Sensitive and simple cloud-point preconcentration atomic absorption spectrometry: application to the determination of cobalt in urine samples.

A new approach for developing a cloud-point extraction-flame atomic absorption spectrometric method has been described and used for the determination of cobalt. In this approach, water was removed from the final diluted surfactant rich phase obtained in cloud-point extraction procedure. The results indicated that removing water from this phase increased the enhancement factor by 4-fold. 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) were used as a hydrophobic ligand and a nonionic surfactant, respectively. The chemical variables affecting the preconcentration step were optimized. The effect of the water concentration in the final diluted methanolic surfactant solution on the analytical signal was investigated. The results showed that the analytical signal decreased by 30% and 52% in 15% and 25% water concentrations in methanol, respectively. An enhancement factor of 115 was obtained for cobalt extracted from only 10 ml of a sample. The detection limit obtained under the optimal condition was 0.38 microg l(-1). The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of cobalt in urine samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of osmium based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of carminic acid by hydrogen peroxide

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of trace amounts of osmium(VIII), based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of carminic acid by hydrogen peroxide. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of carminic acid at 540 nm after 3 min of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were 1x10(-4) mol l(-1) carminic acid, 0.013 mol l(-1) hydrogen peroxide and pH 10 at 25 degrees C. By using the recommended procedure, the calibration graph was linear from 0.1 to 1.5 ng ml(-1) of osmium; the detection limit was 0.02 ng ml(-1); the RSD for five replicate determinations of 0.2-1.4 ng ml(-1) was in the range of 1.8-4.7%. The influence of several foreign ions on osmium determination were studied and the effect of interfering ions were removed by extracting osmium into isobuthyl methyl ketone and back extracting into sodium hydroxide solution.     

Spectrofluorimetric study of host-guest complexation of ibuprofen with beta-cyclodextrin and its analytical application

The characteristics of host-guest complexation between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and two forms of ibuprofen (protonated and deprotonated) were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry. 1:1 stoichiometries for both complexes were established and their association constants at different temperatures were calculated by applying a non-linear regression method to the change in the fluorescence of ibuprofen that brought about by the presence of beta-CD. The thermodynamic parameters (deltaH, deltaS and deltaG) associated with the inclusion process were also determined. Based on the obtained results, a sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of ibuprofen was developed with a linear range of 0.1-2 microg ml(-1) and a detection limit of 0.03 microg ml(-1). The method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of ibuprofen in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nitrite based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of carminic acid by bromate

A highly sensitive and selective method is described for the determination of trace amounts of nitrite based on its effect on the oxidation of carminic acid with bromate. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of carminic acid at 490 nm after 3 min of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were 1.8×10⁻¹ mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄, 3.8×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ KBrO₃, and 1.2×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ carminic acid at 30°C. By using the recommended procedure, the calibration graph was linear from 0.2 to 14 ng ml⁻¹ of nitrite; the detection limit was 0.04 ng ml⁻¹; the R.S.D. for six replicate determinations of 6 ng ml⁻¹ was 1.7%. The method is mostly free from interference, especially from large amounts of nitrate and ammonium ions. The proposed method was applied to the determination of nitrite in rain and river water.     

Photometric determination of tetracycline based on surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles

We report on a simple and sensitive method for the determination of tetracycline based on its reducing action on AgNO₃ in alkaline medium containing ammonia and sodium hydroxide at 65°C. As a result of this reaction, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are formed. The AgNPs are stabilized in solution by adding poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as a capping agent. The formed AgNPs were identified by surface plasmon resonance absorption spectrum and transmission electron microscopy image. The plasmon absorption peak at 411 nm is proportional to the concentration of tetracycline. The calibration graph is linear in the concentration range of 0.05–5.0 mg/L with a detection limit of 0.013 mg/L. This method was applied to the determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical products.     

Separation and preconcentration of trace quantities of copper ion using modified alumina nanoparticles, and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

We report on a sensitive, reliable and relatively fast method for separation, preconcentration and determination of trace quantities of copper(II) ion. It is making use of nanometer-sized γ-alumina nanoparticles modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The adsorptive potential was assessed via a Langmuir isotherm and the maximal sorption capacity was found to be 138 mg g^-1. The effects of pH values, amount of ligand, flow rate, type of eluting agent, volume of eluent, and the volume of sample were examined. The effects of interfering ions on the recovery of the analyte were also investigated. Copper ion was then determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The relative standard deviation for five replicate determinations (at 50 μg L^?1 of copper) is 3.3%. The detection limit (at 3 s) is 2.5 μg L^?1. This method was validated with a certified reference material of oyster tissue (NIST SRM 1566b) and the results coincided well with the certified values. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of Cu in water and food samples.

Study of the heavy atom-induced room temperature phosphorescence properties of melatonin and its analytical application

Liquid phase room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) properties of melatonin were studied using heavy atom induced-room temperature phosphorescence (HAI-RTP) technique. 1.2 M potassium iodide was used as a heavy atom reagent together with 0.002 M sodium sulphite as deoxygenating agent to produce the RTP signal. The maximum phosphorescence emission and excitation wavelengths of melatonin were 290 and 457 nm, respectively. The effect of potassium iodide concentration on the RTP lifetime of melatonin was also investigated and based on the results, the rate constants for phosphorescence decay (k(p)) and radiationless deactivation through reaction with heavy atom (k(h)) were determined. Based on the obtained results, a simple and sensitive room temperature phosphorimetric method was developed for the determination of melatonin. The method allowed the determination of 10.0-200 ng ml(-1) melatonin in aqueous solution with the limits of detection and quantification of 3.6 and 12 ng ml(-1), respectively. The proposed method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of melatonin in commercial pharmaceutical formulations.     

Determination of copper(II) based on its catalytic effect on thiosemicarbazide-H(2)O(2)-CTMAB chemiluminescence reaction

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) reaction, thiosemicarbazide (TSC)–H₂O₂, for the determination of copper at nanogram per milliliter level in batch type is described. The method is based on the catalytic effect of copper(II) on the oxidation of TSC with hydrogen peroxide to produce light emission. The emitted light was observed by using a conventional fluorescence detector. In the optimum conditions, calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.1–1.3 ppm. The limit of detection was 10 ppb. The relative standard deviation for five determinations of 0.5 ppm copper(II) was 1.93%. The proposed method permitted the selective and sensitive determination of Cu(II) in human hair and wheat flour with sufficient precision. The possible mechanism for the new chemiluminescence reaction was also discussed.     

Cloud Point Preconcentration and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Cobalt and Nickel in Water Samples

 Cloud point methodology was successfully used to preconcentrate trace amounts of Co and Ni as a prior step to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. 1-Nitroso-2-naphthol and polyethylene glycol-p-nonylphenylether (PONPE 7.5) are used as hydrophobic ligand and nonionic surfactant, respectively. Optimization was performed of the variables effecting complexation and phase separation. Additionally, the influence of viscosity on the analytical signal was investigated. Under the experimental conditions used, preconcentration of only 10 mL of sample in the presence of 0.075% (v/v) PONPE 7.5 permitted the detection of 1.09 μg L⁻¹ of Ni and 1.22 μg L⁻¹ of Co with enhancement factors of 29 and 27 for Ni and Co, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n=5) at concentrations of 80 and 50 μg L⁻¹ for Co and Ni were 2.53 and 2.89%, respectively. Good recoveries in the range of 96–105% were obtained for spiked samples. The effect of different interferent species was studied. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Ni and Co in different water samples. Correspondence: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. e-mail: manzoori@tabrizu.ac.ir Received September 1, 2002; accepted November 8, 2002