Photo-induced fluorescence of magnesium derivatives of tetracycline antibiotics in wastewater samples.

An analytical strategy, for the determination of tetracyclines (TCs), based on a HPLC system coupled with a photo-reactor followed by post-column derivatization was developed. Higher fluorescence emission after coupling the resulting photo-fragments with magnesium ions was observed for the determination of minocycline (MC), epitetracycline (ETC), tetracycline (TC) and doxycycline (DC). The manifold included a HPLC system with a photo-reactor (PTFE tubing helically coiled around a low-pressure mercury lamp), a mixing T-piece and a fluorescence detector. The derivatization reagent was delivered at 0.5 mL min(-1) by a pump. After HPLC separation using a gradient system with a mobile phase containing oxalic acid 0.02 M and acetonitrile, TCs were irradiated for 60 s, and the resulting photo-fragments were mixed with the post-column derivatization reagent, and the magnesium derivatives of TCs were detected by fluorimetry (lambda(exc) 386 nm, lambda(em) 500 nm). The results obtained showed a significant increase of sensitivity due to photodegration of TCs, 45.4%, 37.6% and 25.3% for MC, TC and ETC respectively. For DC an increase of only 1.5% was observed. The developed method was successfully applied to TCs determination in hospital and municipal wastewater samples using solid phase extraction with Oasis HLB cartridges. The LOQs were 0.25, 0.15, 01 and 0.25 microg L(-1) for TC, ETC, MC and DC, respectively. The recovery values oscillated between 107.1% and 92.4% for fortification of 2.5 microg L(-1) of each antibiotic.

Theoretical prediction of the native fluorescence of pharmaceuticals.

At present, to search fluorescent compounds or to increase the native fluorescence is an active research line specially and not only with analytical purposes. On some analytical areas and from the early times of applications of fluorescence (mid-fifties) the fluorimeter was defined as the suitable detector for determination of pharmaceuticals and subsequently, this detection mode has been widely applied. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop new strategies to discover or to enhance in a simple way the native fluorescence of organic compounds to increase the number of analytes to be determined by direct fluorescence. In the present paper are studied further applications of a new tool suitable to increase the research in analytical field. Calculations on molecular connectivity and discriminant analysis are applied to a certain number of pharmaceuticals (and some pesticides) on which fluorescence behaviour was observed in an experimental screening or obtained from scientific literature. The screening tests were based on the on-line fluorimetric measurement by using a continuous-flow assembly. The screening comprised pre-selected compounds with different molecular structures. The theoretical predictions agree with the empirical results from the screening test.

Determination of the herbicide benfuresate by its photo-induced chemiluminescence using flow multicommutation methodology.

The present paper deals with an analytical strategy based on coupling photo-induced chemiluminescence in a multicommutation continuous-flow methodology for the determination of the herbicide benfuresate. The solenoid valve inserted as small segments of the analyte solution was sequentially alternated with segments of the NaOH solution for adjusting the medium for the photodegradation. Both flow rates (sample and medium) were adjusted to required time for photodegradation, 90 s; and then, the resulting solution was also sequentially inserted as segments alternated with segments of the oxidizing solution system, hexacyanoferrate (III) in alkaline medium. The calibration range from 1 microg L(-1) to 95 mg L(-1), resulted in a linear behaviour over the range 1 microg L(-1) to 4 mg L(-1) and fitting the linear equation: I=4555.7x+284.2, correlation coefficient 0.9999. The limit of detection was 0.1 microg L(-1) (n=5, criteria 3 sigma) and the sample throughput was 22 h(-1). The consumption of solutions was very small; per peak were 0.66 mL, 0.16 mL and 0. 32 mL sample, medium and oxidant, respectively. Inter- and intra-day reproducibility resulted in a R.S.D. of 3.9% and 3.4%, respectively. After testing the influence of a large series of potential interferents the method is applied to water samples obtained from different places, human urine and to one formulation.

Photo-induced chemiluminometric determination of Karbutilate in a continuous-flow multicommutation assembly.

The present paper deals with the chemiluminescent determination of the herbicide Karbutilate on the basis of its previous photodegradation by using a low-pressure Hg lamp as UV source in a continuous-flow multicommutation assembly (a solenoid valves set). The pesticide solution was segmented by a solenoid valve and sequentially alternated with segments of the 0.001 mol l(-1) of NaOH solution, the suitable media for the formation of photo-fragments; then it passes through the photo-reactor and was lead to the flow-cell after being divided in small segments which were sequentially alternated with the oxidizing system; 2 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) of potassium permanganate in 0.2% pyrophosphoric acid. The studied calibration range, from 0.1 microg l(-1) to 65 mg l(-1), resulted in a linear behaviour over the range 20 microg l(-1)-20 mg l(-1) and fitting the linear equation: I=(1180+/-30)C+(15+/-5) with the correlation coefficient 0.9998. The limit of detection was 10 microg l(-1) and the sample throughput 17 h(-1). After testing the influence of a large series of potential interfering species, the method was applied to water and human urine samples.

Photo-induced fluorescence of fluometuron in a continuous-flow multicommutation assembly.

This paper deals with the photo-induced fluorimetric determination of the herbicide Fluometuron with the aid of a continuous-flow assembly of the emergent and new methodology known as Multicommutation which was provided with an on-line photoreactor. Maximum fluorescence intensity was observed at basic pH solutions, 1x 10(-4) mol l(-1) NaOH, after 1.4 min of irradiation and being the maximum at lambda(exc) 247.0 nm and lambda(em) 325.0 nm. The influence of different experimental parameters either chemical (pH, surfactants presence, solvent polarity and temperature) or hydrodynamic (time of photo-degradation, size and number of different segments and flow-rate) was tested. The linear dynamic range was from 0.01 to 4.0 mg l(-1) of Fluometuron; the inter-day reproducibility (as R.S.D.) of the slope was 0.001% and 1.7% from the peaks intra-day reproducibility. A large series of potential interferents was studied and finally the method was applied to human urine, soil, formulation and water samples.

Chemiluminometric determination of the pesticide 3-indolyl acetic acid by a flow injection analysis assembly.

A new method is proposed for the chemiluminescent determination of the pesticide 3-indolyl acetic acid by means of an flow injection analysis system. The chemiluminescence emission is obtained by oxidation of the analyte with Ce (IV) in nitric acid and presence of beta-cyclodextrine. The continuous-flow method allows the determination of 159samplesh(-1) of 3-indolyl acetic acid in an interval of concentrations over the range 0.5-15.0mgl(-1). The limit of detection was 0.1mugl(-1) and the R.S.D. (n, 17) at 2.0mgl(-1) of the pesticide level was 2.7%. The method was applied to water samples.

Chemiluminometric photo-induced determination of Strychnine in a Multicommutation flow assembly.

This paper deals on the determination of Strychnine, a potent and dangerous pesticide and the analytical procedure is based on the photo-induced chemiluminescence of the pesticide by means of the Multicommutation continuous-flow methodology. Small segments of the pesticide solution were sequentially alternated with segments of the solution for adjusting the suitable medium for the photodegradation. The required time of UV irradiation was obtained by stopped-flow during 150s; then, the resulting solution formed alternated segments with the oxidizing solution containing 5x10(-3)moll(-1) Ce(IV) in 0.6moll(-1) nitric acid. The calibration range, from 2mugl(-1) to 50mgl(-1), resulted in a linear behaviour over the range 25mugl(-1) to 20mgl(-1) and fitting the equation: I=4706x+624 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9955. The limit of detection was 2mugl(-1) and the sample throughput 15h(-1). After testing the influence of a large series of potential interferents, the method was applied to different kinds of samples.

FIA-fluorimetric determination of the pesticide 3-indolyl acetic acid.

The paper presents the determination of the pesticide 3-indolyl acetic acid based on its native fluorescence; the method has been optimised either in a flow injection analysis (FIA) assembly or in batch. Maximum fluorescence intensity was observed at basic pH solutions at lambda(exc) = 280 nm and lambda(em) = 364 nm. The influence of different empirical parameters as pH, surfactants presence, solvent polarity, solved oxygen amount, and temperature was studied; highest outputs only required the pH in aqueous solutions to be adjusted over the range 9.5-10.5. Different calibration ranges were obtained by working with three different sensitivity scales of the fluorimeter either in flow injection analysis or batch. With the high sensitivity scale and FIA, the linear dynamic range was from 0.005 to 0.6 mg L(-1) 3-indolyl acetic acid; with an relative standard deviation (RSD) of 4.9% inter-day reproducibility. A large series of potential interferents was studied and finally, the method was applied to several water samples.

Chemiluminescent determination of the pesticide bromoxynil by on-line photodegradation in a flow-injection system.

A new, robust and simple method is proposed for the chemiluminescent determination of the pesticide Bromoxynil. The empirical procedure is performed with the aid of a flow-injection manifold provided with an on-line photo-reactor to obtain chemiluminescent photofragments. After a period of 12 s of irradiation with an 8 W low-pressure mercury lamp, a chemiluminescent oxidation was performed with the system potassium permanganate in a polyphosphoric acid medium. The photolysis required a basic medium (KOH 0.014 mol l(-1)) with ethanol (1%) as a sensitizer. The method allowed the determination of 134 samples (h-1) of Bromoxynil in a wide interval of concentrations, over the range 5 x 10(-3) - 1 mg l(-1); the detection limit was 5 x 10(-3) mg l(-1). The RSD (n=24) at 0.25 mg l(-1) of the pesticide level was 2.3%. The method was applied to a water sample and to a formulation.

Analytical strategy photodegradation/chemiluminescence/continuous-flow multicommutation methodology for the determination of the herbicide Propanil.

The present paper is dealing with an analytical strategy based on coupling photodegradation, chemiluminescence and multicommutation continuous-flow methodology for the determination of the pesticide Propanil, a common herbicide. The pesticide solution is inserted as small segments sequentially alternated with segments of the solution for adjusting the suitable medium for the photodegradation. Both flow-rates (sample and medium) are adjusted to required time for photodegradation, 2.0min; and then, the resulting solution is also sequentially inserted as segments alternated with segments of the oxidizing solutions system, 1.00x10(-4)moll(-1) potassium permanganate in 2.00moll(-1) sulphuric acid medium. The calibration range, from 10mugl(-1) to 25mgl(-1), resulted in a linear behaviour over the range 10mugl(-1)-5mgl(-1) and fitting the linear equation: I=780.30C+95.28; correlation coefficient 0.9999. The limit of detection was 8mugl(-1) and the sample throughput 20h(-1). After testing the influence of a large series of potential interferents the method is applied to water samples obtained from different places and to one formulation. The method is valid for the determination of other pesticides from the same chemical family, namely: alachlor, flumetsulam, furalaxyl and ofurace. Calibration graphs, limits of detection, repeatability and determination in water samples are obtained for each reported pesticide.