A flow-injection configuration for the determination of formaldehyde is proposed. The method is based on the enhancing effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of acridine yellow by bromate in acidic medium. The proposed procedure is simple, inexpensive, sensitive and suitable for concentrations of formaldehyde between 1 and 56 microg mL(-1). A sampling-rate of 60 samples h(-1) was achieved. The effect of several organic and inorganic species was studied. The method was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in pharmaceuticals, milk and air in work environments. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained using the standard acetylacetone method.

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The determination of ATP using the coupling between a photochemical reaction and a chemiluminescence reaction in a flow injection (FI) system is described. The method is based on the reaction of glucose with ATP catalyzed by hexokinase and Mg(2+) ions. The glucose that is not consumed by ATP is subsequently photooxidized using 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate as a sensitizer. The hydrogen peroxide produced in the photochemical reaction is monitored through the chemiluminescence reaction with luminol catalyzed by hematine. There is a linear relationship between the decrease in the chemiluminescence response and the ATP concentration at a constant concentration of glucose. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph is linear in the range 0.20-50.5 mg L(-1) with a throughput of 25 samples per hour and relative standard deviations between +/-0.62 and +/-1.42%. The limit of detection is 0.07 mg L(-1). The method was used for the determination of ATP in pharmaceuticals, milk, and soils.

The determination of vitamin K3 using the coupling between a photochemical reaction and a chemiluminescent reaction in a flow system is described. The method is based on the photooxidation of ethanol sensitized by vitamin K3 to yield hydrogen peroxide, which is monitored through the chemiluminescent reaction with luminol catalysed by hematin. The new approach allows the determination of vitamin K3 in a wide concentration range (1 x 10(-7)-5 x 10(-4) mol l-1) with a throughput of 30 samples h-1. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by the determination of vitamin K3 in pharmaceutical preparations.

The separation and simultaneous determination of doxorubicin, daunorubicin and idarubicin was investigated using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. Because the three anthracycline antibiotics were similar in structure and mass, careful manipulation of the electroosmotic flow and electrophoretic mobilities was required. A buffer consisting of 100 mM borate, adjusted to pH 9.5, containing 30% acetonitrile was found to provide a very efficient and stable electrophoretic system for the analysis of the three anthracyclines. The method was applied to the determination of three anthracyclines in serum samples. Responses were linear in the range of 10-500 ng.mL-1 and the detection limits were lower than 0.9 ng.mL-1.