Fluorescence detection, material preparation

TLC of larger quantities of materials (10 to 1000 mg) on thick layers (1-5mm), for the purpose of isolating separated substances for further analysis or use, is called preparative layer chromatography (PLC). Most preparative applications are carried out on 20 x 20 silica gel or alumina plates with a layer containing a fluorescent indicator to facilitate nondestructive detection. 

Techniques for analysis of different mercury species in biological samples and abiotic materials include atomic absorption, cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry, gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Lansens etal. 1991 Schintu etal. 1992 Porcella etal. 1995). Methylmercury concentrations in marine biological tissues are detected at concentrations as low as 10 pg Hg/kg tissue using graphite furnace sample preparation techniques and atomic absorption spectrometry (Schintu et al. 1992). 

In starting a residue analysis in foods, the choice of proper vials for sample preparation is very important. Available vials are made of either glass or polymeric materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene. The choice of the proper material depends strongly on the physicochemical properties of the analyte. For a number of compounds that have the tendency to irreversible adsorption onto glass surfaces, the polymer-based vials are obviously the best choice. However, the surface of the polymer-based vials may contain phthalates or plasticizers that can dissolve in certain solvents and may interfere with the identification of analytes. When using dichloromethane, for example, phthalates may be the reason for the appearance of a series of unexpected peaks in the mass spectra of the samples. Plasticizers, on the other hand, fluoresce and may interfere with the detection of fluorescence analytes. Thus, for handling of troublesome analytes, use of vials made of polytetrafluoroethylene is recommended. This material does not contain any plasticizers or organic acids, can withstand temperatures up to 500 K, and lacks active sites that could adsorb polar compounds on its surface. 

In another approach, a fluorescent conjugated polymer was used as the material for the preparation of a chemosensor to detect 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its related nitroaromatic compounds. To this end, microparticles, made of three-dimensionally cross-linked poly(l,4-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) via emulsion polymerization, were synthesized [61]. This material was chosen due to its high fluorescence intensity and sensitivity to changes in its microenvironment. The chemosensor was exposed to vapour containing different amounts of TNT and quenching of the polymer luminescence at 560 nm was observed after excitation at 430 nm. The dependence of the fluorescence signal in response to the analyte was described by a modified Stem-Volmer equation that assumes the existence of two different cavity types. The authors proposed the modified Stem-Volmer equation as follows ... 

Analyses of tropane alkaloids are mainly carried out by GC and HPLC and to a lesser extent by CE. This review describes recent applications developed for the analysis of this class of compounds in plant materials and biological matrices. Of course, mass spectrometry is generally used as the detection technique because of its high sensitivity and selectivity, but other techniques such as UV, fluorescence, flame ionization detection, nuclear magnetic resonance, among others have also been investigated. Finally, desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is reported as a new interesting detection technique for the rapid analysis of samples without any sample preparation. 

Zgorka, G. Dawka, S. 2001. Application of conventional LW, photo-diode array (PDA) and fluorescence (FL) detection to analysis of phenolic acids in plant material and pharmaceutical preparations. J. Pham. Biomed. Anal. 24 1065-1072. 

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