Automated method to determine pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater using on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to LC-MS/MS.

An automated method was developed using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) as a sample preparation step, coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), for determination of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater samples at nanograms per liter to micrograms per liter concentration levels. This method is suitable for use in routine analysis, especially in environmental applications, avoiding cross-contamination and requiring minimal sample handling. Results can be obtained rapidly, with a chromatographic run time of only 24 min (including sample preparation and chromatographic analysis).

Development of miniaturized fluorimetric device for caffeine determination using a smartphone.

Caffeine is an element that is consumed worldwide. It is present in many products such as beverages, chocolate, coffee, tea, energy drinks and medicines. Portable 3D devices working together with colorimetric and fluorimetric reactions have been able to determine the presence of caffeine in different kinds of samples.