Continuous Amperometric Determination of Glucose Using an Immobilized Enzyme Reactor in Combination with an Immersible Dialysis Probe

Abstract

Glucose was continuously determined by reaction in a packed-bed enzyme reactor containing glucose oxidase and catalase. Oxygen consumption was measured amperometrically with a polarographic Clark electrode. Glucose was sampled through a dialysis probe immersed in the solution to be measured. An extension of the normal range for the enzyme was achieved by modulating the flow rate through the dialysis probe and a linear response was obtained in the range of 1.0-60 mM glucose. The correlation between the glucose transfer and the membrane area of the dialysis probe was also studied. Six different membranes were used, all showing variations in the adhesion of yeast cells.     

Atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of gold with preconcentration by Donnan dialysis

Donnan dialysis enrichment with tubular cation-exchange membrane was used as a preconcentration method prior to determination of gold by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The value of enrichment factor can be controlled for a particular application through adjustment of the membrane tuning length, dialysis time, carrier flow rate, composition of the receiver solution and by addition of complexing ligand to the receiver or the sample solution. For 10 min dialysis enrichment factor above 3 can be achieved. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of 35 ng/ml was obtained. RSD at 0.2 mug/ml level was 4.7% (n = 6). The results of dialysis of noble metals mixtures are demonstrated.     

Flow field-flow fractionation as an analytical technique to rapidly quantitate membrane fouling

The initial fouling behavior of a clean membrane surface was studied using flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF), an analytical technique typically used to separate and characterize macromolecules and particulates. This work represents the first time flow FFF has been used to quantitatively evaluate membrane performance. Flow FFF is an ideal tool for expeditiously studying sample–membrane interactions for the following reasons: membranes can be quickly installed into the flow FFF channel, each analysis requires only microgram amounts of sample, and sample–membrane interactions can be rapidly quantitated for different flowrates and solution compositions.Suwannee River humic acids were used as a probe to investigate the initial fouling of an XLE reverse osmosis membrane and an NF-200 nanofiltration membrane. Flow FFF was successfully used to quantitate the fouling of each membrane and to demonstrate that the majority of sample loss was due to irreversible adsorption. The fouling on both membranes was enhanced by increasing the flowrate perpendicular to the membrane surface and by adding calcium ions to the solution. The NF-200 membrane was more resistant than the XLE membrane to fouling in the presence of calcium ions, whereas, the fouling resistance of both membranes improved to similar levels with the addition of EDTA to a solution containing calcium ions.     

Tandem on-line dialysis with a double and single dialyser in flow injection dialysis — Simultaneous determination of calcium and high chloride in industrial effluents

The on-line double membrane dialyser described previously was coupled in series to a single dialyser in the manifold of a flow injection system to include the determination of samples with a high chloride content simultaneously with calcium in industrial effluents from a single sample injection. 50 μl of industrial effluent samples are injected into a carrier stream and are simultaneously dialysed in the double on-line dialyser for chloride and calcium. The dialysed chloride sample zones are further directed to a second dialyser that is incorporated in series with the first dialyser. This enables laboratories to determine samples with a very high chloride content up to 60 g/l simultaneously with calcium by using an automated tandem on-line dialysis technique. The fast and reliable fully automated two-component flow injection procedure operated at a sampling frequency of 90 samples per hour and the results obtained for chloride and calcium in industrial effluents compared well with those obtained by standard methods.     

Performance of an ion trap mass spectrometer modified to accept a direct insertion membrane probe in analysis of low level pollutants in water

Modifications to a Finnigan ITS40 ion trap mass spectrometer are described which allow its use with a direct insertion probe. Details are given of the fabrication of a membrane probe for such an instrument. The membrane probe, which includes facilities for heating the fluid, employs a tubular membrane which is located just outside the electrode structure of the ion trap. Direct analysis of organic compounds in aqueous solution is demonstrated using a silicone membrane, with compounds such as benzene, chlorobenzene and dichloroethene being studied below the 1 ppb level. The effects of operating parameters including probe temperature, ion trap temperature, solution flow rate, mass spectrometer scan speed, and instrument tune procedures are explored in detail. Optimum performance characteristics are identified and trace level detection of eight organic compounds in the parts per trillion range is demonstrated. In seven of the eight cases studied, detection limits are below the EPA practical limit of quantitation levels. It is shown that the most sensitive mode of operation is when steady state passage of the analyte across the membrane is achieved, however, the time required for this is long in the case of some samples, and a dynamic flow injection analysis procedure is then favored. Use of the modified inlet system for solid sample introduction via a standard solids probe is also demonstrated.     

Experimental evaluation of commercially available semi-permeable membranes for use with parallel-plate dialysers in flow injection systems

Mass transfer in on-line analytical parallel-plate dialysers was studied in the continuous and flow injection (FI) modes in order to characterise the nature of the dialysis process and its dependence on experimental variables. A number of different semi-permeable membrane surfaces were evaluated in the laminar-flow and plug-flow configurations. The fraction of analyte transferred from the donor to the acceptor stream depends on parameters such as type of membrane used, membrane surface, membrane line-length, membrane porosity, concentration of analyte in the donor stream, the use of concurrent and countercurrent flow between the donor and acceptor streams, and flow-rates of the donor and acceptor streams. The dialysis of calcium and chloride ions, in the absence of protein, was studied with different membrane types and dialysers with different dimensions in continuous flow and FI, and the influence of the above mentioned parameters on the dynamic dialysis process of these ions is described.     

Membrane-dialyzer injection loop for enhancing the selectivity of anion-responsive liquid-membrane electrodes in flow systems Part 2. A selective sensing system for salicylate

An electrode-based flow-injection system suitable for the direct determination of salicylic acid is described. The system utilizez a tubular polymer membrrane electrode based on manganese(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride to sense salicylate ions formed in a recipient buffer solution held within the upper channel of a flow-through membrane dialyzer assembly. Samples containing salicylic acid are manually intoduced into the lower channel of the dialysis unit, in which a thin silicone rubber membrane separates the two channels. The analyte is trapped across the membrane as salicylate ions within a static layer of an appropriate recipient buffer. After a fixed trapping time, the recipient plug is flushed to the electrode in a conventional flow-injection manner. Peak potentials observed are logarithmically related to the salicylic acid concentrations in the original sample. Without the dialysis unit, the electrode response to salicylate is nearly Nernstian over the range 2 × 10^?6?10^?2 M. In the complete flow/dialysis system, near Nernstian response was achieved for 10^?4?10^?2 M salicylate with a 2-min trapping time. Detection limits can be altered by changing the trapping time. Anionic salicylate can be determined by acidifying the sample. The resulting system offers very high selectivity for salicylate (as salicylic acid) over most inorganic and organic anions normally found in blood. Preliminary studies demonstrate the practical application of this system for the determination of salicylate in serum.     

Solute transfer in on-line analytical flow-through dialyzers

Mass transfer in infinite parallel-plate dialyzers with co-flow between sample and detector streams is discussed for three different theoretical models. Analytical solutions with coupled diffusion and membrane transfer equations were obtained for plug flow in both channels. The finite-difference approximation method was used to obtain numerical solutions for a laminar-flow regime. Results obtained with a mixing-cup model under steady-state conditions were also included. With the dimensions typical for analytical dialyzers, there were only small differences between the laminar-flow and plug-flow models. The mixing-cup model predicted higher fluxes through the membrane than the other two models, particularly when the channel heights were increased. The theoretical results were compared with experimental results for dialysis of zinc(II) ions and the flow dependence agreed reasonably well with theory provided that the hydrostatic pressures were equal on both sides, and that stresses which could result in membrane bulging were kept low.     

Determination of urea with an ammonia gas-sensitive semiconductor device in combination with urease

An ammonia gas-sensitive Ir/Pd MOS capacitor is used for urea determinations with the aid of urease in two different systems. One combination utilizes a reaction column with immobilized urease in a flow-injection system. The lower limit of urea detection for 150-μl samples was 0.2 μM. Urea in whole blood and blood serum was determined after a 500-fold dilution, and 15 samples per hour could be assayed. The relative standard deviation was 4.6% (n=10). Recovery tests were satisfactory. Values obtained for urea in serum correlated well with those from a spectrophotometric method. The other combination is based on a small flow cell with free urease enclosed between a dialysis membrane and a gas-permeable membrane. Urea was determined in the concentration range 0.01–50 mM. The enzyme probe could be used for up to four days without changes of behaviour.     

Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy as an In Vitro Technique for Measuring Convective Flow Rates Across Dentine and the Efficacy of Surface Blocking Treatments

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is shown to be a powerful technique for both the measurement of local solution velocities through human dentine slices, in vitro, and for assessing quantitatively the effect of surface treatments on the flow process. SECM employs a small ultramicroelectrode (micron dimensions) as an imaging probe to provide information on the topography and transport characteristics of dentine, with high spatial resolution. In these studies the dentine sample is a membrane in a two compartment cell, which contains solutions of identical composition, including a redox active mediator (Fe(CN) . In the absence of an applied pressure, the transport‐limited current response at the probe electrode is due to diffusion of Fe(CN) to the UME, which depends on the probe to sample separation. Under an applied hydrostatic pressure, hydrodynamic flow across the sample enhances mass transport to the UME. With this methodology it was possible to accurately measure effective fluid velocities, by recording tip currents with and without pressure, and assess the efficacy of potential flow retarding agents for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. For native dentine, the solution velocity was found to vary dramatically with location on the sample. The application of a glycerol monooleate ‐ base paste treatment to the surface of dentine was found to lower local flow velocities significantly. This electroanalytical methodology is simple to implement and is generally applicable to assessing the efficacy and mode of action of a wide variety of potential fluid flow retarding agents.     

Enhancing the microdialysis recovery for sampling of Cu and Ni by incorporating humic acid in the perfusion liquid

A strategy to enhance the microdialysis relative recovery for sampling of Cu and Ni ions is presented. Enhanced recovery was achieved by incorporating humic acid, a binding agent, in the microdialysis perfusion liquid during sampling from a Cu and Ni standard solution mixture. All microdialysis sampling experiments were carried out at room temperature under quiescent conditions using a concentric type of microdialysis probe with an adjustable effective dialysis length. For all metal determinations electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was employed. Metal recoveries were shown to be dependent on the membrane molecular weight cut-off, perfusion rate, sample solution pH, perfusion liquid composition as well as perfusion liquid pH. Complete recoveries (100%) of Cu and Ni were obtained by microdialysis sampling using a 10 kDa molecular weight cut-off polysulfone membrane at a flow-rate of 2 μl/min employing a 0.05% (w/v) optimal composition of humic acid incorporated in the perfusion liquid. The optimal sampling pH of humic acid was determined to be 6 where most oxygen containing functional groups are dissociated and available for metal binding. These data have important ramifications for sampling and determination of metal ions in small sample solutions (∼10 ml) at very low concentrations in the ppb range.     

Development of a laccase-based flow injection electrochemical biosensor for the determination of phenolic compounds and its application for monitoring remediation of Kraft E1 paper mill effluent

This paper describes the development of a new system for amperometric determination of phenolic compounds, and its application for monitoring these compounds in paper mill effluent. The method was based on a flow system, a dialysis sampler, and a laccase-based biosensor. The performance of this system was investigated with respect to pH, ionic strength, working potential, and flow-rate dependence. The biosensor showed an excellent long-term stability allowing measurements for over than 3 months. The sensitivity of laccase-based biosensor was tested for phenol, p-chlorophenol, guaiacol and chloroguaiacol; the detector presented selective measurements of micromolar concentration of these compounds. The integration of a dialysis membrane sampling in the system protected the biosensor surface from fouling and gave independence of sample conditions that commonly influence the biosensor performance. These favorable characteristics allowed its application for direct measurements in complex media with no sample pretreatment. This ability was confirmed employing this system in a continuous analysis of phenolic compounds during the remediation of paper mill effluent by ozonization process.     

Investigation of chemical effects on the performance of flow-through dialysis applied to the determination of ionic species

In this paper, the influence of chemical variables on the mass transfer kinetics of ionic species under dynamic conditions in flow-through sandwich-type dialysers is thoroughly investigated. Although the driving force of the mass transport is the existence of a concentration gradient between the two phases separated by a semi-permeable membrane, it has been demonstrated that the chemical composition of both donor and acceptor solutions in terms of concentration and kind of ionic compounds has a significant influence on the mass transfer efficiency. The Donnan effect on passive dialysis and the fast migration of ions concomitantly present with the target species improved the transfer of the analyte ion in the membrane separation process. Thus, for the determination of low molecular weight anions, the addition of cationic species with high transport index, such as oxonium ion, to the donor stream, or multicharged ions (e.g. Al³⁺) to the recipient stream, enhanced the dialysis yields more than 62% with respect to the use of water as acceptor and sample medium.As a consequence of the dependence of the dialysis rate on the composition of the sample matrix, different diffusate concentrations were encountered for the same input concentration of analyte when prepared in different electrolytic media. In order to balance the chemical potential on the donor side, the ionic strength for both standards and sample solutions should be carefully adjusted via incorporation of a modifier stream in the flow manifold (e.g. 1.0 mol l⁻¹ KNO₃ or 0.5 mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄) as demonstrated in the bulk of the text. Appropriate buffering of the recipient solution was equally effective. Furthermore, these strategies were found suitable to overcome the lack of linearity observed by several researchers in in-line dialytic processes at low concentrations of ionic species caused by polar interactions with the membrane surface.Chloride was selected as a model of target species for assessing the effect of chemical variables on the mass transfer rate in flow-through parallel-plate dialyser units. The spectrophotometric detection scheme for chloride, implemented in a secondary flow configuration, is based on the displacement reaction of thiocyanate from the corresponding mercury salt in the presence of iron(III).     

Membrane separation in flow injection systems

A critical review of membranes for on-line separations in flow-through dialysers is given. Historical perspectives are briefly outlined. The fundamental aspects of dialysis as the selective separation of species through a semi-permeable membrane are discussed. Work done on theoretical principles by a number of authors is described and a simplified model is given. The basic components, locations thereof and the influence of various parameters on dialysis efficiency are highlighted. The value of dialysis as sampling preparation system for chromatography and reactor systems is outlined and the suitability of dialyser/flow injection systems in dilution, preconcentration and multicomponent analysis is evaluated. The review is concluded with a brief look at the use of dialysis in proteinligand binding studies and microdialysis.     

Continuous,reliable on-line analysis of fermentation media by simple enzymatic/spectrophotometric assays

On-line analysis of fermentation media is often necessary for control of the fermentation process. A simple reliable semi-automatic analytical procedure with a dialysis probe is described. Ethanol and glucose were determined in a model fermentation system by using this probe with enzymatic spectrophotometric and direct peroxide detectors. The results obtained by using the dialysis probe in a semi-automated system compare favourably with those from samples withdrawn directly from the fermenter.     

A study of microdialysis sampling of metal ions

A study of the extraction fraction (EF) of metal ions Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb sampled by microdialysis from a quiescent aqueous solution is presented. A concentric type of microdialysis probe equipped with either one of two polysulfone membranes supplied by different manufacturers or a polyether sulfone membrane, all with a 10 mm effective dialysis length was used for these investigations. EF for metal ions achieved after microdialysis sampling were evaluated for membranes exhibiting a cut-off molecular weight of 3, 5, 10 and 30 kDa. The EF for all metal ions showed a dependency on membrane cut-off as well as membrane material. For Cr EFs of 0.70 and 0.80 were achieved at 1 μl/min using a polysulfone and polyether sulfone membrane, respectively, both with a 30 kDa cut-off molecular weight. Using the polysulfone membrane, Cr showed the highest EF and Pb had the lowest at 0.1. The polyether sulfone membrane achieved an EF of 0.95 for Ni and the lowest EF value was for Cu at 0.35. In these studies it is shown that pH as well as the inclusion of an optimal concentration (0.20 M) of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) in the perfusion liquid can enhance the EF of metal ions. Microdialysis was also used to sample for metal ions from wastewater and from whole tomatoes grown using sewage sludge manure in order to demonstrate the potential to apply it to these complicated matrices.     

Donnan Dialysis of Bromocomplexes of Some Platinum Group Metal Ions

Abstract

The separation of bromocomplexes of platinum group metals by Donnan dialysis is demonstrated with both anion and cation exchange membranes. the inclusion of ethylenediamine (en) in the sample improves the separation of Pd(II) from Pt(IV) with experiments performed with an anion exchange membrane and decreases the amount of metal retained on the membrane phase. With a cation exchange membrane, the addition of a ligand such as en is required for transport. With 5.6 mM en in the sample at pH 10, 74% of Pd(II) is transported across an anion exchange membrane into 0.5 M NH4Br after 6 hours while only 8% of the Pt(IV) is dialyzed. Rhodium(III) and iridium(III) behave like Pt(IV). Using a cation exchange membrane under the same conditions except with a 1 hour dialysis results in a 30-fold preferential preconcentration of Pd(II) relative to Pt(IV), and, based on the amount retained in the membrane, a preconcentration of Ir(III) which exceeds that of Pd(ll) and Pt(IV) by factors of 40 and 20, respectively.     

On-line microdialysis–high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of aniline and 2-chloroaniline in polymer industrial wastewater

Determination of aniline and 2-chloroaniline in polymer industrial wastewater was examined using high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line microdialysis. After dilution, aniline and 2-chloroaniline in the sample were diffused through a cellular dialysis membrane into the perfusion stream under controlled conditions. Conditions for obtaining optimum dialysis efficiency such as flow-rate and polarity modifier in the perfusion stream, pH and added salt in the sample solution, as well as chromatographic conditions were investigated. The results indicate that the dialysis achieved at a sample matrix pH value of 9.5 with 0.1 M NaCl addition, and the perfusate at 10-μl/min flow-rate offered optimum dialysis efficiency. The aniline and 2-chloroaniline were well separated in an acceptable time on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column eluted with 40% aqueous methanol solution at pH 7.0 and 1.0 ml/min flow-rate. The proposed method provided a very simple procedure to determine aniline and 2-chloroaniline in wastewater. Application was illustrated by the analysis of aniline and 2-chloroaniline in wastewater released from a polymer factory.     

高效液相色谱-柱后固定化酶反应器-电化学检测法分析大鼠脑微透析液中的乙酰胆碱和胆碱

 建立了用高效液相色谱分离－柱后固定化酶反应器酶解－电化学检测器检测酶解最终产物Ｈ２Ｏ２的方法，分析了麻醉和自由活动大鼠脑微透析液中乙酰胆碱（ＡＣｈ）和胆碱（Ｃｈ）的含量。至少在０．２～１００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ范围内ＡＣｈ和Ｃｈ的浓度与其响应的线性关系良好，它们的检测极限都可达５０ｆｍｏｌ。对高效液相色谱结合固定化酶反应器的分析方法作了简要的讨论。