Voltammetric determination of phytochelatins using copper solid amalgam electrode

Voltammetric determination of synthetically prepared phytochelatins (γ-Glu-Cys)₂Gly (PC₂) and (γ-Glu-Cys)₃Gly (PC₃) has been studied using new type of copper solid amalgam electrode. The determination, based on the formation of cuprous complexes in buffer pH 8.1, is suitable for concentrations of PC in the range 10–100 nmol l⁻¹. Reproducibility, employing electrochemical cleaning of the electrode surface, was statistically evaluated. The achieved limit of detection (2.1–2.6×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ for DCV measurement) together with the robust character of the electrode offer its use for detection of PCs in separated extracts of real samples.     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.     

Preconcentration of cobalt with 8-hydroxyquinoline and gas chromatographic stationary phase Chromosorb 105 and its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

This paper presents a study of the adsorption characteristics of a commercially available GC stationary phase Chromosorb 105 for Co²⁺, which can be successfully applied to the preconcentration of Co²⁺ in water samples followed by GFAAS determination. After reacting with 8-hydroxyquinoline to form a complex at pH 8.0, Co²⁺ in water can be retained on a minicolumn packed with Chromosorb 105 and eluted with 2.5 ml of a mixture of ethanol and 2 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ (2+1, v/v). The recoveries of Co²⁺ from 200 ml of tap water, river water and bottled natural mineral water samples are quantitative. Conditions for quantitative and reproducible preconcentration, elution and subsequent GFAAS determination were studied. A highly sensitive, simple method for preconcentration and GFAAS determination of trace amount of cobalt in natural water samples using a Chromosorb 105 packed minicolumn has been proposed. The high retention efficiency (95%) for Co²⁺ provides a sensitivity enhancement of 80 for a 200 ml sample volume with a detection limit of 13.4 ng l⁻¹ (3σ) and a quantification limit of 44.5 ng l⁻¹ (10σ).     

Development of a luminol-based chemiluminescence flow-injection method for the determination of dichlorvos pesticide

A simple, fast chemiluminescence (CL) flow-injection method based on the reaction of luminol with H₂O₂ in the presence of a cationic surfactant (cyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTMAB) has been described for the direct determination of dichlorvos pesticide (DDVP). Under the optimal conditions, the CL intensity was linear to the DDVP concentration in the range of 0.02–3.1 μg ml⁻¹ (r=0.9998, n=10). The relative standard deviation was 3.4% at 0.35 μg ml⁻¹ (n=10), with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.008 μg ml⁻¹ DDVP. The possible reaction mechanism was also discussed. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of trace DDVP residue in vegetable sample and results have been compared with that of the UV method.     

Two methods for the speciation analysis of mercury in fish involving microwave-assisted digestion and gas chromatography-atomic emission spectrometry

In this paper a novel approach for the speciation analysis of mercury (methyl mercury and mercury II) in fish tissue using gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma atomic emission spectromertry is described. Focused microwave-assisted digestion which has been used previously in speciation analysis only for the determination of organotin and organoselenium compounds, was applied for sample preparation, a technique which enables mild, quick and complete dissolution of the sample. The important parameters for the digestion of fish tissues were optimised for the given analytical problem. Since no experience was available for the further treatment of the produced sample solution two different derivatisation/injection procedures were examined:

1. (1) ethylation with sodium tetraethylborate, extraction into hexane and injection with a cooled injection system and

2. (2) hydride generation with sodium tetrahydroborate together with purge-and-trap injection. The latter reaction has not been used previously for the determination of mercury species in fish samples.

The optimum parameters for both procedures were evaluated and the methods were validated by analysis of a standard reference material (CRM 464). The 3σ detection limits were (1) 3.0 pg g⁻¹ and (2) 12.5 pg g⁻¹.     

Highly sensitive and selective optical chemosensor for determination of Cu2+ in aqueous solution

A highly selective and sensitive rhodamine-based colorimetric chemosensor (1) for quantification of divalent copper in aqueous solution has been investigated in this work. It was designed using salicylaldehyde hydrazone and rhodamine 6G as copper-chelating and signal-reporting groups, respectively. In environmentally friendly media (50% (v/v) water/ethanol and 10 mM NaAc–HAc neutral buffer (pH 7.0)), the sensor exhibited selective absorbance enhancement to Cu²⁺ over other metal ions at 529 nm, with a dynamic working range of 0.05–5.00 μM and a detection limit of 10 nM Cu²⁺, respectively. To achieve fluorometric determination of Cu²⁺, the Cu²⁺-induced absorbance enhancement of 1 was efficiently converted to fluorescence quenching by fluorescence inner filter effects using rhodamine B (RB) as a fluorophore. The selectivity and sensitivity of fluorescence analysis were similar to those of absorptiometric measurement. Both absorptiometric and fluorometric methods were successfully applied to the detection of Cu²⁺ in three water samples.     

利用H2O2-KI-鲁米诺体系化学发光法测定痕量钼

钼(Ⅵ)可以催化H₂O₂氧化I^-的反应,生成的I₂在碱性水溶液中能氧化鲁米诺而产生化学发光^[1],本文将这两个反应结合起来,建立了铝的化学发光分析法,方法有较高的灵敏度,检出限为6×10^-10g/cm³Mo,测定的相对标准偏差小于6%,工作曲线的线性范围是1×10^-9～1×10^-7g/cm³Mo,用EDTA作掩蔽剂,排除了大多数金属离子的干扰,方法有较好的选择性,应用此法对一些粮食样品中的痕量钼进行了测定,结果比较满意。     

Determination of anthocyanins in wine based on flow-injection, liquid--solid extraction, continuous evaporation and high-performance liquid chromatography--photometric detection

A continuous method, easy to automate, for the determination of anthocyanins in wine based on the coupling of continuous liquid–solid extraction, evaporation, HPLC individual separation and photometric detection is proposed. The target analytes are removed from the wine in a continuous fashion using a C₁₈ minicolumn and eluted with an aqueous solution (pH 2) with 16% acetonitrile. The eluted fraction is concentrated by solvent evaporation assisted by heat and dragging off the vapour using a flow of N₂. For in-line preconcentration, a continuous evaporation module was designed and located in the manifold between the solid-phase minicolumn and the injection valve of the chromatograph. In this way, injection of the sample into the dynamic system leads the plug through it for liquid–solid extraction of the anthocyanins, partial evaporation of the eluent (with a preconcentration factor as required) and transport to the high-pressure injection valve of the chromatograph, where individual separation and subsequent photometric detection take place. The method thus developed for the determination of malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside anthocyanins in Spanish red wines is more sensitive than the batch manual method based on the same steps, has better linearity of the calibrations curves with lower detection limits and much wider determination range for the most abundant anthocyanins in wine. In addition, the method can be fully automated with low acquisition and maintenance costs.     

As, Bi, Sb and Sn determination in atmospheric particulate matter by direct solid sampling-hydride generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel, rapid and simple method by hydride generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-ETAAS) after direct As, Bi, Sb and Sn hydrides generation from untreated filters of atmospheric particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) was optimised. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were not subjected to any pre-treatment: circular portions between 0.28 and 6.28 cm² were directly placed into the reaction vessel of a batch mode generation system. A 2⁸ × 3/64 Plackett–Burman design was used as a multivariate strategy for the evaluation of the effects of several variables affecting the hydride generation, trapping and atomisation efficiencies. Trapping temperature was the most statistically significant variable for As, Bi and Sn. Atomisation temperature was also statistically significant for Sb determination. Optimum values of significant variables were selected by using univariate optimisation approaches. An aqueous calibration method was used throughout. The developed method has been found to be precise with relative standard deviations of 6.2, 5.3, 9.1 and 7.5% for 11 determinations in a filter sample containing 0.7, 1.0, 1.4 and 1.7 μg l⁻¹ for As, Bi, Sb and Sn, respectively. Results obtained by direct solid sampling-HG-ETAAS have been found statistically comparable with those obtained after conventional method based on an acid digestion followed to ICP-MS. Absolute detection limits were 37, 15, 30, and 41 ng l⁻¹ for As, Bi, Sb and Sn, respectively. Detection limits referred to the air volume sampled (in the range of 0.020–0.050 ng m⁻³) were low enough for the determination of several hydride-forming elements from PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected in a non-polluted suburban area of A Coruña (NW Spain).     

Determination of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the simultaneous pre-concentration of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc after the formation of a complex with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN), and later analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the separation phase and the viscosity affecting the detection process were optimized. At pH 8.6, pre-concentration of only 50 ml of sample in the presence of 0.05% Triton X-114 and 2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ TAN permitted the detection of 0.099, 0.27, 1.1 and 0.095 ng ml⁻¹ cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. The enhancement factors were 57.7, 64.3, 55.6 and 63.7 for cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in water samples and a standard reference material (SRM).     

Simultaneous potentiometric determination of ClO(3)(-)-ClO(2)(-) and ClO(3)(-)-HClO by flow injection analysis using Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer

A rapid potentiometric flow injection technique for the simultaneous determination of oxychlorine species such as ClO₃⁻–ClO₂⁻ and ClO₃⁻–HClO has been developed, using both a redox electrode detector and a Fe(III)–Fe(II) potential buffer solution containing chloride. The analytical method is based on the detection of a large transient potential change of the redox electrode due to chlorine generated via the reaction of the oxychlorine species with chloride in the potential buffer solution. The sensitivities to HClO and ClO₂⁻ obtained by the transient potential change were enhanced 700–800-fold over that using an equilibrium potential. The detection limit of the present method for HClO and ClO₂⁻ is as low as 5×10⁻⁸ M with use of a 5×10⁻⁴ M Fe(III)–1×10⁻³ M Fe(II) buffer containing 0.3 M KCl and 0.5 M H₂SO₄. On the other hand, sensitivity to ClO₃⁻ was low when a potential buffer solution containing 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was used, but could be increased largely by increasing the acidity of the potential buffer. The detection limit for ClO₃⁻ was 2×10⁻⁶ M with the use of a 5×10⁻⁴ M Fe(III)–1×10⁻³ M Fe(II) buffer containing 0.3 M KCl and 9 M H₂SO₄. By utilizing the difference in reactivity of oxychlorine species with chloride in the potential buffer, a simultaneous determination method for a mixed solution of ClO₃⁻–ClO₂⁻ or ClO₃⁻–HClO was designed to detect, in a timely manner, a transient potential change with the use of two streams of potential buffers which contain different concentrations of sulfuric acid. Analytical concentration ranges of oxychlorine species were 2×10⁻⁵–2×10⁻⁴ M for ClO₃⁻, and 1×10⁻⁶–1×10⁻⁵ M for HClO and ClO₂⁻. The reproducibility of the present method was in the range 1.5–2.3%. The reaction mechanism for the transient potential change used in the present method is also discussed, based on the results of batchwise experiments. The simultaneous determination method was applied to the determination of oxychlorine species in a tap water sample, and was found to provide an analytical result for HClO, which was in good agreement with that obtained by the o-tolidine method and to provide a good recovery for ClO₃⁻ added to the sample.     

Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide in rainwater

Hydrogen peroxide in rainwater has been determined from the measurement of absorption at 432 nm after the formation of the stable oxo-peroxo-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylatovanadate(V) complex (OPDV) in acid media. Determinations were in good agreement with those using a modified p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (PHPA) emission method. The linear range for the OPDV method is from 0.05 to 50 ppm H₂O₂, and the limit of detection under the analytical conditions employed was 5.8 nmol H₂O₂ for a 20 cm³ rainwater sample. The volume weighted mean H₂O₂ concentration in rainwater collected at roof-top level in central Kowloon was 15.9 μM (N=10), and the ratio of non-sea salt sulphate and H₂O₂ concentrations was significantly correlated with pH. The OPDV absorption method was also employed for the determination of ambient gaseous H₂O₂, and liquid-nitrogen cold-trap collection gave results about 30% lower than impinger sampling, where artifact H₂O₂ formation occurred.     

Spectral interferences in the determination of traces of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in “pure” rare earth matrices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: Part VII — Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium and Thulium

This article is the seventh part of a series of papers discussing the spectral interferences of rare earth elements (REEs) in ICP-AES. Radial viewing 27.12 MHz inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used in the determination of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in Tb₂O₃, Dy₂O₃, Ho₂O₃ and Tm₂O₃ as “pure” rare earth matrices. The quantification of the interferences in terms of Q-values for line interference Q_I(_a) and wing background interference Q_W(Δλ_a) were used in accordance with Boumans and Vrakking [Spectrochim. Acta Part B 43 (1988) 69]. The “best” analysis lines from point of view of spectral interferences were selected. The true detection limits by using the “best” analysis lines were calculated.     

在线二维液相色谱法同时测定婴幼儿和成人配方营养品中的维生素A、D3和E

建立了在线二维液相色谱同时快速测定婴幼儿配方乳品和成人强化乳品中维生素A、D₃和E含量的方法。首先,依据疏水减法模型,选择C8柱和极性嵌合的反相C18柱分别作为一维和二维分离柱,构成正交分离体系,并均以甲醇、乙腈和水作为流动相,检测波长设为263 nm(维生素D₃)、296 nm(维生素E)和325 nm(维生素A)。采用双三元液相色谱的左泵作为一维分析泵,完成维生素A、E的定量和维生素D₃的净化;根据维生素D₃在一维色谱柱上的保留时间,确定切割时间窗口,并以500 μL定量环收集含有维生素D₃的馏分,由双三元液相色谱的右泵将馏分带到二维色谱柱中,以维生素D₂作为内标物,采用内标法完成维生素D₃的定量分析,整个过程在密闭系统中自动化完成。在上述优化条件下测定了婴幼儿和成人奶粉、奶酪及酸奶等强化乳品中3种维生素的含量。经过1.25 kg/L KOH溶液的热皂化和石油醚的萃取,样品萃取液直接进样分析,得到维生素D₃的加标回收率为75.50%~85.00%,并通过配对t检验法与标准方法测定结果进行比较分析,结果差异无统计学意义,表明本方法可同时快速、准确测定婴幼儿及其他配方营养品中维生素A、D₃、E的含量,提高了样品分析效率。     

Differential-pulse voltammetric determination of low μg l cyanide levels using EDTA, Cu(II) and a hanging mercury drop electrode

The proposed method for cyanide determination at the ultratrace level by differential pulse voltammetry is based in the sensitivity enhancement obtained when both Cu(II) and EDTA are present in the background electrolyte. Comparison of the detection limits and linear dynamic ranges using the conventional borate (pH 9.75), and the proposed borate-EDTA–Cu(II) background electrolytes was carried out. Best results have been obtained with the addition of 0.5 mmol l⁻¹ EDTA and 0.02 mmol l⁻¹ of Cu(II), which allow a detection limit of 1.7 μg l⁻¹ CN⁻ (65 nmol l⁻¹ — absolute detection limit 34 ng) with a precision better than ±2% for a 40 μg l⁻¹ level. Calibration range extended from detection limit up to 100 μg l⁻¹. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the measured cyanide peak is obtained when the electrogenerated CuCN adsorbed onto the hanging mercury drop electrode surface, is oxidised at positive going potential scan. The method has been successfully applied to various industrial waste waters such as metal-finishing waste waters, water/sand mixtures from cleaning processes of coke production, leachates from wastes obtained from electrolytic cells of aluminium production, and liquors from gold extraction industry. Results obtained by the proposed method showed good agreement with those obtained by the standard methods (ion-selective potentiometry and the spectrophotometric pyridine method).     

Sensitive and selective ion chromatographic method for the determination of trace beryllium in water samples

A selective and sensitive ion chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of beryllium in a number of water samples at low-μg/l concentrations. The separation was performed on a 250×4.0 mm I.D. iminodiacetic acid functionalised silica gel column. Chromatographed Be(II) was detected using visible detection at 590 nm following post-column reaction with chrome azurol S (CAS). The optimum separation and derivatisation conditions were studied in detail. The optimum eluent conditions were found to be 0.4 M KNO₃, adjusted to pH 2.5 using HNO₃, with optimum post-column detection being achieved using a solution containing 0.26 mM CAS, 2% Triton X-100, 50 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, pH 6.0. Under the above conditions, the concentration detection limit for Be(II) was found to be 3 μg/l in a standard solution and 4 μg/l in a typical tap water sample, using a 250 μl injection. The method was linear over the investigated range of 10 μg/l to 10 mg/l and highly reproducible. The method was successfully applied to a number of water samples of varying matrix complexity, including simulated seawater, and also to a natural freshwater certified reference material NIST 1640.     

Determination of diethylhexyl phtalate in water by solid phase microextraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography

Difficulties detected in the determination of the diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) at trace levels by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) using SPME, due to its ubiquitous distribution in the environment has been overcome and a new method for the determination of DEHP in drinking water has been proposed. The method is based on solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detection was carried out spectrophotometrically. Calibration graph was linear in the range 10–110 μg/L with a regression coefficient of r² = 0.998 and a detection limit of 0.6 μg/L. The relative standard deviation was 5 and 2% (n = 4) for chromatographic areas and retention times, respectively. The usefulness of the SPME–HPLC technique was confirmed.     

(S)-(+)-1-Methyl-2-(6,7,-dimethoxy-2,3-naphthalimido)ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a fluorescence chiral derivatizing reagent for carboxylic acid enantiomers in high-performance liquid chromatography

A new triflate-type fluorescence chiral derivatizing reagent, (S)-(+)-1-methyl-2-(6,7-dimethoxy-2,3-naphthalimido)ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, [S-(+)-MDNE-OTf], has been developed for the determination of the enantiomers of carboxylic acids. By introducing the two methoxy groups on the naphthalimido ring moiety, the red shift in the fluorescence spectrum and a high resolution in reversed-mode separation of the diastereomers of chiral carboxylic acids have been achieved. The detection limits (S/N=3) with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection are 8 fmol (λ_max=283 nm) and 4 fmol (λ_ex=283 nm, λ_em=467 nm), respectively.     

Determination of ceftriaxone, a novel cephalosporin, in plasma, urine and saliva by high-performance liquid chromatography on an NH2 bonded-phase column

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of a new cephalosporin antibiotic in plasma, urine and saliva (mixed saliva) using normal-phase technique and an NH2 bonded-phase column. The eluent mixture was a combination of acetonitrile and an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate. The rapid method involved precipitation of protein from fluids by means of acetonitrile followed by automatic injection of the supernatant. The detection limit was 0.4 micrograms/ml for plasma, 3 micrograms/ml for urine and 0.03 micrograms/ml for saliva using UV detection.     

高精度定量毛细管电泳法同时测定复合维生素B片中B1、B2、B6、烟酰胺及泛酸钙

建立了高精度定量毛细管电泳法同时测定复合维生素B片中维生素B₁、B₂、B₆、烟酰胺和泛酸钙的方法。样品经乙腈-水（20∶80，v/v）超声提取后，采用全自动高精度定量毛细管电泳仪，以高精度进样阀定量进样，以40 mmol/L硼砂-硼酸缓冲液（pH 9.0）为背景电解质溶液，以工作电压为-10 kV电泳分离。维生素B₁、B₂、B₆、烟酰胺的检测波长为280 nm，然后切换至检测波长210 nm检测泛酸钙。结果表明，各组分之间均得到良好分离，峰面积日内重复性（RSD）为1.3%~1.9%，显著优于普通毛细管电泳。维生素B₁、B₂、B₆、烟酰胺及泛酸钙的浓度在各自线性范围内的相关系数（r）为0.9968~0.9998，检出限2.5~36.0 mg/L，平均回收率为94.1%~98.9%。该法准确可靠，可用于实际复合维生素B片中维生素B₁、B₂、B₆、烟酰胺和泛酸钙含量的同时测定。