Development of novel thin-film solid-phase microextraction materials based on deep eutectic solvents for preconcentration of trace amounts of parabens in surface waters

Development and characterization of a non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for rapid determination of sorbent-based extracted trazodone and doxepin in complicated samples

BACKGROUND

Given the importance of achieving optimal therapeutical concentration in patients treated with antidepressants, this study investigates a novel technique for the simultaneous determination of trazodone (TRZ) and doxepin (DOX) in human plasma and serum samples for the first time.

RESULTS

To achieve simultaneous determination of two antidepressants, TRZ and DOX, a novel detection system was designed: a non-enzymatic voltammetric biosensor based on boron-reduced graphene oxide/manganese oxide nanoparticles (GCE/B-rGO/MnO NPs). The detection was accomplished after pre-concentration and extraction trace amounts of the analytes using the thin film-solid phase microextraction (TF-SPME) technique, which employed polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate/copper oxide nanoparticles (PVA/PVAc/CuO NPs) electrospun nanofibers. The successful preparation of composite nanofibers and modified electrodes was confirmed using the evaluation of field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Also, the composite nanofibers were characterized with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform-infrared (ATR-FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In the solution of TRZ and DOX, under optimum experimental conditions, the linear dynamic ranges (LDRs) were 0.1-20.0 μmol L-1 and 0.5-27.0 μmol L-1, respectively. Also, the limit of detection (LOD) values of TRZ and DOX were 0.032 and 0.150 μmol L-1.

SIGNIFICANCE

PVAc acts as a cross-linking agent for PVA, and their mixture is effective for sample preparation and pre-concentration of analytes in complex matrices. Also, adding CuO NPs to this polymeric mixture enhanced the adsorption efficiency. Taking advantage of the high surface area of MnO NPs and the high electrical conductivity of B-rGO, and considering the superiority of their simultaneous utilization, the constructed electrochemical biosensor is both cost-effective and rapid. It demonstrates excellent stability, repeatability, and sensitivity for the simultaneous determination of TRZ and DOX under optimal conditions. This biosensor, the first of its kind, is specifically designed for the simultaneous determination of TRZ and DOX in human plasma and serum samples, representing a significant advancement in biosensing technology.

Deep eutectic solvents with solid supports used in microextraction processes applied for endocrine-disrupting chemicals

The determination of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has become one of the biggest challenges in Analytical Chemistry. Due to the low concentration of these compounds in different kinds of samples, it becomes necessary to employ efficient sample preparation methods and sensitive measurement techniques to achieve low limits of detection. This issue becomes even more struggling when the principles of the Green Analytical Chemistry are added to the equation, since finding an efficient sample preparation method with low damaging properties for health and environment may become laborious. Recently, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been proposed as the most promising green kind of solvents, but also with excellent analytical properties due to the possibility of custom preparation with different components to modify their polarity, viscosity or aromaticity among others. However, conventional extraction techniques using DESs as extraction solvents may not be enough to overcome challenges in analysing trace levels of EDCs. In this sense, combination of DESs with solid supports could be seen as a potential solution to this issue allowing, in different ways, to determine lower concentrations of EDCs. In that aim, the main purpose of this review is the study of the different strategies with solid supports used along with DESs to perform the determination of EDCs, comparing their advantages and drawbacks against conventional DES-based extraction methods.

Hybrid materials based on deep eutectic solvents for the preconcentration of formaldehyde by SPME in coffee beverages

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages. It can be prepared from green or roasted beans or from instant coffee. Unfortunately, in addition to the aroma obtained in the coffee roasting process, among others, formaldehyde can be produced. In this study, thin-film solid-phase microextraction was used to preconcentrate trace amounts of formaldehyde in different types of coffee with different roasting levels. For this purpose, 18 hybrid materials based on deep eutectic solvents were synthesized and tested as sorbents in thin-film solid-phase microextraction. The coffee samples were brewed, and then formaldehyde present in them was derivatized using the Nash reagent. The sample preparation procedure was optimized for selected DES-based sorbent using a central composite design method and validated. Formaldehyde was determined in almost all samples of second-crack coffee (roasted at 240 °C) at 0.17-0.75 ng mL-1 and in darker-colored instant coffees at 0.18-0.54 ng mL-1.

Applications of deep eutectic solvents in microextraction and chromatographic separation techniques: Latest developments, challenges, and prospects

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have recently sparked considerable attention in a variety of scientific and technological fields. The unique properties of DESs include biodegradability, easy preparation, low cost, and tuneability, rendering them a new and prospective alternative to hazardous solvents. Analytical chemistry is one of the most appealing fields where DESs proved to be applicable in either sample preparation or chromatographic separation. This review summarizes the new horizons dedicated to the application of DESs in microextraction and chromatographic separation. The utilization of DESs in microextraction, in chromatography as mobile phase additives, and in chromatographic material preparation processes is outlined. The enhancements in chromatographic performance achieved using DESs and any potential explanations deduced from the experimental findings were primarily discussed. An additional brief discussion on DESs preparation, characterization, and properties is addressed in this work. Finally, current challenges and future trends are also presented, supplying evidence for distinct possibilities regarding new research approaches involving DESs. This review can represent a guide and stimulate further research in this field.

Hybrid porous material supported in a cellulose acetate polymeric membrane for the direct immersion thin-film microextraction of parabens in water

A simple and sensitive direct immersion thin-film microextraction (DI-TFME) method based on MIL-101(Cr) modified with carbon nanofibers supported in cellulose acetate (CA-MIL-101(Cr)@CNFs) polymeric membrane was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of parabens in environmental water samples. A high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was used for the determination and quantification of methylparaben (MP) and propylparaben (PP). The factors affecting the DI-TFME performance were investigated using central composite design (CCD). The linearity of the DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD method obtained under optimal conditions was 0.04-0.04-500 µg/L with a correlation coefficient (R2) greater than 0.99, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for methylparaben were 11 ng/L and 37 ng/L; for propylparaben, they were 13 ng/L and 43 ng/L, respectively. The enrichment factors were 93.7 and 123 for methylparaben and propylparaben. The intraday (repeatability) and interday (reproducibility) precisions expressed as relative standard deviations (%RSD) were less than 5%. Furthermore, the DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD method was validated using real water samples spiked with known concentrations of the analytes. The recoveries ranged from 91.5 to 99.8%, and intraday and interday trueness values were less than ±15%. The DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD approach was effectively used for the preconcentration and quantification of parabens in river water and wastewater samples.

Deep eutectic solvent coated paper: Sustainable sorptive phase for sample preparation

Paper-based sorptive phases have gained attention recently due to the low-cost and sustainable character of the cellulosic substrate. However, the sustainability of the resulting phase can be limited by type of coating used for analytes isolation. In this article, this limitation is overcome by using deep eutectic solvents (DES) as coating. To this aim, a Thymol-Vanillin DES is synthesized and deposited on pre-cut cellulose paper strips. The paper-supported DES is employed as sorptive phase for the isolation of selected triazine herbicides for environmental waters analysis. The isolated analytes are finally determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. The method is optimized according to the critical variables that potentially affect its analytical performance such as sample volume, extractant amount, extraction time and sample ionic strength. The method was characterized in terms of sensitivity, accuracy and precision and its applicability was evaluated for the analysis of real environmental water samples. Good linearity values (R²>0.995) were obtained for all the analytes. Limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 µg L^-1 and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was better than 14.7%. The relative recoveries, calculated in spiked well and river samples, were in the range 90-106%.

Green Method for the Selective Electromembrane Extraction of Parabens and Fluoroquinolones in the Presence of NSAIDs by Using Biopolymeric Chitosan Films

A chitosan biopolymeric membrane was successfully used as a support in a green electromembrane extraction procedure for the simultaneous and selective extraction of seven parabens and three fluoroquinolones in the presence of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The optimal experimental conditions (10 mL donor phase and 50 μL acceptor phase, pH 10 in both phases; 80 V of applied voltage during 15 min of extraction time) were determined, providing high enrichment factors for six of the studied parabens (EF ≥ 90) and the three fluoroquinolones (EF ≥ 50). Wide linear concentration ranges (0.5-500 μg L^-1), good linearity (>97%), low limits of detection (0.2-1.1 μg L^-1), and good repeatability (relative standard deviation values 4-10%) were achieved. The proposed method was successfully applied for the extraction of the target analytes from different kinds of water samples (river, lake, and swimming pool). The usage of a chitosan membrane in the extraction process presents many advantages, as it is a biodegradable and versatile support, offering a good alternative to commercial plastic materials commonly used in this methodology and these procedures.

A new magnetic ionic liquid based salting-out assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of parabens in environmental water samples

In this study, a new magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) was designed and prepared, containing a magnetic cation from the ligand N,N-dimethyl biguanide (DMBG) complexing with magnetic center Co²⁺ and a bis-trifluoromethanesulfonimide (NTf₂^-) anion. Using the MIL as the extraction solvent, a salting-out assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (SA-DLLME) combined with high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was established for the enrichment and detection of four parabens in environmental water samples. The one-factor-at-a-time experiment was employed to optimize the conditions affecting the extraction efficiency. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the limits of quantification (LOQs) of the four target analytes ranged from 2.0 ng mL^-1 to 2.8 ng mL^-1, and the coefficients of determination (R²) were above 0.9996 in the linear range of 2.8-400 ng mL^-1. On the other hand, the method displayed good repeatability and accuracy with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.1-13.0% and recoveries of 82.0-114.6%. The established method was applied to real samples with recoveries within 81.6-125.4%, and the results demonstrated that the method was practical.

The direct immersion solid phase microextraction coupled with the LC–MS method for ex vivo determination of selected date-rape drugs in the human blood samples

Nowadays, solid phase microextraction is developing rapidly. The use of this extraction technique allowed for the reduction of toxic solvents usage, easy automatization, and integration with other techniques. In this study, the use of DI-SPME/LC–MS to determine selected date-rape drugs (benzodiazepines, ketamine, and cocaine) is presented. The determined values of validation parameters: limits of detection (LOD = 0.6–4.9 ng cm−3), and quantification (LOQ = 25 or 50 ng cm−3), intra-day and inter-day precision (CV = 0.87–10.7% and 4.96–16.1%, respectively), recovery (RE = 94.6–106.7%) and matrix effect (81.7–116.5%) indicated that the tested method could be used to determine the concentration of date-rape drugs in blood samples. The evaluation of the method according to the principles of White Analytical Chemistry showed that the DI-SPME/LC–MS method was characterized by satisfactory analytical quality, greenness, and economical use. The use of this method met the requirements of Green Chemistry. The significant advantages of this method were the quick analytical procedure, partial automation of the extraction stages, high sensitivity, lower sample, and reagent consumption.

Graphical abstract

Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Coating Sorbent for Preconcentration of Formaldehyde by Thin-Film Solid-Phase Microextraction Technique

A thin-film solid-phase microextraction method with a sorbent composed of a deep eutectic solvent was developed for the preconcentration of formaldehyde from river and lake water samples. Four new deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were synthesized, each in molar ratios 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. Among prepared compounds, the greatest efficiency in the proposed method of preconcentration of formaldehyde derivatized with Nash reagent was demonstrated by DES-3 consisting of benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium chloride and lauric acid, in a molar ratio of 1:3. For the proposed method, the parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of formaldehyde were optimized (including the choice of DES-based sorbent and desorption solvent as well as the sample volume and pH, the salting-out effect, the extraction time, and the desorption time). Under optimal conditions, the proposed method achieved good precision between 3.3% (for single sorbent) and 4.8% (for sorbent-to-sorbent) as well as good recovery ranging from 78.0 to 99.1%. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.15 ng mL−1 and 0.50 ng mL−1, respectively. The enrichment factor was equal to 178. The developed method was successfully applied to determine formaldehyde in environmental water samples.