Determination of chlorophenols by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for the determination of 19 chlorophenols (CPs) in environmental samples. The analytical procedure involves direct sampling of CPs from water using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and determination by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LC-ED). Three kinds of fibre [50 microm carbowax-templated resin (CW-TPR), 60 microm polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) and 85 microm polyacrylate (PA)] were evaluated for the analysis of CPs. Of these fibres, CW-TPR is the most suitable for the determination of CPs in water. Optimal conditions for both desorption and absorption SPME processes, such as composition of the desorption solvent (water-acetonitrile-methanol, 20:30:50) and desorption time (5 min), extraction time (50 min) and temperature (40 degrees C) as well as pH (3.5) and ionic strength (6 g NaCl) were established. The precision of the SPME-LC-ED method gave relative standard deviations (RSDs) of between 4 and 11%. The method was linear over three to four orders of magnitude and the detection limits, from 3 to 8 ng l(-1), were lower than the European Community legislation limits for drinking water. The method was applied to the analysis of CPs in drinking water and wood samples.     

Quantitative determination of chlorophenols in leather by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography with diode-array detection

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with acetonitrile was used for the recovery of chlorophenols (4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 4-chloro-2-methylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2-phenylphenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) present as biocides in leather. After a single cycle PLE treatment, solutions underwent pre-concentration by evaporation of the solvent under vacuum and clean-up treatment with solid-phase extraction cartridges. Quantitative analysis of the target compounds was carried out by liquid chromatography with gradient elution and UV spectrophotometric detection at variable wavelength for the various analytes in the range 190-240 nm. Instrumental detection limits and operative detection limits in the real matrices were determined according to the Hubaux-Vos approach and to the US Environmental Protection Agency procedures. The detection limits for the seven analytes ranged from 10 to 70 microg kg(-1). Linearity was very good in the explored range (10(-7)-10(-5)M) giving R(2) values from 0.995 to 1.000 for pentachlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol, respectively. Repeatability was satisfactory, 2-5% for a 1 x 10(-6)M level of concentration, on five repeated measurements on the sample. Recovery yield values with the proposed procedure were determined using spiked samples. Overall recovery ranged from 88 to 97%. The method was used for routine analysis of real leather samples.     

Chemically modified electrodes in liquid chromatography detection: A review

Recent trends in the use of chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) in electrochemical detection systems used in flow-injection analysis or high-performance liquid chromatography are reviewed, with the objective of indicating the most promising approaches for practical CME applications. Four specific application areas of CMEs are identified: (1) those using perm-selective coatings to enhance selectivity and inhibit surface fouling, (2) those using immobilized electron-transfer mediators to catalyse slow electrode reactions, (3) those using enzymes as modifiers to provide biological activity on the electrode surface and (4) those using ion-exchange coatings for the electrochemical detection of non-electroactive anions and cations. By virtue of these approaches, the judicious use of CMEs has already had a significant impact on the performance and scope of electrochemical detection in flow systems. The most important improvements have been in CME selectivity, which produces simpler assay procedures with less need for sample treatment, and increased usefulness for complex samples, and in CME reactivity, which expands the range of analytes amenable to electrochemical monitoring.     

Use of disposable gold working electrodes for cation chromatography-integrated pulsed amperometric detection of sulfur-containing amino acids

We have prepared disposable thin-film gold working electrodes on polymeric substrates. Our microfabrication process allows for inexpensive and reproducible mass production of such electrodes. We utilize this new type of electrode in flow-through electrochemical cells to replace the conventional non-disposable gold working electrodes for integrated pulsed amperometric detection (IPAD) of compounds separated by high-performance cation-exchange chromatography. Using two S-containing amino acids (homocysteine and cysteine) as test compounds, we have modified a previously reported waveform for optimum performance with disposable gold electrodes. With the help of the same two test substances we have characterized the analytical performance of disposable gold electrodes under the new conditions. Compared to non-disposable working electrodes, the disposable working electrodes generated equal or better results in the limit of detection, linearity of calibration and reproducibility. When used with a new IPAD waveform, the disposable electrodes functioned reproducibly for 3 days. At the end of the specified usage period of 3 days, the disposable electrodes are simply replaced. Reconditioning by polishing is thus no longer required.     

Application of liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction and ion-pair liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection for the determination of chlorophenols in water

A method termed as liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction was utilized to extract chlorophenols from water. The extracted chlorophenols, present in anionic form, were then separated, identified, and quantitated by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC/DAD). For trace chlorophenol determination using HPLC/DAD, the chlorophenolate anion provides a better ultraviolet spectrum for quantitative and qualitative analyses than does uncharged chlorophenol. This is due to the auxochromic effect of the phenolate anion. In the study, experimental conditions such as organic phase identity, acceptor phase volume, sample agitation, extraction time, acceptor phase NaOH concentration, donor phase HCl concentration, salt addition, and UV absorption wavelength were optimized. Relative standard deviations (RSD, 2.3-5.4%), coefficients of determination (r2 0.9994-0.9999), and detection limits (0.049-0.081 ng mL(-1)) of the proposed method were investigated under the selected conditions. The method was successfully applied to analyses of reservoir and tap water samples, and the relative recoveries of chlorophenols from the spiked reservoir and tap water samples were 94.1-100.4% and 87.8-101.2%, respectively. The proposed method is capable of identifying and quantitating each analyte to 0.5 ng mL(-1), confirming the HPLC/DAD technique to be quite robust for monitoring trace levels of chlorophenols in water samples.     

Potentiometric detection of organic acids in liquid chromatography using conducting oligomer electrodes

A conducting oligomer electrode was used for the potentiometric detection of organic acids in reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC). The conducting material consisted of a mixture of a phenylene vinylene trimer with a polycarbonate host polymer and iodine. A glassy carbon electrode was coated with this material by evaporation from a chloroform solution. A theoretical model was given to describe the observed potentiometric responses. The analysis conditions were optimized to obtain both efficient separations, and sensitive potentiometric responses. Detection limits in the nanogram level were attained when a 1 mM phosphoric acid solution was used as the eluent, which were comparable to the values obtained with low-wavelength UV detection. Calibration curves showed a logarithmic dependence on an injected amount for amounts higher than 5 nmol, and a linear dependence for injected amounts below this value. The response times of the electrode were smaller than 1 s at typical LC flow-rates. The reproducibility for consecutive injections was 5%.     

Potentiometric detection of amines in ion chromatography using macrocycle-based liquid membrane electrodes

Potentiometric detection employing solid-state electrodes was applied to the determination of organic amines in cation-exchange, and in ion-interaction chromatography. The amines included nine industrial alkylamines, the biogenic amines putrescine and cadaverine, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and choline. Three PVC-based liquid membrane electrode coatings were used, incorporating respectively the lipophilic cation-exchanger tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate, a combination of tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and dibenzo-18-crown-6, or a combination of tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and a calix[6]arene. The three solid-state electrodes allowed sensitive detection of all amines. The addition of macrocycles with molecular recognition properties resulted in a superior sensitivity when compared to the tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate-based electrode. The effect was most significant for the smaller amines which form the most stable complexes with the macrocycles. Detection limits of the order of 10⁻⁶ M (injected concentration) were measured for mono- and diamines for the macrocycle-based electrodes.     

Amperometric immunosensor for the detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 using disposable screen-printed electrodes.

A disposable amperometric immunosensor was studied for the rapid detection of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), the causative agent of cholera, employing an indirect sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) principle. Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) were fabricated (by using commercial and homemade carbon inks), electrochemically characterized and the assay conditions were optimized for capturing antibodies and antigen. Whole cell lysate (WCL) of V. cholerae was used to raise antibodies in rabbits and mice. The antibodies raised against WCL of V. cholerae were found to be specific, and no cross reactivity was observed with other enteric bacteria. 1-Naphthyl phosphate was used as a substrate with the amperometric detection of its enzymatic hydrolysis product 1-naphthol at a potential of +400 mV vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode. A comparison between the amperometric detection technique and the standard ELISA was made in terms of the total assay time, the amount of biological materials used and the sensitivity of detection. The minimum detection limit of the amperometric immunosensor for V. cholerae was found to be 10(5) cells/ml in 55 min, while ELISA detected 10(6) cells/ml in 4 h.     

Simultaneous determination of N,N-dimethylaniline and phenol in wastewater by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection.

A method using HPLC-CL linkage was developed for simultaneous determination of N,N-dimethylaniline and phenol in wastewater, based on the strong sensitive chemiluminescence of the luminol-K3Fe(CN)6 systems in alkaline medium. The separation was carried out on a Hypersil ODS column with a mobile phase of ethanol-0.01% triethylamine (2:1, v/v). The linear ranges for N,N-dimethylaniline determinations were 2.0 x 10(-7) - 2.5 x 10(-5) g/mL and 4.0 x 10(-5) - 1.5 x 10(-4) g/mL with a detection limit (3sigma) of 1.20 x 10(-8) g/mL; the relative standard deviation (3sigma) for 5.0 x 10(-6) g/mL N,N-dimethylaniline was 1.4% (n = 6). The range for phenol was from 5.1 x 10(-7) to 1.3 x 10(-4) g/mL, and a detection limit (3sigma) of 2.5 x 10(-8) g/mL could be obtained. The method can be useful for the determination of N,N-dimethylaniline and phenol in some environmental samples.     

Potentiometric detection of organic acids in liquid chromatography using polymeric liquid membrane electrodes incorporating macrocyclic hexaamines

Potentiometric detection employing coated-wire electrodes was applied to the determination of organic acids in liquid chromatography (LC). Poly(vinyl chloride)-based liquid membranes, incorporating lipophilic macrocyclic hexaamines as neutral ionophores were used as electrode coatings. The selectivity and sensitivity of the macrocycle-based electrodes were found to be superior to an electrode based on a lipophilic anion exchanger (a quaternary ammonium salt). Sensitive detection was obtained for the di- and tricarboxylic acids tartaric, malonic, malic, citric, fumaric, succinic, pyruvic, 2-oxoglutaric and maleic acids after separation in reversed-phase LC. Detection limits (signal/4sigmanoise=3) of 6 pmol for malonic acid and 2 pmol for maleic acid were attained. The detection was explained using a molecular recognition model. The hexaamine-based potentiometric electrodes had a 1-s response time at 1 ml min(-1) flow-rates. They were stable for at least 4 months, with an intra-electrode variation of 3.2% (n=5).     

高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定环境水中的苯胺和苯酚

建立了用高效液相色谱荧光检测法同时测定环境水中苯胺和苯酚的分析方法。色谱柱为EclipseXDB C8(4.6mmi.d.×150mm,5μm),流动相为甲醇 磷酸盐缓冲液(0.1mol/L磷酸二氢钾 0 1mol/L磷酸氢二钠,pH6.87)V(甲醇)∶V(磷酸盐缓冲液)=50∶50,流速1 0mL/min,柱温25℃,检测波长0minλex/λem=230/340nm(测定苯胺),3.5minλex/λem=215/300nm(测定苯酚)。测定苯胺的线性范围0.2～120ng,r=0.9999,检出限0.01ng;测定苯酚的线性范围0.4～500ng,r=0.9998,检出限0.02ng,回收率98.1%～101.2%。该方法已用于对环境水中苯胺和苯酚的测定。     

Solid-phase microextraction liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of chlorophenols in environmental samples

Liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS), using negative ion detection in a triple quadrupole instrument, was used for the determination of chlorophenols (CPs) in environmental samples. In-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) was compared with MS/MS fragmentation. In general, less fragmentation was observed in MS/MS as compared with in-source CID, with the latter providing more intense fragment ions due to chemical ionisation. Under MS/MS conditions [M - H - HCl](-) was the main fragment ion observed for all compounds except for pentachlorophenol, which showed no fragmentation. For multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition mode, the transition from [M - H](-) to [M - H - HCl](-) was selected, leading to detection limits down to 0.3 ng injected. Direct and headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) were used as preconcentration procedures for the analysis of CPs in wood and in industrially contaminated soils. CPs were quantified by standard addition, which led to good reproducibility (RSD between 4 and 11%) in both SIM and MRM modes, and detection limits down to ng/g. The combination of MS/MS and in-source CID allowed confirmation of the presence of CPs in environmental samples.     

A comparison of glassy-carbon and carbon-polymer composite electrodes incorporated into electrochemical detection systems for high-performance liquid chromatography

A comparison has been made of the performance of a novel composite carbon-polymer electrode and a glassy-carbon electrode for use as working electrodes in an electrochemical detector for HPLC. The composite electrode was found to be comparable to the glassy-carbon electrode in terms of current response, superior in terms of cost, machinability, noise levels, stabilization time and accessible potential range, and inferior in terms of the potentials required for the oxidation of certain model compounds such as epinephrine and norepinephrine.     

The determination of trace amounts of chlorophenols by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method is given for the separation and determination of eight chlorophenols using HPLC. The chlorophenols after extraction from aqueous solution by means of diethyl ether are taken up in a 1% methanol-petroleum spirit mixture and injected onto the column. Separation of a mixture of all eight chlorophenols can be achieved in 25 min and a linear relationship exists for each chlorophenol for concentrations in the range 0.1–1.0 ppm.     

Determination of the total phenol content of soils by high speed liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

The total phenol content of soil samples has been measured using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Soils are extracted with sodium hydroxide solution and the phenols present in the extract are recovered on solid phase C₁₈ cartridges after pH adjustment. The measurement stage employs a short (3 cm) reversed phase column and electrochemical detection. The short column focuses the phenolic species into a single peak which can be integrated. Electrochemical detection provides both sensitivity and selectivity. Hence high speed measurement of a composite peak representing total phenol content is achieved.     

Determination of the hydroxyl radical by its adduct formation with phenol and liquid chromatography/electrochemical detection

An HPLC-ECD method is described for the indirect determination of the hydroxyl (OH) radical. Fenton's reaction is used to produce OH, which simultaneously attacks phenols (phenol or pyrocatechol) to form the adducts, pyrocatechol or pyrogallic acid. Thus, [OH] quantification is based on the separation and detection of pyrogallic acid and/or pyrocatechol by an isocratic HPLC-ECD method. The quantification of OH is also performed alternatively by a chronoamperometric detection in an electrochemical cell, where simultaneously formed Fe^III (Fenton's reaction) combines [Fe^II(CN)₆]⁴⁻ to produce the Prussian blue (PB) molecules (Fe₄^III[Fe^II(CN)₆]₃). Newly formed PB molecules are then immediately converted to colorless Everitts salt (K₄Fe₄^II[Fe^II(CN)₆]₃) with the reduction of the high-spin Fe^III to Fe^II at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode at +0.150 V (versus Ag/AgCl). The calculated concentration of OH during incubation (0.626 ppm) can be detected with negative errors by the HPLC-ECD (0.595 and 0.615 ppm with the errors −5.2 and −1.8%, respectively) and by the chronoamperometric method (0.552 and 0.607 ppm with the errors −11.8 and −3.0%, respectively). For the comparison of the two sets of data, HPLC-ECD method is much more promising.     

Gold chloride electrodes as electrochemical sensors for liquid chromatography

A fast, simple, inexpensive and reproducible method for the fabrication of a gold chloride electrode is presented. The response of this electrode is highly stable and it leads to improved detection for various redox species. Experiments demonstrating the utility of the gold chloride electrode as a sensitive sensor for liquid chromatography are described.     

Simultaneous detection of purine and pyrimidine at highly boron-doped diamond electrodes by using liquid chromatography

Highly boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode, have been examined for simultaneous detection of purine and pyrimidine bases in mild acidic media by using HPLC with amperometric detection. Cyclic voltammetry at as-deposited (AD) and anodically oxidized (AO) BDD were used to study the electrochemistry and to optimize the condition for HPLC applications. At AO BDD electrode, due to its higher overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction, well-defined anodic peaks were observed for the oxidation of purine and pyrimidine bases in acid medium, whereas at AD BDD the oxidation peak of thymine was overlapped with the anodic current of oxygen evolution. The chromatograms of adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and 5-methylcytosine mixture were well resolved by using a silica-based column and a solution of 5% acetonitrile in 100 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.25) as the mobile phase. The detection was carried out at AO BDD electrode at an applied potential of 1.6 V versus Ag/AgCl. Linear calibration curves were obtained within the concentration range from 0.1 to 10 μM with the limits of detection (S/N = 3) ranging from 26.3 to 162.1 nM, resulting in an order of magnitude higher sensitivities than those at conventional electrodes. HPLC analysis with diamond amperometric detector was successfully applied for determination of 5-methylcytosine in real DNA samples with high reproducibility. No deactivation of the electrode was found during cyclic voltammetric and HPLC measurements, indicating the high stability for analysis of biological samples.     

Toxicity identification of gamma-ray treated phenol and chlorophenols

Ionizing radiation, such as gamma-rays and electron-beams, has been applied to modify toxicity of refractory pollutants and industrial wastewaters, however, very few studies reported the cause of toxicity changes by radiation treatment. In this work, degradation of phenol and chlorophenols (5·10⁻⁴M) by gamma-ray treatment and consequent toxicity changes were evaluated. Toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) was gradually decreased with increasing absorbed dose of gamma-radiation. However, in the case of phenol and monochlorophenols (2-, 3-, and 4-CPs), toxicity was dramatically increased particularly, for a dose of as low as 1 kGy. Hydroquinone, benzoquinone, catechol, chlorohydroquinone, and 4-chlorocatechol were identified to be main by-products of gamma-ray treatment. From the solid phase extraction (SPE) fractionation study, toxicity-causing by-products were found to be hydroquinone, benzoquinone, chlorohydroquinone, and/or 4-chlorocatechol.