Voltammetric Determination of Phenylglyoxylic Acid in Urine Using Graphite Composite Electrode

A composite electrode prepared from graphite powder and epoxy resin was applied as a working electrode for the determination of phenylglyoxylic acid (one of the metabolites of styrene) in human urine. Cathodic differential pulse stripping voltammetry was used and optimum conditions have been found giving the limit of determination about 5 mg L^?1. All results were compared with those obtained using hanging mercury drop electrode. For the confirmation of suggested mechanism of the electrochemical reaction the elimination voltammetry with linear scan was used.     

A rapid HPLC method for the determination of carboxylic acids in human urine using a monolithic column

A rapid HPLC method for the determination of carboxylic acids in urine samples using a Chromolith Performance RP/18e 100/4.6 with Chromolith Guard Cartridge RP/18e 10/4.6 (Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was developed. The method facilitates the simultaneous determination of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) from styrene and ethylbenzene, hippuric acid (HA) from toluene and 2-, 3-, 4-methylhippuric acids (MHA) from xylene. 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HBA) was used as internal standard. A chromatographic run is completed within less than 5 min for styrene, ethylbenzene and toluene metabolites, and within 10 min for xylene metabolites. The detection limits are 9 mg L^–1 urine for MA, 1.25 mg L^–1 urine for PGA, 4.9 mg L^–1 urine for HA, 22 mg L^–1 urine for 2-MHA, and 18.5 mg L^–1 urine for 3-MHA.No significant differences of the MA, PGA and HA concentrations in human urine samples obtained by HPLC chromatography on LiChrosorb RP 18 and on Chromolith RP/18e columns were found. The results were evaluated by using ANOVA.Abbreviations MA mandelic acid - PGA phenylglyoxylic acid - HA hippuric acid - MHA methylhippuric acid - 3-HBA 3-hydroxybenzoic acid - ANOVA analyses of variance - GC gas chromatography - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography     

Multicommutated Flow System with Amperometric Detection. Determination of Uric Acid in Urine

In this work an automated flow methodology based on a tubular amperometric detector coupled to a multicommutated flow system was developed and applied in the determination of uric acid in urine. The exploitation of the analytical potential of multicommutated flow systems allowed the implementation of an expeditious and easily controlled on‐line sample dilution, based on the zone sampling approach. The dilution capability exhibited by the developed methodology allowed a direct insertion of the samples in the flow system, without any pretreatment, assuring faster, simpler and less expensive analyses when compared to the enzymatic based methods with spectrophotometric detection commonly used in clinical analyses. The results obtained with the developed system in the determination of uric acid in urine were compared with those obtained by the enzymatic method used in clinical analysis laboratories, and no statistical difference between both methods (for a confidence level of 95%) was found. The proposed system showed good repeatability (RSD<3%, n=10) and a detection limit of 4×10^?7 mol L^?1.     

Application of simultaneous separation and derivatization for the determination of α‐lipoic acid in urine samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorimetric detection

To help to clarify therapeutic functions of lipoic acid (LA) in biochemical and clinical practice we have elaborated a fast, simple and accurate HPLC method enabling determination of LA in human urine. The proposed analytical approach includes reduction of LA with tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine and simultaneous separation and derivatization of the analyte with butylamine and o‐phthaldialdehyde followed by spectrofluorimetric detection at λ_ex = 340 nm and λ_em = 440 nm. The assay was performed using gradient elution and the mobile phase containing 0.0025 mol L^?1 o‐phthaldialdehyde in 0.0025 mol L^?1 NaOH and acetonitrile. Linearity of the detector response for LA was observed in the range of 0.3–8 μmol L^?1. Limits of detection and quantification for LA in urine samples were 0.02 and 0.03 μmol L^?1, respectively. The total analysis time, including sample work‐up, was <20 min. The analytical procedure was successfully applied to analysis of real urine samples delivered from six healthy volunteers who received a single 100 mg dose of LA.     

On-line simultaneous pre-concentration procedure for the determination of cadmium and lead in drinking water employing sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line pre-concentration system for the sequential determination of cadmium and lead in drinking water by using fast sequential flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FS-FAAS) is proposed in this paper. Two minicolums of polyurethane foam loaded with 2-(6-methyl-2-benzothiazolylazo)-orcinol (Me-BTAO) were used as sorptive pre-concentration media for cadmium and lead. The analytical procedure involves the quantitative uptake of both analyte species by on-column chelation with Me-BTAO during sample loading followed by sequential elution of the analytes with 1.0?mol?L^?1 hydrochloric acid and determination by FS-FAAS. The optimisation of the entire analytical procedure was performed using a Box–Behnken multivariate design utilising the sampling flow rate, sample pH and buffer concentration as experimental variables.

The proposed flow-based method featured detection limits (3σ) of 0.08 and 0.51?µg?L^?1 for cadmium and lead, respectively, precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.63% and 3.87% (n?=?7) for cadmium at the 2.0?µg?L^?1 and 10.0?µg?L^?1 levels, respectively, and RSD of 6.34% and 3.26% (n?=?7) for lead at the 5.0?µg?L^?1 and 30.0?µg?L^?1 levels, respectively. The enrichment factors achieved were 38.6 and 30.0 for cadmium and lead, respectively, using a sample volume of 10.0?mL. The sampling frequency was 45 samples per hour. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference material, namely, SRM 1643d (Trace elements in natural water). The optimised method was applied to the determination of cadmium and lead in drinking water samples collected in Santo Amaro da Purificação City, Bahia, Brazil.     

Observations on toxicologically relevant arsenic in urine in adult offspring of families with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and controls by batch hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

The aim of this study was to develop a method for the characterization of internal exposure to arsenic, which is thought to play a role in the development of a kidney disease, known as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, typical for a district in Bulgaria, and to investigate whether the As body burden differs in the offspring versus control individuals. For this case study, an analytical procedure for the determination of toxicologically relevant arsenic (the sum of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, and dimethylarsinate) in urine by batch-type hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. Optimization experiments for levelling off the sensitivity of inorganic arsenic and its mono- and dimethylated species in dilute HCl–L-cysteine medium were performed. The limit of detection for hydride forming arsenic fraction was 0.5?ng As, i.e. 0.25?µg?L^?1 in 10?mL of 1?+?4 v/v diluted urine. The relative standard deviation was typically 1.5–1.8% for aqueous solution and 2–6% for urine samples at 1.0?µg?L^?1 As. The sample throughput rate was 15?h^?1. No statistical correlation and cross-correlation between individuals case-control and sex at 95% confidence were found: controls (n?=?99), mean 3.5?±?2.1 (SD), range 0.9–10.4, median 3.0?µg?L^?1 As and cases (n?=?102), mean 3.6?±?2.2 (SD), range 0.5–11.0, median 3.2?µg?L^?1 As. On the basis of this study, arsenic can be excluded as a factor involved in BEN development.     

Determination of total antimony(III,V) by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry with in situ plated bismuth-film electrode

A sensitive and reliable method is described for the determination of total Sb(III,?V) at traces levels by Osteryoung square-wave anodic stripping voltammery (OSWASV). This method is based on the co-deposition of Sb(III,?V) with Bi(III) onto an edge-plane pyrolytic graphite substrate at an accumulation step. OSWASV studies indicated that the co-deposited antimony was oxidised with anodic scans to give an enhanced anodic peak at about 450?mV vs. Ag/AgCl (sat. KCl). The anodic stripping peak current was directly proportional to the total concentration of antimony in the ranges of 0.01–0.10?µg?L^?1, 0.10–1.0?µg?L^?1 and 1.0–18.0?µg?L^?1 with correlation coefficient higher than 0.995 when 2.0?mol?L^?1 hydrochloric acid was used. The detection limits calculated as S/N?=?3 was 5.0?ng?L^?1 in 2.0?mol?L^?1 hydrochloric acid at 180?s deposition time. The relative standard deviation was 5% (n?=?6) at 0.10?µg?L^?1 level of antimony. The analytical results demonstrate that the proposed method is applicable to analyses of real water samples.     

Sensitive Simultaneous Determination of o-Nitrophenol and p-Nitrophenol in Water by Surfactant-Mediated Differential Pulse Voltammetry

A simple, low-cost and sensitive electroanalytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol isomers in water samples at a glassy carbon electrode (CGE) in the presence of cationic surfactant. The electrochemical behavior of p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1?mol L^?1 acetate/acetic acid buffer (pH 3.70) in the presence and absence of cetylpyridinium bromide. The resolution of overlapped cathodic peaks potentials (E_pc) of isomers was successfully improved in the presence of 100.0?µmol L^?1 cetylpyridinium bromide, thus making this approach ideal for the simultaneous determination of isomers. Under the optimized conditions in 0.05?mol L^?1 HEPES buffer at pH 7.0 using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a scan rate of 45?mV s^?1, pulse amplitude of 220?mV and modulation time of 10?ms, limits of detection 0.59?µmol L^?1 for p-nitrophenol and 1.14?µmol L^?1 for o-nitrophenol were obtained with linear ranges from 2.0 to 60.0?µmol L^?1 and 3.0 to 60.0?µmol L^?1, respectively. The intraday precision was assessed as relative standard deviation (%) for 20.0 and 40.0?µmol L^?1 concentrations were 4.30% and 2.41% for p-nitrophenol and 4.87% and 2.20% for o-nitrophenol, respectively. The developed method was applied for the determination of the isomers in lake water samples. The accuracy was attested by comparison with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) as a reference analytical technique. Recovery values ranging from 90.3% to 111.8% also attested to the accuracy of method for analysis of real samples.     

Highly sensitive ion preconcentration method based on flow sorbent extraction using multiwall carbon nanotubes

In this work a solid phase on-line uranium ion preconcentration system coupled with spectrophotometry has been developed. The method is based on uranyl ion preconcentration at pH 3.75 onto multiwall carbon nanotubes treated with HNO₃. After preconcentration, the uranyl ions are eluted with 0.32?mol?L^?1HCl followed by reaction with 3,6-bis[(2-arsonophenyl)-azo]-4,5-dihydroxy-2,7-naphthalendisulfonic acid 0.08%[w/v] (Arsenazo III), which had maximum monitored absorbance of 650?nm. Effects of the pertinent experimental parameters on the system were investigated by means of 2^6?2 fractional factorial design, while optimization was carried out using the Doehlert matrix. Under optimized conditions, detection and quantification limits were found to be 0.21 and 0.7?µg?L^?1, respectively. The analytical curve ranged from 5 to 150?µg?L^?1 (r?=?0.998), while the relative standard deviations (RSD) were 3.27 and 2.56% for the respective uranium concentrations of 10 and 100?µg?L^?1 (n?=?10). The features obtained for the on-line preconcentration system were: preconcentration factor of 228, concentration efficiency of 57?min^?1, consumption index of 0.13?mL and sample throughput of 15?h^?1. In order to assess the accuracy of the proposed method, addition and recovery studies were carried out on spring water samples from different sources and synthetic seawater with satisfactory results ranging from 94.85 up to 103.65%.     

Electroanalytical Determination of Morpholine as a Corrosion Inhibitor at a Cathodically Pretreated Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

An electroanalytical method for the determination of morpholine, a corrosion inhibitor, was developed at a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE). The voltammetric response of morpholine at the BDDE in 0.1?mol L^?1 KCl (pH 10) shows an irreversible oxidation process at approximately 1.3?V vs. Ag/AgCl in 3.0?mol L^?1 KCl. Using cyclic voltammetry, the number of electrons involved in the morpholine electroxidation mechanism was found to be 1. The application of chronoamperometry showed that the apparent diffusion coefficient (D₀) was 2.99?×?10^?6 cm² s^?1. Using square wave voltammetry under the optimized conditions (frequency of 30.0?Hz, pulse amplitude of 100?mV and step potential of 20?mV at pH 10.0), the developed method provided limits of detection and quantification of 2.1 and 6.9?mg L^?1, respectively, with a linear range from 5.0 to 100.0?mg L^?1 (r?=?0.991). Intraday (n?=?10) and interday (two consecutive day) precision values assessed as the relative standard deviation for solutions containing 30.0, 60.0, and 90.0?mg L^?1 of morpholine were from 0.41 to 5.86% and 0.92 to 3.19%, respectively. The feasibility of the method for the interference-free determination of morpholine was verified by the analysis of synthetic boiler water samples containing CaCO₃, Na₂SO₃, Na₃PO_4, FeCl₃, and humic acid as organic matter. In addition, hydrazine was added as a possible interfering compound because of its widespread use in corrosion inhibition. Recovery values from 90.9 to 109.4% were obtained in the synthetic boiler water, thereby attesting to the accuracy of the method.     

Flow injection determination of hydrogen peroxide using diperiodatoargentate- and diperiodatonickelate-luminol chemiluminescence

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide is described. Method is based on the transition metals in highest oxidation state complex, which include diperiodatoargentate (DPA) and diperiodatonickelate (DPN) and show excellent sensitisation on the luminol-H₂O₂ CL reaction with low luminol concentration in alkaline medium. In particular, the sensitiser which was previously reported (such as Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, KIO₄, K₃Fe(CN)₆ etc.) to be unobserved CL due to poor sensitisation with such low concentration of luminol which makes the method hold high selectivity. Based on this observation, the detection limits were 6.5?×?10^?9?mol?L^?1 and 1.1?×?10^?8?mol?L^?1 hydrogen peroxide for the DPN- and DPA-luminol CL systems, respectively. The relative CL intensity was linear with the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the range of 2.0?×?10^?8–6.0?×?10^?6?mol?L^?1 and 4.0?×?10^?8–4.0?×?10^?6?mol?L^?1 for the DPN- and DPA-luminol CL systems, respectively. The proposed method had good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 3.4% (8.0?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1, n?=?7) and 1.0% (2.0?×?10^?6?mol?L^?1, n?=?7) for the DPN- and DPA-luminol CL systems, respectively. A satisfactory result has been gained for the determination of H₂O₂ in rainwater and artificial lake water by use of the proposed method.     

A multi-pumping flow system with on-line photochemical conversion and improved sensitivity for phosphorus fractionation in freshwaters

A flow-based procedure with solenoid micro-pumps was developed for phosphorus fractionation (dissolved organic and inorganic phosphorus) in freshwaters. The spectrophotometric detection was based on the formation of molybdenum blue and the organic species were on-line photo-converted to orthophosphate. The analytical response was linear within 10 and 75?µg?L^?1 with a detection limit of 2.0?µg?L^?1 (99.7% confidence level). Coefficient of variation of 1.8% (50?µg?L^?1 P, n?=?20) and sampling rate of 40 determinations per hour were achieved. Per determination, 160?µg (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄, 10?µg SnCl₂, 640?µg K₂S₂O₈ and 10?mg NaOH were consumed, generating 2.0?mL of waste. Slopes of analytical curves obtained for four different organic phosphorus species agreed with those obtained for orthophosphate, indicating quantitative conversion. The results for freshwater samples agreed with those obtained by the AOAC reference procedure at 95% confidence level. The organic matter did not interfere in the photo-oxidative process. The proposed procedure is a fast and environmentally friendly alternative for the phosphorus fractionation in freshwaters.     

Simultaneous determination of trichloroethylene,perchloroethylene and trichloroacetic acid in human urine using solid-phase microextraction fibre coated with single-walled carbon nanotubes

A reliable and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is described after extraction and preconcentration by a new solid-phase microextraction (SPME) adsorbent. The potential of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as SPME adsorbent for the pre-concentration of environmental pollutants has been investigated in recent years. This work was carried out to investigate the feasibility of SWCNTs as a headspace SPME adsorbent for the determination of chloroethylenes in human urine. SWCNTs were attached onto a stainless steel wire through an organic binder. Potential factors affecting the extraction efficiency, including extraction time, extraction temperature, desorption time, desorption temperature, and salinity were optimized. The developed method showed good performance. For PCE and TCE, calibration curves were linear (r ^{2 ?}≥?0.994) over the concentration ranges from 15 to 8000?ng?L^?1 and the limit of detection (LOD) at signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 was 5?ng?L^?1. The analytical procedure also involves derivatization of TCA with dimethyl sulfate, before headspace sampling. For TCA the linear range and LOD were 45-8000 (r ^{2 ?}≥?0.992) and 15?ng L^?1, respectively. In addition, a comparative study between the SWCNT and a commercial carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) SPME fibre for the determination of chloroethylenes in human urine was carried out. SWCNT fibre showed higher extraction capacity, better thermal stability (over 350°C) and longer life span (over 200 times) than the commercial CAR/PDMS fibre. The developed method was successfully applied to determine chloroethylenes in human urine samples. As the results indicated, the mean concentrations of TCE, PCE and TCA in exposed workers (dry-cleaning industry workers) were significantly greater than that of control group.     

Sensitive Determination of the Diquat Herbicide in Fresh Food Samples on a Highly Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

The highly boron‐doped diamond electrode (HBDD) combined with square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used in the development of an analytical procedure for diquat determination in potato and sugar cane samples and lemon, orange, tangerine and pineapple juices. Preliminary experiments realised in a medium of 0.05 mol L^?1 Na₂B₄O₇ showed the presence of two voltammetric peaks around ?0.6 V and around ?1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl^? 3.0 mol L^?1, where the first peak could be successfully used for analytical proposes due the facility in the electrode surface renovation. After the experimental and voltammetric optimisation, the calculated detection and quantification limits were 1.6×10^?10 mol L^?1 and 5.3×10^?10 mol L^?1 (0.057 µg L^?1 and 0.192 µg L^?1, respectively), which are lower than the maximum residue limit established for fresh food samples by the Brazilian Sanitary Vigilance Agency. The proposed methodology was used to determine diquat residues in potato and sugar cane samples and lemon, orange, tangerine and pineapple juices and the calculated recovery efficiencies indicated that the proposed procedure presents higher robustness, stability and sensitivity, good reproducibility, and is very adequate for diquat determination in complex samples.     

Gas-phase chemiluminescent determination of inorganic selenium in water samples following flow injection hydride generation and cryotrapping

We describe a method for the determination of inorganic selenium in water samples via gas-phase chemiluminescence (GPCL). Se(IV) was first derivatized with 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine to form 5-nitropiazselenol. The latter was decomposed by persulfate through photocatalytic oxidation to give Se(VI), which was reduced to Se(IV). Selenium hydride was generated from Se(IV) through reduction with sodium borohydride and then preconcentrated using cryotrapping. The cryotrapped hydride was evaporated and carried to a reaction chamber by a stream of helium, where it produced GPCL as a result of ozonation. The method exhibits a wide linear calibration range (from 0.5?μg?L^?1 to 1.0?mg?L^?1) with a detection limit of 0.12?μg?L^?1 (for n?=?11), and a relative standard deviation of 3.90?% (at n?=?11) at 5.0?μg?L^?1 level of selenium. The method was applied to the determination of inorganic selenium in water samples and gave satisfactory results.

Cloud point extraction for the determination of cadmium and lead employing sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A cloud point extraction procedure for pre-concentration and determination of cadmium and lead in drinking water using sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry is described. 4-(2-thiazolylazo)-orcinol (TAO) has been used as complexing agent and the micellar phase was obtained using the non-ionic surfactant octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) and centrifugation. The conditions for reaction and extraction (surfactant concentration, reagent concentration, effect of incubation time, etc) were studied and the analytical characteristics of the method were determined. The method allows the determination of cadmium and lead with quantification limits of 0.30?µg?L^?1 and 2.6?µg?L^?1, respectively. A precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD, n?=?10) of 2.3% and 2.6% has been obtained for cadmium concentrations of 10?µg?L^?1 and 30?µg?L^?1, respectively, and RSD of 1.3% and 1.7% for lead concentrations of 10?µg?L^?1 and 30?µg?L^?1, respectively. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a natural water certified reference material. The method has been applied for the determination of cadmium and lead in drinking water samples collected in the cities of Ilhéus and Itabuna, Brazil. Recovery tests have also been performed for some samples, and results varied from 96 to 105% for cadmium and 97 to 106% for lead. The cadmium and lead concentrations found in these samples were always lower than the permissible maximum levels stipulated by World Health Organization and the Brazilian Government.     

Determination of phosphate in freshwater samples by flow-injection with lucigenin chemiluminescence

Lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL) in conjunction with flow-injection analysis (FIA) is used for the determination of phosphate in freshwater samples. The procedure is based on the formation of molybdophosphoric heteropoly acid (MoP–HPA) by the reaction of phosphate and ammonium molybdate under acidic conditions. CL emission was observed as a result of oxidation of lucigenin in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in the presence of MoP–HPA. Calibration was linear up to 500?µg?L^?1 (r ^2?=?0.9998; n?=?8), with a detection limit (S/N?=?3) of 0.95?µg?L^?1. An injection throughput of 120 h^?1, and relative standard deviation (RSD; n?=?4) of 1.3–3.2% were achieved in the concentration range studied. An on-line chelating column was used to remove interfering cations. The method was applied to freshwater samples, and the results (51?±?1.0 – 107?±?2.0?µg?L^?1) did not differ significantly from results obtained using a spectrophotometric method (52.5?±?1.0 – 102?±?2.0?µg?L^?1) at 95% confidence level (t-test).     

A Highly Sensitive Method for Determination of Monobutyltin in Aqueous Media by Stripping Voltammetry at a Renewable Silver Amalgam Annular Band Electrode

An adsorptive stripping voltammetric (AdSV) procedure for the determination of monobutyltin in aqueous media at a silver liquid amalgam film‐modified silver solid amalgam annular band electrode (AgLAF? AgSAE) is described. Determination of monobutyltin proceeds in two steps. At the beginning monobutyltin ions (BuSn³⁺) are accumulated from 0.1 M NH₄NO₃ and 10 % ethanol solution at a potential of ?0.2 V, than the BuSn⁰ film is preconcentrated at the working electrode surface at a potential of ?0.7 V. After this step the DP AdSV voltammogram is recorded. The analytical parameters and the procedure of the electrode regeneration and activation were optimized. The calibration curve of monobutyltin in the range 0.02–0.30 mg L^?1 is linear (r=0.9973). The detection limit for 5 s of preconcentration, calculated as 3σ of the blank was equal to 0.004 mg L^?1, repeatability of the peak current was 1.8 % (n=5). Repeatability and sensitivity of monobutyltin determination depends strongly on the analyzed solution properties, measurement conditions and the working electrode quality. The proposed procedure was tested by means of monobutyltin determination in tap waters.     

Activation and racemization of trifluoroacetate esters in the cationic polymerization of styrene

1-Phenylethyl trifluoroacetate ( 1 ) does not react directly with styrene but it is readily incorporated into polymer chains in the presence of an excess of trifluoroacetic acid. The proportion of the nondeuterated 1-phenylethyl end groups in the polymerization of deuterated styrene coinitiated with the acid was much higher than the proportion of the end groups formed by direct incorporation of the acidic protons ([CH₃? CHPh? CD₂? CDPh? …] > [HCD₂? CDPh? CH₂? CDPh? …]). The racemization of the optically active ester-(pseudo-first order rate constant at [HA]₀ = 0.79 mol/L at 20°C equals k^R = 1.7 × 10^?4 S^?1) is more rapid than the incorporation of the ester into polymer chains (k^E = 1.5 × 10^?4 mol^?1 Ls^?1, [M]₀ < 0.4 mol L^?1, i.e., k^R > k^E · [M]). These results and the complete loss of the optical activity in the final polymer indicate that the ester is activated by the acid but it is incorporated into polymer chain via ionic intermediates.     

Determination of 4-Hydroxyphenyllactic Acid in Human Urine by Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction and High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

A novel, simple, rapid, and accurate method is reported for the determination of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid in human urine by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with fluorescence detection and magnetic solid-phase extraction. The separation and pretreatment conditions for urine were optimized. The isolation of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid was performed with isocratic elution with 4?mmol?L^?1 sodium hydroxide at 0.45?mL min^?1. Fluorescence detection was performed at an excitation wavelength of 277?nm and an emission wavelength of 340?nm. Under the optimized conditions, the linear dynamic range and the limit of detection for 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid were 0.05–10 and 0.020?mg?L^?1, respectively. The recovery for the analyte was from 86.5 to 105.5%, with relative standard derivations less than 4.12%. The method was used for the determination of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid in human urine. Statistically significant differences in the 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid concentration in urine were obtained between healthy control and individuals with breast cancer.