Separation of common organic and inorganic anions in atmospheric aerosols using a piperazine buffer and capillary electrophoresis

An innovative spectrofluorimetric approach for determination of azelaic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical formulation through derivatization with 9-chloromethylanthracene

A novel simple, selective and accurate spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for quantitation of azelaic acid (AZA) in bulk and cream dosage form. The proposed method depended on the reaction between dicarboxylic moiety of AZA and 9-chloromethylanthracence to produce fluorescent derivative that exhibited maximum fluorescence intensity at 413 nm after being excited at 365 nm. The numerous experimental parameters which affect the reaction product and stability have been carefully studied and optimized. The linearity of the calibration curve constructed has been 0.5-15 µg/ml (y = 26.864x + 31.793, r² = 0.9999) with 0.143 and 0.434 µg/ml as LOD and LOQ values respectively. The method was used for quantitation of AZA in cream dosage form and the results showed that there was no interference from the cream excipients, the mean % recovery was 100.547% ± 0.775.

Capillary electrophoresis method for analysis of inorganic and organic anions related to habitability and the search for life

In situ missions of exploration require analytical methods that are capable of detecting a wide range of molecular targets in complex matrices without a priori assumptions of sample composition. Furthermore, these methods should minimize the number of reagents needed and any sample preparation steps. We have developed a method for the detection of metabolically relevant inorganic and organic anions that is suitable for implementation on in situ spaceflight missions. Using 55 mM acetic acid, 50 mM triethylamine, and 5% glycerol, more than 21 relevant anions are separated in less than 20 min. The method is robust to sample ionic strength, tolerating high concentrations of background salts (up to 900 mM NaCl and 300 mM MgSO₄ ). This is an important feature for future missions to ocean worlds. The method was validated using a culture of Escherichia coli and with high salinity natural samples collected from Mono Lake, California.

Simultaneous separation of 17 anions by capillary electrophoresis with the addition of an organic solvent

Seventeen inorganic and organic anions, that normally are insufficiently separated via ion chromatography, were completely separated by the addition of an organic solvent to a solution of BGE combined with an adjustment of the apparent pH via CE in combination with indirect UV absorbance detection. Methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile were examined for their utility in manipulating the selective separation of anions. Methanol and acetonitrile were better modifiers than ethanol at enhancing the resolution of anions comigrating in an aqueous solution of BGE. Methanol was selected as the modifier that provided the largest separation window that could achieve a complete separation of the target analytes. Via the use of methanol, manipulation of the selectivity between inorganic anions and that between inorganic and organic anions was enhanced, but the separation between organic anions remained difficult when only methanol was used. By varying the apparent pH of the BGE in the presence of 10% v/v methanol, however, the separation selectivity between organic anions was substantially improved. Eventually, 7 inorganic and 10 organic anions were simultaneously separated using BGE at a pH of 6.3 in the presence of 10% v/v methanol.

Sensitive, selective analysis of selenium oxoanions using microchip electrophoresis with contact conductivity detection

The common selenium oxoanions selenite (SeO3(2-)) and selenate (SeO4(2-)) are toxic at intake levels slightly below 1 mg day(-1). These anions are currently monitored by a variety of traditional analytical techniques that are time-consuming, expensive, require large sample volumes, and/or lack portability. To address the need for a fast and inexpensive analysis of selenium oxoanions, we present the first microchip capillary zone electrophoresis (MCE) separation targeting these species in the presence of chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, chlorate, sulfamate, methanesulfonate, and fluoride, which can be simultaneously monitored. The chemistry was designed to give high selectivity in nonideal matrices. Interference from common weak acids is avoided by operating near pH 4. Separation resolution from chloride was enhanced to improve tolerance of high-salinity matrices. As a result, selenate can be quantified in the presence of up to 1.5 mM NaCl, and selenite analysis is even more robust against chloride. Using contact conductivity detection, detection limits for samples with conductivity equal to the background electrolyte are 53 nM (4.2 ppb Se) and 380 nM (30 ppb) for selenate and selenite, respectively. Analysis time, including injection, is ∼2 min. The MCE method was validated against ion chromatography (IC) using spiked samples of dilute BBL broth and slightly outperformed the IC in accuracy while requiring <10% of the analysis time. The applicability of the technique to real samples was shown by monitoring the consumption of selenite by bacteria incubated in LB broth.

Protonated diamines as anion-binding agents and their utility in capillary electrophoresis separations

Capillary zone electrophoresis is a proven method for separating small ions because of the inherent charge and differences in mobility of these analytes. Despite its resolving power, CZE can be insufficient for separating ions with similar mobilities. One remedy is to modify mobilities via the addition of background electrolyte complexation agents. However, this approach is not straightforward for inorganic anions, which lack complexation options. To address this shortfall, the diprotonated diamine moiety was investigated for complexation of dianions. Dicationic diamines significantly complexed dianions, and this interaction was not purely electrostatic in nature because affinities varied with dianion identity. Aqueous association constants were measured with affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and found to be similar in magnitude but different in selectivity to those of dianions with magnesium ion. Binding was also investigated for zwitterionic buffers containing the protonated diamine moiety. Zwitterions exhibited binding constants as high as 18 M(-1) (30-mM ionic strength). This work discusses the observed binding constants and their potential usefulness in CZE separations of inorganic anions. Also covered are improvements to ACE methodology and an evaluation of some of the assumptions employed.

Development of a membrane-less dynamic field gradient focusing device for the separation of low-molecular-weight molecules

Dynamic field gradient focusing uses an electric field gradient generated by controlling the voltage profile of an electrode array to separate and concentrate charged analytes according to their individual electrophoretic mobilities. This study describes a new instrument in which the electrodes have been placed within the separation channel. The major challenge faced with this device is that when applied voltages to the electrodes are larger than the redox potential of water, electrolysis will occur, producing hydrogen ions (H+) plus oxygen gas on the anodes and hydroxide (OH(-)) plus hydrogen gas on the cathodes. The resulting gas bubbles and pH excursions can cause problems with system performance and reproducibility. An on-column, degassing system that can remove gas bubbles "on-the-fly" is described. In addition, the use of a high capacity, low-conductivity buffer to address the problem of the pH shift that occurs due to the production of H+ on the anodes is illustrated. Finally, the successful separation of three, low-molecular-weight dyes (amaranth, bromophenol blue and methyl red) is described.