Capillary Electrophoresis for the Simultaneous Determination of Metals by Using Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid as Complexing Agent and Vancomycin as Complex Selector

A new separation system of capillary electrophoresis for the simultaneous determination of metals by using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid （EDTA） as complexing agent and employing vancomycin as complex selector was described. The Z-shape cell capillary electrophoresis was used to enhance the sensitivity for the determination of the complexes of Cu（Ⅱ）, Ni（Ⅱ）, Co（Ⅱ） and Fe（Ⅲ） with EDTA. The partial filling method （co-current mode） was used in order to increase the selectivity of the electrophoretic method, meanwhile vancomycin was not present at the detector path during the detection of metal-EDTA complexes. The vancomycin concentration, phosphate concentration and pH of the buffer strongly influenced mobility, resolution and selectivity of the studied analytes. Under the optimal condition, the relative standard deviations （n=5） of the migration time and the peak area were less than 3.14% and 7.35%, respectively. Application of the Z-shape cell capillary electrophoresis method with UV detection and vancomycin loading led to the reliable determination of these metal ions in tap water and the recoveries were 97%-101%. The detection limits based on a signal to noise ratio of 3 ： 1 were found in the range of 2-10 μg·L^-1.     

Determination of chromium(III) and total chromium using dual channels on glass chip with chemiluminescence detection

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of chromium(III) and total chromium using the simple dual T channels on glass chip with negative pressure pumping system and chemiluminescence (CL) detection is presented. The CL reaction was based on luminol oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in basic aqueous solution catalyzed by chromium(III). Total chromium in form of chromium(III) was achieved after chromium(VI) was completely reduced by acidic sodium hydrogen sulfite. Total chromium could then be determined with the same strategy as the chromium(III). The CL reagent was composed of 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L luminol, 1.0 × 10⁻² mol/L hydrogen peroxide and 0.10 mol/L sodium bromide in 0.050 mol/L carbonate buffer (pH 11.00). The 1.0 × 10⁻² mol/L ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was added into the sample solution in order to improve the selectivity. Chromium(III) could be detected at a notably concentration of 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁶ mol/L and a linear calibration curve was obtained from 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹³ mol/L. The sample and CL reagent consumption were only 15 and 20 μL, respectively. The analysis time was less than 1 min per sample with the precision (%R.S.D.) was 4.7%. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the analysis of river water, mineral waters, drinking waters and tap water. Its performance was verified by the analysis of certified total chromium-reference materials and by recovery measurement on spiked synthetic seawater sample.     

(S)-(+)-2-octanol as a chiral oil core for the microemulsion electrokinetic chromatographic separation of chiral basic drugs.

The enantiomeric separation of basic drugs was successfully demonstrated by using a novel chiral microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC). An interesting finding was that the chiral oil core ((S)-(+)-2-octanol) within the microemulsion droplets appeared to play an important role in the chiral separation mechanism. In addition, the enantioselectivity of the analyte-selector complex could be influenced by methanol, through an interaction with the complex. The chiral resolution (R(s)) and partition coefficient were strongly influenced by the concentration of methanol, pH, the concentration of chiral oil and the concentration of a cosurfactant. Under the optimized microemulsion conditions, the baseline separation of (+/-)-ephedrine (R(s) = 2.7), and the partial separations of (+/-)-norephedrine (R(s) = 1.3), (+/-)-synephrine (R(s) = 1.4) and (+/-)-propranolol (R(s) = 1.3), could be achieved.     

Preparation of nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-lactide): effects of surfactant and organic solvent

Nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-b-PDLL) diblock copolymer were prepared by a modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method using acetone/ethanol as the mixture organic solvents. The MPEG-b-PDLL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide using stannous octoate and MPEG with molecular weight of 5,000 g/mol as the initiating system. The MPEG-b-PDLL obtained was an amorphous polymer with molecular weight of 73,600 g/mol. Influences of acetone/ethanol (v/v) ratios and Tween 80 surfactant concentrations on characteristics of the colloidal nanoparticles were investigated and discussed. Light-scattering analysis showed that average diameters of the surfactant-free colloidal nanoparticles were in the range of 86–124 nm. The nanoparticle sizes decreased as the ethanol ratio increased. The Tween 80 did not show the significant effect on the nanoparticle sizes. Scanning electron micrographs of dried nanoparticles that demonstrated the aggregation of most particles suggested they were the soft nanoparticles. However, the dried nanoparticle morphology can be observed from scanning electron microscopy as having a spherical shape and smooth surfaces.     

Determination of pheniramine enantiomers in eye drop by capillary electrophoresis using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as chiral selector

A capillary zone electrophoresis procedure has been developed for the chiral determination of pheniramine in eye drop. Native and derivative cyclodextrins (CDs) including γ-CD, β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD and dimethyl-β-CD were tested as chiral selectors. Using 30 mM hydroxypropyl-β-CD in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.0), the acceptable resolution value (R = 1.55) was obtained. The assay was validated for linearity (3.3 × 10⁻⁶–5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M; R ² = 0.9996), limit of detection (3.3 × 10⁻⁶ M), limit of quantification (8.5 × 10⁻⁶ M), analytical precision by terms of intra- and inter-day variability (RSD ≤ 2.57%), and accuracy (recovery ≥ 89.3%). The content of pheniramine in eye drop obtained by the proposed method was in good agreement with the declared value. The results indicated that pheniramine in the eye drop was present as the racemate.     

Determination of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) with capillary electrophoresis using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as a complexing agent and vancomycin as a complex selector.

The simultaneous determination of metal ions using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a complexing agent and vancomycin as a complex selector was successfully studied by capillary electrophoresis with the U-shaped cell. The partial filling method (counter current mode) was used in order to gain selectivity of the separation, and also to increase the detection sensitivity. The effect of the vancomycin concentration on the separation behavior of free EDTA and metal products, and the effect of the EDTA concentration on the stability of metal-EDTA products were considered. Under the optimal condition, the reproducibilities (RSD) of the migration time and the peak area were less than 3.39% and 9.61%, respectively. With the high sensitivity of the method, Pb(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in tap water were successfully determined, and the recoveries were 99 - 105%. The concentrations of these metal ions found in tap water did not exceed the maximum allowed concentrations regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.     

Preparation of surfactant-free nanoparticles of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(D,L-lactide-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-glycolide-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-ɛ-caprolactone)

Surfactant-free nanoparticles of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) diblock copolymers (MPEG-b-PDLLGCL) with different DLL:G:CL ratios were prepared by modified-spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. Sizes of resulted colloidal nanoparticles obtained from light-scattering analysis were in the range of 121–132 nm with narrow size distribution. The nanoparticle sizes depended on the composition of the PDLLGCL block. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the nanoparticles were aggregated after drying process, suggested they were soft nanoparticles. However, their initial aggregates can be observed and it was shown that the nanoparticles have spherical shape with smooth surface. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Simultaneous determination of Cr(III)-EDTA and Cr(VI) by ion interaction chromatography using a C18 column

The simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) by ion interaction chromatography has been investigated. The mobile phase consisted of a 5 mM octylammonium orthophosphate at pH 4.0 with 35% (v/v) MeOH. The Nucleosil-100, C18 (5 microm, 250 x 4.6 mm) was used as the separating column and the component was detected at 200 nm. The separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was based on anionic interaction. Since the Cr(III) did not exist as an anionic form like the Cr(VI) (Cr2O7(2-)) presented at the optimum condition, Cr(II) was firstly reacted with EDTA (1:40 mole ratio) to form the anionic complex prior to injecting into the chromatographic system. The characteristics of the method for separation of Cr(III)-EDTA and Cr(VI) were satisfactory. The wide linear range (0.3-50.0 mg l(-1)) was achieved. The repeatabilities (%R.S.D.) calculated from peak areas were 0.49% and 0.14%, detection limit (signal to noise ratio of 3) of 0.02 mg l(-1) and 0.3 mg l(-1) were obtained and the average of percent recoveries were found to be 98.5% and 99.6% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively.     

Chiral separation of pheniramine by capillary electrophoresis partial-filling technique using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as chiral selector

A simple capillary electrophoresis partial-filling technique for the enantioseparation of pheniramine is presented. Phosphate buffer and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) were used as the electrolyte and chiral selector, respectively. Several experimental parameters such as HP-β-CD concentration, HP-β-CD plug length, CE temperature and applied voltage were studied. Under the selected conditions, pheniramine enantiomers can be separated within less than 14 min. The assay was validated for linearity (5.0 × 10⁻⁶–5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M; R ² = 0.9987), limit of detection (5.0 × 10⁻⁷ M), limit of quantitation (5.0 × 10⁻⁶ M), analytical precision (%RSD ≤ 9.8) and accuracy (%recovery = 101 ± 3). The proposed methodology was then applied to the analysis of a commercially available pharmaceutical eye drop preparation. The results are in good agreement with that declared by the manufacturer. The proposed methodology provides adequate results in terms of simplicity, cost, sample throughput, repeatability and accuracy for quality control of pheniramine enantiomers in pharmaceutical preparations.