Novel Approach to Sample Preconcentration by Solvent Evaporation in Flow Analysis

Fast and sensitive smartphone colorimetric detection of whole blood samples on a paper-based analytical device

BACKGROUND

Methods based on paper-based analytical devices (PAD) and smartphone photographic colorimetric detection have become representative instrument-independent point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms due to their low cost and simplicity. However, the detection of target components from whole blood sample still presents challenges in terms of field preparation of small amounts of blood sample and detection sensitivity. This paper presents a rapid online processing method for whole blood samples on PAD based on plasma separation membrane (PSM), and combined with electrokinetic stacking and selective chromatic reaction. Real-time smartphone-based colorimetric detection of free hemoglobin (FHb) and human serum albumin (HSA) was successfully demonstrated.

RESULTS

With the proposed method, both detections for low and high concentration analytes could be implemented. The limits of detection of 16.6 mg L-1 for FHb and 0.67 g L-1 for HSA were obtained, respectively, with RSD below 8 %. The reliability of the method was verified by the recovery test and desktop spectrophotometric method. The detection results for real blood samples were in agreement with that by clinical methods.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

The PAD method is inexpensive, simple and fast, and detection of a whole blood sample of 5 μL can be finished in 5 min. This work shows that POCT of biomarkers from whole blood with PAD is possible without using any desktop facilities.

Novel Integrated Flow-Based Steam Distillation and Titration System for Determination of Volatile Acidity in Wines

Novel integrated flow-based steam distillation and titration system with spectrophotometric detection was developed for determination of volatile acidity in wines. Using the system, the distillation procedure was carried out in an automatic manner, starting with introducing into a heated steam distillation module a sample and subjecting it to steam distillation. Under selected conditions, all the analyte was transferred to the distillate; therefore, the system did not require calibration. The collected distillate and titrant were introduced into the next monosegments in varying proportions, in accordance with the developed titration procedure, and directed to the detection system to record the titration curve. The titration was stopped after reaching the end point of titration. Procedures for distillation and titration were developed and verified separately by distillation of acetic acid, acetic acid in the presence of tartaric acid as well as acetic acid, tartaric acid, and titratable acidity, with precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy (relative error) for both procedures lower than 6.9 and 5.6%, respectively. The developed steam distillation and titration systems were used to determine volatile acidity in samples of white and rosé wines separately and as the integrated steam distillation and titration system, both with precision lower than 9.4% and accuracy better than 6.7%.

A Perspective of the Comprehensive and Objective Assessment of Analytical Methods Including the Greenness and Functionality Criteria: Application to the Determination of Zinc in Aqueous Samples

The recently proposed concept of White Analytical Chemistry (WAC), referring to the Red-Green-Blue color model, combines ecological aspects (green) with functionality (red and blue criteria), presenting the complete method as “white”. However, it is not easy to carry out an overall quantitative evaluation of the analytical method in line with the WAC idea in an objective manner. This paper outlines the perspective of the future development of such a possibility by attempting to answer selected questions about the evaluation process. Based on the study consisting in the evaluation of selected model methods by a group of 12 independent analysts, it was shown how well individual criteria are assessed, whether the variability of assessments by different people is comparable for each criterion, how large it is, and whether averaging the scores from different researchers can help to choose the best method more objectively.

Comprehensive Assessment of Flow and Other Analytical Methods Dedicated to the Determination of Zinc in Water

An original strategy to evaluate analytical procedures is proposed and applied to verify if the flow-based methods, generally favorable in terms of green chemistry, are competitive when their evaluation also relies on other criteria. To this end, eight methods for the determination of zinc in waters, including four flow-based ones, were compared and the Red–Green–Blue (RGB) model was exploited. This model takes into account several features related to the general quality of an analytical method, namely, its analytical efficiency, compliance with the green analytical chemistry, as well as practical and economic usefulness. Amongst the investigated methods, the best was the flow-based spectrofluorimetric one, and a negative example was that one involving a flow module, ICP ionization and MS detection, which was very good in analytical terms, but worse in relation to other aspects, which significantly limits its overall potential. Good assessments were also noted for non-flow electrochemical methods, which attract attention with a high degree of balance of features and, therefore, high versatility. The original attempt to confront several worldwide accepted analytical strategies, although to some extent subjective and with limitations, provides interesting information and indications, establishing a novel direction towards the development and evaluation of analytical methods.

Recent (2018-2020) development in capillary electrophoresis

Development of new capillary electrophoresis (CE) methodology and instrumentation, as well as application of CE to solve new problems, remains an active research area because of the attractive features of CE compared to other separation techniques. In this review, we focus on the representative works about sample preconcentration, separation media or capillary coating development, detector construction, and multidimensional separation in CE, which are judiciously selected from the papers published in 2018–2020.

Modern Flow Analysis

A brief overview of articles published in this Special Issue of Molecules titled “Modern Flow Analysis” is provided. In addition to cross-sectional and methodological works, there are some reports on new technical and instrumental achievements. It has been shown that all these papers create a good picture of contemporary flow analysis, revealing the most current trends and problems in this branch of flow chemistry.