A simple and rapid screening method for sulfonamides in honey using a flow injection system coupled to a liquid waveguide capillary cell.

A rapid and simple screening method was developed for the determination of sulfonamides in honey samples by flow injection analysis (FIA) coupled to a liquid waveguide capillary cell. The proposed method is based on the reaction between sulfonamides and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DAC) in the presence of sodium dodecylsulate (SDS) in dilute acid medium (hydrochloric acid), with the reaction product being measured spectrophotometrically at λ(max) = 565 nm. Experimental design methodology was used to optimize the analytical conditions. The proposed technique was applied to the determination of sulfonamides (sulfaquinoxaline, sulfadimethoxine, and sulfathiazole) in honey samples, in a concentration range from 6.00 × 10(-3) to 1.15 × 10(-1)mg L(-1). The detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits were 1.66 × 10(-3) and 5.54 × 10(-3)mg L(-1), respectively. Positive and false positive samples were also analyzed by a confirmatory HPLC method. The proposed system enables the screening of sulfonamides in honey samples with a low number of false positive results, with fast response therefore offers a new tool for consumer protection.

Determination of ammonium in marine waters using a gas diffusion multicommuted flow injection system with in-line prevention of metal hydroxides precipitation.

A multi-commuted flow system coupled to a gas diffusion device was developed for the spectrophotometric determination of ammonium nitrogen in sea and estuarine waters. The efficiency of complexing agents to prevent precipitation of metallic hydroxides, due to the high pH value of the carrier solution, was studied. Under the optimised conditions, no interference was observed from different expected interfering ions as well as volatile amines. The proposed method provided the determination of NH4+ in concentrations ranging from 50 to 1000 microg L(-1), with detection and quantification limits of 18 and 35 microg L(-1), respectively. A determination rate of 20 h(-1) was achieved, with good repeatability for 10 consecutive injections of sea and estuarine samples (relative standard deviations lower than 2.0%). Accuracy of the methodology was assessed through recovery assays in 10 samples and also by analysis of certified reference material.