Analysis of aqueous matrices using supercritical fluid extraction in conjunction with chromatographic spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques

The use and supply of various organic solvents for analytical chemistry is coming under scrutiny due to their environmental impact. International legislation now prevents the supply of "ozone depleting" solvents for laboratory purposes. Consequently alternative analytical methods to those which had previously relied upon the use of a range of organic solvents need to be developed. Supercritical fluids exhibit some properties associated with gases and liquids, and in particular their solvating characteristics are equivalent to a wide range of conventional organic solvents. Environmentally benign carbon dioxide in its supercritical fluid state can be utilised to imitate the solvating power of a range of organic solvents from non polar pentane through to more polar pyridine.<br/><br/>There are many reports detailing the use of supercritical fluid extraction for the isolation of target compounds from a very wide range of solid matrices. The objective of these studies was to develop direct liquid supercritical fluid extraction procedures using carbon dioxide to isolate, concentrate and quantify target analytes from aqueous media. These investigations involved using off-line and on-line supercritical fluid extraction procedures with final analytical detection and quantification being accomplished using a range of chromatographic, spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods.<br/><br/>Within chapters 2 and 3, an alternative infrared method for determining the quantity of oil in process and discharge waters is described. The results of quantification studies involving various oils and hydrocarbons indicate that the custom built supercritical fluid extraction system developed for these investigations directly coupled with an infrared spectrometer provide an alternative method to traditional liquid-liquid extraction procedures that involve the use of ozone depleting and/or toxic organic solvents.<br/><br/>Chapter 4 describes how direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction was used to continuously isolate free testosterone as it was liberated during the enzymic digest of a testosterone-<i>β</i>-D-glucuronide solution incubated with <i>Helix pomatia</i> glucuronidase. Other studies described within this chapter that also involved the use of direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction with off-line gas chromatography-mass spectrometry describe procedures for determining trace levels of organophosphate pesticides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous samples.<br/><br/>The development and use of on-line direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation for the analysis of phenols at the ppb level is described in Chapter 5.<br/><br/>Chapter 6 describes the use of direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction coupled online with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using ammonia chemical ionization for the analysis of three veterinary drugs at the ppb level. Results of off-line and on-line studies involving electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with high pressure liquid chromatography for the analysis of a range of ionophores at the low ppb level following their isolation using direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction are also presented.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctoral Thesis

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Student thesis

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Minty, Brian

• Supercritical fluid chromatography
• Supercritical fluid extraction

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/fc38e7eb-053c-4a5b-86a4-7726ebccea97

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/fc38e7eb-053c-4a5b-86a4-7726ebccea97