Heavy metal transport and evolution of atmospheric aerosols in the Antarctic region.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) measurements and backward air mass trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model were performed to better understand the main sources and transport pathways of heavy metals in atmospheric aerosols reaching the Antarctic region. Field campaigns were carried out during the austral summer 2016-2017 at the "Gabriel de Castilla" Spanish Antarctic Research Station, located on Deception Island. Aerosols were deposited in an air filter through a low-volume sampler and chemically analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study of air masses and high enrichment factor values of several elements (Hf, Zr, As, Cu, Sn, Zn, Pb) together with their correlations (Hf/Zr, V/As, Ti/Mn and Cu/Sn) suggests a potentially significant role of three main sources in this area: remote maritime traffic, local petrol combustion (generators and/or tourist cruises), and remote/local crust. Additionally, the investigation of atmospheric flow patterns through backward trajectory analysis revealed that Hf/Zr correlation was related to a remote crustal origin, V/As to anthropogenic local pollution, Ti/Mn to terrestrial inputs on the island and Cu/Sn to remote anthropogenic sources. Overall, the present study demonstrates the existence of anthropogenic pollution at this remote site from distant as well as local sources following the Antarctic circumpolar wind pattern.

Quantification of particulate matter, tracking the origin and relationship between elements for the environmental monitoring of the Antarctic region.

The present work reports on the analysis of atmospheric aerosols in the Antarctic region, Deception Island, collected during austral summer 2016-2017 by field measurements carried from Gabriel de Castilla Spanish Research Station. A low-volume sampler was used to capture the aerosols depositing them onto the air filters. A chemical analysis of the samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) provided the total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), elemental Carbon (EC) and elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Cu, Pb, Sr, Ti, Zn and Cr. The average mass concentration of particulate matter (PM10) originated by natural and anthropogenic activities was calculated as 10 ±â€¯4 µg/m3, although values such as 28.2 µg/m3 were also obtained which is very high even when compared to other places in the coast of the Antarctic region. In addition, high enrichment factors have been found for elements such as Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn showing a remote anthropogenic contribution to particulate matter in this region. Correlations were found between Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti and S, where Na/Mg displayed the influence of marine environments, S correspond to volcanic activities, Ca to penguin colonies and influence of sea whereas Al/Ti indicated the crustal origin. Polar contour graphical maps were obtained from meteorological data using chemometrics methods, which allowed reproducing wind maps revealing the distribution of the aerosols and possible emission sources of different elements in the area. Given that this island has not been previously studied for atmospheric contamination, this work provides an interesting insight about the site-specific characteristics of particulate matter.

Determination of serotonin and its precursors in chocolate samples by capillary liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection.

A method for the analysis of serotonin (5-HT) and its precursors, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and l-tryptophan (TP) in chocolate samples by capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (cLC-MS) has been developed. Optimum chromatographic conditions were established by using a personalized multifactorial experimental design. Finally the cLC separation was achieved through a mixture of acetonitrile and 5mM ammonium formate at pH 4 (3:97, v/v) as mobile phase in gradient elution, setting the injection volume at 10 µL and using pure water as injection solvent for focusing purposes on the head of the capillary column. For extraction of targets in chocolate samples a new, fast and simple procedure based on the use of acidic extraction medium and sonication was developed. Working in selected ion mode (m/z 177 for 5-HT, m/z 205 for l-tryptophan and m/z 221 for 5-HTP) detection limits were between 0.01 and 0.11 µg g(-1) and linearity was in the concentration range of 0.5-25 µg g(-1). Recoveries higher than 76% with RSDs lower than 8% were obtained from spiked samples for all analytes, showing the effectiveness of the proposed method. Serotonin and its precursors were determined in 5 kinds of commonly consumed chocolates with different cocoa contents (70-100%). The highest serotonin content was found in chocolate with a cocoa content of 85% (2.93 µg g(-1)). Regarding l-tryptophan, the highest content of this amino acid (13.27-13.34 µg g(-1)) was found in chocolate samples with the lowest cocoa content (70-85%). 5-Hydroxytryptophan was not detected in any chocolate samples.

Direct chiral liquid chromatography determination of aryloxyphenoxypropionic herbicides in soil: deconvolution tools for peak processing.

In this paper, the enantiomeric separation of two aryloxyphenoxypropionic esters (fluazifop-butyl and quizalofop-ethyl) and a safener herbicide (mefenpyr-diethyl), which is widely used for protecting crop plants, has been studied by direct liquid chromatography (LC) with UV detection on an α(1)-acid glycoprotein as chiral stationary phase. Optimization of separation conditions was done by factorial experimental design. Experimental factors and ranges selected were propanol (5-10%), phosphate buffer pH (6.5-7.0), and column temperature (15-25 °C). Responses were expressed in terms of enantioresolution (R(s)) and adjusted retention time of the second eluted enantiomer (t(r2)'). The chemometric method used to explore data was response surface analysis. Multiple response analyses were carried out to determine the combination of experimental factors which simultaneously optimize experimental responses. Under optimum conditions for enantioseparation of each herbicide, partially overlapped or fully resolved enantiomers were obtained. Deconvolution tools were employed as an integration method to fit chromatographic data and to achieve a more precise enantiomeric ratio (ER) and enantiomeric fraction (EF) values. Applicability of both direct chiral LC and peak deconvolution methods was evaluated in spiked soil samples at different R/S enantiomeric ratios. Acceptable and reproducible recoveries between 71% and 96% with precision in the range 1-6% were achieved for herbicide-spiked levels from 0.50 to 9.0 µg g(-1). In addition, parameters such as R(s), ER, and EF were calculated and compared with values obtained using the common valley drop integration method.

Large injection volumes in capillary liquid chromatography: Study of the effect of focusing on chromatographic performance.

This paper describes a multivariate approach to study the effect on chromatographic conditions and to optimize such conditions in capillary liquid chromatography when high injection volumes are required. Several separations have been evaluated by using isocratic and gradient solvent elution, as well as isocratic elution combined with temperature programming. In this study, easily ionisable organic compounds with low logP have been used as representative analytes. Injection volume and nature of the injection solution have been evaluated in order to increase the sensitivity (peak area) and column performance (N values). The equations obtained by multiple linear regressions and response surfaces allow achieving the optimum on-column focusing conditions for chlorophenoxy acids, carbamates and heterocyclic amines.

Capillary liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detection for heterocyclic aromatic amine determination in ready-to-eat food treated with electron-beam irradiation.

In the present paper, we have developed a capillary liquid chromatography with MS detection for the determination at ngg⁻¹ levels of four heterocyclic aromatic amines (MeIQx, norharman, harman and harmine), a group of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds that can potentially be produced in protein-rich food during processing operations. They have been determined in commercial ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked salmon and soft cheese treated with E-beam irradiation. On the basis of experimental design studies and operating conditions of MS detector, best chromatographic conditions were obtained using a Luna® C¹8 capillary column (150 mm × 0.3 mm I.D.) with a mixture of acetonitrile-ammonium formate 5 mM pH 3.6 buffer (13:87, v/v) as mobile phase. To improve sensitivity, large injection volumes (20 µL) and injection solutions of low elution strength were employed. Sample preparation procedure included a previous treatment with 1M NaOH, followed by two solid-phase extraction steps; firstly on diatomaceous earth and then on mixed-mode cartridges. Heterocyclic amines were detected neither in irradiated and in non-irradiated samples, indicating that they were not formed by the radiation effect even at doses higher than those indicated in the Food Safety Objective established by regulatory agencies. RTE food samples were spiked at concentration levels in the range 10-30 ngg⁻¹. Recoveries higher than 85% (n=3 for each spiked level) were obtained, showing the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.

New approach to optimize HPLC separations of acid-base compounds with elution order involved, by using combined three-band resolution maps.

Some of the optimization methods in reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) are based on resolution of the critical band pair. Mobile phase composition is changed systematically to establish those conditions giving an acceptable resolution for such a critical band pair, but sometimes the critical pair may change with the separation conditions, which obliges to identify it for each of those conditions. In the case of ionizable compounds, more than two bands may be involved in resolution, showing--in some cases--changes in the elution order when the mobile phase composition was modified. In this paper, an alternative way that does not identify the critical pair after changing experimental conditions is proposed. The relative separation of the three bands involved in two alternating critical band pairs is evaluated as a sort of conjugate or combined resolution, represented as contour maps vs. two variables (content of organic modifier and pH). These maps are obtained from data of chromatograms made under different separation conditions; these conditions were generated by experimental design and data was mathematically processed with a computer program. Analytes of three families that have acid-base properties, triazines, phenoxyacids, and phenols, were used for this purpose. The chromatographic behavior when elution order reversion of ionizable compounds exists is studied.

Determination of heterocyclic aromatic amines by capillary high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection in ready-to-eat cooked ham treated with electron-beam irradiation.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs) are a group of mutagenic and carcinogenic substances present in significant amounts in cooked meat and fish that can potentially be formed during food processing operations. This paper proposes a capillary liquid chromatography method with diode array detection for the trace-level determination of three HAs, namely, MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline), norharman (9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole) and harman (1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole), in ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked ham processed by electron-beam (accelerated electrons) irradiation to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and to extend its shelf-life. The HAs selected have frequently been detected and quantified in a wide range of food and could be potential markers to indicate the presence of these toxic compounds. The method is based on the separation in an Inertsil C(8) capillary column (150 mm x 0.3-mm internal diameter, 3 microm) by gradient elution mode using a mixture of acetonitrile and 30 mM ammonium acetate pH 4.5 buffer as the mobile phase. Detection was at 250 and 265 nm and, to improve sensitivity, large injection volumes (20 microL) and on-column focusing techniques based on the injection of HA samples in low organic solvent strength solutions were employed. A simple and short solid-phase extraction and purification procedure was also optimized for sample preparation. Nonirradiated and irradiated RTE cooked ham samples at doses between 1 and 8 kGy were analyzed. HAs were not detected in any of the samples analyzed; so both types of samples were spiked at concentration levels in the range 5-25 ng g(-1), which may be found in meat products. The quality parameters of the method developed in the food matrix were established, and detection limits around 0.3 ng g(-1) were obtained. Spiked recoveries between 70 and 79% (n = 3 for each spiked level) relative standard deviations between 1 and 5% were also obtained, showing the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Multiresidue determination of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in human urine samples by use of solid-phase extraction and capillary LC-UV detection.

Chlorophenoxy acid herbicides are intensively applied to get rid of unwanted plants because of their low cost and selectivity. Due to their toxicity, which depends on their chemical form, the European Community has established legal directives to restrict their use and to control their maximum residue levels in several matrices. Determination of chlorophenoxy acids-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid (2,4-DP), 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid (MCPP), 4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid (MCPB) and 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid (2,4,5-TP) in spiked human urine samples has been carried out by capillary LC, after solid-phase extraction on a column packed with silica C18 restricted-access material. Chromatographic analysis was performed in gradient-elution mode at 25 degrees C, with injection of 20 microL low-organic-solvent composition herbicide solutions for focusing purposes on the head of the capillary column, and diode array detection at 232 nm. Urine samples collected during 24 h from healthy and unexposed volunteers were spiked in the concentration range 25-150 microg L(-1); recoveries obtained were between 66 and 100% (n = 6 for each spiked level) and RSDs (relative standard deviations) were between 1 and 5%. Detection limits in the urine samples from volunteers were between 3.5 and 6.0 microg L(-1). The developed methodology has allowed the clean-up and preconcentration of low volumes of untreated human urine without previous treatment, showing the effectiveness of the employed SPE sorbent for extracting the target analytes and ultimately resulting in the reduction of the sample-preparation time.

Effect of temperature on the separation of chlorophenoxy acids and carbamates by capillary high-performance liquid chromatography and UV (or diode array) detection.

In this work, the effect of temperature in isothermal and programmed modes on several chromatographic parameters such as retention factor, selectivity, resolution and plate number has been discussed. A critical comparison of isocratic/isothermal, gradient/isothermal and isocratic/program temperature modes has been made. Two representative families of pesticides have been selected for this study. One includes ionisable chlorophenoxy acids and two of their esters, some of which show similar polarities. The other one contains several weakly polar carbamates. Analysis was carried out using a reversed-phase capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system and focusing technique with UV or diode array detection (DAD).

Capillary liquid chromatography of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides and their esters in apple juice samples after preconcentration on a cation exchanger based on polydivinylbenzene-N-vinylpyrrolidone.

A capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) method with gradient elution has been used to determine chlorophenoxy acid herbicides: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid, 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid, 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid, 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butanoic acid, 4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid, 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic-1-methyl ester and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic-1-butyl ester in spiked apple juice samples with amounts between 0.025 and 0.150 mg kg(-1) of each herbicide. Clean-up and preconcentration of acid and esters were carried out in an Oasis MCX polymer. Detection limits obtained by cLC, between 0.005 and 0.018 mg kg(-1), allowed the determination of chlorophenoxy acids and their esters in apple juice samples around the levels permitted by the European Regulations, with recoveries in the range 84-99% and RSDs between 1 and 4%.

Rapid analysis of pyrethroids in whole urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using a monolithic column and off-line preconcentration in a restricted access material cartridge.

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a monolithic column with UV detection at 238 nm was developed for the determination of fenpropathrin, betacyfluthrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin (cis and trans isomers) in whole urine. The method is based on the use of a monolithic chromatographic column and a restricted access material (RAM) cartridge for sample preparation. The mobile phase was water/acetonitrile (42:58 v/v), the flow rate was 3 mL min(-1), and chromatographic separation was carried out in 10 min. The separation of cis and trans isomers of permethrin was also possible under the above-mentioned conditions. Detection limits in reconstituted whole urine samples were between 0.9 microg L(-1) for betacyfluthrin and 4.4 microg L(-1) for fenpropathrin and trans-permethrin. Recoveries for urine samples spiked with different amounts of pyrethroids (between 19 microg L(-1) and 75 microg L(-1)) were in the 70+/-6 to 90+/-7% range.

Determination of chlorine and bromine in automotive shredder residues by oxygen bomb and ion chromatography.

An analytical procedure, oxygen bomb combustion-ion chromatography (IC), has been developed for the determination of total chlorine in Automotive Shredder Residues (ASR). Samples of these residues are fired under elevated oxygen pressure (30 atm) and the combustion products are transferred into a Na2CO3/NaHCO3 absorbent solution containing 1% of H2O2; the chlorine contents are then evaluated by ion chromatography. The use of the non-suppressed IC determination with a conductivity detector provides a rapid, sensitive and selective method for chlorine determination in ASR, allowing determinations of this heteroatom at levels below 1% in the presence of bromine and sulfur. Moreover, the proposed method allows the simultaneous determination of chlorine, bromine and sulfur which are potential environmental hazards.

Chemically modified polymeric sorbents for sample preconcentration.

Solid-phase extraction is an attractive alternative in sample preparation because it overcomes many drawbacks of liquid-liquid extraction and makes on-line determination possible by hyphenation with chromatographic techniques. Driven by the need for more effective and more selective sorbents, advances in solid-phase extraction include the development of new materials. This paper describes different types of chemically modified sorbents for the solid-phase extraction of compounds from aqueous samples. Chemical introduction of different functional groups into a polymeric resin improves the efficiency of solid-phase extraction by providing better surface contact with the aqueous samples; also, these sorbents have a greater capacity than the typical solid-phase materials for polar compounds have. The most important new sorbents are the chemically modified resins based on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers. Preparation of these new sorbents is described, and advantages and drawbacks of off-line procedures and on-line procedures are also discussed. Applications for off-line and on-line chromatographic determinations of polar compounds are presented.

Preconcentration of pentachlorophenol from sawdust using quinolin-8-ol immobilized on controlled-pore glass and determination by liquid chromatography.

A method for quantitative evaluation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in sawdust has been developed. Pentachlorophenol is extracted from the solid matrix with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide and preconcentration was carried out using quinolin-8-ol immobilized on controlled pore glass. Determination was carried out by using liquid chromatography with detection at 240 nm. Recoveries were between 84 and 97% at 1-3 microg/g.

Study of nitrophenols preconcentration using quinolin-8-ol immobilized on controlled-pore glass in the presence of iron(III). Chromatographic determination of dinoseb in lemon juice.

The efficiency of an adsorbent consisting of quinolin-8-ol immobilized on controlled-pore glass which was packed in a minicolumn to preconcentrate nitrophenols in the presence of iron(III) has been established. Retention was carried out at acidic pH in the presence of 20 mM iron(III). Methanol-30 mM formic acid-sodium formate aqueous solution (pH 4.2) (65:35) was used in a one-step elution. Determinations were carried out by using liquid chromatography with detection at 350 nm. Determination of trace amounts of dinoseb in lemon juice was carried out with a minimum sample preparation. Recoveries were between 89 and 100% at 200-33 micrograms l-1. The maximum admissible concentration in fruit juice dictated by the Spanish and European Community legislation can be measured.

Multicomponent analysis of chlorophenols by diode array derivative spectrophotometry.

A multicomponent analysis method is proposed for the determination of chlorophenols by diode array derivative spectrophotometry. The method is based on formation of ion-pairs with tetrabutylammonium as counterion and extraction in chloroform at pH 9.1. Quantitative determinations (within the 2-20 mg/l. concentration range) of two-, three- and four-component mixtures were possible, using the first derivative spectra and a least-squares computer programme.