Selective solid-phase extraction of catecholamines by the chemically modified polymeric adsorbents with crown ether

A simple and selective one-step solid-phase extraction procedure using chemically modified polymer resin (Amberlite XAD-4) with crown ether was investigated for the measurement of urinary catecholamines. After loading the urine samples (adjusted to pH 4) on the synthesized adsorbent cartridge, the column was washed with methanol followed by water and then the adsorbed catecholamines were eluted by 1.0 mL of 6.0 M acetic acid. The effectiveness of sample clean-up method was demonstrated by reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Under optimal condition, the recoveries of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine from spiked urine sample were >86% for all catecholamines. The detection limits (n = 5) for epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine were 37, 52, and 46 nmol/L, respectively.