RP-HPLC-DAD determination of free amino acids in cocoa samples during fermentation and roasting / Determinación de aminoácidos libres en muestras de cacao durante la fermentación y el tostado por cromatografía líquida con detección DAD / Determinação de aminoácidos livres em amostras de cacau durante a fermentação e torrefação por cromatografia líquida com detecção DAD

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.

Development of an on-line lab-on-valve micro-solid phase extraction system coupled to liquid chromatography for the determination of flavonoids in citrus juices.

An on-line lab-on-valve system for renewable micro-solid phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection was developed for the determination of hesperidin and diosmin in natural and commercial citrus samples. The method is based on the automatic loading of 8 mL of sample into the C18 resin, followed by matrix clean-up and elution of the analytes with 0.27 mL of acetonitrile. Next, 0.02 mL of the extract were injected into the chromatographic system. Separation was performed by using a Symmetry® C18 column (250 × 3.0 mm x 5.0 µm) with a mobile phase consisting in a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and acidic water (pH = 2.5) in gradient mode at 0.58 mL min-1. The detection wavelength was chosen as 285 nm. Limits of detection, quantification and relative standard deviations were lower than 0.1 µg mL-1, 0.3 µg mL-1 and 4.1%, respectively.

Estrogens determination exploiting a SIA-LOV system prior in-port derivatization-large volume injection-programmable temperature vaporization-gas chromatography.

In this work, we present a method for the clean-up, preconcentration and quantification of the four most widely found estrogens (estrone E1, estradiol E2, estriol E3 and ethynyl estradiol EE2) in seawater samples. A sequential injection analysis-lab on valve system (SIA-LOV) has been developed to perform the microsolid phase extraction (µSPE) of the analytes in a fully automated way. After testing different resins and solvents, C18 resin with acetonitrile (ACN) as eluent have been chosen as they provided the best results. Several parameters affecting the extraction have been studied and optimized. Besides, extraction column lifetime has also been checked as it is indicative of the number of consecutive analysis that the column is able to perform before replacing it. Results showed that the same column can be used up to 50 times. Then, the derivatization of the extracts has been performed unattended by exploiting an in-port derivatization of the analytes with N-methyltrimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) prior their quantification using large volume injection with programmable temperature vaporization gas chromatography (LVI-PTV-GC-MS).

Chemical and bioactivity screening of subcritical water extracts of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) stems.

Subcritical water extracts of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) stems were chemically and biologically characterised. Chemical profile was defined by GC-MS analysis whereas anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic and tyrosinase-inhibitory activities of the extracts were investigated by in vitro assays. Antioxidant activity assays revealed strong activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 0.1 mg/mL) and reducing power (IC50 = 0.25 mg/mL). The extracts demonstrated remarkable amylase (0.59 mmol ACAE/g) and glucosidase (7.50 mmol ACAE/g) inhibitory effects. Anti-tyrosinase activity of aronia stem extracts obtained by subcritical water was calculated to be 15.87 mg KAE/g extract. GC-MS analysis of chokeberry stem subcritical water extracts revealed the presence of different chemical classes. The compounds present in the highest concentrations were polyols arabitol (13.7%), xylitol (3.5%), and glycerol (1.96%), as well as sugars such as fructose (3.04%), ribose (1.99%) and xylulose (1.18%).

Simultaneous dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction derivatisation and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of subcritical water extracts of sweet and sour cherry stems.

Cherry stems have been used in traditional medicine mostly for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Extraction with subcritical water, according to its selectivity, efficiency and other aspects, differs substantially from conventional extraction techniques. The complexity of plant subcritical water extracts is due to the ability of subcritical water to extract different chemical classes of different physico-chemical properties and polarities in a single run. In this paper, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with simultaneous derivatisation was optimised for the analysis of complex subcritical water extracts of cherry stems to allow simple and rapid preparation prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After defining optimal extracting and dispersive solvents, the optimised method was used for the identification of compounds belonging to different chemical classes in a single analytical run. The developed sample preparation protocol enabled simultaneous extraction and derivatisation, as well as convenient coupling with GC-MS analysis, reducing the analysis time and number of steps. The applied analytical protocol allowed simple and rapid chemical screening of subcritical water extracts and was used for the comparison of subcritical water extracts of sweet and sour cherry stems. Graphical abstract DLLME GC MS analysis of cherry stem extracts obtained by subcritical water.

Determination of herbicides in environmental water samples by simultaneous in-syringe magnetic stirring-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and silylation followed by GC-MS.

An on-line, fast, simple, selective, and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of three herbicides belonging to the following families: triazines (atrazine), chloroacetamide (alachlor), and phenoxy (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) in water samples. The method involves an in-syringe magnetic stirring-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction along with simultaneous silylation prior to their determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Extraction, derivatization, and preconcentration have been simultaneously performed using acetone as dispersive solvent, N-methyl-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide as derivatization agent and trichloroethylene as extraction solvent. After stirring for 180 s, the sedimented phase was transferred to a rotary micro-volume injection valve (3 µL) and introduced by an air stream into gas chromatograph with mass spectrometry detector. Recovery and enrichment factors were 87.2-111.2% and 7.4-10.4, respectively. Relative standard deviations were in the ranges of 6.6-7.4 for intraday and 9.2-9.6 for interday precision. The detection limits were in the range of 0.045-0.03 µg/L, and good linearity was observed up to 200 µg/L, with R2 ranging between 0.9905 and 0.9964. The developed method was satisfactorily applied to assess the occurrence of the studied herbicides in groundwater samples. The recovery test was also performed with values between 77 and 117%.

Use of multiresponse statistical techniques to optimize the separation of diosmin, hesperidin, diosmetin and hesperitin in different pharmaceutical preparations by high performance liquid chromatography with UV-DAD.

A new method for the separation and determination of four flavonoids: hesperidin (HES), diosmin (DIO), hesperitin (HTIN), and diosmetin (DTIN) in pure form and pharmaceutical formulations has been developed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-DAD detection. Multivariate statistics (2k full factorial and Box Behnken Designs) has been used for the multiresponse optimization of the chromatographic separation, which was completed in 22min, and carried out on a symmetry® C18 column (250×3mm; 5µm) as stationary phase. Separation was conducted by gradient elution mode using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and water pH: 2.5 (CH3COOH), as mobile phase. Analytes were separated setting the column at 22°C, with a flow rate of 0.58mLmin-1 and detected at 285nm. Under the optimized conditions, the flavonoids showed retention times of: 8.62, 11.53, 18.55 and 19.94min for HES, DIO, HTIN and DTIN, respectively. Limits of detection and quantification were <0.0156µgmL-1 and <0.100µgmL-1, respectively. Linearity was achieved with good correlation coefficients values (r2=0.999; n=5). Intra-day and inter-day precision were found to be less than 3.44% (n=7). Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine the target flavonoids in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory recoveries (between 95.2% and 107.9%), demonstrating that should also find application in the quality control, as well as in the pharmacokinetic studies of these drugs.

In-syringe magnetic stirring-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and silylation prior gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for ultraviolet filters determination in environmental water samples.

A novel online approach involving in-syringe magnetic stirring assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and derivatization coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed for the determination of seven UV filters extensively used in cosmetic products in environmental water samples. The effect of parameters such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, dispersive solvent and derivatization agent, pH, ionic strength and stirring time, was studied using multivariate experimental design. Extraction, derivatization and preconcentration were simultaneously performed using acetone as dispersive solvent, N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) as derivatization agent and trichloroethylene as extraction solvent. After stirring during 160s, the sedimented phase was transferred to a rotary micro-volume injection valve (3 µL) and introduced by an air stream into the injector of the GC through a stainless-steel tube used as interface. The detection limits were in the range of 0.023-0.16 µg L(-1) and good linearity was observed up to 500 µg L(-1) of the studied UV filters, with R(2) ranging between 0.9829 and 0.9963. The inter-day precision expressed as relative standard deviation (n=5) varied between 5.5 and 16.8%. Finally, the developed method was satisfactorily applied to assess the occurrence of the studied UV filters in seawater and pool water samples. Some of the studied UV filters were found in these samples and an add-recovery test was also successfully performed with recoveries between 82 and 111%.

On-line in-syringe magnetic stirring assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction HPLC--UV method for UV filters determination using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as extractant.

An environmental friendly and fully automated method using in-syringe magnetic stirring assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the determination of UV filters in environmental water samples. The main "green" features on this method are the use of an ionic liquid as extracting solvent, avoiding the use of chlorinated solvents, and the on-line microextraction, preconcentration, separation and detection minimizing the use of reagents and so the waste generation. After sample treatment, 20 µL of the organic droplet was injected onto the HPLC-UV system. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were studied using multivariate optimization approach, including the quantity of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction and sedimentation time, ionic strength and pH. Under optimized conditions, limits of detection were within the range of 0.08-12 µg/L, for 3.5 mL sample volume. Linearity ranges were up to 500 µg/L for the UV-filters studied. Furthermore, enrichment factors ranging from 11 to 23 folds were obtained. Intra- and inter-assay precisions were 6% and 8%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine UV filters in surface seawater and swimming pool samples attaining satisfactory recoveries over the range of 89-114% and 86-107%, respectively.

Development of a MSFIA sample treatment system as front end of GC-MS for atenolol and propranolol determination in human plasma.

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.

In-syringe-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of six phthalates in water samples.

A fully automated method for the determination of six phthalates in environmental water samples is described. It is based in the novel sample preparation concept of in-syringe dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, coupled as a front end to GC-MS, enabling the integration of the extraction steps and sample injection in an instrumental setup that is easy to operate. Dispersion was achieved by aspiration of the organic (extractant and disperser) and the aqueous phase into the syringe very rapidly. The denser-than-water organic droplets released in the extraction step, were accumulated at the head of the syringe, where the sedimented fraction was transferred to a rotary micro-volume injection valve where finally was introduced by an air stream into the injector of the GC through a stainless-steel tubing used as interface. Factors affecting the microextraction efficiency were optimized using multivariate optimization. Figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated under optimal conditions, achieving a detection limit in the range of 0.03-0.10 µg/L, while the RSD% value was below 5% (n = 5). A good linearity (0.9956 ≥ r(2) ≥ 0.9844) and a broad linear working range (0.5-120 µg/L) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factors and recoveries, ranging from 14.11-16.39 and 88-102%, respectively.

Analysis of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in urine by using multisyringe flow injection analysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system.

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.

Determination of losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan by direct injection of human urine into a column-switching liquid chromatographic system with fluorescence detection.

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.