Powerful preconcentration method for capillary electrophoresis and its application to analysis of ultratrace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification–microextraction and spectrophotometric determination of cobalt, nickel and copper after optimization based on Box-Behnken design and chemometrics methods

A fast, simple, and economical method for extraction, preconcentration and determination of cobalt, nickel and copper as their 1-(2-pyridilazo) 2-naphthol (PAN) complexes based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification–microextraction (USAEME) and multivariate calibration of spectrophotometric data is presented. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized both with univariate and Box–Behnken design. The resolution of ternary mixtures of these metallic ions was accomplished by using partial least-squares regression (PLS), orthogonal signal correction-partial least-squares regression (OSC-PLS), and orthogonal signal correction-genetic algorithmspartial least-squares regression (OSC-GA-PLS). Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 2.0–150.0, 2.0–120.0 and 2.0–150.0 ng mL−1 for Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+, respectively, with a limit of detection of 0.14 (Co2+), 0.13 (Ni2+) and 0.14 ng mL−1 (Cu2+) and the relative standard deviation was <2.5%. The method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of these cations in different samples.

Enhanced binding capacity of boronate affinity fibrous material for effective enrichment of nucleosides in urine samples

A novel polyethyleneimine-modified boronate affinity fibrous cotton with high binding capacity was prepared for in-pipette-tip solid phase extraction nucleosides in human urine.

Natural cotton fibers as adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples

A natural material, cotton fiber, has been applied as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent for sample preparation for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in water samples using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Development and application of chemometric-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of suspected fragrance allergens in water samples

A simple and green method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, mated to chemometrics and followed by mass spectrometric detection for the determination of suspected fragrance allergens in water samples is developed and assessed in this work. Volume of extraction and disperser solvent, pH, ionic strength, extraction time, sample volume, as well as centrifugation time were initially optimized in a fractional factorial design. The obtained significant factors were optimized by using a central composite design and the quadratic model between the dependent and the independent variables was built. The obtained optimal conditions were: aqueous sample of 3.8 mL, 100 μL chloroform, 1.40 mL acetone, 4 min centrifugation time, natural pH containing 5% (w/v) NaCl, and centrifugation speed 4000 rpm. Method proved to be linear over a wide range of concentration for all analytes with R(2) between 0.9807 and 0.9959. The repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 3-13% and 4-16%, respectively. The limits of detection ranged from 0.007 to 1.0 μg L(-1) . The recommended method was applied to water samples including baby bath as well as swimming pool water samples and was compared with a previously reported method.

Application of ultrasound-assisted emulsification-micro-extraction for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides in waters

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification-micro-extraction (USAEME) procedure was developed for the determination of different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water samples by gas chromatography with mu-electron capture detection (GC-microECD). After the determination of the most suitable extraction solvent and its volume, parameters such as extraction time, centrifugation time and ionic strength of the sample were optimized by using a 2(3) factorial experimental design. For 10 mL of water sample, the optimized USAEME procedure used 200 microL of chloroform as extraction solvent, 15 min of extraction without ionic strength adjustment at 25 degrees C and 5 min of centrifugation at 4000 rpm. Limits of detection ranged from 0.002 to 0.016 microg L(-1). Mean recoveries of OCPs from fortified water samples are over 96% for three different fortification levels between 0.5 and 5 microg L(-1) and relative standard deviations of the recoveries are below 9%. The developed procedure was successfully applied for real water samples (i.e., tap water, well water, surface (lake) water, domestic and industrial wastewater). Performance of the procedure was compared with those involving traditional liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction. The result demonstrates that the USAEME procedure is viable, rapid and easy to use for analysis of OCPs in water samples.

Water-Induced Coacervation of Alkyl Carboxylic Acid Reverse Micelles: Phenomenon Description and Potential for the Extraction of Organic Compounds

Coacervates made up of alkanoic (C8-C16) and alkenoic (C18) acid reverse micelles were described for the first time, and their potential for the extraction of organic compounds prior to liquid chromatography was examined. The coacervation process occurred in miscible binary mixtures of water and a variety of protic and aprotic solvents. The phase behavior of alkyl carboxylic acids was found to be a function of both the Hildebrand solubility parameter, delta, and the hydrogen-bonding capability of the solvent. The best solvents for analytical extractions were those featuring the lowest delta values. The phase behavior of alkyl carboxylic acid/water/tetrahydrofuran (THF) ternary systems as a function of component concentration, pH, ionic strength, and temperature was investigated. The efficiency and the time required for phase separation depended on the experimental procedure used (i.e., standing, centrifugation, stirring, and sonication). The formation of alkyl carboxylic acid reverse micelles in THF was proven using both hydrophilic fluorescent probes and scattered light measurements. The structure of the coacervates consisted of spherical droplets dispersed in a continuous phase. Phase volume ratios were a function of both alkyl carboxylic acid and THF concentration. The low volume obtained (e.g., 1.5 microL per mg of decanoic) compared to that obtained by other coacervates (e.g., 5.1 microL per mg of dodecane sulfonic acid and 11.3 microL per mg of Triton X-114) greatly improved the concentration factors reached by coacervation-based extractions. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were assessed. Analytes in a wide range of polarity were efficiently extracted on the basis of the hydrophobic (e.g., PAHs) and hydrogen bond (e.g., chlorophenols, bisphenols, pesticides, phthalates, nonionic surfactants, dyes, and photographic developers) interactions that reverse micelles can establish. The coacervates were compatible with the chromatographic determination of analytes following UV or MS detection. They were successfully applied to the extraction of alkylphenol ethoxylates (octyl and nonyl) and alcohol ethoxylates (C12-C16) from influent and effluent wastewater and river water samples. Nonionic surfactants in the coacervate were directly separated and quantified by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Concentration factors were around 160. The recovery of nonionics in the environmental water samples ranged from 90 to 104%.