Evaluation of highly adsorptive Guefoams (multifunctional guest-containing foams) as a potential sorbent for determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by means of thermal desorption.

The present work delves into the feasibility of employing a novel structured sorbent referred to as GFAD (Guefoam Adsorption Device) for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in liquid samples. The chosen method has been static headspace sorptive extraction-thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HSSE-TD-GC-MS). The GFAD comprises an aluminum cellular material with a distinct replication structure and a solid guest phase consisting of activated carbon particles dispersed within the cavities of the cellular aluminum.

Total introduction of microsamples in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry by high-temperature evaporation chamber with a sheathing gas stream.

A systematic study on the high-temperature Torch Integrated Sample Introduction System (TISIS) for use in Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been performed. The investigation included the optimization of the relevant parameters (chamber temperature, sheathing gas flow rate, nebulizer gas flow rate, sample uptake rate), the evaluation of its performance characteristics (sensitivity, limits of detection, stability, memory effects, use with the dynamic reaction cell) and representative applications to environmental, biological and clinical samples. Under the optimal conditions (T=150°C; nebulizer gas flow rate of 0.

High temperature liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of arsenosugars in biological samples.

The potential of high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of arsenosugars in marine organisms was examined for the first time. The retention behavior of four naturally occurring dimethylarsinoylribosides was studied on a graphite column using plain water as mobile phase. An aqueous solution of pH 8, ionic strength 13.

Development of a new aerosol phase extraction method for metal determination through inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

In this work, a new extraction method termed aerosol phase extraction has been developed for the first time. The new method was based on the nebulisation of the sample onto the extracting solution to maximize the contact surface. The influential parameters are: agitation time, chelating agent concentration and inorganic acid concentration.

Rapid and sensitive determination of carbohydrates in foods using high temperature liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection.

In the present work, an evaporative light scattering detector was used as a high-temperature liquid chromatography detector for the determination of carbohydrates. The compounds studied were glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose. The effect of column temperature on the retention times and detectability of these compounds was investigated.

Microwave high performance liquid chromatography with UV-visible detection. Application to vitamins determination.

The present work describes the first attempt to use microwave reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (MW-HPLC) to carry out the separation of organic compounds. Biotin and riboflavin were selected for the characterization of the new separation technique. Additional vitamins (nicotinamide, pyridoxine and thiamine) were used as reference compounds.

Speciation of phosphorus oxoacids in natural and waste water samples.

Phosphorus is a key nutrient and in natural environments regulates trophic status and consequently water quality. Therefore monitoring of phosphorus content in natural and wastewater is essential. Although several phosphorus species can be found in the environment, the majority of the methods developed are for orthophosphate determination.

Alcohol and metal determination in alcoholic beverages through high-temperature liquid-chromatography coupled to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer.

In the present work, an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) system was used as a high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) detector for the determination of alcohols and metals in beverages. For the sake of comparison, a refractive index (RI) detector was also employed for the first time to detect alcohols with HTLC. The organic compounds studied were methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and butan-1-ol (in the 10-125 mg/L concentration range) and the elements tested were magnesium, aluminum, copper, manganese and barium at concentrations included between roughly 0.

Fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts by narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The potential of narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts was explored. The retention behavior of four naturally occurring dimethylarsinoylribosides on an anion-exchange microbore column was investigated, with the mobile phase flow rate ranging from 60 to 200μLmin(-1). A low sample consumption system consisting of a micronebulizer and a low inner volume cyclonic spray chamber was used as the interface between the micro-column and the ICP mass spectrometer.

High-temperature liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry hyphenation for the combined organic and inorganic analysis of foodstuffs.

The coupling of a High-Temperature Liquid Chromatography system (HTLC) with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) is reported for the first time. This hyphenation combines the separation efficiency of HTLC with the detection power of a simultaneous ICP-AES system and allows the combined determination of organic compound and metals. The effluents of the column were introduced into the spectrometer and the chromatograms for organic compounds were obtained by plotting the carbon emission signal at a characteristic wavelength versus time.

Single-injection calibration approach for high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new calibration method for high-performance liquid chromatography was validated. The method was called single-injection calibration approach (SICA) because it allowed to obtain a complete calibration curve by means of a single injection of a standard solution containing several non-volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds at different concentration levels. The compounds studied included carboxylic acids, polyalcohols, carbohydrates and water-soluble vitamins.

Simultaneous determination of carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and metals in foods by high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

The applicability of the HPLC-ICP-AES coupling for the simultaneous determination of carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and metals in a single chromatographic run has been demonstrated in the present work. Five saccharides, glucose, fructose, sucrose, sorbitol, and lactose; five carboxylic acids, citric, tartaric, malic, lactic, and acetic; and three alcohols, glycerol, ethanol, and methanol, have been determined. A H+ cation exchange column has been used to separate these compounds.