ABSTRACT
Abstract Amino acids (AA) composition in cocoa beans can predict the synthesis of compounds which affect cocoa flavor. Thus, their determination is of great interest for the community implied in the commercialization and production of cocoa. In consequence, in this work, the analysis of AA produced during cocoa beans fermentation and roasting was carried out. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with DAD detection at 254 nm was optimized and validated for their selective determination in six varieties of cocoa beans with different genotypes, all of them grown in Venezuela. AA were extracted by defatted milled cocoa powder ultrasonication using purified water at 70 °C. Then, they were derivatized with phenyl isothiocyanate, and their derivatives were separated, using a reversed-phase column with gradient elution, achieving a satisfactory resolution among the peaks (greater than 1.0) in less than 29 min. 110 cocoa samples were analyzed. Results showed a significant content of free AA, ranging from 3.87 to 5.97 g/kg in absence of fermentation with a predominance of acidic AA. Moreover, there is a progressive increase in the AA content while fermentation process occurs, with a predominance of hydrophobic AA such as alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. On the other hand, all cocoa types showed a partial degradation of free AA during the roasting step, especially the hydrophobic ones.
Resumen La determinación de aminoácidos (AA) en granos de cacao es de gran interés ya que estos son considerados como unos de los precursores de su sabor y aroma. Por esta razón, el presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo optimizar y validar un método por cromatografía líquida con detección DAD a 254 nm para la determinación selectiva de AA durante la fermentación y tostado en seis variedades de granos de cacao con diferentes genotipos, todos estos cultivados en Venezuela. Los AA se extrajeron del polvo de cacao molido y desgrasado con agua pura a 70 ºC, utilizando la técnica de ultrasonido. Luego, se derivatizaron con fenilotiocianato para separar sus derivados con buena resolución en menos de 29 min en una columna de fase reversa, utilizando gradiente de elución. Se analizaron 110 muestras de cacao. Los resultados mostraron un contenido significativo de AA libres, entre 3,87 y 5,97 g/kg, en ausencia de fermentación con predominio de AA ácidos, y un aumento progresivo en el contenido de AA, mientras ocurre el proceso de fermentación, con un predominio de AA hidrófobos como alanina, valina, isoleucina, leucina, fenilalanina y tirosina. Además, todos los tipos de cacao mostraron una degradación parcial de AA libres durante la etapa de tostado, especialmente los AA hidrófobos.
Resumo A determinação dos aminoácidos (AA) nos grãos de cacau é importante, pois são considerados um dos precursores de seu sabor e aroma. Neste trabalho, um método foi otimizado e validado por cromatografia líquida com detecção DAD a 254 nm para a determinação seletiva de AA durante a fermentação e torrefação em seis variedades de grãos de cacau com diferentes genótipos, todos cultivados na Venezuela. Os AAs foram extraídos do pó de cacau moído e desengordurados com água pura a 70 ºC usando a técnica de ultrassom. Em seguida, foram derivatizados com feniltiocianato, e os derivados foram separados com boa resolução em menos de 29 minutos em uma coluna de fase invertida usando eluição em gradiente. Foram analisadas 110 amostras de cacau. Os resultados mostraram um conteúdo significativo de AA livre entre 3,87 e 5,97 g/kg na ausência de fermentação com predominância de AA ácidos e um aumento progressivo no conteúdo de AA enquanto o processo de fermentação ocorre com predominância de AA hidrófobos como alanina, valina, isoleucina, leucina, fenilalanina e tirosina. Além disso, todos os tipos de cacau apresentaram uma degradação parcial do AA livre durante a fase de torrefação, principalmente o AA hidrofóbico.
ABSTRACT
An on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) method coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed for the determination of atenolol (ATN) and propranolol (PRO) in human plasma. The hyphenation of SPE with multisyringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) allows the simultaneous GC-MS determination of ATN and PRO with high selectivity and sensitivity. On-line preconcentration and derivatisation of the analytes were carried out by means of using restricted access materials (RAM) and microwave (MW) assisted derivatisation reactions with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA)+1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). Multivariate optimization was applied to optimize experimental conditions. The whole procedure comprising sample pretreatment and analyte determination took about 15 min. However, the overlap of the automatic sample treatment with the GC separation increased the frequency to 7 samples h(-1). The validated method was successfully applied to direct ATN and PRO determination in human plasma.
Subject(s)
Atenolol/blood , Flow Injection Analysis/methods , Propranolol/blood , Solid Phase Extraction/methods , Acetamides/chemistry , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Flow Injection Analysis/instrumentation , Fluoroacetates/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Humans , Microwaves , Sensitivity and Specificity , Trimethylsilyl Compounds/chemistryABSTRACT
A Fourier transform infrared derivative spectroscopy (FTIR-DS) method has been developed for determining furosemide (FUR) in pharmaceutical solid dosage form. The method involves the extraction of FUR from tablets with N,N-dimethylformamide by sonication and direct measurement in liquid phase mode using a reduced path length cell. In general, the spectra were measured in transmission mode and the equipment was configured to collect a spectrum at 4 cm(-1) resolution and a 13 s collection time (10 scans co-added). The spectra were collected between 1400 cm(-1) and 450 cm(-1). Derivative spectroscopy was used for data processing and quantitative measurement using the peak area of the second order spectrum of the major spectral band found at 1165 cm(-1) (SO2 stretching of FUR) with baseline correction. The method fulfilled most validation requirements in the 2 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL range, with a 0.9998 coefficient of determination obtained by simple calibration model, and a general coefficient of variation <2%. The mean recovery for the proposed assay method resulted within the (100±3)% over the 80%-120% range of the target concentration. The results agree with a pharmacopoeial method and, therefore, could be considered interchangeable.
ABSTRACT
The quantitative estimation of amikacin (AMK) in AMK sulfate injection samples is reported using FTIR-derivative spectrometric method in a continuous flow system. Fourier transform of mid-IR spectra were recorded without any sample pretreatment. A good linear calibration (r>0.999, %RSD<2.0) in the range of 7.7-77.0 mg/mL was found. The results showed a good correlation with the manufacturer's and overall they all fell within acceptable limits of most pharmacopoeial monographs on AMK sulfate.
ABSTRACT
The quantitative estimation of amikacin (AMK) in AMK sulfate injection samples is reported using FTIR-derivative spectrometric method in a continuous flow system. Fourier transform of mid-IR spectra were recorded without any sample pretreatment. A good linear calibration (r40.999, %RSDo 2.0) in the range of 7.7-77.0 mg/mL was found. The results showed a good correlation with the manufacturer's and overall they all fell within acceptable limits of most pharmacopoeial monographs on AMK sulfate.
ABSTRACT
La investigación tuvo como propósito obtener la antraquinona contenida en el exudado de Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (zábila) mediante el método de cristalización y su identificación mediante la técnica de espectrofotometría de radiación infrarroja. La muestra la conformaron 18 plantas de zábila, recolectadas al oeste de la ciudad Santa Ana de Coro, estado Falcón. Se utilizaron tres métodos para la obtención de antraquinona a partir del exudado de zábila. En el método A, la antraquinona se obtuvo por descenso de la temperatura; en el método B, las muestras fueron liofilizadas y luego se disminuyó la temperatura; y en el método C, la antraquinona se obtuvo mediante un modificador de matriz. Con el método A se obtuvo un rendimiento de antraquinona de 7,65 ± 4,62% p/p; con el método B 5,74 ± 3,25 % p/p y con el método C 25,93 ± 1,49% p/p. El mayor rendimiento de antraquinona se obtuvo con el método de precipitación mediante modificador de matriz.
The purpose of this wok was obtain the anthraquinone from Aloe vera exudate applying method by crystallization and identifies it through spectrophotometric infrared and ultraviolet- visible techniques. The sample were 18 plants of Aloe vera, recollected at west of Coro city, Falcón state. It was used 3 methods to obtain anthraquinone from Aloe vera exudate. In the method A, anthraquinone was obtained by temperature descend; in the method B, the samples were lyophilized and temperature descends; and in the method C, anthraquinone was obtained by matrix modifier. With the method A it was obtained 7,65 ± 4,62% w/w of anthraquinone; with method B 5,74 ± 3,25 % w/w and with the method C 25,93 ± 1,49% w/w. The method with the best efficiency to obtain anthraquinone was the method C.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Plants, Medicinal , Anthraquinones/chemistry , Aloe/immunology , Medicine/methods , Pharmacology , Public Health , Aloe/physiologyABSTRACT
In this paper, a method was described to determine cocaine (COC) and benzoylecgonine (BZE) in human urine samples by GC-MS detection. The extraction of analytes from urine samples was achieved in an Oasis hydrophilic-lipophilic balance column (20 mmx3.9 mm id, dp=25 microm; Waters, USA), incorporated in a multisyringe flow injection system, used for the sample treatment. Finally, to improve the volatility of the BZE, an in-line derivatization reaction with N,O-bis (trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane was made microwave-assisted in order to reduce the reaction time. The results showed that the proposed method is a good alternative for the analysis of COC and BZE in urine samples because it offers advantages compared with those described in the literature, which include simplicity in the sample treatment, the sensitivity and selectivity necessary to determine the analytes of interest at low levels in the urine and high sample throughput.
Subject(s)
Cocaine/analogs & derivatives , Cocaine/urine , Flow Injection Analysis/methods , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Humans , Limit of Detection , Microwaves , Solid Phase ExtractionABSTRACT
This study describes a simple and sensitive column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection for the determination of Lamotrigine in 50 microL of serum. After solid-phase extraction of Lamotrigine on an Oasis HLB extraction precolumn (20 x 3.9 mm; dp: 25 microm), chromatographic separation was achieved at 30 degrees C on a Chromolith RP-18e column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) using a solution of 20% acetonitrile in 15 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) as the mobile phase, at a flow-rate of 2.0 mL/min. The eluant was detected at 215 nm. The retention time for Lamotrigine was 1.28 min. The total analysis time was ca. 5 min. However, the overlap of sample preparation, analysis, and reconditioning of the precolumn increased the overall sample throughput to one injection every 3 min. The method was validated for system suitability, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, and limit of quantitation. The linearity of the calibration lines, expressed by the linear correlation coefficient, was better than 0.9996. Recovery studies achieved from Lamotrigine spiked plasma samples showed values greater than 93%, demonstrating the excellent extraction efficiency of the precolumn. Intra- and inter-day precision were generally acceptable; the coefficient of variation was < 2.3% in all cases. The detection limits for Lamotrigine at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 0.002 microg/mL when a sample volume of 50 microL was injected. However, it was possible to enhance the sensitivity further by injecting larger volumes, up to 200 microL. The method was shown to be robust and the results were within the acceptable range. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Lamotrigine in human serum samples of patients submitted to Lamotrigine therapy.
Subject(s)
Anticonvulsants/blood , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Triazines/blood , Humans , LamotrigineABSTRACT
Column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for quantification of losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan in human urine. Urine samples were diluted on the extraction mobile phase (1:4, v/v) and a volume of 20 microL of this mixture were directly injected onto the HPLC system. The analytes were extracted from the matrix using an on-line solid-phase extraction procedure involving a precolumn packed with 25 microm C(18) alkyl-diol support (ADS), and a solution 2% methanol in 5mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.8) at a flow-rate of 0.8 mL/min for isolation and preconcentration of losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan. The enriched analytes were back-flushed after, onto the analytical column with a mixture of 5mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.8)-acetonitrile-methanol (65:20:15, v/v/v) at a flow-rate of 3.0 mL/min and detected by fluorescence at 259 and 399 nm as excitation and emission wavelength respectively. The separation of losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan was achieved on a Chromolith RP-18e monolithic column. The method provides extraction recoveries from spiked urine samples greater than 93%. Intra-day and inter-day precision were generally acceptable; the intra-day-assay C.V. was <3.5 for all compounds and the inter-day-assay C.V. was < 3.7%. The estimated calibration range was 0.001-2.5 microg/mL(-1) with excellent coefficient of determination (>0.9981). The detection limits for losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1 were 0.002, 0.0002 and 0.001 microg/mL(-1) when a sample volume of 20 microL was injected. The proposed method permitted the simultaneous determination of losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan in 8 min, with an adequate precision and sensitivity. However, the overlap of the sample cleanup step with the analysis increases the sampling frequency to 12 samples/h. The developed column-switching method was successfully applied for the determination of these analytes in human urine samples of patients submitted at ARA-IIs therapy.
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents/urine , Benzimidazoles/urine , Benzoates/urine , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Losartan/urine , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Tetrazoles/urine , Valine/analogs & derivatives , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Telmisartan , Valine/urine , ValsartanABSTRACT
A simple and sensitive reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of amikacin (AMK) by derivatization. The method is based on the pre-column derivatization of AMK with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC). The derivatization reaction proceeds in aqueous solution at room temperature with a borate buffer of pH 8.0. The formation of the corresponding derivative of AMK is instantaneous and it is stable for more than 36 h. Detection was performed by UV-absorption instead of fluorescence. Several factors influencing the derivatization reaction yields were studied and optimized. The system offered the following analytical parameters: limit of detection (LOD) of 0.068 micro g ml(-1) (3sigma), linear correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and linear range response from 2 to 50 microg ml(-1). The precision of the method was <1%. As a preliminary application, the method has been successfully applied to the amikacin determination in parenteral pharmaceutical formulations.
Subject(s)
Amikacin/analysis , Aminoquinolines/chemistry , Carbamates/chemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet/methods , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The sequential injection (SIA) technique was applied for the on-line preparation of an "oil in water" microemulsion and for the determination of aluminum in new and used lubricating oils by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) with Zeeman-effect background correction. Respectively, 1.0, 0.5 and 1.0ml of surfactants mixture, sample and co-surfactant (sec-butanol) solutions were sequentially aspirated to a holding coil. The sonication and repetitive change of the flowing direction improved the stability of the different emulsion types (oil in water, water in oil and microemulsion). The emulsified zone was pumped to fill the sampling arm of the spectrometer with a sub-sample of 200mul. Then, 10mul of this sample solution were introduced by means of air displacement in the graphite tube atomizer. This sequence was timed to synchronize with the previous introduction of 15mug of Mg(NO(3))(2) (in a 10mul) by the spectrometer autosampler. The entire SIA system was controlled by a computer, independent of the spectrometer. The furnace program was carried out by employing a heating cycle in four steps: drying (two steps at 110 and 130 degrees C), pyrolisis (at 1500 degrees C), atomization (at 2400 degrees C) and cleaning (at 2400 degrees C). The calibration graph was linear from 7.7 to 120mugAll(-1). The characteristic mass (mo) was 33.2pg/0.0044s and the detection limit was 2.3mugAll(-1). The relative standard (RSD) of the method, evaluated by replicate analyses of different lubricating oil samples varied in all cases between 1.5 and 1.7%, and the recovery values found in the analysis of spiked samples ranged from 97.2 to 100.4%. The agreement between the observed and reference values obtained from two NIST Standard Certified Materials was good. The method was simple and satisfactory for determining aluminum in new and used lubricating oils.
ABSTRACT
A sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of traces of manganese in urine using on-line electrochemical preconcentration followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry detection. A home made flow-through polypropylene cell (4.5cm longx0.8cm diameter filled with glass marbles) with an effective inner volume of 0.5ml containing a working and a counter electrode, both of glassy carbon and a Pt pseudo reference electrode was located in a flow injection manifold specially designed for the purpose of this work. The manganese was deposited from buffer solution of NH(3)/NH(4)Cl at pH 9.00 through an oxidizing process at a current of 400mA during 7min. A flow of HCl 0.1moll(-1) at 4mlmin(-1) through the cell, chemically dissolved the deposit. A small portion (15mul) of the concentrate was introduced in a continuously flowing system by means of a timing device and was then carried to the detector for the manganese quantification. All electrochemical and spectroscopic variables as well as possible interferences in both systems were systematically studied. The relative standard deviations for ten consecutive measurements of manganese solutions of 2.0 and 20mugl(-1) were of 2.3 and 1.5%, respectively, while for a sample processed five times was less then 5%. The accuracy of the developed procedure was evaluated by adding known amounts of manganese standard to urine samples and following the whole procedure. Recoveries within the range 97.2-102.8% were obtained. To further prove the accuracy, a Seronorm Trace Elements in Urine, Batch 403125 sample with a reported concentration of 13mugMnl(-1) was also analyzed. The experimental value obtained was of 12.7+/-0.1mugl(-1), which does not differ significantly from the reported amount (p<0.05). A preconcentration factor of 40, a linear range between 0.015 and 60mugl(-1) and a limit of detection of 15ngl(-1) permitted the determination of manganese in real urine samples from non-exposed subjects in the range 0.5-2.8mugl(-1).
ABSTRACT
In this work, a flow analysis-hydride generation-gas phase derivative molecular absorption-(UV) spectrophotometric method has been developed for the direct determination of antimony in aqueous and hydro-alcoholic samples. Antimony (III) from undiluted samples is directly transformed into the gaseous stibine (SbH(3)) form by on-line reaction with sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH(4)) in acidic medium (HCl). The gaseous phase generated is separated from the liquid phase using a commercial gas-liquid separator, and swept - with the help of a carrier gas (N(2)) stream - into a quartz gas cell (10cm pathlength); where the corresponding absorption spectrum is acquired in a continuous mode over the 190-300nm wavelength range, using a conventional spectrophotometer. A derivative strategy was selected in order to avoid the strong spectral interference of the ethanol vapor on the gaseous SbH(3) absorption spectrum. In this way, the peak height at 223nm of the second order derivative spectrum appears as a clear, clean and interference free analytical signal, which allows the direct determination of antimony. The recovery values obtained from homeopathic formulations (prepared in alcoholic medium) spiked with know amounts of antimony ranged between 97.5 and 103%. The method provides a dynamic range from 0.20 to 30mgSbl(-1). The precision (RDS), evaluated by replicate analysis (n=5) of samples and standard solution containing between 2.5 and 15mgSbl(-1) was in all cases lower than 1.2%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of antimony in commercial homeopathic products ("Antimonium Tartaricum") prepared in hydro-alcoholic medium; and showed to be simple, precise, and accurate.
ABSTRACT
In this work, a simple strategy for the determination of ethanol in all types of alcoholic beverages using Fourier transform infrared spectrometric detection has been developed. The methodological proposal includes the quantitative on-line liquid-liquid extraction of ethanol with chloroform, through a sandwich type cell equipped with a PTFE membrane, using a two-channel manifold; and direct measurement of the analyte in the organic phase, by means of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The quantification was carried out measuring the ethanol absorbance at 877cm(-1)(,) corrected by means of a baseline established between 844 and 929cm(-1). The procedure, which does not require any sample pretreatment (except for the simple degassing of beer and gassy wine samples, and a simple dilution of spirits with water), was applied to determine ethanol in different alcoholic beverages such as beers, wines and spirits. The results obtained highly agree with those obtained by a derivative FTIR spectrometric procedure, and by head space-gas chromatography with FID detection. The proposed method is simple, fast, precise and accurate. Moreover, it can be easily adapted to any infrared spectrometer equipped with a standard transmission IR cell, and provides attractive analytical features, which are comparable to, or better than those offered by other published methods. In consequence, it represents a valid alternative for the determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages, and could be suitable for the routine control analysis.
ABSTRACT
Flow analysis offers an inexpensive and versatile means for the automation of analytical procedures and hence it has been incorporated in many different techniques. However, the use of infrared detection in flow analysis systems is not common. Whereas Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic detection has been routinely used in gas chromatography (GC), its use for liquid chromatography, and now for flow analysis, flow injection analysis, or sequential injection analysis, is not frequent. The most prominent reasons are probably: (i) the strong absorption of most of the common solvents, specially water, (ii) the relative poor sensibility compared to UV-vis, fluorescence, etc. (iii) FTIR is normally not even considered a valuable detection technique, (iv) problems arising from obtaining adequate information from transient IR signals from the injected samples, and (v) only a few analytical chemist uses routinely the FTIR technique. This practice neglects that IR spectroscopy offers some unique features that now, using modern FTIR instrumentation, can be exploited in an advantageous manner. It is important to realize that each sample (analyte/matrix) represents a special and unique analytical problem; which defines the mode of operation and implementation of the IR technique. Flow analysis-IR techniques - as well as all techniques - has a number of shortcomings to solve these problems. In this article, most of these strategies such as the use of: baseline correction, derivative spectroscopy, stopped flow systems, reverse flow systems, multiparametric calibrations, etc., will be discussed. Additionally, recent developments in on-line gas phase generation-FTIR and hydride generation-FTIR spectrometry, as well as the principles of the HPLC-FTIR and capillary electrophoresis-FTIR hyphenation are also discussed. This review aims to provide an account of the state of the art, of these relatively new techniques. Its beginning, developments, applications and new trends, basically in the MID-IR, and by using transmission cells.
ABSTRACT
In this work, the coupling between flow analysis (FA)-vapor phase generation (VPG) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) has been proposed as a novel and alternative strategy for the determination of nitrite. The analyte was transformed into the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) by on-line reaction with potassium iodide (KI) or ascorbic acid in acidic medium. The gaseous NO generated was transported by means of a N(2) gas carrier stream inside the IR gas cell and the corresponding FTIR spectrum was acquired in a continuous mode. The absorbance at 1876cm(-1), corrected by a baseline established between 1879 and 1872cm(-1) at a nominal resolution of 2cm(-1), was selected as a measurement criterion. The effect of different spectroscopic and flow analysis experimental parameters, such as nominal resolution, number of scans, reducing agent and its concentration, acidic medium, reagents and sample flow rates, and the carrier gas flow rate on the analytical signal, and then in the figures of merit were initially evaluated by using a standard short path length (10cm) IR gas cell. The optimization of the system was carried out by the univariate method. The main aims of this study were: (i) to investigate the on-line generation of gaseous nitric oxide in a continuous flow system, and (ii) the use of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry as an alternative and selective detector for the determination of nitrite. The proposed method was initially tested and applied for the determination of nitrite in samples with very high concentration of nitrite, such as frankfurters.
ABSTRACT
A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection for the determination of cocaine (COC) and benzoylecgonine (BZE) in human blood plasma samples is described. The method uses an alkyl-diol-silica ADS-C18 extraction precolumn. A 50- micro L plasma sample was introduced to the ADS precolumn in order to separate the analytes from proteins and endogenous compounds. The fraction containing COC and BZE was back-flushed and transferred to an Alltech mixed-mode C(18)/cation-exchange analytical column for final separation. The validation of the method revealed quantitative recoveries from 95.0 to 99.0% for COC at three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 micro g mL(-1)), and from 96.0 to 99.0% for BZE at the same concentration levels with coefficients of variation <4.00% (n=5). The detection limit (signal to noise ratio (S/N)>3) was 0.03 micro g mL(-1) for all the compounds with an injection volume of 50 micro L. However, it was possible to enhance the sensitivity further by injecting larger plasma volumes, up to 200 micro L, at the same optimal conditions. The overlap of sample preparation, analysis and reconditioning of the extraction column, increase the overall sample throughput to 5 samples h(-1). The developed method has been applied to human blood plasma samples from subjects suspected of cocaine abuse.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/instrumentation , Cocaine/analogs & derivatives , Cocaine/blood , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Equipment Design , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Reference Standards , Silicon Dioxide , Solvents , Substance-Related Disorders/blood , Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
An "oil in water" formulation was optimized to determine chromium in heavy crude oil (HCO) and bitumen-in-water emulsion (Orimulsion-400(R)) samples by transversally heated electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (TH-ET AAS) using Zeeman effect background correction. The optimum proportion of the oil-water mixture ratio was 7:3 v/v (70 ml of oil as the internal phase) with a non-ionic surfactant concentration (Intan-100) in the emulsion of 0.2% w/w. Chromium was determined in different crude oil samples after dilution of the emulsions 1:9 v/v with a 0.2% w/w solution of surfactant in order to further reduce the viscosity from 100 to 1.6 cP and at the same time to bring the concentration of chromium within the working range of the ET AAS technique. The calibration graph was linear from 1.7 to 100 mug Cr l(-1). The sensitivity was of 0.0069 s l mug(-1), the characteristic mass (m(o)) was of 5.7 pg per 0.0044 s and the detection limit (3sigma) was of 0.52 mug l(-1). The relative standard deviation of the method, evaluated by replicate analyses of three crude oil samples varied in all cases between 1.5 and 2.6%. Recovery studies were performed on four Venezuelan crude oils, and the average chromium recovery values varied between 95.9-104.8, 90.6-107.6, 95.6-104.0 and 98.8-103.9% for the Cerro Negro, Crudo Hamaca and Boscán crude oils and for the Orimulsión(R)-400, respectively. The results obtained in this work for the Cerro Negro, Crudo Hamaca and Boscán crude oils and for the Orimulsión(R)-400 following the proposed procedure were of 0.448+/-0.008, 0.338+/-0.004 0.524+/-0.021 and 0.174+/-0.008 mg Cr l(-1), respectively, which were in good agreement with the values obtained by a tedious recommended standard procedure (respectively: 0.470+/-0.05, 0.335+/-0.080, 0.570+/-0.021 and 0.173+/-0.009 mg Cr l(-1)).
ABSTRACT
The combination of flow analysis (FA), hydride generation (HG) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry is proposed as a novel and powerful analytical technique for the individual and simultaneous determination of antimony, arsenic and tin in aqueous samples. The analytes were transformed into the volatile hydride form by on-line reaction with sodium tetrahydroborate in acidic medium. The gaseous analyte hydrides [M(n)H(m), (g)] generated, were transported by means of a carrier gas stream inside the IR gas cell and the corresponding FTIR spectrum was acquired in a continuous mode. The 1893, 1904 and 2115 cm(-1) bands of the SbH3, SnH4, and AsH3 were selected for the determination of antimony, tin and arsenic, respectively. The limit of detection (3sigma) obtained by using a short-path (10 cm) IR gas cell were 0.25, 0.30 and 1.2 mg l(-1) for the determination of antimony, tin and arsenic, respectively; while the precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, n 5) found from a standard solution containing 50 mg l(-1) of each element was, in all cases, less than 0.3%. However, the use of a long-path (7.25 m) IR gas cell improved the figures of merit (sensitivity, limits of detection and quantification) nearly 60-fold. The effect of the main experimental and instrumental variables, such as acidic media, sodium tetraborohydrate concentration, nitrogen flow rate, nominal resolution and the scan accumulation on the analytical signals of the antimony, tin and arsenic hydrides, were studied. Further, the potential of the proposed technique for the simultaneous determination of these elements was tested, analyzing synthetic samples containing different amounts of Sb, Sn and As.
