Dispersive micro solid-phase extraction for the rapid analysis of synthetic polycyclic musks using thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A critical review of distribution, toxicological effects, current analytical methods and future prospects of synthetic musks in aquatic environments

Synthetic musks (SMs) have gained widespread utilization in daily consumer products, leading to their widespread dissemination in aquatic environments through various pathways. Over the past few decades, the production of SMs has consistently risen, prompting significant concern over their potential adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Although several studies have focused on the development of analytical techniques for detecting SMs in biological samples and cosmetic products, a comprehensive evaluation of their global distribution in diverse aquatic media and biological matrices remains lacking. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the occurrence of SMs in both aquatic and various biological matrices, investigating their worldwide distribution trends, assessing their ecological toxicity, and comparing different methodologies for processing and analysis of SMs. The findings underscore the prevalence of polycyclic musks as predominant SMs, with consumption of various products in different countries leading to contrasting distribution of contaminants. Furthermore, the migration of SMs from sediments to the water phase is investigated, indicating the role of solid-phase reservoirs. Incomplete degradation of SMs in the environment could contribute to their accumulation in aquatic systems, impacting the growth and oxidative stress of aquatic organisms, and having a possibility of genotoxicity to them. Human exposure data highlight substantial risks for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and infants. Moreover, contemporary methods for SMs analysis are presented in this review, particularly focusing on advancements made in the last five years. Finally, research enhancement and critical questions regarding the analysis of SMs are provided, offering suggestions for future research endeavors.

A new solid phase extraction sorbent developed based on cyanopropyl functionalized silica nanoparticles for organophosphorus pesticides determination

In this work, a simple sol-gel approach was used for the preparation of cyanopropyl (CNPr) functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiO2-CNPr) that tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and cyanopropyltriethoxysilane (CNPrTEOS) used as precursors. This as-prepared SiO2-CNPr nanoparticle sorbent was first characterized using FESEM, EDX, FTIR, TGA, and BET techniques. Then, the SiO2-CNPr nanoparticle was applied as a new SPE sorbent for determining trace levels of OPPs in environmental water samples. To enhance the simultaneous extraction of non-polar or/and polar OPPs and to obtain the most efficient sorbent, several sol-gel synthesis parameters were studied. In addition, the effect of several effective parameters on SPE performance was investigated toward simultaneous extraction of non-polar or/and polar OPPs. Moreover, the figures of merit such as precision, linearity, LOQ, LOD, and recovery were evaluated for the sorbent. Finally, the designed SiO2-CNPr SPE was used to determine OPPs in real water samples, and its extraction performance was compared to commercial cartridges based on cyanopropyl.

Development of Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite-based dispersive solid-phase extraction for the quantification of five steroid hormones

Aim: An accurate and sensitive analytical method was proposed to detect some steroid hormones in biological samples. Materials & methods: An Fe₃O₄/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite-based dispersive solid-phase extraction was developed for the effective and simple preconcentration of steroid hormones from human serum samples. Results & conclusion: The nanocomposite was firstly used as adsorbent to simultaneously extract the selected hormones. Limit of detection values for the selected hormones were calculated between 5.5 and 39.2 ng/kg (mass based). An artificial serum sample was used to test the applicability and accuracy of the developed method; percentage recovery results obtained from two different spiked concentrations were found to be in the range of 80.5-99.9%.

A simple and efficient Solid-Phase Microextraction - Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry method for the determination of fragrance materials at ultra-trace levels in water samples using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as innovative coating

The occurrence of emerging contaminants is becoming of increasing importance to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities onto the environment. The present study reports for the first time the development and validation of an efficient method for the simultaneous determination of fragrance materials in water samples based on the use of a novel multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-based solid-phase microextraction coating. Helical MWCNTs were selected as adsorbent material due to their outstanding extraction performance. The multicriteria method of desirability functions allowed the optimization of the experimental conditions in terms of extraction time and extraction temperature. Validation proved the reliability of the method for the determination of the analytes at ultra-trace levels, obtaining detection limits in the 0.2-13 ng/L range, good precision, with relative standard deviations lower than 20% and recovery rates in the 80 ± 12%-111 ± 11%. Superior enrichment factors compared to commercial fibers were also calculated. Finally, applicability to real sample analysis was demonstrated.

Modern microextraction techniques for natural products

Natural product analysis has gained wide attention in recent years, especially for herbal medicines, which contain complex ingredients and play a significant clinical role in the therapy of numerous diseases. The constituents of natural products are usually found at low concentrations, and the matrices are complex. Thus, the extraction of target compounds from natural products before analysis by analytical instruments is very significant for human health and its wide application. The commonly used traditional extraction methods are time-consuming, using large amounts of sample and organic solvents, as well as expensive and inefficient. Recently, microextraction techniques have been used for natural product extraction to overcome the disadvantages of conventional extraction methods. In this paper, the successful applications of and recent developments in microextraction techniques including solvent-based and sorbent-based microextraction methods, in natural product analysis in recent years, especially in the last 5 years, are reviewed for the first time. Their features, advantages, disadvantages, and future development trends are also discussed.

In situ measurement of synthetic musks in wastewaters using diffusive gradients in thin film technique

Synthetic musks (SMs) are used extensively in household and personal care products and have acted significant concerns due to their environmental impacts and potential health effects. Here, we present a passive sampling approach based on diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) for in situ measurement of SMs in urban wastewaters. XAD-2 binding gel, which has a rapid binding rate and high elution efficiency, was used in DGT device for the accumulation of six polycyclic musks and three nitro musks. The diffusion coefficients (D and D_NL) of the SMs through agarose gel without and with a nylon filter membrane were 3.37-4.49 and 1.48-4.41 ×10^-6cm² s^-1. The filter membrane caused an ~3 h lag phase and slowed the diffusion rates of the SMs through the diffusive phase. Solution pH (4.30-8.92), ionic strength (0.0001-0.5 M) and dissolved organic matter (0-20 mg L^-1) showed no obvious influence on uptake of the SMs in DGT. The measured average SM concentrations in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants ranged from 0.45-696 ng/L for DGT deployment, without obvious membrane biofouling, and they were comparable to the concentrations determined by grab sampling. These results confirmed that the present method is reliable and convenient for in situ measurement of semivolatile hydrophobic SMs in complicated waters and is an available tool to investigate the environmental behaviors of SMs in the environment.

Optimizing Mass Spectrometry Analyses: A Tailored Review on the Utility of Design of Experiments

Mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a tool that can analyze nearly all classes of molecules, with its scope rapidly expanding in the areas of post-translational modifications, MS instrumentation, and many others. Yet integration of novel analyte preparatory and purification methods with existing or novel mass spectrometers can introduce new challenges for MS sensitivity. The mechanisms that govern detection by MS are particularly complex and interdependent, including ionization efficiency, ion suppression, and transmission. Performance of both off-line and MS methods can be optimized separately or, when appropriate, simultaneously through statistical designs, broadly referred to as "design of experiments" (DOE). The following review provides a tutorial-like guide into the selection of DOE for MS experiments, the practices for modeling and optimization of response variables, and the available software tools that support DOE implementation in any laboratory. This review comes 3 years after the latest DOE review (Hibbert DB, 2012), which provided a comprehensive overview on the types of designs available and their statistical construction. Since that time, new classes of DOE, such as the definitive screening design, have emerged and new calls have been made for mass spectrometrists to adopt the practice. Rather than exhaustively cover all possible designs, we have highlighted the three most practical DOE classes available to mass spectrometrists. This review further differentiates itself by providing expert recommendations for experimental setup and defining DOE entirely in the context of three case-studies that highlight the utility of different designs to achieve different goals. A step-by-step tutorial is also provided.

Application of Ni:ZnS nanoparticles loaded on magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a sorbent for dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of phenobarbital and phenytoin prior to HPLC analysis: experimental design

Ni:ZnSNPs loaded on magnetic MWCNTs are introduced for dispersive micro-solid phase extraction for the first time.

Dispersive solid phase microextraction with magnetic graphene oxide as the sorbent for separation and preconcentration of ultra-trace amounts of gold ions

A selective, simple and rapid dispersive solid phase microextraction was developed using magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) as an efficient sorbent for the separation and preconcentration of gold ions. The MGO was synthesized by means of the simple one step chemical coprecipitation method, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Gold ions retained by the sorbent were eluted using 0.5mol L(-)(1) thiourea in 0.1mol L(-1) HCl solution and determined by the flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-FAAS). The factors affecting the separation and preconcentration of gold were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the method exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.02-100.0µg L(-)(1) with a detection limit of 4ng L(-1) and an enrichment factor of 500. The relative standard deviations of 3.2% and 4.7% (n=6) were obtained at 20µg L(-1) level of gold ions for the intra and the inter day analysis, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of gold ions in water and waste water samples as well as a certified reference material (CCU-1b, copper flotation concentrate).

Magnetic nanoparticle based dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction for the determination of malachite green in water samples: optimized experimental design

This paper presents an extraction method based on dispersive-nanoparticle-solid phase microextraction for the preliminary preconcentration and subsequent spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of malachite green.