Derivatization postcolumn

Reaction detectors are a convenient means of performing online postcolumn derivatization in HPLC. The derivative reaction is performed after the separation of the sample by the column and prior to detection in a continuous reactor. The mobile phase flow is not interrupted during the analysis and reaction, although it may be augmented by the addition of a secondary solvent to aid the reaction or to conform to the requirements of the detector. Reaction detectors are finding increasing application for the analysis of trace components in complex matrices where both high detection sensitivity and selectivity are needed. Many suitable reaction techniques have been published for this purpose [641-650]. 

Many times an analyte must be derivatized to improve detection. When this derivatization takes place is incredibly important, especially in regards to chiral separations. Papers cited in this chapter employ both precolumn and postcolumn derivatization. Since postcolumn derivatization takes place after the enantiomeric separation it does not change the way the analyte separates on the chiral stationary phase. This prevents the need for development of a new chiral separation method for the derivatized analyte. A chiral analyte that has been derivatized before the enantiomeric separation may not interact with the chiral stationary phase in the same manner as the underivatized analyte. This change in interactions can cause a decrease or increase in the enantioselectivity. A decrease in enantioselectivity can result when precolumn derivatization modifies the same functional groups that contribute to enantioselectivity. For example, chiral crown ethers can no longer separate amino acids that have a derivatized amine group because the protonated primary amine is... 

Nishiyama and Kuninori [65] described a combination method of assay for penicillamine using HPLC and postcolumn reaction with 6,6 -dithiodi(nicotinic acid). Thiols were separated by HPLC on a reversed-phase column (25 cm x 4.6 mm) packed with Fine Sil 08-10, with 33 mM KH2PO4 (adjusted to pH 2.2 with H3PO4) or 33 mM sodium phosphate (pH 6.8) as the mobile phase. Detection was by postcolumn derivatization with 6,6 -dithiodi(nicotinic acid), and measurement of the absorbance of the released 6-mercaptonicotinic acid was made at 344 nm. The detection limit for penicillamine was 0.1 nmol. A comparison was made with a... 

Water None Ion chromatography with postcolumn derivatization and fluorimetric detection (free cyanide) 0.1 ng/mL 94-96 Gamoh and Imamichi 1991... 

Continuous monitoring methods based on amperometric (Nikolic et al. 1992) or spectrophotometric (Kuban 1992 Ma and Liu 1992) techniques for the quantification of free cyanide are also available. Ion chromatography with amperometric determination provides good sensitivity (2 ppb) and selectivity for free cyanide and the weak complexes of cadmium and zinc (Rocklin and Johnson 1983). Postcolumn derivatization and fluorescence detection provides low detection limits as well (0.1 ppb) (Gamoh and Imamichi 1991). 

Fluorescence detection is usually more sensitive than absorption detection, but the number of naturally fluorescent compounds is limited. Pre- or postcolumn derivatization can also be applied for this type of detection. Chemiluminescence detection is the most sensitive method for some fluorescent compounds. 

Compared to absorbance detection, direct detection of proteins rich in aromatic amino acids by the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan and tyrosine residues provides enhanced sensitivity without the complexity of pre- or postcolumn derivatization. The optimal excitation wavelengths for these amino acids are in the 270- to 280-nm range. 

Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI)/MS APCI/MS is used to analyze compounds of intermediate molecular weight (100-1,500 da) and intermediate polarity and is particularly useful for the analysis of biochemicals such as triacylglycerides, carotenoids, and lipids (Byrdwell, 2001). For volatile, nonpolar compounds of low molecular weight, GC/MS is preferred to APCl/MS whereas APl-electrospray/ MS provides better results for larger, more polar materials. The selection of APCl/MS over GC/MS or APl-electrospray/MS depends on the compounds to be analyzed. Many LC/MS instruments can be easily switched between APCl/MS and APl-electrospray/MS so that it can be rapidly determined which ionization process is more suitable to a given chemical. Additional manipulations such as pre and postcolumn derivatization reactions (Nagy et al., 2004 Peters et al., 2004) or coulometric oxidation (Diehl et al., 2001) can make the chemicals of interest more amenable to detection by APCI. 

Amino Acids postcolumn derivatization L-arginine and metabolites Huang et al. (2004)... 

The response of the fluorescence generated by the postcolumn derivatization of histamine with OPT as a function of the peak height is shown in Figure 1. The curve is linear between 0.01 and 0.1 pg of histamine, correlation coefficient =. 9986. 

V- Much effort has been expended in the development of more sensitive methods for the analysis and detection of catecholamines. They have been analyzed as the dansyl derivatives (376) or after precolumn derivati-zation with o-phthalaldehyde (377, 378). Postcolumn derivatization followed by fluorometric analysis have been described in which the fluoro-phore was formed with o-phthalaldehyde (379) or with 9,10-dimethoxyanthracene-2-sulfonate as the ion-pair (380). Several laboratories have shown the sensitivity and specificity in electrochemical detection methods (381 -383). 

In order to improve selectivity and sensitivity, for those peptides that do not contain natural chromophores or flnorophores, pre- or postcolumn derivatization is nsnally applied. Roller and Eckert [129] presented a comprehensive review of derivatization methods snitable for the chromatography of peptides. A derivatization step can be also introduced in order to rednce the hydro-philicity of the analytes to enable RP-HPLC or to label racemic componnds by a chiral reagent to separate them as their diasteromers [129]. 

For many years, automated amino acid analyzer using lEC and postcolumn derivatization with nin-hydrin (or less frequently with fluorescamine) has been the most popular technique for amino acid determination. Amino acids are separated in their free form by employing stepwise elution with sodium- or lithium-based buffers. 

According to some recent literature, typical conditions for biogenic amine determination are precolumn derivatization with Dnsl-Cl followed by separation on C8 or C18 column with gradient elution with mobile phases consisting of water or phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (or methanol) or postcolumn derivatization with OPA and gradient elution with mixtures of sodium acetate buffer and methanol (or acetonitrile). In the latter case, a counterion (such as hexanesulfonic or octansulfonic acid) is usually added in the mobile phase. 

Some commonly used detectors are UV (at 280 nm), ELD, ED and microbiological assay of collected fractions. UV presents a low sensitivity, but all folate derivatives respond to this detection. ELD is used even if some compounds, like folic acid, do not fluoresce. Therefore, a postcolumn derivatization, involving hypochlorite to cleave folic acid, di- and tetra-hydrofolic acid oxidatively to fluorescence pterins [571], has been introduced. Eewer reports on the use of LC-MS for folate detection are available in the literature [578-580]. 

NPH HCl) with l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC HCl) as a coupling agent [593,594], The advantage is that with hydrazines it is possible to carry out the derivatization in milder conditions. An efficient postcolumn derivatization is obtained using avidin or streptavidin. In fact, these two proteins react in a very specific way with biotin, therefore they are bound with a fluorescent marker, such as fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) to obtain fluorescent derivatives. Some authors [595] report the use of MS or MS/MS for biotin detection, but this method seems to be less sensitive than FLD. 

Niacin can be detected by UV, ED, or FLD. UV is a widespread technique but it needs a longer preparation step and it does not reach high sensitivity. The FLD is more sensitive but it needs a pre or postcolumn derivatization to make niacin fluorescent. Krishnan et al. [599] describe a postcol-umn derivatization using cyanogens bromide and p-aminophenol, but this method involves toxic reagents. Mawatari et al. [600], instead, propose a fast, highly specific derivatization procedure, which involves UV irradiation at 300 nm in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and copper(II) ions. 

UV absorption occurs only below 220nm, thereby it is affected by the interference from mobile phase and from artifacts in complex foods. A multiwavelength UV detection has been experimented successfully for unambiguous evaluation of pantothenic acid [609]. However, UV detection presents a low sensitivity, compared to other techniques, like FLD or MS. FLD is applied by using a postcolumn derivatization. Pantothenic acid is converted to 3-alanine by hot alkaline hydrolysis and a reaction with OPA [610]. Also MS is successfully applied to increase the sensitivity of pantothenic acid analysis. 

When the amount of thiamine is relatively high, U V detection at 254nm can be applied. Fluorometric detection, however, enables to reach higher sensitivity, when coupled with precolumn or postcolumn derivatization. The derivatization is carried out by using potassium ferricyanide under alkaline conditions to convert thiamine to highly fluorescent thiochrome derivatives. 

The applicability of electrochemical detection in LC is frequently limited by the fact that die mobile phase must always be electrically conductive. In many cases, it is feasible to add a salt such as a buffer at suitable concentration in the mobile phase without affecting the separation. As an alternative, this problem can be circumvented by postcolumn addition of a suitable high-dielectric-constant solvent plus supporting electrolyte. An additional limitation that stems out from the electroactivity or not of the analyte can be overcome by pre- or postcolumn derivatization. 

For samples found positive by screening assays, residues can be tentatively identified and quantified by means of the combined force of an efficient chromatographic separation and a selective detection system such as ultraviolet (UV), fluorescence, or electrochemical. The potential of pre- or postcolumn derivatization can further enhance the selectivity and sensitivity of the analysis. 

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