Determination of Selected Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Human Serum by Solid-phase Disk Extraction and Dual-Column Capillary Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection

Abstract

An improved clean-up method by solid-phase disk extraction was developed to isolate and concentrate trace levels of POPs (persistent organochlorine pollutants) in human serum prior to gas chromatography with electron capture detection on two different capillary columns, providing an improved selectivity. An Empore^TM C₁₈ bonded silica extraction disk cartridge is used for the initial extraction and enrichment of the analytes. Subsequent clean-up is achieved by concentrated sulphuric acid and silica gel adsorption chromatography. Recoveries for selected POPs are ranging from 62 to 74% and a good reproducibility (RSD < 14%) is demonstrated. Human samples analysed under these conditions, show a similar relative concentration profile.     

Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Water Using C18 or Florisil Sep-Pak Cartridge and Gas Chromatography with Flame-Photometric Detection

Simple methods for the concentration and clean-up of fifteen organophosphorus pesticides in water using a C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridge or a Florisil Sep-Pak cartridge and subsequently determining the pesticides by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection have been developed. The conditions for stepwise or simultaneous desorption of these pesticides from the Sep-Pak cartridges are given.     

Multiresidue analysis of three groups of pesticides in washing waters from olive processing by solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography with electron capture and thermionic specific detection

A multiresidue solid phase extraction-gas chromatography (SPE-GC) method is developed for the analysis of 28 organochlorine (OCPs), organophosphorus (OPPs) and organonitrogen (ONPs) pesticides at ng l^− 1 levels in washing water from olive processing. Pesticides are separated from the water matrix, containing estimable amounts of olive oil, by eluting them from a C₁₈ SPE cartridge using dichloromethane. The target compounds are determined in the final extract by gas chromatography using thermionic specific (TSD) and electron capture (ECD) detection. Recoveries range from 79% to 129% in spiked washing water samples and detection limits are between 1 and 4 ng l^− 1. The method was successfully applied to determine OCPs, OPPs and ONPs in 25 samples of water collected directly in the inlet and outlet of the washing devices of three olive mills at different locations in Jaén (Spain). The most frequently encountered pesticide residues were terbuthylazine, simazine and diuron. In some of the water samples coming from the inlet of the washing devices, terbuthylazine and diuron measured concentrations were above the concentration limits scheduled by law.     

Separation, detection and occurrence of (C2–C8)-alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates as trace compounds in clean and polluted air

Nitric acid, HNO₃, and nitrous acid, HNO₂, are forming stable esters with alcohols, the alkyl nitrates and alkyl nitrites. Both groups of compounds are used as fuel additives, explosives and pharmaceuticals. Alkyl nitrates are also formed as complex mixtures during incomplete combustion and the abiotic transformation of alkanes, alkenes and aldehydes in air. Organic nitrates can be assigned to anthropogenic and natural sources alike. Here the synthesis of reference mixtures of alkyl nitrates is described starting with alcohols, alkyl bromides, alkyl iodides or alkanes, respectively, sampling techniques in air analysis, and the separation of alkyl nitrates and alkyl dinitrates by high resolution capillary gas chromatography using various stationary phases and electron capture (HRGC/ECD) as well as mass spectrometric detection (HRGC/MSD). A highly selective detection mode for alkyl nitrates and alkyl di- and trinitrates — in general in the presence of other organic trace compounds — is the single ion monitoring of 46 amu in GC/MS. The separation and occurrence of alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates in polluted air is reported using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and ion trap MS detection. The reaction of alkanes with nitric acid at room temperature simulates in a good approximation the pattern of alkyl nitrates formed in air chemistry.     

Optimization and validation of organochlorine compounds in adipose tissue by SPE‐gas chromatography

Scientific evidence has shown an association between organochlorine compounds (OCC) exposure and human health hazards. Concerning this, OCC detection in human adipose samples has to be considered a public health priority. This study evaluated the efficacy of various solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and cleanup methods for OCC determination in human adipose tissue. Octadecylsilyl endcapped (C₁₈‐E), benzenesulfonic acid modified silica cation exchanger (SA), poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene (EN) and EN/RP₁₈ SPE sorbents were evaluated. The relative sample cleanup provided by these SPE columns was evaluated using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC–ECD). The C₁₈‐E columns with strong homogenization were found to provide the most effective cleanup, removing the greatest amount of interfering substance, and simultaneously ensuring good analyte recoveries higher than 70%. Recoveries > 70% with standard deviations (SD) < 15% were obtained for all compounds under the selected conditions. Method detection limits were in the 0.003–0.009 mg/kg range. The positive samples were confirmed by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS/MS). The highest percentage found of the OCC in real samples corresponded to HCB, o,p′‐DDT and methoxychlor, which were detected in 80 and 95% of samples analyzed respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Headspace Liquid-Phase Microextraction to the Analysis of Volatile Halocarbons in Water

The determination of four volatile halocarbons (CHCl₃, CCl₄, C₂HCl₃ and C₂Cl₄) in water by headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME) with gas chromatography using a micro electron capture detector (GC-μECD) is described. The effects of the type and volume of the extraction solvent, headspace volume, stirring rate, extraction temperature and time and ionic strength on the extraction performance are investigated and optimized. The developed protocol yields a linear calibration curve in the concentration range from 0.05 to 50 µg L^?1 for the target analytes; the detection limits ranged from 0.003 to 0.146 µg L^?1 and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values below 8.45%. The results demonstrate that HS-LPME followed with GC-μECD is a simple and reliable technique for the determination of volatile halocarbons in water samples.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the n-alkanes C9-C17 and pristane in clean air masses

Summary An analytical method was developed for measuring n-alkanes (C₉ to C₁₇) and other hydrocarbons in tropospheric air with mixing ratios of a few ppt (10^–12) and higher. The hydrocarbons are collected in situ in absorption tubes, carefully protected against contamination and analysed later in the laboratory by gas chromatography. First data are reported for Atlantic air masses at the west coast of Ireland.

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Qualitative und quantitative Analyse der n-Alkane C₉-C₁₇ und von Pristan in reiner Luft

Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine analytische Methode entwickelt zur Messung der n-Alkane (C₉ bis C₁₇) und anderer Kohlenwasserstoffe in reiner troposphärischer Luft mit Mischungsverhältnissen von einigen ppt (10^–12) und aufwärts. Die Kohlenwasserstoffe wurden am Beobachtungsort angereichert, sorgfältig gegen Verunreinigung geschützt und später im Laboratorium gas-chromatographisch analysiert. Erste Daten für atlantische Luftmassen an der Westküste Irlands werden mitgeteilt.

     

Determination of aliphatic amines in air by membrane enrichment directly coupled to a gas chromatograph

Summary A method is described for the determination of shortchain aliphatic amines in ambient air based on impinger sampling in dilute H₂SO₄, selective enrichment across a PTFE gas membrane and quantification by gas chromatography. The enrichment step is carried out in a flow system directly connected to the chromatograph. The separation is performed on a packed column with nitrogen selective detection. The enrichment per sample volume was in the range 7.3 to 8.2 mL^–1 for C₁–C₆ amines. Detection limits were ca 3–10 nM with enrichment of a 2.9 mL liquid sample. After impinger sampling of 5 m³ air in 10 mL absorption solution, this corresponds, to 0.4–0.8 ng/m³ (ca 0.2–0.5 ppt by volume) in air.     

Solid-Phase Extraction,Clean-pp and Liquid Chromatography for Routine Multiresidue Analysis of Neutral and Acidic pesticides In Natural Waters in One Run

Abstract

Solid-phase extraction using C₁₈ silica cartridges, liquid chromatography analysis and UV diode array detection were investigated for the routine trace-level determination of neutral pesticides over a wide range of polarity. Detection limits below the 0.1 μg/1 range were easily obtained in drinking water. If neutral and acidic pesticides over a wide range of polarity have to be determined in the same run, samples have to be acidified to obtain good recoveries of extraction. The effect of the sample matrix was studied and detection limits in the 0.1 μg/1 range were obtained in drinking water except for the more polar ones which are in the interfering peak of humic and fulvic acids. For surface water, a clean-up step using a Florisil cartridge has to be included in the procedure that allows detection limits in the range 0.05–0.3 μg/1.     

Fast solid phase extraction of polychlorobiphenyls and chlorinated pesticide residues from mussels using sep-pak cartridges

Summary A rapid method for the determination of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in mussels (Mytilus sp.) is reported. The mussel sample is homogenized and extracted with acetonitrile. The organic solution is concentrated and successively diluted with distilled water solution (12 g L⁻¹ NaCl). The organic compounds from water solution are adsorbed onto a NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge. The clean-up step, in which the polychlorobiphenyls and chiorinated pesticides are separated in different eluates, is achieved by passing 25 mL of a 40% methanol aqueous solution through the NH₂ Sep-Pak and the C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridges connected in series. The polychloroblphenyls are desorbed from the NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge whilst the chlorinated peslicides are recovered from the C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridge. In the separation of polychlorobiphenyls from the chlorinated pesticides tested in this work, only aldrin, hepatachlor and 4,4′-DDD are partially adsorbed with the polychlorobiphenyls onto the NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge. The average recovery is ≥95.0% with a relative standard deviation ≤5.0%. The limits of detection for different pesticides and polychlorobiphenyl congeners are 0.01 and 0.008 μg Kg⁻¹. The final determination is carried out by capillary gas chromatography with ECD.     

A Fractional Factorial Design Applied to the Optimization of Microwave- and Ultrasound-Assisted Acid Leaching Methods for Heavy Metals Determination in Sludges by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The sampling performance of C₁₈ cartridges coated with DNPH has been studied for twenty four C₁-C₉ carbonyls in experiments involving sampling of parts per billion levels of carbonyls in urban air. indoor air and laboratory experiments. The cartridge background carbonyl content in thirty six batches of cartridges averaged 85, 137 and 155 nanogram/cartridge for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, respectively, and was below analytical detection for all other carbonyls. Carbonyl-DNPH derivative recovery from the cartridge was complete in the first elution with 2 mL acetonitrile, and this for twenty four carbonyls at concentrations of 0.02–73 μg carbonyl/cartridge. Studies carried out using two cartridges in series showed no breakthrough, for the sixteen carbonyls tested, at concentrations of 0.10–49 μg carbonyl/cartridge and volumes of air sampled = 6–370 L. Average relative standard deviations (RSD) for replicate analyses were 0.20–13.2% for twenty one carbonyls. Average RSD for co-located samples were 0.9–16.2% for eighteen carbonyls. Comparison of RSD for replicates and RSD for co-located samples for thirteen carbonyls indicated that the overall method precision was limited by sampling precision rather than by analytical precision.     

Chemistry of organic traces in air

Summary Wide bore glass capillaries with 0.5–0.7 mm inner diameter and 120 m length can be used in combination with liquid nitrogen cold trap injection for high resolution gas chromatography of air samples up to 100 ml volume. The injected air sample can be extended to a 51 volume and more, if a cryogenic enrichment of the organic traces is done in a specially designed 100 ml cold trap. Five air samples with a broad range of pollution — air of a parking garage as well as air collected by plane at 10 km height between Africa and Brasil — are analyzed for their C₁- and C₂- organohalogen content. Tetrachloromethane shows for unpolluted as well as for polluted air from the lower troposphere a rather constant mixing ratio, whereas 1,1,1-trichloro-ethane at its baseline concentration can be taken as an indicator for clean air masses up to 10 km in the northern hemisphere. Both compounds are supplementary in their indicator function.

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Chemie organischer Spurenstoffe in LuftIV. Analyse der C₁/C₂-Halogenkohlenwasserstoffe in Reinluft mittels Kühlfalleneingabe und Capillar-Gas-Chromatographie

Zusammenfassung Die Verwendung von Glascapillaren mit 0,5–0,7 mm Innendurchmesser und bis zu 120 m Länge erlaubt in Kombination mit einer Gasaufgabenschleife und der Kühlfallenaufgabe die direkte Analyse von Gasvolumina bis 100 ml. Wird eine Anreicherung durch Ausfrieren der organischen Spurenstoffe in einer 100-ml-Kühlfalle vorgeschaltet, sind Volumina bis 51 und mehr als Probevolumina möglich.Es werden fünf Luftproben mit stark unterschiedlichem Belastungspotential — Luft aus einer Tiefgarage als auch Luft aus 10 km Hohe in der Intertropischen Konvergenz zwischen Afrika und Brasilien — in ihrem relativen Gehalt an C₁- und C₂-Organohalogenen verglichen. Für Luft aus der unteren Troposphare auch aus sonst belasteten Gebieten ist der Gehalt an Tetrachlormethan nahezu konstant, wahrend 1,1,1-Trichlorethan bei seiner Minimalkonzentration als ein Reinluftindicator angesehen werden kann. 1,1,1-Trichlorethan ist bis zu Hohen von 10 km in seinem Gehalt konstant, wahrend Tetrachlormethan schon merklich abgebaut wird. Beide Verbindungen ergänzen sich als Bezugsgrößen und zur Charakterisierung von Luftmassen. Eine dem 1,1,1-Trichlorethan vergleichbare Rolle spielt das 1,1,2-Trifluor-trichlorethan (R113).

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Partly presented at: International Conference on Environment and Lung Diseases. Taormina, Italy, 23–27 March, 1983

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Part III: ANAKON, Baden-Baden, May 1985, Fresenius Z Anal Chem (1985) 320:707–709     

Determination of Triazines and N-Methylcarbamate Pesticides in Water by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection

A rapid and selective method for the simultaneous determination of triazine herbicides (atrazine, its degradation product desethylatrazine, simazine, prometryn, terbutryn) and N-methylcarbamate insecticides (propoxur, carbaryl and methiocarb) in surface water has been developed. A 0.5 L of the water sample was preconcentrated by passage through a 1 g C₁₈ solid-phase extraction cartridge. The retained compounds were eluted with 5 mL of methanol from the cartridge. The pesticides were separated and quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV diode-array detection. Analytical separation was performed using a concave gradient elution with acetonitrile and water on a C₁₈ column. Prometryn and terbutryn were determined at 240 nm; propoxur, methiocarb at 204 nm and the others at 220 nm. Recoveries varied from 85 to 102% over concentrations at 0.025 and 0.2 µg L^?1. The limits of detection for the compounds investigated are in the range of 0.005-0.012 µg L^?1.     

Electron capture ion mobility spectrometry for the selective detection of chlorinated and brominated species after capillary gas chromatography

This paper reports the first investigation of electron capture ion mobility spectrometry as a detection method for capillary gas chromatography. In previous work with negative ion mobility detection after gas chromatography, the principal reactant ion species were O₂^? or hydrated O₂^? due to the presence of oxygen in the drift gas. These molecular reactant ions have a mobility similar to chloride and bromide ions, which are the principal product ions formed by most halogenated organics via dissociative ion-molecule reactions. Oxygenated reactant ions thus interfere with the selective detection of chloride and bromide product ions. A recently described ion mobility detector design efficiently eliminated ambient impurities, including oxygen, from infiltrating the ionization region of the detector; consequently, in the negative mode of operation, the ionization species with N₂ drift gas were thermalized electrons. Thermalized electrons have a high mobility and their drift time occupies a region of the ion mobility spectrum not occupied by chloride, bromide, or other product ions. The result was improved selectivity for halogenated organics which ionize by dissociative electron capture. This was demonstrated by the selective detection of 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl from the components of a polychlorinated biphenyl mixture (Aroclor 1248).     

Separation and Characterization of the Prostaglandins by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Prostaglandins of the A, B, E and F series, together with 8-iso-E₁, have been separated and characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry through the use of TMSi and MO-TMSi derivatives.

These derivatives are suitable for work with GLC systems with flame ionization detectors. Additional derivatives must be sought for detection by electron capture techniques.     

A Comparison of Chromatographic Methods for the Determination of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat

Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection has gained more importance for mycotoxin determination in recent years. In addition to instrumental improvements, the development of LC-MS-MS has also been a consequence of the availability of stable isotope internal standards, e.g., ¹³C-labelled mycotoxins. Thus, the LC-ESI-MS-MS method using a ¹³C₁₅-deoxynivalenol internal standard as a state-of-the-art technique was selected as a reference procedure for an in-house method comparison study of the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat materials. Alternative methods include LC-diode array detection, which is a frequently used routine procedure for DON-analysis, and gas chromatography after trimethylsilylation. For GC application, an electron capture detector and a negative chemical ionisation mass spectrometry detector were used, which have both been well described in the literature. The method comparison was conducted using t test statistics. Additionally, this study also calculates important method performance characteristics, including accuracy, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, and variation coefficient. Furthermore, this is the first report of a GC-MS method for the determination of DON using a fully carbon-labelled ¹³C₁₅-DON as an IS. The GC-MS using ¹³C₁₅-DON as an IS has produced comparable results to the ¹³C-IS-LC-MS-MS reference method with a similar sensitivity. ECD detection was slightly less sensitive, but is also suited for DON analysis in wheat. Due to the high LOQ, the LC-DAD method seems highly applicable to the measurement of highly contaminated samples.     

Congener-specific identification of bromochlorobenzenes and bromotoluenes in effluents from municipal waste incineration plants

Summary Bromochloro- and bromomethylbenzenes have been collected by a condensation and impinger absorption technique from flue gas of municipal waste incineration plants. After extractive enrichment with dichloromethane the congeners have been separated by high resolution capillary gas chromatography using methylphenyl- and methyl-cyanopropylsilicon phases with electron capture (ECD) and mass-selective detection (MSD). The monobromomethylbenzenes and the monobromotrichloro- to monobromopentachlorobenzenes were predominant. The corresponding dibromochlorobenzenes were found at a level of less than 1% of the monobromo congeners. The amounts of the monobromochlorobenzenes were found to lie in the lower g/Nm³ range, the same as for the polychlorobenzenes.

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Kongeneren-spezifische Identifizierung von Brom-chlorbenzolen und Brom-methylbenzolen im Reingas von Müllheizkraftwerken

     

Determination of pyrethroid pesticide residues in processed fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometric detection

A gas chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 12 pyrethroids (tefluthrin, bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, cyhalothrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, flucythrinate, fenvalerate, fluvalinate, and deltamethrin) in tomato puree, peach nectar, orange juice, and canned peas. A miniaturized extraction-partition procedure requiring small amounts of nonchlorinated solvents is used. Samples are extracted with acetone, partitioned with ethyl acetate-cyclohexane (50 + 50, v/v), and cleaned up on a Florisil cartridge. The final extract is analyzed by gas chromatography with both electron capture and mass spectrometric detection modes. Studies at fortification levels of 0.010-0.100 mg/kg gave mean recoveries ranging from 70.2 to 96.0% and coefficients of variation between 4.0 and 13.9% for all compounds. Quantitation limits were < 0.010 mg/kg for electron capture detection.     

Fluorimetric determination of methylmercury as an ion-association complex with rhodamine B in the presence of iodide

A fluorimetric method for the determination of methylmercury was established. The method was based on the formation of an ionic pair between iodide-methylmercury-rhodamine B in hydrochloric acid, which can be extracted with benzene. The fluorescence emission was measured at λ_ex/λ_em 575/590 nm, and the experimental variables and possible interference were studied. The linear calibration range was 4 × 10^–8 mol/L ～ 5 × 10^–7 mol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The detection limit was 1 × 10^–8 mol/L. The method was used to determine methylmercury in human hair. The recovery was in the range of 91% to 105% and the relative standard deviation was 2.8%. The results agreed with those obtained by gas chromatography with electron capture detection.