Polycarboxylic microsphere polymer gel for solid phase extraction of trace elements

Simultaneous determination of Co and Pb in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis by ICP-OES after GO-TiO2-DES-based dispersive micro solid phase extraction

In this work, deep eutectic solvent (DES) was used to modify GO-TiO₂ to synthesize new adsorption material GO-TiO₂-DES nanocomposites. It was first used for dispersive micro solid phase extraction (DMSPE) and combined with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for simultaneous determination of trace cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) in natural medicine P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area were used to characterize. The results showed that GO-TiO₂-DES nanocomposites were successfully prepared and had better adsorption effect on metal ions. The factors affecting the extraction and elution of Co and Pb were optimized, including the type of DES, pH, adsorption time, amount of adsorbent, adsorption temperature, and elution time. Under the optimum conditions, the enhancement factors (EFs) of Co and Pb were 31 and 28, the limits of detection (LODs) were 0.11 and 0.24 μg L^-1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.36 and 0.82 μg L^-1, respectively. The results of Co and Pb determined by the established method were in good agreement with those of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which verified the accuracy and reliability of the method.

Simultaneous Functionalization and Reduction of Magnetic Graphene Oxide by L-Histidine and its Application for Magnetic Separation/Preconcentration of Antioxidant Trace Elements

In the present study, for the first time, the magnetic graphene oxide was simultaneously functionalized and reduced with the aim of imidazole-based L-histidine amino acid (rGO/Fe₃O₄-histidine). The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The synthesized rGO/Fe₃O₄-histidine nanosheets were implied for solid phase extraction of ultra-trace amounts of Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺_, and Mn²⁺ from biological samples prior to ICP-OES determination. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration ranges of 0.4-182.0, 0.4-215.0, and 0.2-168.5 μg L^-1 for Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Mn²⁺, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.12, 0.10, and 0.04 μg L^-1 for Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Mn²⁺, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) at 50.0 μg L^-1 for single-sorbent repeatability and sorbent-to-sorbent reproducibility were less than 6.7 and 9.2% (n = 5), respectively. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by the analysis of a serum quality control material (QCM, Seronorm™ Human Serum REF NO 203105) and hair certified reference material (CRM, Human Hair IAEA-086).

Efficacy of engineered GO Amberlite XAD-16 picolylamine sorbent for the trace determination of Pb (II) and Cu (II) in fishes by solid phase extraction column coupled with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Graphene oxide (GO) was immobilized innovatively through azo spacer arm onto the surface of polymeric Amberlite XAD-16 resin in order to expose all oxygen functionalities freely available for metal ions coordination and further modification with picolylamine which governs selectivity. The GO Amberlite XAD-16 picolylamine enables the development of SPE column coupled with ICP-OES for preconcentration and determination of Pb (II) and Cu (II) in water and fish samples. Elution was performed by mild acid (2M HCl) no other carcinogenic organic solvent was used, prevents ligand leaching. Under optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors of 150 and detection limits 1.434 and 0.048 µg L⁻¹ for Pb (II) and Cu (II)  were obtained respectively.

Third-generation solar cells: a review and comparison of polymer:fullerene, hybrid polymer and perovskite solar cells

Third-generation solar cells have excellent potential for delivering large scale, low-cost solar electricity. We review and compare the current understanding of the operation principles, performance improvements and future prospects for polymer:fullerene, hybrid polymer and perovskite solar cells.

Tris(2-Aminoethyl)Amine-Functionalized Fe3O4Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Selective Sorbent for Separation of Silver and Gold Ions in Different pHs

The usage of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine-functionalized Fe3O4nanoparticles as a novel magnetic sorbent for rapid extraction, preconcentration, and determination of trace amounts of silver and gold ions was investigated. The optimum conditions for sample pH, eluent parameters (type, concentration and volume) were obtained. The effect of various cationic interferences on the adsorption of silver and gold was evaluated. The analytical efficiency values of both silver and gold ions were higher than 98.0% in the optimum conditions. The limits of detection (LOD) were less than 0.8 and 0.5 ng mL−1for silver and gold, respectively. The linear ranges for silver and gold were 1.5–1000 ng mL−1and 1.0–1000 ng mL−1respectively. The maximum capacity of the modified magnetic nanoparticles was more than 97.3 mg g−1and 167 mg g−1for silver, and gold ions, respectively. The presented method was used to determine silver and gold ions in real samples. Finally, the method accuracy was confirmed by standard reference materials.

Selective separation of some ecotoxic transition metal ions from aqueous solutions using immobilized macrocyclic material containing solid phase extraction system

A simple flow-based method was developed for the simultaneous separation of certain transition metal ions (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) from aqueous systems, which ions show ecotoxic effects when present at elevated concentrations. A silica-gel-bonded macrocycle system, commonly known as molecular recognition technology (MRT) gel, was used for solid phase extraction (SPE) of the target analytes. The collection behavior of the MRT-SPE system was studied based on pH. Fortified deionized water samples containing 250 µg L−1 of each of the elements were treated at the flow rate of 1 mL min−1. The collected analytes were then eluted by 3 M HNO3 and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Detection limits of the proposed technique were in the range of 0.004–0.040 µg L−1 for the studied metal ions. The validity of this separation technique was checked with spiked ‘real’ water samples, which produced satisfactory recoveries of 96–102%. The non-destructive nature and highly selective ion-extraction capability of the SPE material are the most important aspects of the proposed method and they are the main focus of this paper.

Chelating agent free-solid phase extraction (CAF-SPE) of Co(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) by new nano hybrid material (ZrO2/B2O3)

New nano hybrid material (ZrO(2)/B(2)O(3)) was synthesized and applied as a sorbent for the separation and/or preconcentration of Co(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) in water and tea leaves prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Synthesized nano material was characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The optimum conditions for the quantitative recovery of the analytes, including pH, eluent type and volume, flow rate of sample solution were examined. The effect of interfering ions was also investigated. Under the optimum conditions, adsorption isotherms and adsorption capacities have been examined. The recoveries of Co(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) were 96 ± 3%, 95 ± 3%, 98 ± 4% at 95% confidence level, respectively. The analytical detection limits for Co(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II) were 3.8, 3.3, and 3.1 μg L(-1), respectively. The reusability and adsorption capacities (32.2 mg g(-1) for Co, 46.5 mg g(-1) for Cu and 109.9 mg g(-1) for Cd) of the sorbent were found as satisfactory. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analyzing certified reference material (GBW-07605 Tea leaves) and spiked real samples. The method was applied for the determination of analytes in tap water and tea leaves.