Enantioselective determination of the organochlorine pesticide bromocyclen in spiked fish tissue using solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography with ECD and ICP-MS detection.

A method for enantioselective determination of bromocyclen enantiomers in fish tissue has been developed. The enantiomers were resolved by capillary gas chromatography (GC) using a commercial chiral column (CP-Chirasil-Dex CB) and a temperature program from 50 degrees C (held for 1 min), raised to 140 degrees C at 40 degrees C min(-1) and then raised at 0.2 degrees C min(-1) to 155 degrees C. This enantioselective gas chromatographic separation was combined with a clean-up/enrichment procedure based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Under SPME optimized conditions, precision, linearity range and detection limits of the developed SPME-enantioselective GC procedure were evaluated and compared using two different detection systems: a classical electron-capture detection (ECD) and an element specific detection using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The SPME-GC-ECD method exhibited an excellent sensitivity, with detection limits of 0.2 ng L(-1) for each enantiomer of bromocyclen. Although ICP-MS offered poorer detection limits (7 ng L(-1) as Br, equivalent to 36 ng L(-1) of each enantiomer) than conventional ECD detector, it proved to be clearly superior in terms of selectivity. The relative potential and performance of the two compared methods for real-life analysis has been illustrated by the determination of enantiomers of bromocyclen in spiked tissue extracts of trout.

Sample handling strategies for the determination of persistent trace organic contaminants from biota samples.

Even after emergence of most advanced instrumental techniques for the final separation, detection, identification and determination of analytes, sample handling continues to play a basic role in environmental analysis of complex matrices. In fact, sample preparation steps are often the bottleneck for combined time and efficiency in many overall analytical procedures. Thus, it is not surprising that, in the last two decades, a lot of effort has been devoted to the development of faster, safer, and more environment friendly techniques for sample extraction and extract clean up, prior to actual instrumental analysis. This article focuses on the state of the art in sample preparation of environmental solid biological samples dedicated to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) analysis. Extraction techniques such as Soxhlet extraction, sonication-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) are reviewed and their most recent applications to the determination of POPs in biota samples are provided. Additionally, classical as well as promising novel extraction/clean-up techniques such as solid phase microextraction (SPME) are also summarized. Finally, emerging trends in sample preparation able to integrate analytes extraction and their adequate clean-up are presented.

Evaluation of two commercial capillary columns for the enantioselective gas chromatographic separation of organophosphorus pesticides.

The separation of the enantiomers of 13 organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) has been investigated by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID) using two different commercially available chiral columns, Chirasil-Val (l-valine-tert-butylamide) and CP-Chirasil-Dex CB (heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-metil)-beta-cyclodextrin). Using the Chirasil-Val column no chiral resolution was obtained for the OPPs investigated under any tested experimental condition. The use of the CP-Chirasil-Dex CB stationary phase enabled good individual enantiomeric separation of two OPPs, ruelene and trichlorfon and partial separation of naled, chloretoxyphos, isophenphos and metamidophos. Also, the obtained chromatographic results showed that Chirasil-Dex could resolve enantiomers through the combination of different mechanism (e.g. formation of inclusion complexes and/or interactions outside the cyclodextrin cavity). Under optimised conditions, precision, linearity range and detection limits were evaluated for the enantiomers of ruelene and trichlorfon using CP-Chirasil-Dex CB column and electron capture detection (ECD). By using the GC-ECD method the enantiomers of these OPPs could be satisfactorily detected at very low concentration levels. The detection limits observed were 1.5ngmL(-1) and 11.5ngmL(-1) for the enantiomers of trichlorfon and ruelene, respectively.

Solid-phase microextraction as a clean-up and preconcentration procedure for organochlorine pesticides determination in fish tissue by gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

The feasibility of developing a single-step clean-up, enrichment procedure for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish tissue samples based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was investigated. The general analytical methodology developed combines conventional solid-liquid extraction of the OCPs from the sample using an organic solvent with SPME over the organic extract followed by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) analysis. Experimental SPME conditions such as extraction time, temperature and matrix effects were optimised. Under optimised conditions, precision, linearity range, detection limits and accuracy were evaluated. Detection limits obtained for fish tissue samples were in the range of 0.1-0.7 ng g(-1). Good recoveries (over 70% in all cases) were achieved from samples spiked at a concentration level of 10 ng g(-1). The accuracy of the developed SPME-GC-ECD procedure in real samples has been verified by analysing, using the standard addition method, a certified reference material (CRM 430, OCPs in pork fat) with satisfactory results.