Issue 23, 2012

Solid-phase extraction, sample stacking and capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites

Abstract

A capillary zone electrophoresis method is presented for the analysis of six biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples. Baseline resolution of 2-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, 4-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and 5-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was achieved in approximately 17 min with a 20 mM borate buffer prepared in 50% methanol–water (volume/volume). Competitive limits of detection were obtained for all the studied metabolites using commercial instrumentation equipped with an ultraviolet-visible absorption detector. Detection at the sub-parts-per-billion concentration levels was made possible via sample pre-concentration based on solid-phase extraction and sample stacking. Solid-phase extraction was performed with the aid of a twelve port vacuum manifold. Sample stacking was carried out in methanol, i.e. the eluting solvent from the solid-phase extraction procedure. To the extent of our literature search, this is the first application of sample stacking to the analysis of monohydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples. Metabolite recoveries varied from 93.2 ± 7.7% (5-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene) to 108.7 ± 7.8% (2-hydroxynaphthalene). Limits of detection were at the trace level ranging from 0.99 ng mL−1 (3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene) to 8.54 ng mL−1 (2-hydroxynaphthalene). The new method was found to be free of interference from four pharmacological drugs – naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac and amoxicillin – that might be found in urine samples of unhealthy individuals.

Graphical abstract: Solid-phase extraction, sample stacking and capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Sep 2012
Accepted
27 Sep 2012
First published
01 Oct 2012

Analyst, 2012,137, 5639-5647

Solid-phase extraction, sample stacking and capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites

G. Knobel, K. Calimag-Williams and A. D. Campiglia, Analyst, 2012, 137, 5639 DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36265A

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