Implementing the Use of Collision Cross Section Database for Phycotoxin Screening Analysis.

The increased consumption of blue-green algae (BGA)-based dietary supplements has raised concern about their food safety, especially about cyanotoxin presence. The hyphenation of liquid chromatography with ion mobility mass spectrometry represents a relevant tool to screen several compounds in a large variety of food matrices. In this work, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TWIMS-QTOF) was employed to establish the first comprehensive TWIMS-derived collision cross section database (TWCCSN2) for phycotoxins. The database included 20 cyanotoxins and 1 marine toxin. Accurate m/z, retention times, and TWCCSN2 values were obtained for 81 adducts in positive and negative electrospray (ESI+/ESI-) modes. Reproducibility and robustness of the TWCCSN2 measurements were determined to be independent of the matrix. A screening was carried out on 19 commercial BGA dietary supplements of different composition. Cyanotoxins were confidently identified in five samples based on retention time, m/z, and TWCCSN2.

Multiclass cyanotoxin analysis in reservoir waters: Tandem solid-phase extraction followed by zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in all water bodies, including ocean water and fresh water sources, represents a risk for human health as eutrophication and climate change are enhancing their level of proliferation. For risk assessment and studies on occurrence, the development of reliable and sensitive analytical approaches able to cover a wide range of cyanotoxins is essential. This work describes the development of an HILIC-MS/MS multiclass method for the simultaneous analysis of eight cyanotoxins in reservoir water samples belonging to three different classes according to their chemical structure: cyclic peptides (microcystin-LR, microcystin-RR and nodularin), alkaloids (cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a) and three non-protein amino acids isomers such as ß-methylamino-L-alanine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid and N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine). A SeQuant ZIC-HILIC column was employed to achieve the chromatographic separation in less than 12 min. Previously, a novel sample treatment based on a tandem solid-phase extraction (SPE) system using mixed cation exchange (MCX) and Strata-X cartridges was investigated with the aim of extracting and preconcentrating this chemically diverse group of cyanotoxins. The Strata-X cartridge, which was configured first in the line of sample flow, retained the low polar compounds and the MCX cartridge, which was at the bottom of the dual system, retained mainly the non-protein amino acids. The optimization procedure highlighted the importance of sample ion content for the recoveries of some analytes such as the isomers ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine and 2-4-diaminobutyric acid. Method validation was carried out in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), recoveries, matrix effect and precision in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision. This work represents the first analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of these multiclass cyanotoxins in reservoir water samples, achieving LOQs in the very low range of 7·10-3 - 0.1 µg L-1. Despite high recoveries obtained at the LOQ concentration levels (101.0-70.9%), relative standard deviations lower than 17.5% were achieved.

Capillary liquid chromatography as an effective method for the determination of seven neonicotinoid residues in honey samples.

A new analytical method based on capillary liquid chromatography with diode array detection has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of seven neonicotinoid insecticides commercially available (imidacloprid, thiacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, nitenpyram, and dinotefuran) in honey samples. The separation was achieved in a Zorbax XDB-C18 column (150 × 0.5 mm id, 5 µm), with a mobile phase consisting of ultrapure water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B) at a flow rate of 10 µL/min. Capillary column was thermostated at 25°C during the analysis and 254 or 270 nm was established as detection wavelength, depending on the analyte. Furthermore, full loop injection mode (8 µL) was selected, using water as injection solvent. Finally, the optimized method was applied to the analysis of neonicotinoid residues in honey of different floral origins using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction as sample treatment. Variables affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized, choosing methanol and dichloromethane as dispersive and extraction solvents, respectively. The method was characterized in terms of linearity ( R 2 ≥ 0.9948), repeatability, reproducibility (relative standard deviation below 4.5 and 6.3% respectively), and recoveries (≥80.5%). Detection and quantification limits were lower than 6.6 and 22.0 µg/kg for the studied analytes, respectively.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography as efficient alternative for the multiresidue determination of seven neonicotinoids and 6-chloronicotinic acid in environmental samples.

A simple, sensitive, and efficient method has been developed for the determination of the seven neonicotinoid insecticides commercially available (imidacloprid, thiacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, nitenpyram, and dinotefuran) and the main metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) mode was applied, using 48.5 cm of total length capillary (50 µm i.d.) with an extended light-path capillary (150 µm). The running electrolyte consisted of 25 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.2) containing 120 mM of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 15% of methanol (v/v). A voltage of 27 kV and a temperature of 25 °C were applied. Samples dissolved in deionized water were hydrodynamically injected at 50 mbar for 12 s, achieving the analysis in less than 12 min. Diode array detection (DAD) was performed at 220, 254, and 270 nm, depending on the analyte. Two different methodologies as sample treatments were developed; for water samples, solid-phase extraction was checked using different cartridges (C18, Oasis® HLB, Oasis® HLB Prime, and Strata-X), being the best option Oasis® HLB for preconcentration and cleanup. In the case of soil samples, a simple solid-liquid extraction was applied using a mixture of 1:3 (v/v) acetonitrile/dichloromethane. Satisfactory linearity, trueness, and precision were achieved, with detection limits in the range of 0.1-0.4 µg L-1 for river water and 1.0-2.9 µg kg-1 for soil samples. Recoveries in the range of 80-107% for all of the assayed neonicotinoids in water samples of different origin and 73-92% for soil samples were achieved.

Monitoring of cyanotoxins in water from hypersaline microalgae colonies by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and tandem mass spectrometry detection following salting-out liquid-liquid extraction.

In this study two different analytical approaches have been developed to determine the presence of several cyanotoxins in saline water samples from a continental salt marsh. A salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) has been used in combination with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and UV-diode array detection (UHPLC-MS/MS and UHPLC-DAD). The target analytes are eight microcystins named MC-RR, MC-YR, MC-LR, MC-WR, MC-LA, MC-LY, MC-LW, MC-LF and nodularin (NOD), covering a wide range of polarities. The separation was achieved using a Zorbax Eclipse Plus RRHD C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) in less than 7.5 and 5.5 min for UV and MS/MS detection, respectively. The mobile phase used consisted of water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (MeCN) (solvent B), both containing 0.01% of formic acid for DAD and 0.4% of formic acid for MS/MS detection, at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min-1. The temperature of the column was set at 25 °C and 20 µL of sample were injected. The main parameters affecting the SALLE procedure were studied and the following optimum values were obtained: neutral pH, 2 mL of acetonitrile as extraction solvent and 1.2 g of ammonium sulfate as salting-out agent for 4 mL of water sample. The validation protocols for both methods were accomplished with real water samples obtaining LODs ranging from 1.0 to 3.4 µg L-1 and 0.02 to 0.11 µg L-1 for DAD and MS/MS respectively. Although the SALLE-UHPLC-DAD methodology is easier and cheaper than UHPLC-MS/MS significantly better detection limits were achieved with tandem mass spectrometry as well as allowing for unambiguous identification. Extraction recoveries were higher than 77.0% (except for MC-RR and NOD which were 53.2% and 54.3, respectively) with satisfactory inter-day and intra-day precisions (RSD below 13.3%).

Green and simple analytical method to determine benzimidazoles in milk samples by using salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction and capillary liquid chromatography.

A green and simple multiresidue method using capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) with UV-diode array detection (DAD) has been developed for the determination of sixteen benzimidazoles (BZs) and its metabolites in milk samples. The separation was achieved in <32 min, using a Zorbax XDB-C18 column (150 mm × 0.5 mm I.D, 5 µm), with a mobile phase consisting of 50 mM ammonium acetate (solvent A) and a mixture of acetonitrile/methanol (1:1 v/v) (solvent B), at a flow rate of 9 µL min-1. The temperature of the column was 20 °C and 6 µL of sample were injected. In spite of the complexity of milk samples, an effective, simple and fast sample preparation method called salting out-assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) was developed for the analysis of these compounds in cow milk samples. To obtain satisfactory extraction efficiencies for the studied analytes, several parameters affecting the SALLE procedure were optimized including the amount of sample, type and volume of the extraction solvent, and the nature and amount of the salt. Good linearity was obtained (R2 > 0.9985 for all BZs) with limits of detection (LOD) between 1.0 and 2.8 µg kg-1. Relative standard deviations of repeatability and intermediate precision were below 1.6 and 14.2%, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries between 79.1 and 99.6% were also obtained for three types of milk samples (cow, sheep and goat). The advantages of a miniaturized technique such as CLC in terms of better efficiencies and reduced solvent consumption, combined with the simplicity of the SALLE procedure, make this method a useful alternative for the monitoring of these residues at trace level.

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection following salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction for the analysis of benzimidazole residues in farm fish samples.

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection (FL) has been proposed for the first time to determine thirteen benzimidazoles (BZs) in farmed fish samples. In order to optimize the chromatographic separation, parameters such as mobile phase composition and flow rate were carefully studied, establishing a gradient mode with a mobile phase consisted of water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The separation was performed on a Zorbax Eclipse Plus RRHD C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm), involving a total analysis time lower than 12 min. Salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) was applied as sample treatment to different types of farmed fish (trout, sea bream and sea bass). To obtain satisfactory extraction efficiencies for the studied analytes, several parameters affecting the SALLE procedure were optimized including the amount of sample, type and volume of the extraction solvent, and the nature and amount of the salt used. Characterization of the method in terms of performance characteristics was carried out, obtaining satisfactory results for the linearity (R2 ≥ 0.997), repeatability (RSD ≤ 6.1%), reproducibility (RSD ≤ 10.8%) and recoveries (R ≥ 79%; RSD ≤ 7.8%). Detection limits between 0.04-29.9 µg kg-1 were obtained, demonstrating the applicability of this fast, simple and environmentally friendly method.

Coupling sweeping-micellar electrokinetic chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the therapeutic monitoring of benzimidazoles in animal urine by dilute and shoot.

A new method based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MEKC-MS/MS) has been developed for the identification and simultaneous quantification of thirteen benzimidazoles in animal urine. In order to obtain an appropriate separation with the highest sensitivity, different electrophoretic parameters were evaluated. Under optimum conditions, the separation was performed using ammonium perfluorooctanoate as volatile surfactant and electrophoretic buffer (50mM, pH 9). To increase the sensitivity, a stacking mode named sweeping was applied, using water as injection solvent at 50mbar for 75s, obtaining sensitivity enhancement factors from 50 to 181. The method was applied to different animal urine samples, including sheep, cow and goat. The sample treatment consisted of a 1:10 (v/v) dilution with water. Calibration using sheep urine samples can be used for both goat and cow urine samples with a relative bias below 25% and relative standard deviations lower than 8%. The limits of detection were below 70µgL-1. As a result, the applicability of this rapid, simple, sensitive, and environmentally friendly method for therapeutic drug monitoring of benzimidazoles based on the analysis of animal urine has been demonstrated.

Validation of a new method based on salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS for the determination of betalactam antibiotics in infant dairy products.

In this work a new multiresidue method has been developed for the determination of 15 betalactam antibiotics in infant milk and yogurt based on follow-on milk by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The separation was achieved in 6min, using a Kinetex Biphenyl Core-Shell column (50mmx2.1mm, 1.7µm), with a mobile phase of water with 0.05% acetic acid and methanol. The analytes were detected in ESI+ with multiple reaction monitoring mode and fragmentation conditions were optimized to obtain the highest sensitivity. The use of a biphenyl bonded column allowed to obtain a satisfactory selectivity for all the studied analytes. Moreover, ion-pair salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (IP-SALLE) has been proposed as sample treatment and optimized by means of experimental design. Under optimum conditions, the recoveries for fortified samples ranged from 79% to 93%, (RSD <7.5%). The limits of quantification were lower than 9.0µgkg-1, showing the high sensitivity and applicability of this fast and simple method. The results in terms of analysis time, sensitivity and accuracy showed the suitability of this procedure for the monitoring of betalactam residues in different infant foods.

Determination of benzimidazoles in meat samples by capillary zone electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry following dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction.

A novel method based on capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry has been proposed and validated for the identification and simultaneous quantification of twelve benzimidazoles in meat samples. Electrophoretic separation was carried out using 500mM formic acid (pH 2.2) as background electrolyte and applying a voltage of 25kV at 25°C. In order to improve the sensitivity, stacking mode injection was applied, using as injection solvent a mixture of 30:70 acetonitrile/water at 50mbar for 75s. Sensitivity enhancement factors from 74 to 317 were obtained under these conditions. Detection using an ion trap as analyzer, operating in multiple reactions monitoring mode was employed. The main MS/MS parameters as well as the composition of the sheath liquid and other electrospray variables were optimized in order to obtain the highest sensitivity and precision in conjunction with an unequivocal identification. The method was applied to poultry and pork muscle samples. The deproteinization of samples and extraction of benzimidazoles was carried out with acetonitrile. MgSO4 and NaCl were added as salting-out agents. Subsequently, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was applied as clean up procedure. The organic layer (acetonitrile, used as dispersant) containing the benzimidazoles was mixed with the extractant (chloroform) and both were injected in water, producing a cloudy solution. Recoveries for fortified samples were higher than 70%, with relative standard deviations lower than 16% were obtained in all cases. The limits of detection were below 3µgkg-1, demonstrating the applicability of this fast, simple, and environmentally friendly method.

Capillary electrochromatography coupled with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the analysis of benzimidazole residues in water samples.

A novel method for the analysis of benzimidazole residues in water samples by capillary electrochromatography-UV detection (290nm), using laboratory-made packed columns is presented. Capillaries (25cm packed length×75µm inner diameter, 34cm total length, 25.5cm effective capillary length) were packed with C18 particles (5µm, non-encapped) following a high pressure packing procedure and using a compact steel unit designed for packing capillary columns. Acetone was employed as solvent to carry the particles through the capillary and pack it under a pressure of 42MPa. Outlet and inlet frits were made by sintering the particles of the stationary phase by heating the packed material with a nichrome ribbon connected to a 7V AC power supply. With the aim of achieving a good analytical performance, the variables that affected the separation were studied, using a mobile phase composition of 60:40 (v/v) acetonitrile/water containing ammonium acetate (1mM, pH 6.5), a separation voltage of 25kV and a temperature of 25°C. In addition, a combined hydrodynamic-electrokinetic injection mode was considered and samples were injected for 75s under a voltage of 12.5kV and a pressure of 11.5bar. Finally, the determination of benzimidazoles in water samples was accomplished by capillary electrochromatography using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction as sample treatment. Variables affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized, using chloroform and ethanol as extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. This method was applied to different water samples, obtaining satisfactory results in terms of linearity (R2≥0.990), repeatability (RSD≤1.2%), reproducibility (RSD≤2.2%) and trueness (R≥87.7%). Detection and quantification limits were lower than 2.8µgL-1 and 9.3µgL-1, respectively.

Vortex-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in wine samples by capillary high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new sample treatment, namely vortex-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-IL-DLLME), followed by capillary liquid chromatography has been developed for the determination of four sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs): flazasulfuron (FS), prosulfuron (PS), primisulfuron-methyl (PSM) and triflusulfuron-methyl (TSM) in wine samples. The ionic liquid (IL) 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C6MIM][PF6]) was used as extraction solvent and was dispersed using methanol into the sample solution, assisted by a vortex mixer. Various parameters influencing the extraction efficiency, such as type and amount of IL, type and volume of disperser solvent, sample pH, salting-out effect, vortex and centrifugation time were studied. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection and quantification of the proposed method were in the ranges of 3.2-6.6 and 10.8-22.0 µg kg(-1), respectively; lower than the maximum residue limits set by the EU for these matrices. The proposed method was successfully applied to different wine samples and satisfactory recoveries were obtained.

Use of an ionic liquid-based surfactant as pseudostationary phase in the analysis of carbamates by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The applicability of an ionic liquid-based cationic surfactant 1-dodecyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C12 MImBF4 ) as pseudostationary phase in MEKC has been evaluated for the analysis of 11 carbamate pesticides (promecarb, carbofuran, metolcarb, fenobucarb, aldicarb, propoxur, asulam, benomyl, carbendazim, ethiofencarb, isoprocarb) in juice samples. Under optimum conditions (separation buffer, 35 mM NaHCO3 and 20 mM C12 MImBF4 , pH 9.0; capillary temperature 25°C; voltage -22 kV) the analysis was carried out in less than 12 min, using hydrodynamic injection (50 mbar for 7.5 s) and detection at 200 nm. For the extraction of these CRBs from juice samples, a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) procedure has been proposed, by optimization of variables affecting the efficiency of the extraction. Following this treatment, sample throughput was approximately 12 samples per hour, obtaining a preconcentration factor of 20. Matrix-matched calibration curves were established using tomato juice as representative matrix (from 5 to 250 µg/L for CBZ, BY, PX, CF, FEN, ETH, ISP, and 25-250 µg/L for ASL, ALD, PRC, MTL), obtaining quantification limits ranging from 1 to 18 µg/L and recoveries from 70 to 96%, with RSDs lower than 9%.

Salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction combined with capillary HPLC for the determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in environmental water and banana juice samples.

A salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) combined with capillary high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (capillary HPLC-DAD) was proposed for extraction and determination of residues of nine sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) in environmental water and banana juice samples. Various parameters affecting the extraction process such as the type and volume of the organic solvent, sample volume, type and amount of salt, pH of the sample and vortex time were optimized. Under optimum conditions, matrix matched calibration curves were established using river water and banana juice samples. Good linear relationships as well as low limits of detection, LODs (0.4-1.3 and 3-13 µg/L) and quantification, LOQs (1.3-4.3 and 10-43 µg/L) were obtained in water and banana juice samples, respectively. The precision (intra- and inter-day) of the peak areas expressed as relative standard deviations (%, RSD), at two concentration levels were below 10 % in both matrices. Recoveries obtained from spiked environmental waters (river water and groundwater) and banana juice samples, at two concentration levels, ranged from 72 to 115%. The results of the analysis revealed that the proposed SALLE-capillary HPLC method is simple, rapid, cheap and environmentally friendly, being successfully applicable for the determination of SUH residues in waters and banana juices.

Ion-paired extraction of cephalosporins in acetone prior to their analysis by capillary liquid chromatography in environmental water and meat samples.

Ion-pair extraction of cephalosporins from aqueous solution into acetone by the addition of ammonium sulfate to a 1:2 (v/v) acetone-water solvent was carried out followed by their determination using reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography. The analytes included are cephoperazone, cefquinome, cephalexin, cephapirin, cephaloniun, cephamandole, cephazolin and cephadroxile. In order to form the ion-pair, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was selected as cationic ion-pairing agent at a concentration of 0.9 mM using 10mM phosphate buffer at pH 8 as the optimum condition for the aqueous solution. The applied methodology, named salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE) involves the use of 1.25 g of ammonium sulfate as salting-out agent. The separation of cephalosporins using a Luna C18 (150 mm × 0.3mm, 5 µm, 100 Å) column was achieved under the following conditions: a gradient program combining solvent A (0.1% formic acid in water, pH 4) and solvent B (acetonitrile-methanol (50:50, v/v)), at a flow rate of 20 µl min(-1), column temperature 35°C and injection volume 7 µl with UV detection at 250 nm. The limits of quantification for the studied compounds were between 4.3 and 22.7 µg/L for water samples and 4.1 and 73.3 µg/kg in the case of beef samples, lower than the maximum residue limits permitted by the EU for this kind of food. The developed methodology has demonstrated its suitability for the analysis of these widely applied antibiotics in environmental water and meat samples, including beef and pork muscle, with high sensitivity, precision and satisfactory recoveries.

On-line anion exchange solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection to determine quinolones in water and human urine.

An analytical method based on on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed to determine quinolones in tap water and human urine. A home-made setup was used to percolate 10 mL of sample through a solid-phase extraction column. Analytes were retained onto the sorbent by an anion exchange mechanism which ensures an optimum compatibility with the subsequent chromatographic separation. A C-18 column containing core-shell particles (2.6 µm) was used to achieve peak efficiencies up to 200,000 plates/m, at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and without the need for special pumps. The method allowed the determination of 11 quinolones directly in tap water samples in less than 20 min and with limits of detection ranging between 7 and 110 ng/L. The sensitivity achieved made possible the direct determination of 9 quinolones in human urine without any sample treatment, just dilution with water. Relative recoveries between 94 and 109% were obtained meaning that the matrix effect in human urine is negligible after dilution. Satisfactory results were also obtained in terms of precision since relative standard deviations were always below 13%.

Hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction combined with capillary HPLC for the selective determination of six sulfonylurea herbicides in environmental waters.

A three-phase hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction combined with a capillary LC method using diode array detection was proposed for the determination of six sulfonylurea herbicides, triasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, chlorsulfuron, flazasulfuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, and primisulfuron-methyl, in environmental water samples. Different factors that can affect the extraction process such as extraction solvent, acidity of the donor phase, composition and pH of the acceptor phase, salt addition, stirring speed, and extraction time were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, detection and quantitation limits between 0.1-1.7 and 0.3-5.7 µg/L, respectively, and enrichment factors ranging from 71 to 548 were obtained. The calibration curves were linear within the range of 0.3-40 µg/L. Intra- and interday RSDs were <6.3 and 8.4%, respectively. The relative recoveries of the spiked ground and river water samples were in the range of 69.4-119.2 and 77.4-111.7%, respectively. The results of the study revealed that the developed methodology involves an efficient sample pretreatment allowing the preconcentration of analytes, combined with the use of a miniaturized separation technique, suitable for the accurate determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in water.

Convenient solid phase extraction of cephalosporins in milk using a molecularly imprinted polymer.

In this paper, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for cephalosporin molecules (cephalexin (CFL) and cephapirin (CFP)), was prepared by non covalent molecular imprinting approach and applied to solid phase extraction (SPE). For MIP synthesis, a tributylammonium cefadroxil salt (TBA-CFD) was used as template with methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as monomer and cross-linker, respectively, in acetone-methanol 92/8 (v/v) mixture. The selectivity of MIP versus non imprinted polymer (NIP) was confirmed for CFL, CFD and CFP in standard solutions as well as in milk samples. The efficiency of the synthesized MIP was evaluated by means of the application of the proposed MIP-SPE procedure to spiked milk samples previous to the HPLC method for the detection of cephalosporins. The MIP-SPE recoveries were higher than 60% for the three target analytes in spiked milk.

Trace determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in water and grape samples by capillary zone electrophoresis using large volume sample stacking.

A sensitive and reliable method using capillary zone electrophoresis with UV-diode array detection has been developed and validated for trace determination of residues of sulfonylurea herbicides in environmental water samples and grapes from different origins. The analytes included are triasulfuron, rimsulfuron, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and chlorsulfuron. Optimum separation has been achieved on a 48.5-cm x 50-microm (effective length 40 cm) bubble cell capillary using 90 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.8, by applying a voltage of 20 kV at 25 degrees C and using p-aminobenzoic acid as the internal standard. In order to increase sensitivity, large volume sample stacking with polarity switching has been applied as on-line preconcentration methodology. For water samples, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure based on the use of Oasis HLB cartridges was applied for off-line preconcentration and cleanup. For grape samples, the SPE procedure was achieved with C(18) sorbent, after extraction of the compounds with MeOH:H(2)O (1:1) by sonication. The limits of detection for the studied compounds were between 0.04 and 0.12 microg/L for water samples and 0.97 and 8.30 microg/kg in the case of grape samples, lower in all cases than the maximum residue limits permitted by the EU for this kind of food. The developed methodology has demonstrated its suitability for the monitoring of these residues in environmental water and grape samples with high sensitivity, precision, and satisfactory recoveries.