C. Cháfer-Pericás

Automatic in-tube SPME and fast liquid chromatography: A cost-effective method for the estimation of dibuthyl and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalates in environmental water samples

A 80-cm length commercially available capillary coated with 95% polydimethylsiloxane and 5% polydiphenylsiloxane (TBR-5) was employed to carry out on-line extraction and preconcentration of dibuthyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in the chromatographic system. The coated capillary was placed between the sample injection loop and the injection needle of an autosampler. Variables affecting the automatic in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) were optimized. A Genesis C(18) (5 cm x 4.6 mm i.d., 4 microm particle size) was employed as analytical column. The achieved limits of detection by use of diode array detection were 1 and 2.5 microg L(-1), respectively. The proposed conditions have been applied to determine those compounds at low ppb levels (< or =250 microg L(-1)) in aqueous samples. No matrix effect was found, and recoveries between 85 and 115% were obtained. The precision of the method was good, and the achieved intra- and inter-day variation coefficients were between 5 and 20%. The analysis time per sample was 20 min and any off-line pre-treatment of the samples was needed. The taken sample volume was 100 microL. Data on the application of the described method to the analysis of different water samples are presented.

A new selective method for dimethylamine in water analysis by liquid chromatography using solid-phase microextraction and two-stage derivatization with o-phthalaldialdehyde and 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate

A new method is presented for the determination of DMA in water as its 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) derivative using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid chromatography. The method is based on the employment of SPME fibres coated with carbowax-templated resin (CW-TR) for analyte extraction and derivatization. The fibres were successively immersed in the samples, in a solution of o-phthalaldialdehyde and N-acethyl-l-cysteine (OPA-NAC) and finally, in a solution of FMOC. OPA-NAC reacted on the fibre with possible primary aliphatic amines present in the samples, particularly with PA which is a direct interferent in the determination of DMA with FMOC. In such a way, the formation of PA-FMOC during the second stage was prevented, and thus the method was selective for DMA. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of DMA in the 1.0-10.0mug/mL range. The method provided suitable linearity, accuracy and reproducibility, and limits of detection and quantification of 0.3 and 1.0mug/mL, respectively. The applicability of the method for the determination of DMA in different types of water is shown.

Comparative study of the determination of trimethylamine in water and air by combining liquid chromatography and solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber derivatization.

This work describes a new approach for the determination of trimethylamine (TMA) in water and air by liquid chromatography (LC). The assay is based on the employment of a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber for sampling and for derivatization of the analyte with the fluorogenic reagent 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC). The fiber, with a Carbowax-templated resin -50mum coating, was first immersed into a solution of the reagent. Once loaded with the reagent, the fiber was immersed into the water samples or exposed to the air samples in order to extract and to derivatize the analyte. Finally, the fiber was placed into a HPLC-SPME interface to desorb and transfer the TMA-FMOC derivative to the LC equipment. A comparative study of the analytical characteristics of the procedure in water and air samples was carried out. Under optimized conditions, the proposed approach permits the quantification of TMA in solution within the 1.0-10.0mug/ml interval and in air within the 25-200mg/m(3) interval. The limits of detection were 0.25mug/ml and 12mg/m(3) (25 degrees C, 1.013x10(-5)Pa) in water and air, respectively. The utility of the proposed method for determining TMA in different kind of samples is discussed.

Automated on-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction-assisted derivatization coupled to liquid chromatography for quantifying residual dimethylamine in cationic polymers.

A method for the analysis of dimethylamine (DMA) by automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME)-supported chemical derivatization coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. Extraction, derivatization and desorption were studied by using a capillary coated with 95% polydimethylsiloxane and 5% polydiphenylsiloxane. Solution derivatization and automated IT-SPME derivatization using 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) were compared. The proposed procedure provided adequate linearity, accuracy and precision in the 0.2-2.0 microg/mL concentration interval, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 50 ng/mL. The main advantages of the proposed procedure are: (i) no off-line sample manipulation, (ii) rapidity, as the total analysis time is about 10 min, (iii) specificity for the samples assayed, (iv) minimal consumption of FMOC reagent and (v) minimal residues. Therefore, the proposed method is an environmental-friendly and cost-effective alternative for the control of residual DMA in polymeric cationic surfactants used like flocculants in water treatment.