Preparation of flower-like molybdenum disulfide for solid-phase extraction of N-nitrosoamines in environmental water samples

In this paper, a flower-like molybdenum disulfide material was prepared by hydrothermal method and was first used as adsorbents in the solid-phase extraction process for enriching N-nitrosoamines. Molybdenum disulfide exhibited three-dimensional petal-like microspheres with about 500 nm in diameter. The relevant analyte extraction and elution parameters (sample volumes, solution pH, washing solvents, elution solvents, and elution volumes) were optimized to improve the solid-phase extraction efficiency. The solid-phase extraction process coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for determining N-nitrosoamines in environmental water samples was established. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.01–0.05 ng/mL. The satisfactory recoveries (68.9–106.1%) were obtained at three different spiked concentrations (2, 5, and 8 ng/mL) in water samples, and the relative standard deviations were between 1.96 and 8.38%. This proposed method not only showed high sensitivity and good reusability but also provided a new adsorbent for enriching trace N-nitrosoamines in environmental water samples.     

Isolation of new quinidine metabolites and simultaneous determination of quinidine and its metabolites in blood and urine by direct injection HPLC analysis

Summary New quinidine metabolites, including 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine N-oxide, 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine and their glucuronides, were found in human urine. A quinidine monitoring HPLC method including these metabolites, is proposed by the direct injection of body fluid samples onto the precolumn for deproteinization followed by reverse phase separation in the analytical column with a column switching technique. The recovery of spiked quinidine and its metabolites in plasma was quantitative (98–102%) with good reproducibility (C.V.: 1.6–4.0%). Several clinical samples such as whole blood and urine were analyzed by the present method.     

Determination of highly polar compounds in water samples around former ammunition plants

Summary A method was developed for the determination of nitrobenzoic acids and nitrophenols as well as of diaminoaromatics and was applied to the analysis of water samples from the former ammunition plant at Elsnig (Saxony, Germany). The procedure is based on a preseparation into a neutral, an acidic and a basic fraction by multi-step extraction at different pH values followed by HPLC analysis with UV and electrochemical detectors, coupled in series. Applying optimized enrichment conditions, all investigated compounds were extracted from spiked distilled water with recoveries >80% and variation coefficients <7%. Similar results were obtained with spiked ground water samples. After enrichment, all compounds can be analysed by HPLC with UV detection at concentrations below 100 ngL⁻¹. The electrochemical detector (ELCD) allowed a selective and sensitive detection of the nitrophenols and especially of the diaminoaromatics and, therefore, provides, some advantages in the analysis of real samples. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Determination of phenolic compounds in water samples by on-line solid-phase extraction—supercritical-fluid chromatography with diode-array detection

Summary The eleven Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority phenolic compounds have been determined by solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to supercritical-fluid chromatography (SFC) with diodearray detection. The variables affecting chromatographic separation were optimized and the analytes were separated at 40 °C in two diol columns connected in series; a gradient of methanol, as modifier, and CO₂ was used as mobile phase. Under these conditions, all the compounds studied were separated to baseline in less than 13 min. PLRP-S and LiChrolut EN were tested as sorbents in a 10×3 mm i.d. laboratory-packed precolumn for solid-phase extraction. An ion-pair reagent, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBA), was used in the extraction process to increase break-through volumes. The performance of the method was checked with tap and river waters and the pre-concentration of 20 mL of sample in a PLRP-S pre-column enabled phenolic compounds to be determined at low μg L⁻¹ levels with limits of detection ranging between 0.4 and 2 μg L⁻¹. The repeatability and reproducibility between days (n=3) for real samples spiked at 10 μg L⁻¹ were lower than 10%.     

An integrated coupled column liquid chromatography system for the determination of leukotriene metabolites in biological samples

Summary A fully integrated chromatographic system was developed for the determination of leukotrienes in biological samples using photodiode-array detection (PDAD), which eliminates time consuming manual sample handling steps. A special solid phase extraction, (SPE) methodology for leucotriene metabolite stability was developed which increased the recoveries and eliminates the contamination risk of biological samples. The inherent instability (autooxidation) of many of the leukotriene mediators, and the adsorption effects onto exposed surfaces in vials and in the chromatographic system were found to be very important parameters to control in order to circumvent high loss of sample analytes. By binding the cell supernatants to the functionalities of the SPE support stabilised these mediators. Cell culture samples were eluted through a disposable C₁₈ SPE column. The SPE columns were allowed to thaw and deposited in an automated sample handling unit (ASPEC XL). Desorption of the analytes was followed by a second on-line SPE step, to eliminate remaining interfering matrix compounds. Typical recoveries when stored at −70°C were in-between 55–97% except for (LTE₄) which was found to be around 40% after 72 days of storage. Seven reversed-phase packings were studied. Selectivity factors, as well as the separation efficiencies, were found to differ for the various C₁₈ bonded silica stationary phases. This integrated on-line column liquid chromatographic system was applied to the determination of leukotriene B₄, leukotriene C₄, leukotriene D₄, leukotriene and E₄ in human cell extracts using prostaglandin B₂ as the internal standard. More than 1500 biological samples were analysed. Some validation data are presented for unattended operations.     

Capillary electrophoresis method for analysis of inorganic and organic anions related to habitability and the search for life

In situ missions of exploration require analytical methods that are capable of detecting a wide range of molecular targets in complex matrices without a priori assumptions of sample composition. Furthermore, these methods should minimize the number of reagents needed and any sample preparation steps. We have developed a method for the detection of metabolically relevant inorganic and organic anions that is suitable for implementation on in situ spaceflight missions. Using 55 mM acetic acid, 50 mM triethylamine, and 5% glycerol, more than 21 relevant anions are separated in less than 20 min. The method is robust to sample ionic strength, tolerating high concentrations of background salts (up to 900 mM NaCl and 300 mM MgSO₄). This is an important feature for future missions to ocean worlds. The method was validated using a culture of Escherichia coli and with high salinity natural samples collected from Mono Lake, California.     

Recent advances in analytical methodologies based on mass spectrometry for the environmental analysis of halogenated organic contaminants

Halogenated organic contaminants, including legislated and potential persistent organic pollutants and their precursors, represent a major environmental concern due to their hazardous effects in humans and wildlife as well as their ability to bioaccumulate through the food chain, their high resistance to environmental degradation, and their long-range atmospheric transport potential. The monitoring of these compounds in the environment at ultra-trace concentration levels requires highly selective and sensitive analytical methodologies. The lack of reference step-by-step methods led to a high number of reliable determinations depending on analytes, the complexity of the sample, and available instrumentation. Thus, this review article is mainly focused on the last advances in the analytical methodologies for the determination of halogenated organic contaminants. Methodologies regarding sample treatment, chromatographic separation, and mass spectrometry analysis have been reviewed to finally highlight the future perspectives for the improvement of the analytical determinations of these compounds and the throughput of environmental control laboratories in this field.     

Automated derivatization for on-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography; phenolic compounds

An automated system for derivaatization was coupled on-line with solid-phase extraction-gas-chromatography (SPE-GC). The system was optimized for the determination of phenol and chlorinated phenols in aqueous samples. The test analytes were acetylated with acetic anhydride; proper buffering of the sample was a critical factor. Next, the phenol acetates were enriched on a SPE cartridge and transferred to a GC; two appraoaches were studied. In the first approach, the derivatives were enriched on disposable C18 cartridges (ASPEC type) and desorbed with methylacetate. Aan aliquot of the final eluate was injected on-line the GC by means of a loop-type interface. In the second approach, trace enrichment was performed on 10 × 2 mm i.d. LC-type precolumn packed with polystyrenedivinylbenzene copolymer (PLRP-S) this precolumn was dried with a mitrogen purge and the phenol acetates were desorbed with ethyl acetate which was injectedon-line into the retention gap of the GC under partially concurrent solvent evaporation (PCSE) conditions. The Derivatization-SPE-GC system which was based on the loop-type interface has the advantage of simplicity and easy operation, the main drawback is the impossibility to determine phenol acetates which elute prior to trichlorophenol acetates. With the derivatization-SPE-GC approach using PCSE-based desorption, even the most volatile analyte of the test series, phenol acetate, can be determined successfully. The entire procedure, including the derivatization step, was fully automated and integrated in one set-up. The precision data for the integrated on-line derivatization-SP-FID system were fully satisfactory, with RSD values of 1–12 % at the 1 μg/1 level. When a sample volume of 2.2 ml was analyzed, The detection limits for the chlorinated phenol acetates were in the 0.1–0.3 μg/1 range.     

反相高效液相色谱法测定动物体液和组织中的HMBA

介绍了用甲醇沉淀萃取法、反相高效液相色谱法分离测定生物样品中的抗癌药物六亚甲基二乙酰胺（ＨＭＢＡ）的新方法。药物的回收率在９３．３％～１０４％之间。对鼠和兔的血、尿及８种组织１５３个样品中的ＨＭＢＡ进行了测定,得到了满意的结果。     

植物样品中单宁的微波溶出快速测定法研究

研究了利用微波代替一般的沸水浴处理试样的方法。对不同植物样品中单宁的浸提测定，与常规方法做了对照，并讨论了微波功率、时间、酸度等因素对测定结果的影响。研究表明，此法可大大地缩短测定时间，提高测定效率，节省人力、物力，不污染环境，便于大批量样品的测定，相对标准偏差≤１．４％，测定结果较为满意。为植物样品中单宁的测定，提供了一个快速、简便、准确的分析方法，并可借鉴于其它样品的测定。