Novel application and comparison of multivariate calibration for the simultaneous determination of Cu, Zn and Mn at trace levels using flow injection diode array spectrophotometry

A Perspective of the Comprehensive and Objective Assessment of Analytical Methods Including the Greenness and Functionality Criteria: Application to the Determination of Zinc in Aqueous Samples

The recently proposed concept of White Analytical Chemistry (WAC), referring to the Red-Green-Blue color model, combines ecological aspects (green) with functionality (red and blue criteria), presenting the complete method as “white”. However, it is not easy to carry out an overall quantitative evaluation of the analytical method in line with the WAC idea in an objective manner. This paper outlines the perspective of the future development of such a possibility by attempting to answer selected questions about the evaluation process. Based on the study consisting in the evaluation of selected model methods by a group of 12 independent analysts, it was shown how well individual criteria are assessed, whether the variability of assessments by different people is comparable for each criterion, how large it is, and whether averaging the scores from different researchers can help to choose the best method more objectively.

Comprehensive Assessment of Flow and Other Analytical Methods Dedicated to the Determination of Zinc in Water

An original strategy to evaluate analytical procedures is proposed and applied to verify if the flow-based methods, generally favorable in terms of green chemistry, are competitive when their evaluation also relies on other criteria. To this end, eight methods for the determination of zinc in waters, including four flow-based ones, were compared and the Red–Green–Blue (RGB) model was exploited. This model takes into account several features related to the general quality of an analytical method, namely, its analytical efficiency, compliance with the green analytical chemistry, as well as practical and economic usefulness. Amongst the investigated methods, the best was the flow-based spectrofluorimetric one, and a negative example was that one involving a flow module, ICP ionization and MS detection, which was very good in analytical terms, but worse in relation to other aspects, which significantly limits its overall potential. Good assessments were also noted for non-flow electrochemical methods, which attract attention with a high degree of balance of features and, therefore, high versatility. The original attempt to confront several worldwide accepted analytical strategies, although to some extent subjective and with limitations, provides interesting information and indications, establishing a novel direction towards the development and evaluation of analytical methods.

Application of flowing stream techniques to water analysis Part III. Metal ions: alkaline and alkaline-earth metals, elemental and harmful transition metals, and multielemental analysis

In the earlier parts of this series of reviews [1,2], the most relevant flowing stream techniques (namely, segmented flow analysis, continuous flow analysis, flow injection (FI) analysis, sequential injection (SI) analysis, multicommuted flow injection analysis and multisyringe flow injection analysis) applied to the determination of several core inorganic parameters for water quality assessment, such as nutrients and anionic species including nitrogen, sulfur and halogen compounds, were described. In the present paper, flow techniques are presented as powerful analytical tools for the environmental monitoring of metal ions (alkaline and alkaline-earth metals, and elemental and harmful transition metals) as well as to perform both multielemental and speciation analysis in water samples. The potentials of flow techniques for automated sample treatment involving on-line analyte separation and/or pre-concentration are also discussed in the body of the text, and demonstrated for each individual ion with a variety of strategies successfully applied to trace analysis. In this context, the coupling of flow methodologies with atomic spectrometric techniques such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) or hydride-generation (HG)/cold-vapor (CV) approaches, launching the so-called hyphenated techniques, is specially worth mentioning.

Diagnostic Assay of Toxic Zinc in an Ex vivo Cell Using Voltammetry

Voltammetric detection of the toxic Zn ion was investigated using a fluorine-doped graphite pencil electrode (FPE). It is notable from the study that pencils were used as reference and working electrodes. In all the experiments, a clean seawater electrolyte solution was used to yield good results. The analytical working range was attained to 10 μgL(-1). The optimized voltammetric condition was examined to maximize the effect of the detection of trace Zn. The developed sensor was applied to an earthworm's tissue cell. It was found that the methods can be applicable to in vivo fluid or agriculture soil and plant science.

Two multivariate strategies applied to three-way kinetic spectrophotometric data for the determination of mixtures of the pesticides carbaryl and chlorpyrifos

Two pesticides, carbaryl and chlorpyrifos, have been simultaneously determined using second-order kinetic spectrophotometric measurements upon alkaline oxidative degradation. In spite of the complexity of the system and of the serious spectral overlap among the reagents and products, calibration and prediction is possible thanks to the power of second-order multivariate techniques. Strategies such as parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and multivariate curve resolution coupled to alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) have been employed, which adequately exploit the second-order advantage. They allow for a correct determination of the analytes both in synthetic binary samples and in a commercial formulation, in this latter case even in the presence of unmodeled interferents. Multi-way partial least-squares (n-PLS) produced good results only on synthetic binary mixtures but could not be applied to a commercial sample because it contained an uncalibrated component.

Rapid determination of lidocaine solutions with non-column chromatographic diode array UV spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

A new method for the rapid determination of pharmaceutical solutions is proposed. A conventional HPLC system with a Diode Array Detector (DAD) was used with no chromatographic column connected. As eluent, purified water (Milli Q) was used. The pump and autosampler of the HPLC system were mainly utilised as an automatic and convenient way of introducing the sample into the DAD. The method was tested on the local anaesthetic compound lidocaine. The UV spectrum (245-290 nm) from the samples analysed in the detector was used for multivariate calibration for the determination of lidocaine solutions. The content was determined with PLS regression. The effect on the predictive ability of three factors: flow, data-collection rate and rise time as well as two ways of exporting a representative UV spectrum from the DAD file collected was investigated by means of an experimental design comprising 11 experiments. For each experiment, 14 solutions containing a known content of lidocaine were analysed (0.02-0.2 mg ml(-1)). From these 14 samples two calibration sets and two test sets were made and as the response in the experimental design the Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) values from the predictions of the two test sets were used. When the factor setting giving the lowest RMSEP was found, this setting was used when analysing a new calibration set of 12 lidocaine samples (0.1-0.2 mg ml(-1)). This calibration model was validated by two external test sets, A and B, analysed on separate occasions for the evaluation of repeatability (test set A) and determination over time (test set B). For comparison, the reference method, liquid chromatography, was also used for analysis of the ten samples in test set B. This comparison of the two methods was done twice on different occasions. The results show that in respect of accuracy, precision and repeatability the new method is comparable to the reference method. The main advantages compared with liquid chromatography are the much shorter time of analysis (<30 s) as well as the automatic and simple analytical procedure and the low consumption of organic solvents.