Sulfur and nitrogen chemiluminescence detection in gas chromatographic analysis

Sulfur and nitrogen compounds exist in a wide variety of analytical samples, from harmful contaminants in refinery streams to important ingredients in certain beverages, spices and condiments. Accurate determination of sulfur/nitrogen concentrations in these diverse samples is very important for process monitoring, quality control, product development, as well as basic research in these different industries. Due to the complex nature of the matrices, and the fact that the sulfur/nitrogen analytes usually exist at low concentrations, an element-selective detector for sulfur/nitrogen is indispensable to the GC analysis of these samples. To meet this challenge, sulfur and nitrogen chemiluminescence detectors for GC have become one of the most powerful tools available to analytical chemists, thanks to their high sensitivity, selectivity and equimolar detector response. In this brief review, an overview of the chemiluminescence detector operating principles, as well as the detector characteristics is presented. Examples of their applications in petroleum refinery, environmental analysis and food/flavor industry are presented. The two chemiluminescence detectors have also been combined into one convenient package and an example of applications of the simultaneous sulfur/nitrogen chemiluminescence detector is also provided.     

Screening for antioxidants in complex matrices using high performance liquid chromatography with acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection

The use of high performance liquid chromatography with acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection to screen for antioxidants in complex plant-derived samples was evaluated in comparison with two conventional post-column radical scavenging assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS(+))). In this approach, acidic potassium permanganate can react with readily oxidisable compounds (potential antioxidants), post-column, to produce chemiluminescence. Using flow injection analysis, experimental parameters that afforded the most suitable permanganate chemiluminescence signal for a range of known antioxidants were studied in a univariate approach. Optimum conditions were found to be: 1×10(-3)M potassium permanganate solution containing 1% (w/v) sodium polyphosphates adjusted to pH 2 with sulphuric acid, delivered at a flow rate of 2.5 mL min(-1) per line. Further investigations showed some differences in detection selectivity between HPLC with the optimised post-column permanganate chemiluminescence detection and DPPH and ABTS(+) assays towards antioxidant standards. However, permanganate chemiluminescence detection was more sensitive. Moreover, screening for antioxidants in green tea, cranberry juice and thyme using potassium permanganate chemiluminescence offers several advantages over the traditional DPPH and ABTS(+) assays, such as faster reagent preparation and superior stability; simpler post-column reaction manifold; and greater compatibility with fast chromatographic separations using monolithic columns.     

气相色谱-氮化学发光检测法分析催化汽油中含氮化合物类型的分布

建立了催化汽油馏分中各种含氮化合物类型分布的气相色谱-氮化学发光检测分析方法,考察了各种色谱条件对含氮化合物分离的影响。采用化学预处理的方法浓缩了催化汽油中的含氮化合物,并结合气相色谱-质谱检测以及部分含氮化合物标准样品,对某催化汽油中的20多个含氮化合物进行了定性(或归类)。催化汽油中几种主要含氮化合物(苯胺、2-甲基苯胺、二甲基苯胺)含量测定值的相对标准偏差(RSD)均不大于2.5%。当信噪比(S/N)为3时,苯胺氮的检出限为1.0 mg/L。该方法可用于不同来源和不同加工工艺的汽油馏分中各种含氮化合物类型分布的研究。     

Sample preparation for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in air and water matrices

This review summarizes literature data from the past 5 years on new developments and/or applications of sample preparation methods for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC), mainly in air and water matrices. Novel trends in the optimization and application of well-established airborne VOC enrichment techniques are discussed, like the implementation of advanced cooling systems in cryogenic trapping and miniaturization in adsorptive enrichment techniques. Next, focus is put on current tendencies in integrated sampling-extraction-sample introduction methods such as solid phase microextraction (SPME) and novel in-needle trapping devices. Particular attention is paid to emerging membrane extraction techniques such as membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) and membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI). For VOC enrichment out of water, recent evolutions in direct aqueous injection (DAI) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) are highlighted, with main focus on miniaturized solvent extraction methods such as single drop microextraction (SDME) and liquid phase microextraction (LPME). Next, solvent-free sorptive enrichment receives major attention, with particular interest for innovative techniques such as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE). Finally, recent trends in membrane extraction are reviewed. Applications in both immersion and headspace mode are discussed.     

Factorial analysis of a chemiluminescence system for bromate detection in water

A chemiluminescent flow system for bromate detection, based on the reaction of bromate with sulphite in acid medium and using the steroid hydrocortisone as sensitiser, was studied. A factorial analysis strategy for the study of the effect on the system response of the experimental factors, flow rates of two pumps (Q₁ — acid sulphite plus hydrocortisone aqueous solution; Q₂ — carrier, water), sample injection volume (V_L), reactor volume (V_R), sulphite concentration (C_S), hydrocortisone concentration (C_H) and acid concentration (C_A), was used. Screening analysis of the system performance was made using Plackett Burman designs. The system optimisation procedure was achieved by three levels three factors full factorial designs. V_L and C_H are the most significant factors — a quadratic C_H term was also observed to be significant. The optimised system responded linearly (logarithm of the detector signal as function of the logarithm of the bromate concentration) in the concentration range between 3.6×10⁻⁷ and 5.0×10⁻⁴ M with a limit of detection of about 8.0×10⁻⁸ M (about 10 microg/l). An analysis of some interfering ions was made and it was suggested that bromide and chloride begin to quench chemiluminescence when they are in a 10-fold excess relatively to bromate concentration.     

Direct determination of acrylamide in food by gas chromatography with nitrogen chemiluminescence detection

A method of gas chromatography with nitrogen chemiluminescence detection and using standard addition is described for the determination of acrylamide in heat‐processed foods. Using a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) sample preparation method removes the acrylamide precursors completely, and the risk of overestimating acrylamide concentration due to additional analyte formation in the hot gas chromatograph inlet is also avoided. Sample preparation is rapid and inexpensive. A Deans switch device is utilized to heart‐cut acrylamide and to prevent interferences from the solvent and matrix from reaching the detector. The pre‐column is backflushed at high temperature to maintain a clean baseline and shorten the cycle time compared to baking out the column. Quantitation using standard addition is employed for compensation of potential variability in the acrylamide extraction efficiency in acetonitrile. The limit of detection and the limit of the quantification obtained for this method are 27 and 81 μg/kg, respectively, in food samples (equivalent to 3.5 and 10.6 μg/L in acetonitrile, respectively), and the linear range is 76–9697 μg/kg in food samples (equivalent to 10–1280 μg/L in acetonitrile) with an R² value of 0.9999.     

Influence of water sample storage protocols in chemiluminescence detection of trace elements

This paper shows the influence of different sample storage protocols, on the chemiluminescence signal of some metal ions. The storage protocols studied were: acid addition (HCl or HNO(3)) and no reagent addition to filtered and refrigerated (T=4 degrees C) samples. Light emission was produced for the chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in buffer carbonate conditions (pH 10.8) catalysed by Cr(III), Co(II) and Cu(II). Batch and/or flow modes in different conditions were tested. Fe(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Mn(II) did not give chemiluminescence in the studied conditions. A parallel study of sensitivity and selectivity was performed. Then the presence or absence of the masking agent EDTA, added to samples or used in the carrier stream, is assayed. If the samples are acidified with HNO(3), a previous neutralisation is needed using batch mode. The determination of Cr(III) is independent of storage protocol by flow injection (FI) method; however, the determination of Co(II) or Cu(II) or total determination of three metals requires the conditioning of standards. Detection limits achieved are ranged between 0.5 and 2 mug l(-1). For batch mode, detection limits are better for unacidified samples and worse for carbonate-neutralised samples. The influence of storage protocols was validated using standard metal mixtures and calibration solutions. The use of standard reference material (SRM(c) 1640) (Trace elements in natural water) corroborates the previous statements and validates the accuracy of the different approaches underlined. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to determine Cr(III) selectively in natural waters.     

Ultrasensitive detection of TNT in soil, water, using enhanced electrogenerated chemiluminescence

The ultrasensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was accomplished on the basis of sandwich-type TNT immunoassay combined with electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) technology. Biotinylated anti-TNT species were attached to the surface of 1-μm diameter streptavidin-coated magnetic beads (MB) and 10-μm diameter avidin-coated polystyrene microspheres/beads (PSB) pre-loaded with ECL labels (∼7 billion hydrophobic ruthenium(II) tris(2,2′-bipyridine) (Ru^II) molecules per bead) to form anti-TNT ↔ MB and anti-TNT ↔ PSB(Ru^II) conjugates, respectively. Sandwich-type PSB(Ru^II) ↔ anti-TNT < TNT > anti-TNT ↔ MB aggregates were formed when PSB(Ru^II) ↔ anti-TNT was mixed with anti-TNT ↔ MB conjugates in the presence of analyte TNT and 2.0% bovine serum albumin blocking agent. The newly formed aggregates were magnetically separated from the aqueous reaction media and dissolved in acetonitrile containing 0.10 M tri-n-propylamine ECL coreactant-0.055 M trifluoroacetic acid-0.10 M tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate electrolyte. ECL as well as cyclic voltammetric measurements were carried out with a potential scan from 0 to 2.8 V vs Ag/Ag⁺, and the integrated ECL intensity was found to be linearly proportional to the analyte TNT concentration over the range of 0.10-1000 ppt (pg mL⁻¹). The limit of detection (≤0.10 ± 0.01 ppb) is about 600× lower as compared with the most sensitive TNT detection method in the literature, and the absolute detection limit in mass (∼0.1 pg) is only ∼0.5% of that from mass spectroscopy. The approach coupled with the standard addition method was applied to measure the TNT contaminations in soil and creek water samples collected from a military training base.     

Miniaturized dielectric barrier discharge induced chemiluminescence for detection of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons separated by gas chromatography

A new analytical method was proposed for the detection of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHCs) including dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, tetrachloromethane, perfluoromethane and bromoform after gas chromatographic (GC) separation. Atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was miniaturized and used as a GC detector by using chemiluminescence (CL) emission from the reaction of DBD-split VCHCs with luminol solution. The miniaturized DBD-CL detector possessed the advantages of simple construction, very low power consumption, and high sensitivity to many volatile halocarbons, especially VCHCs. The parameters of the detector were optimized by using dichloromethane as a typical analyte. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) down to sub-nmol can be achieved.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers for chemical agent detection in multiple water matrices

In the past few years concerns over the possibility of terrorist actions against domestic and military water supplies has become paramount. Antibodies, peptides, and enzymes have been used as molecular recognition elements in chemical sensors; however, such devices often have storage and operational stability issues that limits their success. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), have been successfully demonstrated an alternative in pesticide applications [A.L. Jenkins, R. Yin, J.J. Jensen, Analyst 126 (2001) 798-802]. The MIP materials possess selective molecular recognition properties that are complementary to the analyte in the shape and positioning of functional groups. These polymers have high selectivity and affinity constants while maintaining excellent thermal and mechanical stability. In this study, direct imprinting of chemical agents EA2192, VX, sarin, and soman (the “G” agents), was performed and the limits of detection calculated. The ability of these sensors to work in various water matrices including tap, deionized and reverse osmosis water with residual chlorine was also evaluated. Typical detection limits for these MIP sensors are approximately 50 ppt with wide linear dynamic ranges (ppt-ppm). Sensor response time is approximately 15 min.     

A comparison of chemiluminescence immunoassay and radioimmunoassay for the detection of nortestosterone residues in meat samples

A chemiluminescence immunoassay, with a nantiserum raised against 19-nortestorone-3- carboxymethyloxime/bovine serum albumin and the N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol conjugate of 19-nortestosterone as tracer is compared to a radioimmunoassay, with an antiserum against 19-nortestosterone-17-hemisuccinate/bovine serum albumin and 19-(6,7-³H) nor testosterone as the radioactive label. Both methods have a similar sensitivity but the limit of quantification is much lower for radioimmunoassay (0.08 μg kg^-1) than for chemiluminescence immunoassay (0.6 μg kg^-1). A more practical appraoch, the limit of decision, is defined which is determined by the analytical results obtained from certified blank reference samples. This concept gives a good qualitative agreement between the two immunoassay techniques and the number of false positive and negative results, as ascertaind by GC/MS, is minimized; this is shown for assays of 38 meat samples.     

Sensitive determination of aliphatic amines in water by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A sensitive method has been developed for liquid chromatographic determination of short aliphatic amines in water samples. Analytes are preconcentrated and dansylated on solid sorbents (C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges). The dansyl derivatives are chromatographed and post-column mixed with peroxyoxalate (TCPO) and H2O2 in order to perform chemiluminescence detection. Optimal results have been obtained using a sample volume of 5 ml. The method has been applied to the quantification or screening of several aliphatic amines: methylamine, ethylamine, butylamine, diethylamine, pentylamine and hexylamine. The screening procedure has been developed including also polyamines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine). The results obtained by using chemiluminescence (CL) detection have been compared with other detection systems (fluorescence and UV). The sensitivity can increase from 3 to 75 times respect UV detection and from 2 to 10 times respect fluorescence detection depending on the amine. The detection limits achieved were between 0.15 and 0.9 microg/l.     

高效液相色谱化学发光法测定血清中左羟丙哌嗪

在H2SO4介质中, KMnO4氧化左羟丙哌嗪产生化学发光, 甲醛可增敏上述化学发光, 在此基础上建立了反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)分离, 柱后化学发光检测左羟丙哌嗪的新方法, 并成功应用于血清中左羟丙哌嗪的测定. 在优化的实验条件下, 该法测定左羟丙哌嗪的线性范围为1.0×10-7～1.0×10-5 g/mL, 检出限(3σ)为3×10-8 g/mL. 对2.0×10-6 g/mL的左羟丙哌嗪进行11次平行测定, 其相对标准偏差为2.3%.     

Apparatus and method for interfacing capillary electrophoresis and chemiluminescence nitrogen detection for the analysis of nitrogen-containing compounds

We have developed an interface that allows the specific detection of nitrogen-containing compounds by using a chemiluminescence nitrogen detector. The feasibility of using this interface was demonstrated by separating and detecting two nitrogen-containing compounds, p-aminosalicylic acid and L-phenylalanine. Although baseline separation was achieved, the theoretical plates were lower when compared to UV detection (25000 vs. approximately 85000). A sensitivity of 75 ng (approximately 500 pmol) per injection was achieved with this system which is adequate for pharmaceutical and biotech applications.     

Protons solvated in noble-gas matrices: interaction with nitrogen

The interaction of a (NgHNg)(+) cation (Ng = Ar and Kr) with a nitrogen molecule is studied. The structure, energetics, and vibrational properties of these complexed systems are computationally studied at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The computations reveal two stable structures, linear and T-shaped configurations, with BSSE corrected interaction energies of the order of -1000 cm(-1). The (NgHNg)(+)[dot dot dot]N(2) complexes are characterized experimentally by IR absorption spectroscopy in solid Ar and Kr matrices. The spectra show that only one complex structure is present, as evidenced by the single nitrogen-induced nu(3) band. According to the computational results, the linear structure is more probable in the experiments. However, our results show that the one-to-one complex at the present computational level does not accurately agree with the matrix-isolation experiments, the differences originating possibly from the influence of the surrounding matrix. Based on the current data, the mechanism of cation decay in noble-gas matrices is discussed. The observed similar decay of (NgHNg)(+) and its N(2) complex indicates that the solvated proton is unable to tunnel and is therefore immobile in noble-gas matrices. The observations for the cation decay are consistent with the electron neutralization mechanism.     

Evaluation of simulant migration of volatile nitrosamines from latex gloves and balloons by HS-SPME-GC-MS

Nitrosamines are a group of carcinogens that have been found in various latex products. Methods have been developed for extraction, concentration and detection of simulant migration of volatile nitrosamines from latex gloves and balloons. After glove samples or balloon samples were treated with artificial sweat and artificial saliva, headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometer detection were performed. Eight volatile nitrosamines were extracted by a fused silica fiber coated with carboxen-polydimethylsioxane, and solid-phase microextraction conditions were optimized. The developed method was successfully used to analyze simulant migration of volatile nitrosamines from latex gloves and balloons. The described methods are rapid and simple, with adequate sensitivity and without organic solvent.     

Rhenocene: Magnetic circular dichroism and laser-induced fluorescence in nitrogen matrices

Rhenocene generated in nitrogen matrices by photolysis of Re(η-C₅H₅)₂H, shows an intense, structured progression in magnetic circular dichroism. The non-linear magnetic field and temperature dependence of the dichroism indicate a ²E_2g(= 5/2) ground state. Lazer-induced fluorescence is used to establish the (0.0) component of the absorption band and to derive the energies of three totally symmetric vibrational fundamentals.     

On-line column preconcentration for the determination of cobalt in sea water by flow-injection chemiluminescence detection

A flow-injection method for the determination of dissolved cobalt(II) in sea water has been studied based on a combination of column preconcentration using 8-quinolinol immobilized on silica gel, fluoride containing metal alkoxide glass (8HQ-MAF) and chemiluminescence detection with a gallic acid-hydrogen peroxide system. Co(II) is selectively recovered from an acidified sample with 8-quinolinol immobilized on silica gel. After elution with dilute hydrochloric acid the resultant eluent is mixed with the reagent solutions, heated to 60 ( degrees )C and then introduced into the CL cell. The analysis time including the 2-min sample load was 8 min per sea water sample with a corresponding detection limit of 0.62 ng l(-1) (3sigma). The average standard deviation calculated for 10 replicate measurements of artificial sea water samples with a concentration of 10 ng l(-1) cobalt was +/-2.1%. The method has been tested with the standard reference sea waters NASS and CASS.