Magnetic restricted-access carbon nanotubes for dispersive solid phase extraction of organophosphates pesticides from bovine milk samples

Covalent organic framework-functionalized magnetic MXene nanocomposite for efficient pre-concentration and detection of organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides in tea samples before gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis

In this study, a hydrophobic covalent organic framework-functionalized magnetic composite (CoFe2O4@Ti3C2@TAPB-TFTA) with a high specific area with 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalaldehyde (TFTA) was designed and synthesized through Schiff base reaction. An efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction method was established and combined with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to sensitively determine 10 organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in tea samples. The established method exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.05-120 μg/L and had low limits of detection (0.013-0.018 μg/L). The method was evaluated with tea samples, and the spiked recoveries of pesticides in different tea samples reached satisfactory values of 85.7-96.8%. Moreover, the adsorption of pesticides was spontaneous and followed Redlich-Peterson isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. These results demonstrate the sensitivity, effectiveness, and reliability of the proposed method for monitoring organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in tea samples, providing a preliminary basis for researchers to reasonably design adsorbents for the efficient extraction of pesticides.

Magnetic carbon nanotubes modified with proteins and hydrophilic monomers: Cytocompatibility, in-vitro toxicity assays and permeation across biological interfaces

Carbon nanotubes are promising materials for biomedical applications like delivery systems and tissue scaffolds. In this paper, magnetic carbon nanotubes (M-CNTs) covered with bovine serum albumin (M-CNTs-BSA) or functionalized with hydrophilic monomers (M-CNTs-HL) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated concerning their interaction with Caco-2 cells. There is no comparison between these two types of functionalization, and this study aimed to verify their influence on the material's interaction with the cells. Different concentrations of the nanotubes were applied to investigate cytotoxicity, cell metabolism, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and capability to cross biomimetic barriers. The materials showed cytocompatibility up to 100 μg mL-1 and a hemolysis rate below 2 %. Nanotubes' suspensions were allowed to permeate Caco-2 monolayers for up to 8 h under the effect of the magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticles associated with the nanotubes allowed estimation of permeation through the monolayers, with values ranging from 0.50 to 7.19 and 0.27 to 9.30 × 10-3 μg (equivalent to 0.43 to 6.22 and 0.23 to 9.54 × 10-2 % of the initially estimated mass of magnetic nanoparticles) for cells exposed and non-exposed to the magnets, respectively. Together, these results support that the developed materials are promising for applications in biomedical and biotechnological fields.

Magnetic Particle Spray Mass Spectrometry

In this work, the concept of magnetic particle spray mass spectrometry (MPS-MS) is reported for the first time. Magnetic sorbent particles are used to extract the analytes from a liquid sample. The particles are magnetically attracted to the tip of a magnetic probe that is positioned at the entrance of the mass spectrometer. A solvent is dispensed on the particles, and a high voltage promotes the formation of the Taylor cone around the particles agglomerate. Analytes are desorbed by the solvent, ionized, and analyzed by mass spectrometry. MPS-MS is totally in consonance with the green chemistry principle. A minimal consumption of sample (100 μL), solvent (34 μL), and magnetic sorbent (500 μg) is needed per analysis for an excellent performance of MPS-MS in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. The determination of amitriptyline, citalopram, clomipramine, chlorpromazine, doxepin, haloperidol, nortriptyline, and venlafaxine in human plasma samples using magnetic restricted-access carbon nanotubes was carried out as a proof of principle. Limits of quantification of 10 μg L-1 and correlation coefficients higher than 0.98 were obtained for all of the analytes. Limits of detection ranged from 0.43 to 2.82 μg L-1. Precision (as relative standard deviation) and accuracies (as relative error) ranged from 3.6 to 23.6%, as well as -12.8 to 18.7%, respectively. MPS-MS opens a new line of developments in the association of sample preparation with ambient ionization. New sorbents, device configurations, and physical and chemical conditions can also be analyzed for the analysis of many other analytes in different samples.

A Highly Selective Analytical Method Based on Salt-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Extraction for Trace-Level Enrichment of Multiclass Pesticide Residues in Cow Milk for Quantitative Liquid Chromatographic Analysis

In this study, a simple, inexpensive, selective, and fast salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) technique coupled with high-pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and analysis of trace level seven multiclass pesticide residues in pasteurized and raw cow milk samples. The significant factors that affect the extent to which the target analytes are extracted, such as the type of extraction solvent and its volume, the type and concentration of salting-out salts, the pH of the solution, and the extraction time, have been investigated. Under optimum conditions, the correlation coefficient (r2) was obtained within a range of 0.9982-0.9997 for a broad linear range concentration of 2-1500 ng·mL-1. Reliable sensitivity was achieved with limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) ranging from 0.58-2.56 ng·mL-1 and 1.95-8.51 ng·mL-1, respectively. While precision with interday and intraday in terms of relative standard deviations (RSDs) was observed in the range of 1.97 - 7.88% and 4.52 - 8.04%, respectively. The results of the precision studies reveal that good repeatability and reproducibility (RSDs <9) were achieved, thus showing a low variability extraction of the developed method. Finally, the proposed and validated approach was effectively used to extract and determine pesticide residues in real milk matrices; however, the target analytes were not detected in all samples.

Direct magnetic sorbent sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry (DMSS-FAAS) for highly sensitive determination of trace metals

A procedure of direct magnetic sorbent sampling in flame atomic absorption spectrometry (DMSS-FAAS) was developed in this work. Metal-loaded magnetic sorbents were directly inserted in the flame of the FAAS for direct metal desorption/atomization. Magnetic graphene oxide aerogel (M-GOA) particles were synthesized, characterized, and used as a proof-of-concept in the magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction of Pb²⁺ ions from water samples. M-GOA was selected because is a light and porous sorbent, with high adsorption capacity, that is quickly burned by the flame. Magnetic particles were directly inserted in the flame by using a metallic magnetic probe, thereby avoiding the need for a chemical elution step. As all the extracted Pb²⁺ ions arrive to the flame without passing through the nebulization system, a drastic increase in the analytical signal was achieved. The improvement in the sensitivity of the proposed method (DMSS-FAAS) for Pb²⁺ determination was at least 40 times higher than the conventional procedure in which the Pb²⁺ is extracted, eluted, and analyzed by conventional flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) via the nebulization system. The analytical curve was linear from 5.0 to 180.0 μg L^-1 and the limit of detection was found to be 1.30 μg L^-1. Background measurements were insignificant, and the atomic absorption peaks were narrow and reproducible. Precision assessed as a percentage of the relative standard deviation %RSD was found to be 17.4, 7.1, and 7.8% for 10, 70, and 180 μg L^-1 levels, respectively. The method showed satisfactory results even in the presence of other ions (Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Li⁺). The performance of the new system was also evaluated for Cd²⁺ ions, as well as by using other magnetic particles available in our lab: magnetic carbon nanotubes (M-CNTs), magnetic restricted access carbon nanotubes (M-RACNT), magnetic poly (methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (M-PMA), magnetic nanoparticles coated with orange powder peel (M-OPP), and magnetic nanoparticles covered with SiO₂ (M - SiO₂). Analytical signals increased for both analytes in all sorbents (increases of about 4-37 times), attesting the high potential and applicability of the proposed method. Simplicity, high analytical frequency, high detectability and reproducibility, low cost, and possibility of being totally mechanized are the most relevant advantages.

Microextraction of organophosphorus pesticides on a screw coated with PAN/calcined ZnMgAl-LDH electrospun nanofibers

The present research is an attempt to expand the recently reported microextraction on screw method. For this purpose, polyacrylonitrile/calcined ZnMgAl-LDH nanofiber was fabricated by the electrospinning technique on the surface of a screw. It was applied to the extraction of organophosphorus pesticides (OPP) from agricultural samples. The separation and determination of OPPs were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The characterization of the fabricated nanofiber was performed utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction instruments. Effective parameters on the extraction efficiency of the analytes including sample pH, ionic strength, sample flow rate and number of cycles, type, volume, and flow rate of desorption solvent were optimized by one-variable-at-a-time method. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were 0.03 and 0.07 μg L^-1 for diazinon and chlorpyrifos, respectively. This method showed wide linearity in the range 0.10-1000 μg L^-1 for diazinon and 0.25-1000 μg L^-1 for chlorpyrifos with R² > 0.996. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%, n = 3) were ≤ 6.4% and ≤ 7.7%, respectively. Also, RSD% values less than 11.1% were obtained for screw-to-screw reproducibility. The applicability of the method for the extraction and determination of the analytes in complex agricultural environments such as cabbage, potato, tomato, cucumber, and beetroot was investigated. The results led to acceptable relative recoveries in the range 81.0-108.2%.

Adsorption of recalcitrant phosphorus compounds using the phosphate-selective binding-protein PstS

Currently available wastewater phosphorus (P) treatment technologies target removal of reactive forms of P. Selective adsorption of more recalcitrant soluble non-reactive phosphorus (sNRP) can improve P removal and recovery. A phosphate-selective phosphate-binding protein (PBP), PstS, was immobilized onto NHS-activated beads to assess the ability of this novel bioadsorbent to remove (adsorb) and subsequently recover (desorb) a range of sNRP compounds. Four sNRP compounds representative of wastewater sNRP were selected for use in this study: phytic acid (PA), sodium triphosphate (TrP), beta-glycerol phosphate (BGP), and sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP). Using PBP, adsorption of all sNRP compounds was thermodynamically favorable. The PBP had nearly equivalent binding affinity for PA compared to PBP's typical target, orthophosphate, although it had less affinity for the other sNRP compounds. Adsorption followed pseudo-second order reaction kinetics, with 95% of maximum adsorption occurring within 4 min. This was substantially faster sNRP adsorption compared to other adsorbents in the literature. Adsorption was modeled using the Langmuir isotherm, reflecting that one phosphate molecule attached to one PBP binding site. Notably, this selective 1:1 attachment resulted in higher total P removal for sNRP molecules with high P content. The binding site lost activity with increasing pH, and as such, highest desorption was achieved at pH 12, making the system amenable to sNRP removal as well as controlled recovery.

Polyoxometalate-based materials in extraction, and electrochemical and optical detection methods: A review

Polyoxometalates (POMs) as metal-oxide anions have exceptional properties like high negative charges, remarkable redox abilities, unique ligand properties and availability of organic grafting. Moreover, the amenability of POMs to modification with different materials makes them suitable as precursors to further obtain new composites. Due to their unique attributes, POMs and their composites have been utilized as adsorbents, electrodes and catalysts in extraction, and electrochemical and optical detection methods, respectively. A survey of the recent progress and developments of POM-based materials in these methods is therefore desirable, and should be of great interest. In this review article, POM-based materials, their properties as well as their identification methods, and analytical applications as adsorbents, electrodes and catalysts, and corresponding mechanisms of action, where relevant, are reviewed. Some current issues of the utilization of these materials and their future prospects in analytical chemistry are discussed.

Adsorption and removal of organophosphorus pesticides from Chinese cabbages and green onions by using metal organic frameworks based on the mussel-inspired adhesive interface

Based on the mussel-inspired adhesive interface (Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄@PDA), a novel bionic metal-organic framework (Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄-PDA@MIL-101) was successfully prepared. The composite featured a high specific surface area and a multi-microchannel structure, as well as strong thermochemical stability. The structural property of Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄-PDA@MIL-101(Fe) was characterized, and the results indicated that Fe₃O₄, PDA, and MIL-101(Fe) were uniformly coated on the g-C₃N₄ surface. The adsorption and desorption of organophosphorus pesticides with Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄-PDA@MIL-101(Fe) were evaluated by batch experiments. This composite showed high adsorption efficiency and selective removal of coralox, phosalone, and chlorpyrifos. Under the optimal conditions, three organophosphorus pesticides were adsorbed from Chinese cabbage and green onion samples with Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄-PDA@MIL-101(Fe). The analytical method exhibited high sensitivity (LOD, 0.19-2.34 μg/L; LOQ, 0.65-7.82 μg/L), excellent practicality, and good stability, suggesting that Fe₃O₄-g-C₃N₄-PDA@MIL-101 was an ideal candidate magnetic adsorbent for the removal of organophosphorus pesticides in Chinese cabbage and green onion samples.

In-situ, Ex-situ, and nano-remediation strategies to treat polluted soil, water, and air - A review

Nanotechnology, as an emerging science, has taken over all fields of life including industries, health and medicine, environmental issues, agriculture, biotechnology etc. The use of nanostructure molecules has revolutionized all sectors. Environmental pollution is a great concern now a days, in all industrial and developing as well as some developed countries. A number of remedies are in practice to overcome this problem. The application of nanotechnology in the bioremediation of environmental pollutants is a step towards revolution. The use of various types of nanoparticles (TiO₂ based NPs, dendrimers, Fe based NPs, Silica and carbon nanomaterials, Graphene based NPs, nanotubes, polymers, micelles, nanomembranes etc.) is in practice to diminish environmental hazards. For this many In-situ (bioventing, bioslurping, biosparging, phytoremediation, permeable reactive barrier etc.) and Ex-situ (biopile, windrows, bioreactors, land farming etc.) methodologies are employed. Improved properties like nanoscale size, less time utilization, high adaptability for In-situ and Ex-situ use, undeniable degree of surface-region to-volume proportion for possible reactivity, and protection from ecological elements make nanoparticles ideal for natural applications. There are distinctive nanomaterials and nanotools accessible to treat the pollutants. Each of these methods and nanotools depends on the properties of foreign substances and the pollution site. The current designed review highlights the techniques used for bioremediation of environmental pollutants as well as use of various nanoparticles along with proposed In-situ and Ex-situ bioremediation techniques.

Development of a green miniaturized quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe approach in tandem with temperature-assisted solidification of floating menthol droplet for analysis of multiclass pesticide residues in milk

A new green miniaturized quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe approach was developed and used for the extraction of multiclass 16 pesticides in milk before GC analysis. The miniaturization of method reduced the consumption of chemical reagents and samples. Magnetic three-dimensional graphene was used as sorbent in the clean-up step. Choline chloride:lactic acid (1:2) natural deep eutectic solvent was used as desorption solvent. Temperature-assisted solidification of floating menthol drop was executed for preconcentration of analytes. The method parameters including sorbent, desorption solvent, sorption and desorption times, menthol amount, pH, and ionic strength were optimized. The limit of quantification and linear range were 0.03-0.38 μg kg^-1 and 0.03-250 μg kg^-1 , respectively. The accuracy was assessed by recovery evaluation at the spike levels of 50 and 100 μg kg^-1 , in the range of 61-119%, with relative standard deviations within 2.1-18.2%. The method was applied to the analysis of pasteurized low and high-fat bovine milk, and various pesticide residues were detected in the concentrations range of 1.24-4.68 μg kg^-1 . Finally, the greenness of the procedure was evaluated using the Analytical Eco-Scale. This work represents the first application of hybrid miniaturized extraction/preconcentration using a natural deep eutectic solvent and menthol to analyze pesticides. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Integrated QuEChERS strategy for high-throughput multi-pesticide residues analysis of vegetables

An integrated QuEChERS strategy was developed by combining the extraction and purification processes into a single step. All of the pretreatment procedures could be performed in one tube within 5 min with the aid of magnetic nanoparticles and careful optimization of the key parameters, including the dosages of the sorbents (magnetic nanoparticles, C18, and graphitized carbon black), dehydrating and salting out reagents. The optimal method was validated and compared with the conventional QuEChERS method, demonstrating its clear superiority in terms of operating procedure, sample pretreatment time, and reagent dosages while affording equivalent pesticide recoveries and matrix effects. Further application of this method was performed to analyze 127 pesticide residues in solanaceous vegetables (tomato, pepper, and eggplant), leafy vegetables (brassica campestris and cabbage), legumes (green beans and cowpea), melon-type vegetables (cucumber and towel gourd), and a root vegetable (water bamboo), with the mean recoveries of the pesticides in the individual vegetable samples ranging from 70.6 to 92.8%. The method LOQs for these pesticides ranged from 10 to 50 μg/kg depending on the matrix. These results fully confirmed its wide applicability and versatility for achieving robust, rapid, and high-throughput multi-pesticide residues analysis in vegetable samples. More importantly, the developed strategy provides a greener and more "QuEChERS" design concept, which could be applied to the analysis of numerous types of pesticide residues in various matrices.

Preparation of yolk-shell structure NH2-MIL-125 magnetic nanoparticles for the selective extraction of nucleotides

Yolk-shell structure magnetic metal-organic framework nanoparticles were prepared via post solvothermal method and employed as a magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent for selective pre-concentration of 5'-ribonucleotides by π stacking interaction, hydrogen bonding, and the strong interaction between titanium ions (Ti⁴⁺) and phosphate group. The properties of the materials were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, vibrating sample magnetometer, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The main parameters affecting the adsorption-desorption process, including adsorbent amount, incubation time, incubation temperature, sample pH, shaking speed, elution solution, and elution time, were systematically optimized. Finally, 1.0 mg of adsorbent mixed with 1.0 mL sample solution (10.0 mmol⋅L^-1 NaCl, pH 3.0) and shaken at 135 rpm for 5 min at 40 °C, washed with 1.0 mL Na₃PO₄-NH₃∙H₂O under vortex for 5 min were selected as optimized adsorption-desorption conditions. The binding performance of adsorbent towards five nucleotides was evaluated by static adsorption experiments. The data are well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum adsorption capacity is 27.8 mg g^-1 for adenosine 5'-monophosphate. The limit of detection of the method is 19.44-38.41 ng mL^-1. Under the optimal conditions, the adsorbent was successfully applied to magnetic solid-phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography determination of five nucleotides in octopus, chicken, fish, and pork samples.

Applications of covalent organic frameworks and their composites in the extraction of pesticides from different samples

Pesticides are used extensively in a wide range of applications and due to their high rate of consumption, they are ubiquitous in the different media and samples like environment, water sources, air, soil, biological materials, wastes (liquids, solids or sludges), vegetables and fruits, where they can persist for long periods. Pesticides often have hazardous side effects and can cause a range of harmful diseases like Parkinson, Alzheimer, asthma, depression and anxiety, cancer, etc, even at low concentrations. To this end, extraction, pre-concentration and determination of pesticides from various samples presents significant challenges caused by sample complexity and the low concentrations of them in many samples. Often, direct extraction and determination of pesticides are impossible due to their low concentrations and the complexity of samples. The main goals of sample preparation are removing interfering species, pre-concentrating target analyte/s and converting the analytes into more stable forms (when needed). The most popular approach is solid-phase extraction due to its simplicity, efficiency, ease of operation and low cost. This method is based on using a wide variety of materials, among which covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can be identified as an emerging class of highly versatile materials exhibiting advantageous properties, such as a porous and crystalline structure, pre-designable structure, high physical and chemical stability, ease of modification, high surface area and high adsorption capacity. The present review will cover recent developments in synthesis and applications of COFs and their composites for extraction of pesticides, different synthesis approaches of COFs, possible mechanisms for interaction of COFs-based adsorbents with pesticides and finally, future prospects and challenges in the fabrication and utilization of COFs and their composites for extraction of pesticides.

Enhanced adsorption of malathion and phoxim by a three-dimensional magnetic graphene oxide-functionalized citrus peel-derived bio-composite

By integrating the steps of direct magnetization and one-pot pyrolysis, a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic graphene oxide-functionalized citrus peel-derived bio-composite (mGOBC) was synthesized and characterized successfully, and it was proved to possess a three-dimensional (3D) porous architecture and graphitic structure. Its potential as an enrichment adsorbent was investigated using adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm models to establish an effective analytical method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in vegetables. The experimental results indicated that the adsorption was better fitted with the pseudo second order model and Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacities for malathion and phoxim were 25.26 mg g-1 and 42.31 mg g-1, respectively. It was found that the graphitic structure of mGOBC resulted in π-π EDA (electron donor-acceptor) interaction with the benzene rings, electron-donating N, P, and S atoms in the analytes, which assisted adsorption. Subsequently, Plackett-Burman (P-B) experimental design, central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to develop an analytical method based on the mGOBC adsorbent. Under optimal conditions, the developed method is accurate and precise. The novel synthesized mGOBC can efficiently achieve removal and trace determination of harmful OPPs.

Enhanced extraction of organophosphorus pesticides from fruit juices using magnetic effervescent tablets composed of the NiFe2O4@SiO2@PANI-IL nanocomposites

The reported ionic liquid (IL)-based magnetic effervescent tablets are a result of direct addition of ILs and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). In effervescent reaction-enhanced microextraction procedures, the dissociation between ILs and MNPs easily leads to loss of ILs due to aqueous solubility, thereby decreasing the extraction efficiency. Herein, we attached a hydrophilic IL ([BMIM]Br) onto the surface of NiFe₂O₄@SiO₂@polyaniline (NiFe₂O₄@SiO₂@PANI-IL) to prepare novel core–shell-like multi-layer nanocomposites. Magnetic effervescent tablets were composed of Na₂CO₃ as an alkaline source, tartaric acid as an acidic source and as-synthesized nanocomposites as an extractant. The nanocomposites were used in an effervescent reaction-enhanced magnetic solid-phase extraction (ERMSE) for the extraction of four organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in fruit juices prior to HPLC-DAD detection. Under optimized conditions, this method provided low limits of detection (0.06–0.17 μg L⁻¹), high recoveries (80.6–97.3%) and excellent precision (1.1–5.2%) for OPP quantification in five fruit juices. Notably, the three-layer core–shell nanocomposites were efficiently recycled for at least eight extraction cycles with a recovery loss of <10%. The novelty of this study lies in: (1) for the first time, the ILs-based hybrid magnetic nanocomposites were prepared with appropriate pore size/volume and more active sites for OPPs; (2) the combination of the nanocomposites with effervescent tablets realizes rapid dispersion of CO₂ bubbles, and convenient magnetic separation/collection into one synchronous step; and (3) due to there being no requirement of electrical power, it is feasible for use in field conditions. Thus, the ERMSE method has excellent potential for conventional monitoring of trace-level OPPs in complex fruit juice matrices.

The reported ionic liquid (IL)-based magnetic effervescent tablets are a result of direct addition of ILs and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs).

Greenness of magnetic nanomaterials in miniaturized extraction techniques: A review

Green analytical chemistry principles should be followed, as much as possible, and particularly during the development of analytical sample preparation methods. In the past few years, outstanding materials such as ionic liquids, metal-organic frameworks, carbonaceous materials, molecularly imprinted materials, and many others, have been introduced in a wide variety of miniaturized techniques in order to reduce the amount of solvents and sorbents required during the analytical sample preparation step while pursuing more efficient extraction methods. Among them, magnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) have gained special attention due to their versatile properties. Mainly, their ability to be separated from the sample matrix using an external magnetic field (thus enormously simplifying the entire process) and their easy combination with other materials, which implies the inclusion of a countless number of different functionalities, highly specific in some cases. Therefore, MNMs can be used as sorbents or as magnetic support for other materials which do not have magnetic properties, the latter permiting their combination with novel materials. The greenness of these magnetic sorbents in miniaturized extractions techniques is generally demonstrated in terms of their ease of separation and amount of sorbent required, while the nature of the material itself is left unnoticed. However, the synthesis of MNMs is not always as green as their applications, and the resulting MNMs are not always as safe as desired. Is the analytical sample preparation field ready for using green magnetic nanomaterials? This review offers an overview, from a green analytical chemistry perspective, of the current state of the use of MNMs as sorbents in microextraction strategies, their preparation, and the analytical performance offered, together with a critical discussion on where efforts should go.

Synthesis of a magnetic sorbent and its application in extraction of different pesticides from water, fruit, and vegetable samples prior to their determination by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this investigation, an efficient sorbent based on Fe₃O₄@polyphenols magnetic nanoparticles has been prepared using the extract of Mentha piperita leaves for the first time. The main purposes of this study were synthesis of economically affordable and environmentally friendly sorbent using the extract of Mentha piperita leaves and evaluating its application as a sorbent in magnetic solid phase extraction. The functional groups, magnetic property, size, and shape of the synthesized sorbent were characterized. The sorbent was utilized for the extraction and preconcentration of various pesticides (chlorpyrifos, fenazaquin, penconazole, diniconazole, oxadiazon, haloxyfop-methyl, hexaconazole, clodinafop-propargyl, tebuconazole, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl) from vegetable, fruit, and water samples. After magnetic solid phase extraction, a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method was done to achieve low detection limits. The enriched pesticides were monitored by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The synthesized sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques, which confirmed the successful synthesis of the magnetic nanoparticles. The effective parameters such as the sorbent weight, ionic strength, pH, vortex time, and kind and volume of elution and extraction solvents were studied. Under optimum extraction conditions, the method showed broad linear ranges (0.05-1000 µg L^-1) with low limits of detection (0.27-4.13 ng L^-1) and quantification (0.91-13.8 ng L^-1). Extraction recoveries and enrichment factors were in the ranges of 54-89 % and 491-811, respectively.

Selective separation and purification of polydatin by molecularly imprinted polymers from the extract of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, rats' plasma and urine

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on polydatin were prepared by precipitation polymerization method. Synthesis process of MIPs was optimized by discussion of functional monomers, porogens and the molar ratio of template- functional monomer-cross linker. Then, MIPs were prepared with polydatin as the template, 4-vinyl pyridine as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate as the cross linker, acetonitrile as the porogen and the molar ratio of template-monomer-cross linker at 1:10:20. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer were used to inspect macroscale and chemical bond of MIPs. Adsorption capability and selectivity of MIPs to polydatin were investigated by carrying out the static, dynamic and selective experiments. The results showed MIPs performed high adsorption ability and selectivity to polydatin, indicating MIPs could be used to separate and enrich polydatin from the complex systems. Finally, MIPs were applied as the adsorbent for isolation and purification of polydatin from the extract of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, rats' plasma and urine samples. MIPs were successfully used to separate polydatin from the Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix and recovery ranged from 89.2% to 91.6%. The maximum concentration of polydatin in rats' plasma and urine samples was 2.84 ± 0.0748 µg mL^-1 and 2.64 ± 0.485 µg mL^-1, respectively. Moreover, to compare with the MIPs method, organic solvent methods were used to analyze the polydatin in rats' plasma and urine samples. The results illustrated MIPs method was effective and selective for enrichment of polydatin from the medicinal plants and biological samples.

A Critical Review on the Synthesis and Application of Ion-Imprinted Polymers for Selective Preconcentration, Speciation, Removal and Determination of Trace and Essential Metals from Different Matrices

The presence of toxic trace metals and high concentrations of essential elements in the environment presents a serious threat to living organism. Various methods have been used for the detection, preconcentration and remediation of these metals from biological, environmental and food matrices. Owing to the complexicity of samples, methods with high selectivity have been used for detection, preconcentration and remediation of these trace metals. These methods are achieved by the use of ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) due to their impressive properties such as selectivity, high extraction efficiency, speciation capability and reusability. Because of the increase of toxic trace and essential metals in the environment, IIPs have attracted great use in analytical chemistry. This review, provide a brief background on IIPs and polymerization method that are used for their preparation. Recent applications of IIPs as adsorbents for preconcentration, removal, speciation and electrochemical detection of trace and essential metal is also discussed.

Magnetic Cu: CuO-GO nanocomposite for efficient dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from vegetable, fruit, and environmental water samples by liquid chromatographic determination

In this research, we presented a magnetic dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (MD-μ-SPE) method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based on the use of magnetic Cu: CuO-Graphene Oxide (GO) nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄/Cu: CuO/GO-NC) for the separation and preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e. naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant), and pyrene (Pyr), in vegetable (onion, tomato, carrot, herb, watermelon, lettuce, eggplant, and chili pepper), fruit (apple, watermelon, and grape), wastewater, and water samples. The MD-μ-SPE of PAHs in matrix samples was carried out, and the impacts of pH, ionic strength, extraction time, temperature, eluent volume, and sorbent mass on the recovery of PAHs were investigated by using Placket-Burman design (PBD). In addition, by using the central composite design (CCD), the best combination of each important variable was measured. Sorbent mass of 14 mg, eluent volume of 200 μL, and 12 min extraction time at the central level of other factors were optimal conditions of pretreatment for the highest extraction recovery (ER%) of trace PAHs. Under the optimal conditions, the method proposed herein provided high enrichment factors ranged from 116.51 to 133.05, good linearity in the range of 10-3800 ng mL^-1 for Pyr, 3.0-3500 ng mL^-1 for Phe, 5.0-3200 ng mL^-1 for Nap, and 5.0-3000 ng mL^-1 for Ant with coefficient of determination (R²) values between 0.9889 and 0.9963, low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) in the range of 0.015-0.061 and 0.485-2.034 ng mL^-1, respectively, and also satisfactory spiked recoveries (between 95.1% and 106.8%) with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) values in the range of 1.73%-5.62%. The Fe₃O₄/Cu: CuO/GO-NC-based MD-μ-SPE followed by HPLC-UV corroborated promising results for the convenient and effective determination of PAHs in the samples of vegetables, fruits, and environmental water. The results of this study revealed that our developed method is easy, feasible, precise, highly effective, and convenient to operate for the trace analysis of PAHs in different real samples. The extraction recovery was about 90% of the initial recovery after the sorbent usage for three times; therefore, the Fe₃O₄/Cu: CuO/GO-NC can readily be regenerated.