Amperometric and spectrophotometric detection of aminobiphenyls and aminonaphthalenes in HPLC

Abstract

A new method for the determination of selected aminobiphenyls (ABs) and aminonaphthalenes (ANs), proved or suspected carcinogens and mutagens, was developed using reversed-phase HPLC coupled to an amperometric platinum tubular detector and a spectrophotometric detector. Using mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer pH 2.5 (40:60, v/v), separation of 2- and 4-aminobiphenyl and 1- and 2-aminonaphthalene was achieved within 10 min and limits of determination between 3·10–8 mol L–1 and 8·10–8 mol L–1 were obtained for amperometric detection. In comparison with spectrophotometric detection, it is superior in both sensitivity and selectivity. The developed method was applied on the analysis of spiked samples of urine. Solid phase extraction was used for a preliminary separation and preconcentration of the tested analytes, leading to the decrease of limits of determination to the values between 7.2·10–9 mol L–1 and 2.7·10–8 mol L–1.