Solid-phase extraction and GC/MS confirmation of barbiturates from human urine.

A highly selective and sensitive procedure has been developed for isolating and identifying barbiturates in human urine. With a new disposable bonded silica gel solid-phase extraction (SPE) column and hexobarbital as an internal standard (IS), amobarbital, butabarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, and methaqualone were selectively isolated from endogenous urine components. Capillary gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the extracts generated a full mass spectrum for the detection, identification, and quantitation of barbiturates. Linear quantitative response curves for the drugs have been generated over a concentration range of 20-500 ng/mL. Overall extraction efficiencies for drugs averaged greater than 90%, and the quantitative response curves exhibited correlation coefficients of 0.996 to 0.999.

Behaviour of different eluents and stabilizing agents in the determination of sulphite in water by ion-chromatography.

Ion-chromatography has been used for the determination of sulphite in water. The eluents were solutions of Na(2)CO(3) (1.1mM)-NaHCO(3) (1.4mM) or NaHCO(3) (1.0mM)-formaldehyde (0.2% w/w), and formaldehyde, glycerol or fructose was used as stabilizing agent. With the first eluent, fructose or glycerol can be used to stabilize samples against sulphite oxidation, but formaldehyde affects the peak height. On the other hand, formaldehyde can stabilize sulphite in the presence of Fe(III), whereas glycerol and fructose can not. If Fe(III) is present, the second eluent is used and sulphite is eluted directly as hydroxymethanesulphonate; formaldehyde will not then affect the peak height. This eluent allows a good peak separation and is suitable for the sulphite concentration range 0.1-12.0 mg/l.