine with CHCl3, and measuring absorbance at 1,659 cm(-1) using a baseline established between 1,900 and 830 cm(-1). The procedure proposed is fast, only requiring a total extraction time of 16 min for each sample, and provides a drastic reduction of the organic solvent consumed, from the 200 mL diethyl ether and 50 mL CHCl3, required for each sample by the reference chromatographic UV-spectrometric determination to only 5 mL CHCl3. The method provides a limit of detection of the order of 3 mg L(-1) caffeine and a relative standard deviation of 0.4% for 3 independent analyses of a sample containing 18.6%mg/g caffeine. The accuracy of the FT-IR procedure was evaluated from recovery experiments on spiked samples providing values from 94.4 to 100.1% and from the comparison of results found for a series of commercial samples, by both FT-IR and the official reference procedure.     

Titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of cerium(IV) in aqueous solution

A titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods for cerium(IV) determination have worked out. The first method relies upon the treatment of cerium(IV) solution with an excessive amount of iodide; the liberated iodine is extracted into chloroform, then reduced to iodide. The latter is iodometrically determined after 6- or 36-fold amplification. The spectropho-tometric finish is based upon the reaction of the titled ion with iron(II), in the presence of hexacyanoferrate(II), to form an intense prussian blue color suitable for the trace determination of cerium(IV) ion.     

Evaluation of solid-phase microextraction methods for determination of trace concentration aldehydes in aqueous solution

A method for trace analysis of a wide range of aldehydes (saturated/unsaturated aliphatic, aromatic aldehydes, including hydroxylated species, and dialdehydes) in an aqueous solution was optimized. An evaluation of three solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques (headspace, liquid-phase, and on-fiber derivatization) with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) aldehyde derivatization was performed focusing on the optimization of the main extraction parameters (temperature and time). The optimized method employed the liquid-phase SPME (D-L-SPME) of derivatized aldehydes at 80 degrees C for 30 min. Limits of detection (LODs) using this optimal method were in the range of 0.1-4.4 microg/L for the majority of aliphatic (saturated, unsaturated), aromatic aldehydes and dialdehydes. Formaldehyde LODs and those of some hydroxylated aromatic aldehydes were between 32 and 55 microg/L. Headspace SPME using an on-fiber derivatization generally showed a lower sensitivity and several compounds were not detected. Another technique, the optimized headspace SPME of aldehydes derivatized in aqueous solution, was not as sensitive as D-L-SPME for hydroxylated aromatic aldehydes. The developed method was used to analyze aqueous particulate matter extracts; this method achieved higher sensitivities than those obtained with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 556.     

Development of new analytical methods for selenium speciation in selenium-enriched yeast material

A sequential extraction allowing the discrimination of water-soluble and non-soluble selenium fractions has been developed to evaluate the availability of selenium (Se) in an Se-enriched yeast candidate reference material. The fractionation of selenium-containing compounds in the extracts was achieved on preparative grade 200 Superdex 75 and columns. It showed that water-soluble selenium is present in several fractions with a large mass distribution. Low-molecular- (< or = 10,000) and high-molecular-mass selenocompounds (range 10,000-100,000) were considered separately for further experiments. The analytical approach for low-molecular-mass selenocompounds was based onanion-exchange HPLC with on-line inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS for quantitative analysis. Selenocystine, selenomethionine, selenite and selenate were quantified in the fractions isolated in preparative chromatography. The study revealed the existence of various unidentified Se species in yeast material. The Se-containing proteins in the yeast material have been further separated and selenium quantified by the combination of gel electrophoresis and electrothermal vaporization-ICP-MS. This new approach allows the separation of the proteins with high resolution by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the sensitive determination of selenium in the protein bands.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of green coffee beans methanolic extract in rat skin

Abstract

Since a long time caffeine has been used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations due to its favorable effects on the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the topical anti-inflammatory activity (carrageenan-induced paw oedema) of an ointment prepared using a methanolic extract from green beans of C. robusta via histology. Results showed that the treatment with the ointment reduced the paw oedema within 3 and 5?h post-carrageenan administration. The immunohistochemical evaluations of αSMA, Langerin and S100 gave further support to the morphological analysis. Finally, the methanolic extract from green beans of C. robusta proved to possess elevated free radical scavenger capability by DPPH assay, which may contribute to the observed anti-inflammatory activity.     

Kirkwood-Buff integrals and density fluctuations in aqueous solution of caffeine

The Kirkwood-Buff theory is applied to caffeine aqueous solution. The integrals of radial distribution functions are calculated from the osmotic coefficient, density and sound velocity data at 25°C. The results are discussed in terms of density fluctuations of two components and the correlation between them. It is found that the concentration dependence of Kirkwood-Buff integrals reflects the association tendency of caffeine and its strong influence on the properties of the solvent.     

A new simple sensitive differential pulse polarographic method for the determination of acrylamide in aqueous solution

A new simple sensitive differential pulse polarographic (DPP) method was investigated for the determination of acrylamide (AA) directly in a neutral aqueous solution. The AA showed a well-defined and well-resolved peak in pure aqueous LiCl at −1.84 V in the potential range from −1.6 V to −1.97 V at nitrogen pressure of 0.5 kg cm⁻². Among the various electrolytes studied, the AA showed good DPP response in the presence of LiCl and tetra methyl ammonium iodide, while it showed poor response in the presence of tetra butyl ammonium hydroxide and tetra butyl ammonium bromide due to their strong adsorption on the surface of electrode which hindered its reduction. The effect of LiCl concentration, the cyclic voltammetric response and the drop time study showed that AA exhibited an irreversible adsorptive electrochemical behavior. The good electrochemical response in pure aqueous medium suggested that hydrogen bonding might be involved which may favor the electrode reaction. Under optimized conditions, the peak current was linear in the entire concentration range from 0.2 mg L⁻¹ to 20 mg L⁻¹ with the correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9998. The method showed good reproducible results with R.S.D. of 0.3% (n = 16). The detection limit (LOD) was 27 μg L⁻¹. The influence of various interfering agents was also studied. The method was applied successfully for the quantification of AA in water samples without any interference effect from alkali metals.     

Comprehensive multidimensional GC for the characterization of roasted coffee beans

The present investigation is based on the separation of one of the most complex food matrices: the roasted coffee bean volatile fraction. Analysis of the two main species of coffee (Arabica/Robusta) was achieved through an effective and simple sampling procedure, headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and the unprecedented resolving power of comprehensive gas chromatography (GC x GC). The combination of these two techniques proved to be a powerful tool for the extraction and separation of coffee volatiles. In fact, thousands of compounds that play various roles in the constitution of coffee aroma profile were resolved in the 2-D contour plot, each occupying a specific position pinpointed by two retention time coordinates. The potential use of this method for the assessment of coffee quality and the detection of commercial fraud is discussed. The potential of GC x GC for identification and classification of unknowns was also demonstrated, as the formation of characteristic patterns for structurally related compounds was observed in the bidimensional chromatogram. Moreover, reproducibility results were supported by the use of an autosampler for SPME applications that allowed any inaccuracy arising from manual handling to be avoided.