Solid-phase extraction of phenoxyacetic acid herbicides in complex samples with a zirconium(IV)-based metal-organic framework

On-site extraction of phenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides in environmental waters utilizing monolith-based in-tip microextraction technique

On-site extraction plays a significant role in the reliable quantification of strong polar phenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides (PCAs) in aqueous samples. In current study, a new technique for the field sample preparation of PCAs was developed by means of three channels in-tip microextraction device (TCIM). To capture PCAs effectively, an extraction phase based on monolith (EPM) using vinylimidazole and divinylbenzene/ethylene dimethacrylate as monomer and cross-linkers, respectively, was in-situ synthesized in pipette tips. The EPM fabricated at optimal conditions were characterized by a series of techniques and employed as the adsorbent of TCIM for the on-site extraction of PCAs. The adsorption isotherm was studied so as to inspect the extraction behaviors of EPM towards PCAs. Results revealed that the proposed EPM/TCIM presented satisfactory extraction performance towards PCAs through multiple interactions. The enrichment factors and adsorption capacity were 74-277 and 20 mg g-1, respectively. Under the most beneficial extraction parameters, the developed EPM/TCIM was successfully employed to on-site extract PCAs, and then combining with HPLC equipped with diode array detector to monitor trace PCAs in actual waters. The limits of detection (LODs) towards investigated PCAs varied from 0.071 μg/L to 0.30 μg/L. In addition, the accuracy of established approach was inspected with documented method. Compared with existing lab-based sample preparation approaches, the introduced field sample preparation technique exhibits some merits such as avoidance of transporting large volume of water, prevention of analytes loss during sampling procedure, less usage of organic solvent and achievement of satisfactory efficient in sample preparation.

TiO2@MOF-919(Fe-Cu) as a sorbent for the extraction of benzoylurea pesticides from irrigation water and fruit juices

The TiO₂@MOF-919(Fe-Cu) solid-phase extraction material was prepared by growing MOF-919(Fe-Cu) in situ on three-dimensional radial TiO₂ microspheres by a simple solvothermal method. This combination drew on both the resources of good single dispersion and extraction rate, which made it a better extraction material. It was accompanied with high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-HPLC) for the separation and determination of four benzoylurea pesticides (triflumuron, chlorbenzuron, teflubenzuron and diflubenzuron) in afforestation irrigation water and juice samples (grape, peach and apple juices). Under the optimal conditions, the linearity of the method ranged from 1 to 400 μg L^-1 with a correlation coefficient (R²) ≥ 0.9994, while the detection limit was in the range of 0.40-0.56 μg L^-1 for the four pesticides. The adopted material showed good reusability and can be used no less than 10 times. The intra-day and inter-day precision were in the range of 1.78-3.24% and 4.06-5.08%, respectively. The proposed method was then successfully applied for the detection of benzoylurea pesticides in the spiked samples with good recoveries (72.3-108.4%) and good precision (5.15%) due to π-π and hydrophobic interactions between the analytes and adsorbent. The results show that the composite had the potential to be used as a SPE adsorbent for the enrichment and extraction of benzene ring structures containing imide groups in actual samples.

Metal-Organic Frameworks in Agriculture

Agrochemicals, which are crucial to meet the world food qualitative and quantitative demand, are compounds used to kill pests (insects, fungi, rodents, or unwanted plants). Regrettably, there are some important issues associated with their widespread and extensive use (e.g., contamination, bioaccumulation, and development of pest resistance); thus, a reduced and more controlled use of agrochemicals and thorough detection in food, water, soil, and fields are necessary. In this regard, the development of new functional materials for the efficient application, detection, and removal of agrochemicals is a priority. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with exceptional sorptive, recognition capabilities, and catalytical properties have very recently shown their potential in agriculture. This Review emphasizes the recent advances in the use of MOFs in agriculture through three main views: environmental remediation, controlled agrochemical release, and detection of agrochemicals.

Recovery of syringic acid from aqueous solution by magnetic Fe–Zn/ZIF and its slow release from the CA-coated carrier based on the 3Rs concept

The excessive utilization of syringic acid (SA) has caused severe environmental pollution and economic waste.

Development of monolith/aminated carbon nanotubes composite-based solid-phase microextraction of phenoxycarboxylic acids herbicides in water and soil samples

In this study, a new adsorbent based on monolith/aminated carbon nanotubes composite was facilely prepared and employed as the extraction phase of multiple monolithic fibers solid-phase microextraction for the capture of phenoxycarboxylic acids herbicides. The adsorbent was fabricated by mingling aminated carbon nanotubes in the poly (allylthiourea-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolith. Various techniques were employed to characterize the morphology, structure, and pore size of the prepared adsorbent. The proposed microextraction method displayed satisfactory capture performance towards studied analytes through multi-interactions such as hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic and π-π interactions. Under the optimized conditions, a sensitive and reliable method to quantify trace analytes in water and soil samples was developed. The limits of detection were in the ranges of 0.13-0.25 μg/L and 0.20-0.61 μg/kg for water and soil samples, respectively. The practicality of the introduced method was demonstrated by applying it to monitor the contents of studied analytes in environmental water and soil samples. Satisfactory fortified recoveries (76.4-119%) and reproducibility were obtained. The achieved results well demonstrated that the suggested microextraction technique can efficiently extract phenoxycarboxylic acids and the developed method exhibits a promising potential for reliable and sensitive quantification of trace analytes in complex samples.

[Determination of three diphenyl ether herbicides in rice by magnetic solid phase extraction using Fe3O4@MOF-808 coupled with high performance liquid chromatography]

利用溶剂热法构筑了Fe₃O₄@MOF-808吸附剂,将其用于大米中除草醚(NIT)、乙氧氟草醚(OXY)和甲羧除草醚(BIF)3种二苯醚类除草剂的富集,结合高效液相色谱法,建立了大米中该类除草剂的分析方法。研究通过傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜以及振动样品磁强计对构筑的磁性吸附剂的结构、表面形貌及磁强度进行表征。表征结果显示,球形的Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒与八面体形貌的MOF-808成功复合,Fe₃O₄@MOF-808饱和磁化强度可达40.35 emu/g,可以满足磁性固相萃取的需求;对吸附剂用于大米中3种二苯醚类除草剂富集的磁性固相萃取条件(吸附剂用量、吸附时间、洗脱溶剂种类以及洗脱体积)进行了优化。优化结果显示,25 mg吸附剂在6 min内即可达到对目标物的完全吸附,洗脱溶剂采用0.5 mL×2的甲醇。在最优的磁性固相萃取条件下,结合高效液相色谱-紫外检测法,建立了大米中3种二苯醚类除草剂的分析方法。方法在2~300 μg/L范围内线性关系良好(r > 0.998), NIT、OXY、BIF的检出限和定量限依次为0.6、0.6、0.4 μg/kg和2.0、2.0、1.5 μg/kg,在5、10和20 μg/kg 3个加标水平下的回收率为87.3%~96.7%,相对标准偏差不超过10.8%,且富集因子在25~29之间。将所建方法用于大米中NIT、OXY、BIF的分析,各样品均未检出这3种二苯醚类除草剂。该方法具有操作简单、快速、准确的特点,适用于大米样品中除草剂的残留分析。

Zr-MOF modified cotton fiber for pipette tip solid-phase extraction of four phenoxy herbicides in complex samples

Phenoxy herbicides are widely applied in agricultural weeding. The determination of herbicides is important in environmental protection, agricultural production, food safety, and public health. In this study, a facile and efficient analytical method was proposed for the trace detection of phenoxy herbicides in soil, cucumber, and tap water samples by coupling pipette tip solid phase extraction (PT-SPE) with high performance liquid chromatography. UiO-66-funtionalized cotton (Cotton@UiO-66) was packed into pipette-tip as sorbent to fabricate extraction device. The modification of UiO-66 on cotton fiber was confirmed using scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The main factors affecting the adsorption of Cotton@UiO-66 for four phenoxy herbicides were evaluated by response surface methodology in detail. Under optimized conditions, Cotton@UiO-66 displayed excellent properties in the extraction of phenoxy herbicides with good peak shape. Linear ranges of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, dicamba, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid were 1.4-72 μg/L, 5.6-280 μg/L, 2.8-140 μg/L and 3.2-160 μg/L (RSDs < 6.3%), respectively. The recoveries were between 83.3 and 106.8% with RSDs <6.7%, with detection limits ranging from 0.1 μg/L to 0.3 μg/L. The results show that Cotton@UiO-66 in PT-SPE is an effective method for monitoring phenoxy herbicides in complex samples.

Three-dimensional chitosan/graphene oxide aerogel for high-efficiency solid-phase extraction of acidic herbicides in vegetables

A simple, facile method was adopted to synthesize three-dimensional chitosan grafted graphene oxide aerogel modified silica (3D CS/GOA@Sil) as an eco-friendly, sustainable extraction material for the preconcentration of phenoxy acid herbicides.