Trace-Level Determination of Phenol by Liquid Chromatography with On-Line Precolumn Technology and Fluorescence Detection

Abstract

A strongly basic anion-exchange resin is used for the trace enrichment and automated sample handling of phenol, with subsequent determination by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Because of the presence of high concentrations of ionic compounds in the water samples tested, phenol is first trapped on a relatively long precolumn filled with a highly hydrophobic packing material; during this step, (in) organic anions which are not retained, are flushed to waste. In the next step, phenol is desorbed from this column at high pH and sorbed in a small zone (“peak compression”) on a short precolumn containing the anion exchanger.

In the analysis of tap and river water samples, the detection limit was found to be 10ppt (1:10¹¹).     

Handling of Environmental and Biological Samples via Pre-Column Technologies

Abstract

Sample handling is still a weak point in chromatography and in analytical chemisty in general. One consideration is the automation potential of new procedures. Solid-liquid extraction techniques in combination with pre-column technology are particularly promising in this regards. The construction and geometry of pre-columns both for conventional and narrow-bore HPLC are of major importance, since band broadening should be kept at a minimum for an optimal functioning of the analytical system. The various operations that can be carried out with such a pre-column are trace-enrichment, clean-up of the sample which depends on the type of adsorbents used in the precolumn, i.e., polar or apolar materials, ion exchangers or metal covered surfaces, etc., protection of the analytical column, field sampling and storage of samples and as a substrate for on-column chemical derivatizations. These various operations are demonstrated with practical examples from the fields of environmental and biological analysis. The selectivity can be further enhanced by coupling precolumn technology with selective detection modes such as diode array UV, electrochemical or fluorescence detection. This enables the construction of optimal and integrated analysis sytems which are fully automated and microprocessor controlled. They can also be made compatible with miniaturized LC-technology.     

Multi-residue screening of veterinary drugs in egg,fish and meat using high-resolution liquid chromatography accurate mass time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The last 2 years multi-compound methods are gaining ground as screening methods. In this study a high-resolution liquid chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRLC–ToF-MS) is tested for the screening of about 100 veterinary drugs in three matrices, meat, fish and egg. While the results are satisfactory for 70–90% of the veterinary drugs, a more efficient sample preparation or extract purification is required for quantitative analysis of all analytes in more difficult matrices like egg. The average mass measurement error of the ToF-MS for the veterinary drugs spiked at concentrations ranging from 4 to 400 μg/kg, is 3.0 ppm (median 2.5 ppm) with little difference between the three matrices, but slightly decreases with increasing concentration. The SigmaFit value, a new feature for isotope pattern matching, also decreases with increasing concentration and, in addition, shows an increase with increasing matrix complexity. While the average SigmaFit value is 0.04, the median is 0.01 indicating some high individual deviations. As with the mass measurement error, the highest deviations are found in those regions of the chromatogram where most compounds elute from the column, be it analytes or matrix compounds. The median repeatability of the method ranges from 8% to 15%, decreasing with increasing concentration, while the median reproducibility ranges from 15% to 20% with little difference between matrices and concentrations. The median accuracy is in between 70% and 100% with a few compounds showing higher values due to matrix interference. The squared regression coefficient is >0.99 for 92% of the compounds showing a good overall linearity for most compounds. The detection capability, CCβ, is within 2 times the associated validation level for >90% of the compounds studied. By changing a few conditions in the analyses protocol and analysing a number of blank samples, it was determined that the method is robust as well as specific. Finally, an alternative validation strategy is proposed and tested for screening methods. While the results calculated for repeatability, within-lab reproducibility and CCβ show a good comparison for the matrices meat and fish, and a reasonable comparison for the matrix egg, only 27 analyses are required to obtain these results versus 63 analysis in the traditional, 2002/657/EC, approach. This alternative is suggested as a cost-effective validation procedure for screening methods.     

Quantitative trace analysis of eight chloramphenicol isomers in urine by chiral liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with, apart from its human medicinal use, veterinary abuse in all major food-producing animals. Chloramphenicol occurs in four stereoisomers (all para-nitro substituted) and furthermore four meta-nitro analogs of chloramphenicol exist. In this paper these are referred to as eight chloramphenicol isomers. According to EU regulations an analytical method should be able to discriminate the analyte from interfering substances that might be present in the sample, including isomers. For the first time a quantitative method for the analysis of trace levels of eight chloramphenicol isomers in urine by chiral liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometric detection is reported. The separation of the isomers on the analytical column, the clean-up of urine and the selectivity of the monitored product ions turned out to be critical parameters. To obtain reproducible retention isocratic elution on a chiral AGP column was applied. For urine samples matrix compounds present in the final extract caused decreased retention of the isomers on the chiral stationary phase and a lack of chromatographic resolution. Therefore an extended clean-up procedure that combines solid phase extraction and liquid-liquid extraction had to be developed. The final method was fully validated and showed satisfactory performance for all isomers with decision limits (CCα) ranging from 0.005 to 0.03 μg L(-1) and within-laboratory reproducibility of all isomers below 20% at the minimum required performance limit level of 0.3 μg L(-1).     

Multiresidue analysis of beta-agonists in bovine and porcine urine,feed and hair using liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

The use of β-agonists as growth promoters in cattle breeding is forbidden in many countries for reasons of fair trade and consumer protection. In recent years the use of liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been shown to be the method of choice for the control of β-agonists. In this study an LC-MS/MS multiresidue analysis method is presented for trace analysis of 22 β-agonists. A truly generic concept has been designed based on mixed-mode solid-phase extraction and positive electrospray ionisation LC-MS/MS operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. This method allows application to a wide variety of sample matrices such as urine, feed and hair, following minor modifications to the analysis procedure only. The method features fit-for-purpose sensitivity in urine as shown by CCα and CCβ values of less than 0.2 and less than 0.5 μg/l respectively, for all β-agonists studied (terbutaline and reproterol, less than 0.3 and less than 1.0 respectively). Similar but semiquantitative application to feed and hair showed CCβ values of less than 10.0 and less than 5.0 μg/kg, respectively. A further simplification and improvement is demonstrated using Ultra Performance LC (UPLC™) and fast-switching MS/MS. The successful validation of this method following the latest EU requirements and its application to real samples demonstrate that a new versatile tool has been achieved for veterinary control of β-agonists.