Detection of λ-cyhalothrin by a core-shell spherical SiO2-based surface thin fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer film

A fluorescent core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer based on the surface of SiO2 beads was synthesized and its application in the fluorescence detection of ultra-trace λ-cyhalothrin (LC) was investigated. The shell was prepared by copolymerization of acrylamide with allyl fluorescein in the presence of LC to form recognition sites. The experimental results showed that the thin fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (FMIP) film exhibited better selective recognition ability than fluorescent molecularly non-imprinted polymer (FNIP). A new nonlinear relationship between quenching rate and concentration was found in this work. In addition, the nonlinear relationship allowed a lower concentration range of 0-5.0 nM to be described by the Stern-Volmer equation with a correlation coefficient of 0.9929. The experiment results revealed that the SiO2@FMIP was satisfactory as a recognition element for determination of LC in soda water samples. Therefore this study demonstrated the potential of MIP for the recognition and detection of LC in food.

Rapid determination of 12 antibiotics and caffeine in sewage and bioreactor effluent by online column-switching liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

This study presents a column-switching solid-phase extraction online-coupled to a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous analysis of 12 antibiotics (7 sulfonamides and 5 fluoroquinolones) and caffeine detected in the sewage and effluent of a pilot anaerobic reactor used in sewage treatment. After acidification and filtration, the samples were directly injected into a simple and conventional LC system. Backflush and foreflush modes were compared based on the theoretical plates and peak asymmetry observed. The method was tested in terms of detection (MDL) and quantification limit (MQL), linearity, relative recovery, and precision intra- and inter-day in lab-made sewage samples. The method presented suitable figures of merit in terms of detection, varying from 8.00 × 10(-5) to 6.00 × 10(-2) ng (0.800 up to 600 ng L(-1); caffeine) with direct injection volume of only 100 μL and 13 min of total analysis time (sample preparation and chromatographic run). When the method was applied in the analysis of sewage and effluent of the anaerobic reactor (n = 15), six antibiotics and caffeine were detected in concentrations ranging from 0.018 to 1097 μg L(-1). To guarantee a reliable quantification, standard addition was used to overcome the matrix effect.

Soxhlet-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion to extract flavonoids from rape (Brassica campestris) bee pollen

Soxhlet-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion (SA-MSPD) method was developed to extract flavonoids from rape (Brassica campestris) bee pollen. Extraction parameters including the extraction solvent, the extraction time, and the solid support conditions were investigated and optimized. The best extraction yields were obtained using ethanol as the extraction solvent, silica gel as the solid support with 1:2 samples to solid support ratio, and the extraction time of one hour. Comparing with the conventional solvent extraction and Soxhlet method, our results show that SA-MSPD method is a more effective technique with clean-up ability. In the test of six different samples of rape bee pollen, the extracted content of flavonoids was close to 10mg/g. The present work provided a simple and effective method for extracting flavonoids from rape bee pollen, and it could be applied in the studies of other kinds of bee pollen.

Fully automated analysis of four tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke using two-dimensional online solid phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A fully automated method for the detection of four tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in mainstream cigarette smoke (MSS) has been developed. The new developed method is based on two-dimensional online solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE/LC-MS/MS). The two dimensional SPE was performed in the method utilizing two cartridges with different extraction mechanisms to cleanup disturbances of different polarity to minimize sample matrix effects on each analyte. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a UPLC C18 reversed phase analytical column. Under the optimum online SPE/LC-MS/MS conditions, N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), N'-nitrosoanabasine (NAB), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were baseline separated with good peak shapes. This method appears to be the most sensitive method yet reported for determination of TSNAs in mainstream cigarette smoke. The limits of quantification for NNN, NNK, NAT and NAB reached the levels of 6.0, 1.0, 3.0 and 0.6 pg/cig, respectively, which were well below the lowest levels of TSNAs in MSS of current commercial cigarettes. The accuracy of the measurement of four TSNAs was from 92.8 to 107.3%. The relative standard deviations of intra-and inter-day analysis were less than 5.4% and 7.5%, respectively. The main advantages of the method developed are fairly high sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy of results, minimum sample pre-treatment, full automation, and high throughput. As a part of the validation procedure, the developed method was applied to evaluate TSNAs yields for 27 top-selling commercial cigarettes in China.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled with magnetic ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of triazine herbicides in oilseeds

A novel method was developed for the determination of six triazine herbicides from oilseeds by matrix solid-phase dispersion combined with magnetic ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (MSPD-MIL-DLLME), followed by ultrafast liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (UFLC-UV). The MIL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate ([C4mim][FeCl4]), was used as the microextraction solvent to simplify the extraction procedure by magnetic separation. The effects of several important experimental parameters, including type of dispersant, ratio of sample to dispersant, type and volume of collected elution solvent, type and volume of MIL, were investigated. Using the present method, UFLC-UV gave the limits of detection (LODs) of 1.20-2.72 ng g(-1) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) of 3.99-9.06 ng g(-1) for triazine herbicides. The recoveries were ranged from 82.9 to 113.7% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were equal or lower than 7.7%. The present method is easy-to-use and effective for extraction of triazine herbicides from oilseeds and shows the potentials of practical applications in the treatment of the fatty solid samples.

Definitive Screening Design Optimization of Mass Spectrometry Parameters for Sensitive Comparison of Filter and Solid Phase Extraction Purified, INLIGHT Plasma N-Glycans

High-throughput, quantitative processing of N-linked glycans would facilitate large-scale studies correlating the glycome with disease and open the field to basic and applied researchers. We sought to meet these goals by coupling filter-aided-N-glycan separation (FANGS) to the individuality normalization when labeling with glycan hydrazide tags (INLIGHT) for analysis of plasma. A quantitative comparison of this method was conducted against solid phase extraction (SPE), a ubiquitous and trusted method for glycan purification. We demonstrate that FANGS-INLIGHT purification was not significantly different from SPE in terms of glycan abundances, variability, functional classes, or molecular weight distributions. Furthermore, to increase the depth of glycome coverage, we executed a definitive screening design of experiments (DOE) to optimize the MS parameters for glycan analyses. We optimized MS parameters across five N-glycan responses using a standard glycan mixture, translated these to plasma and achieved up to a 3-fold increase in ion abundances.

Evaluation of fritless solid-phase extraction coupled on-line with capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for the analysis of opioid peptides in cerebrospinal fluid

Fritless SPE on-line coupled to CE with UV and MS detection (SPE-CE-UV and SPE-CE-MS) was evaluated for the analysis of opioid peptides. A microcartridge of 150 μm id was packed with a C18 sorbent (particle size > 50 μm), which was retained between a short inlet capillary and a separation capillary (50 μm id). Several experimental parameters were optimized by SPE-CE-UV using solutions of dynorphin A (DynA), endomorphin 1 (End1), and methionine-enkephaline (Met). A microcartridge length of 4 mm was selected, sample was loaded for 10 min at 930 mbar and the retained peptides were eluted with 67 nL of an acidic hydro-organic solution. Using SPE-CE-MS, peak area and migration time repeatabilities for the three opioid peptides were 12-27% and 4-5%, respectively. SPE recovery was lower for the less hydrophobic DynA (22%) than for End1 (66%) and Met (78%) and linearity was satisfactory in all cases between 5 and 60 ng/mL. The LODs varied between 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL which represent an enhancement of two orders of magnitude when compared with CE-MS. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples spiked with the opioid peptides were analyzed to demonstrate the applicability to biological samples. Peak area and migration time repeatabilities were similar to the standard solutions and the opioid peptides could be detected down to 1.0 ng/mL.

Development of an Automated Column Solid-Phase Extraction Cleanup of QuEChERS Extracts, Using a Zirconia-Based Sorbent, for Pesticide Residue Analyses by LC-MS/MS

A new, automated, high-throughput, mini-column solid-phase extraction (c-SPE) cleanup method for QuEChERS extracts was developed, using a robotic X-Y-Z instrument autosampler, for analysis of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by LC-MS/MS. Removal of avocado matrix and recoveries of 263 pesticides and metabolites were studied, using various stationary phase mixtures, including zirconia-based sorbents, and elution with acetonitrile. These experiments allowed selection of a sorbent mixture consisting of zirconia, C18, and carbon-coated silica, that effectively retained avocado matrix but also retained 53 pesticides with <70% recoveries. Addition of MeOH to the elution solvent improved pesticide recoveries from zirconia, as did citrate ions in CEN QuEChERS extracts. Finally, formate buffer in acetonitrile/MeOH (1:1) was required to give >70% recoveries of all 263 pesticides. Analysis of avocado extracts by LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS showed that the method developed was removing >90% of di- and triacylglycerols. The method was validated for 269 pesticides (including homologues and metabolites) in avocado and citrus. Spike recoveries were within 70-120% and 20% RSD for 243 of these analytes in avocado and 254 in citrus, when calibrated against solvent-only standards, indicating effective matrix removal and minimal electrospray ionization suppression.

Use of Pollen Solid-Phase Extraction for the Determination of trans-Resveratrol in Peanut Oils

In this study, a simple and convenient method for the determination of trans-resveratrol (TRA) in peanut oils based on pollen grain solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed. Pollen grains were used as normal-phase SPE sorbent to separate TRA from peanut oils for the first time. As a naturally occurring material, pollen grains exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity for polyphenolic compounds due to their particular functional structures such as hydroxyl groups, saturated and unsaturated aliphatic chains with aromatics. Their stable compositions as well as adequate particle size (30-40 μm) also make them suitable for SPE. Several parameters influencing extraction performance were investigated. Coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV), a green purification method for fast determination of TRA in peanut oils using pollen grain cartridges as sorbents was established. The linearity range of the proposed method was 10-2500 ng · g(-1) with a satisfactory correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.9999. The limit of detection (LOD) for TRA in peanut oils was 2.7 ng · g(-1), and the recoveries in spiked oil samples were from 70.2% to 98.4% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 4.9% (intraday) and 5.2% (interday). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of TRA in several peanut oils with different brands from local market as well as other kinds of vegetable oils.

Highly selective monitoring of metals by using ion-imprinted polymers

Ion imprinting technology is one of the most promising tools in separation and purification sciences because of its high selectivity, good stability, simplicity and low cost. It has been mainly used for selective removal, preconcentration, sensing and few miscellaneous fields. In this review article, recent methodologies in the synthesis of IIPs have been discussed. For several applications, different parameters of IIP including complexing and leaching agent, pH, relative selectivity coefficient, detection limit and adsorption capacity have been evaluated and an attempt has been made to generalize. Biomedical applications mostly include selective removal of toxic metals from human blood plasma and urine samples. Wastewater treatment involves selective removal of highly toxic metal ions like Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), As(V), etc. Preconcentration covers recovery of economically important metal ions such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. It also includes selective preconcentration of lanthanides and actinides. In sensing, various IIP-based sensors have been fabricated for detection of toxic metal ions. This review article includes almost all metal ions based on the ion-imprinted polymer. At the end, the future outlook section presents the discussion on the advancement, corresponding merits and the need of continued research in few specific areas. Graphical Abstract IIPs for the selective monitoring of metals.

Fast and Online Determination of Five Avermectin Residues in Foodstuffs of Plant and Animal Origin Using Reusable Polymeric Monolithic Extractor Coupled with LC-MS/MS

A hydrophobic monolith (10 mm × 2.1 mm i.d.) was developed as a reusable online solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent coupled with LC-MS/MS for the rapid determination of five avermectin residues in foodstuffs of both plant and animal origin. The online SPE was achieved using a 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution as the loading solvent, and acetonitrile (MeCN) was selected for the washing step. After being transferred from the monolith into a C18 analytical column using MeCN, the analytes were analyzed by LC-MS/MS using MeCN/0.1% NH4OH (10:90, v/v) as the mobile phase. The detection limit was 2 μg/kg for five avermectins, and the recoveries in fresh pear, chili seed, bovine muscle, and milk ranged from 71.8% to 101.3% with relative standard deviations of less than 8.94%. The online SPE and determination were achieved within 15 min, and the monolithic extractor was reusable for more than 500 experiments.

Core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers as sorbent for sulfonylurea herbicide residues

Sulfonylurea herbicides are widely used at lower dosage for controlling broad-leaf weeds and some grasses in cereals and economic crops. It is important to develop a highly efficient and selective pretreatment method for analyzing sulfonylurea herbicide residues in environments and samples from agricultural products based on magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The MIPs were prepared by a surface molecular imprinting technique especially using the vinyl-modified Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticle as the supporting matrix, bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) as the template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as a cross-linker, and azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The MIPs show high affinity, recognition specificity, fast mass transfer rate, and efficient adsorption performance toward BSM with the adsorption capacity reaching up to 37.32 mg g(-1). Furthermore, the MIPs also showed cross-selectivity for herbicides triasulfuron (TS), prosulfuron (PS), and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl (PSE). The MIP solid phase extraction (SPE) column was easier to operate, regenerate, and retrieve compared to those of C18 SPE column. The developed method showed highly selective separation and enrichment of sulfonylurea herbicide residues, which enable its application in the pretreatment of multisulfonylurea herbicide residues.

Dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of herbicides in vegetable oil with metal-organic framework MIL-101

Dispersive microsolid-phase extraction based on metal-organic framework has been developed and applied to the extraction of triazine and phenylurea herbicides in vegetable oils in this work. The herbicides were directly extracted with MIL-101 from diluted vegetables oils without any further cleanup. The separation and determination of herbicides were carried out on high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of experimental parameters, including volume ratio of n-hexane to oil sample, mass of MIL-101, extraction time, centrifugation time, eluting solvent, and elution time were investigated. The Student's t test was applied to evaluate the selected experimental conditions. The limits of detection for the herbicides ranged from 0.585 to 1.04 μg/L. The recoveries of the herbicides ranged from 87.3 to 107%. Our results showed that the present method is rapid, simple, and effective for extracting herbicides in vegetable oils.

Automated solid-phase extraction coupled online with HPLC-FLD for the quantification of zearalenone in edible oil

Established maximum levels for the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) in edible oil require monitoring by reliable analytical methods. Therefore, an automated SPE-HPLC online system based on dynamic covalent hydrazine chemistry has been developed. The SPE step comprises a reversible hydrazone formation by ZEN and a hydrazine moiety covalently attached to a solid phase. Seven hydrazine materials with different properties regarding the resin backbone, pore size, particle size, specific surface area, and loading have been evaluated. As a result, a hydrazine-functionalized silica gel was chosen. The final automated online method was validated and applied to the analysis of three maize germ oil samples including a provisionally certified reference material. Important performance criteria for the recovery (70-120 %) and precision (RSDr <25 %) as set by the Commission Regulation EC 401/2006 were fulfilled: The mean recovery was 78 % and RSDr did not exceed 8 %. The results of the SPE-HPLC online method were further compared to results obtained by liquid-liquid extraction with stable isotope dilution analysis LC-MS/MS and found to be in good agreement. The developed SPE-HPLC online system with fluorescence detection allows a reliable, accurate, and sensitive quantification (limit of quantification, 30 μg/kg) of ZEN in edible oils while significantly reducing the workload. To our knowledge, this is the first report on an automated SPE-HPLC method based on a covalent SPE approach.

Mixed micelle cloud point-magnetic dispersive μ-solid phase extraction of doxazosin and alfuzosin

Mixed micelle cloud point extraction (MM-CPE) combined with magnetic dispersive μ-solid phase extraction (MD-μ-SPE) has been developed as a new approach for the extraction of doxazosin (DOX) and alfuzosin (ALF) prior to fluorescence analysis. The mixed micelle anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate and non-ionic polyoxyethylene(7.5)nonylphenylether was used as the extraction solvent in MM-CPE, and diatomite bonding Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles were used as the adsorbent in MD-μ-SPE. The method was based on MM-CPE of DOX and ALF in the surfactant-rich phase. Magnetic materials were used to retrieve the surfactant-rich phase, which easily separated from the aqueous phase under magnetic field. At optimum conditions, a linear relationship between DOX and ALF was obtained in the range of 5-300 ng mL(-1), and the limits of detection were 0.21 and 0.16 ng mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the drugs in pharmaceutical preparations, urine samples, and plasma samples.

Preparation of novel curcumin-imprinted polymers based on magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the rapid extraction of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes was synthesized using curcumin as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker. The phenyl groups contained in the magnetic imprinted polymers acted as the assisting functional monomer. The magnetic imprinted polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Adsorption studies demonstrated that the magnetic imprinted polymers possessed excellent selectivity toward curcumin with a maximum capacity of 16.80 mg/g. Combining magnetic extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography technology, the magnetic imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes was applied for the rapid separation and enrichment of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root successfully.

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for selective extraction of bisphenol analogues in beverages and canned food

This study aimed to develop a selective analytical method for the simultaneous determination of seven bisphenol analogues in beverage and canned food samples by using a new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE). Liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify and quantify the target analytes. The MIP-SPE method exhibited a higher level of selectivity and purification than the traditional SPE method. The developed procedures were further validated in terms of accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. The obtained recoveries varied from 50% to 103% at three fortification levels and yielded a relative standard deviation (RSD, %) of less than 15% for all of the analytes. The limits of quantification (LOQ) for the seven analytes varied from 0.002 to 0.15 ng/mL for beverage samples and from 0.03 to 1.5 ng/g for canned food samples. This method was used to analyze real samples that were collected from a supermarket in Beijing. Overall, the results revealed that bisphenol A and bisphenol F were the most frequently detected bisphenols in the beverage and canned food samples and that their concentrations were closely associated with the type of packaging material. This study provides an alternative method of traditional SPE extraction for screening bisphenol analogues in food matrices.

Preparation and characterization of superparamagnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective adsorption and separation of vanillin in food samples

Novel water-compatible superparamagnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (M-MIPs) were prepared by coating superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with MIPs in a methanol-water reaction system. The M-MIPs were used for the selective adsorption and separation of vanillin from aqueous solution. The M-MIPs were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that a core-shell structure of M-MIPs was obtained by coating a layer of silica and MIPs on the surface of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The obtained M-MIPs possess a loose and porous structure and can be rapidly separated from the solution using a magnet. The adsorption experiments showed that the binding capacity of the M-MIPs was significantly higher than that of the superparamagnetic non-molecularly imprinted polymers (M-NIPs). Meanwhile, the adsorption of M-MIPs reached equilibrium within 100 min, and the apparent maximum adsorption quantity (Qmax) and dissociation constant (Kd) were 64.12 μmol g(-1) and 58.82 μmol L(-1), respectively. The Scatchard analysis showed that homogeneous binding sites were formed on the M-MIP surface. The recoveries of 83.39-95.58% were achieved when M-MIPs were used for the pre-concentration and selective separation of vanillin in spiked food samples. These results provided the possibility for the separation and enrichment of vanillin from complicated food matrices by M-MIPs.

[HPLC analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum with use of solid-phase extraction on hyper cross-linked polystyrene (Purosep-200)]

We have developed a simple HPLC method for analysis of the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-sulfate) in serum with use a new procedure of solid-phase extraction (SPE) on hyper cross-linked polystyrene (Purosep-200) and fast chromatographic separation on the monolithic column under isocratic elution and UV detection at 200 nm. Complete SPE procedure lasts for about 7 min, chromatographic separation takes less than 6 min. Simplicity and high reproducibility of this method makes it attractive in routine clinical practice.

Molecularly imprinted polymer dedicated to the extraction of glyphosate in natural waters

Three molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been synthesized in order to bind efficiently glyphosate (GLY) in natural waters (mineral and underground). Since the target analyte is polar and hydrophilic, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds have been favored with two templates (phenylphosphonic acid and diethyl(α-aminobenzyl)-phosphonic acid) and two functional monomers (1-allyl-2-thiourea and methacrylic acid). MIPs have been assessed by comparison of the recoveries obtained with MIP and NIP (non imprinted polymer) by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The selectivity of MIP versus NIP was satisfactory for the three imprinted polymers with a very straightforward protocol: conditioning of 250 mg of MIP or NIP packed in 3-mL polypropylene cartridges with 3 mL Milli-Q water, loading of Milli-Q water (15 mL) spiked with 5 mg L(-1) of GLY and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and elution by 3 mL NH4OH (10mM) or 3 mL HCl (100mM). SPE fractions were directly analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Thus, the recoveries of both analytes were greater than 80% for all MIPs and less than 25% for most NIPs. Moreover, the MIP prepared with 1-allyl-2-thiourea as functional monomer and phenylphosphonic acid as template displayed a capacity of 0.033 μmol/mg for GLY. However, the substitution of Milli-Q water by mineral water caused the decrease of MIP recoveries, for that, a pretreatment of the sample by ionic exchange resins was set up and succeeded in improving recoveries (about 50% for GLY and 25% for AMPA). Then, groundwaters were spiked with low concentrations of GLY and AMPA (0.5 μgL(-1)) and directly percolated through MIP cartridges. The extractions were carried out by triplicate and the elution fractions were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed no retention of AMPA but a total retention of GLY by MIP.

TiO₂/SiO₂ core-shell composite-based sample preparation method for selective extraction of phospholipids from shrimp waste followed by hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry analysis

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, using titania-coated silica (TiO2/SiO2) core-shell composites as the sorbent, combined with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for extraction, visualization, and quantification of phospholipids in shrimp waste (Litopenaeus vannamei). The SPE protocol was optimized, and the best conditions were pH 5 of the loading solvent, 10% aqueous methanol as the washing solvent, and 1.0 mL of chloroform/methanol (1:2, v/v) as eluting solvents. Afterward, the eluate was separated on a diol hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) column. A total of 69 phospholipid species were identified and determined. The results indicated that, in comparison to previously published methods, this strategy was cost-effective and efficient in extraction, characterization, and determination of phospholipids. Meanwhile, phospholipids were abundant in shrimp waste, most of which contained unsaturated fatty acyl chains, such as 18:3 [α-linolenic acid (ALA)], 20:5 [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)], and 22:6 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]. The successful application of this strategy paves the way for full use of traditionally discarded shrimp wastes.

Ionic-liquid-micelle-functionalized mesoporous Fe3O4 microspheres for ultraperformance liquid chromatography determination of anthraquinones in dietary supplements

A magnetic solid-phase extraction method using ionic liquid (IL)-micelle-functionalized mesoporous Fe3O4 microspheres (MFMs) was proposed for the preconcentration of anthraquinones in dietary supplements. The analytes were then determined by ultraperformance liquid chromatography combined with an ultraviolet detector. The extraction parameters, such as the choice of ILs, the concentrations of ILs and MFMs, the pH of diluent, and the concentration of acetic acid in the eluent, were presented. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection and limits of quantitation were 0.4-2.8 ng mL(-1) and 1.4-9.4 ng mL(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was investigated by recovery in herb and granules of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, yielding values between 89.25% and 96.48%. The use of the proposed method in the sample pretreatment of complex dietary supplements is feasible due to the high surface area and excellent adsorption capacity of MFMs after modification with IL.

Development and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection and cleanup of benzylpenicillin in milk

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was designed for benzylpenicillin via suspension polymerization. The specific absorption of benzylpenicillin to the MIP, applied in a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE), was compared to the nonspecific binding using a NIP (nonimprinted polymer without a target molecule) in a non-molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction. This validation was performed successfully in acetonitrile solutions and milk extracts spiked with benzylpenicillin. Significant differences in absorption were observed. In acetonitrile, the recoveries using MISPE (90-95%) were a fraction higher than those in milk extracts (70-80%). The validation revealed the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation for the MISPE application in milk samples to be 0.51 and 1.02 μg/kg, respectively. In addition, comparing the results of the analysis of positive milk samples using MISPE with those using a classic sample preparation step showed a Pearson correlation of 0.989. Finally, cross reactivity tests using other antibiotics showed a certain cross reactivity, but non-β-lactams were barely bound.

Analytical method for the determination of trace toxic elements in milk based on combining Fe3O4 nanoparticles accelerated UV fenton-like digestion and solid phase extraction

A UV Fenton-like digestion method was developed first time for a complete digestion of milk samples by using 1.6 g L(-1) Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles, 0.2% (v/v) nitric acid, and 6% (w/w) H2O2. During the digestion, the liberated As-, Sb-, and Bi-containing species were preconcentrated onto the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles, which were conveniently separated with a hand-held magnet and subsequently dissolved in hydrochloric acid prior to hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection. Owing to the integration of UV Fenton-like digestion, solid phase extraction, and magnetic separation into a single step, the developed method significantly simplifies sample preparation steps and reduces chemical consumption and hazardous waste. Limits of detection of 0.0015, 0.0022, and 0.0025 μg L(-1) were obtained for As, Sb, and Bi, respectively, using a 50 mL milk sample. The method was applied to the determination of these elements in a Certified Reference Material and milk samples.

A review of available analytical technologies for qualitative and quantitative determination of nitramines

This review aims to summarize the available analytical methods in the open literature for the determination of some aliphatic and cyclic nitramines. Nitramines covered in this review are the ones that can be formed from the use of amines in post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) plants and end up in the environment. Since the literature is quite scarce regarding the determination of nitramines in aqueous and soil samples, methods for determination of nitramines in other matrices have also been included. Since the nitramines are found in complex matrices and/or in very low concentration, an extraction step is often necessary before their determination. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using dichloromethane and solid phase extraction (SPE) with an activated carbon based material have been the two most common extraction methods. Gas chromatography (GC) or reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) has been used often combined with mass spectrometry (MS) in the final determination step. Presently there is no comprehensive method available that can be used for determination of all nitramines included in this review. The lowest concentration limit of quantification (cLOQ) is in the ng L(-1) range, however, most methods appear to have a cLOQ in the μg L(-1) range, if the cLOQ has been given.