HPLC detectors levels

An HPLC detector is often a modified spectrophotometer equipped with a small flow cell, which monitors the concentration (or mass) of eluting analytes.Common detectors in the pharmaceutical laboratory are listed in Table 2 with their respective attributes and sensitivity levels. A recent survey found that 85% of pharmaceutical applications use absorbance detectors such as UVA/ is or photodiode array detectors (PDA). These two detectors are covered in more detail in this section. 

After optimization of the correct capillary parameters (ID, OD, Lj), detection at the microscale level became the next major challenge for the survival of CE. Despite the challenges, many of the common HPLC detectors have a CE complement, e.g., absorbance, fluorescence, conductivity, photodiode array, and mass spectroscopy. Small dimensions mean universal detectors such as refractive index cannot be used. A sample of detectors will be discussed. The technical aspects of each detector will not be covered except in relation to the CE instrument. Readers are advised to consult an instrumentation textbook for more details on theory of operation. 

While HPLC does not always produce superior results to those with TLC it allows greater versatility and is more suitable for the analysis of complex organic matrices such as cereals. HPLC coupled to sensitive detection and sophisticated data retrieval has improved the identification of selected mycotoxins at levels much less than achieved by TLC. Additional chromatographic modes such as normal-phase, reverse phase and ion-exchange chromatography have been employed. There are no truly universal detectors available for HPLC. Detectors presently in use include Fourier transform infrared detections (FT-IRD), diode array ultraviolet detection (DAD) and mass selection detectors (MSD) (Coker, 1997). 

Aniline at low ppm level may be directly analyzed by HPLC detector, UV at 220 nm mobile phase acetonitrile-K3P04 buffer at pH 6.5 column Suplex pKb-100 or equivalent (Supelco, 1995). 

HPLC column technology has produced highly effective and efficient analytical columns and, as has been previously stated (7), this development has led to a demand for more sensitive and versatile detectors for HPLC systems. HPLC detector development within the past several years has been aimed at increasing sensitivity, as evidenced by the development of fluorescence detectors capable of quantitating subnanogram levels of PAH s. Similarly, UV/VIS detectors have been developed which can detect nanogram levels of PAH s. 

Another potential problem concerns the selection of the range of substrate concentrations to be used throughout the study. Considering the sensitivity of most HPLC detectors and the apparent Km values of most enzyme activities, the selection of the upper limit of concentration is usually not a problem. A problem will develop, however, when rate determinations are made at low substrate concentrations, since at these concentrations the amount of product formed during the course of the reaction will be small and may be below the monitor s level of detection. 

The availability of both GC and HPLC detectors in SFC means that derivatization to enhance selectivity and sensitivity should be an important analytical tool. Thus, David and Novotny showed [25] how nitrogen thermionic detection of quinoxalinol derivatives of a-keto acids was sensitive at the pg level with a response linear over 3 4 orders of magnitude. The derivatives were formed by reaction with o-phenylenediamine ... 

For acrylate polymers with higher levels of carboxylic acids, THF can be modified by the addition of acids such as acetic, phosphoric, or trifluoroacetic. Levels as high as 10% acetic acid are considered acceptable by most manufacturers for their styrene/DVB columns. If such a modified mobile phase is used, it may need to be premixed rather than generated using a dynamic mixing HPLC pump because on-line mixing often leads to much noisier baselines, particularly when using a refractive index detector. 

Ethylenethiourea (ETU) is a toxic decomposition product/metabolite of alky-lenebis(dithiocarbamates). This compound could be generated during processing of treated crops at elevated temperature. Different chromatographic methods to determine the residue levels of ETU have been published. After extraction with methanol, clean-up on a Gas-Chrom S/alumina column and derivatization (alkylation) with bro-mobutane, ETU residues can be determined by GC with a flame photometric detector in the sulfur mode. Alternatively, ETU residues can also be determined by an HPLC method with UV detection at 240 nm or by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) or liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) (molecular ion m/z 103). ... 

FTIR instrumentation is mature. A typical routine mid-IR spectrometer has KBr optics, best resolution of around 1cm-1, and a room temperature DTGS detector. Noise levels below 0.1 % T peak-to-peak can be achieved in a few seconds. The sample compartment will accommodate a variety of sampling accessories such as those for ATR (attenuated total reflection) and diffuse reflection. At present, IR spectra can be obtained with fast and very fast FTIR interferometers with microscopes, in reflection and microreflection, in diffusion, at very low or very high temperatures, in dilute solutions, etc. Hyphenated IR techniques such as PyFTIR, TG-FTIR, GC-FTIR, HPLC-FTIR and SEC-FTIR (Chapter 7) can simplify many problems and streamline the selection process by doing multiple analyses with one sampling. Solvent absorbance limits flow-through IR spectroscopy cells so as to make them impractical for polymer analysis. Advanced FTIR... 

Mass spectrometry can be specific in certain cases, and would even allow on-line QA in the isotope dilution mode. MS of molecular ions is seldom used in speciation analysis. API-MS allows compound-specific information to be obtained. APCI-MS offers the unique possibility of having an element- and compound-specific detector. A drawback is the limited sensitivity of APCI-MS in the element-specific detection mode. This can be overcome by use of on-line sample enrichment, e.g. SPE-HPLC-MS. The capabilities of ESI-MS for metal speciation have been critically assessed [546], Use of ESI-MS in metal speciation is growing. Houk [547] has emphasised that neither ICP-MS (elemental information) nor ESI-MS (molecular information) alone are adequate for identification of unknown elemental species at trace levels in complex mixtures. Consequently, a plea was made for simultaneous use of these two types of ion source on the same liquid chromatographic effluent. 

An ECD measures the current generated by electroactive analytes in the HPLC eluent between electrodes in the flow cell. It offers sensitive detection (pg levels) of catecholamines, neurotransmitters, sugars, glycoproteins, and compounds containing phenolic, hydroxyl, amino, diazo, or nitro functional groups. The detector can be the amperometric, pulsed-amperometric, or coulometric type, with the electrodes made from vitreous or glassy carbon, silver, gold, or platinum, operated in the oxidative or reductive mode. Manufacturers include BSA, ESA, and Shimadzu. 

A conductivity detector measures the electrical conductivity of the HPLC eluent stream and is amenable to low-level determination (ppm and ppb levels) of ionic components such as anions, metals, organic acids, and surfactants. It is the primary detection mode for ion chromatography. Manufacturers include Dionex, Alltech, Shimadzu, and Waters. 

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