Monitoring of selected estrogen mimics in complicated samples using polymeric ionic liquid-based multiple monolithic fiber solid-phase microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography

Removal of antibiotics and estrogens by nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes

The separation behavior of a variety of emerging contaminants, including nine antibiotics and six estrogens commonly reported in natural environment, by four commercial nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (NF/RO) membranes at various water conditions (pH, concentration) was investigated. The contaminant rejection at pH 6.0 followed a decreasing trend of XLE (94%-100%) ≈ NF90 (88%-100%) ＞ NF270 (25%-85%) ＞ DL (16%-75%). The dense structures of NF90 and XLE reflected by their small effective pore radii (0.30-0.31 nm) contributed mainly to their high rejection, demonstrating the important role of size exclusion. For the negatively charged loose NF270 and DL membranes (0.40-0.45 nm), charge repulsion made additional contribution, which is markedly reflected by their greater rejection to charged antibiotics than neutral estrogens (45%-85% vs. 25%-60% by NF270). The correlation between rejection data and normalized molecular sizes at pH 4.0 and 9.0 intuitively demonstrated the individual role of size exclusion and charge repulsion. The adsorption by membranes was mainly responsible for the initial compound reduction in feedwater by 6%-25% within 3 h, while only 0.3%-5.6% was attributed to self-degradation. The adsorption capacity was determined, which might be mainly governed by hydrophobic interaction. The resolved controlling factors and mechanisms will contribute to the accurate prediction and membrane selection for trace contaminant removal by membrane process.

Recent developments in sample preparation techniques combined with high-performance liquid chromatography: A critical review

This review article compares and contrasts sample preparation techniques coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and describes applications developed in biomedical, forensics, and environmental/industrial hygiene in the last two decades. The proper sample preparation technique can offer valued data for a targeted application when coupled to HPLC and a suitable detector. Improvements in sample preparation techniques in the last two decades have resulted in efficient extraction, cleanup, and preconcentration in a single step, thus providing a pathway to tackle complex matrix applications. Applications such as biological therapeutics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, environmental/industrial hygiene, forensics, glycan cleanup, etc., have been significantly enhanced due to improved sample preparation techniques. This review looks at the early sample preparation techniques. Further, it describes eight sample preparation technique coupled to HPLC that has gained prominence in the last two decades. They are (1) solid-phase extraction (SPE), (2) liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), (3) gel permeation chromatography (GPC), (4) Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged, Safe (QuEChERS), (5) solid-phase microextraction (SPME), (6) ultrasonic-assisted solvent extraction (UASE), and (7) microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MWASE). SPE, LLE, GPC, QuEChERS, and SPME can be used offline and online with HPLC. UASE and MWASE can be used offline with HPLC but have also been combined with the online automated techniques of SPE, LLE, GPC, or QuEChERS for targeted analysis. Three application areas of biomedical, forensics, and environmental/industrial hygiene are reviewed for the eight sample preparation techniques. Three hundred and twenty references on the eight sample preparation techniques published over the last two decades (2001-2021) are provided. Other older references were included to illustrate the historical development of sample preparation techniques.

Validation and Use of an Accurate, Sensitive Method for Sample Preparation and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Determination of Different Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Dairy Products

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances capable of altering the human hormone system and causing various diseases such as infertility and cancer as a result. In this work, a method for determining twenty-three different EDCs including parabens, alkylphenols, phenylphenols, organophosphorus pesticides, bisphenol A and triclosan in dairy products was developed. Samples are conditioned by addition of acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid, centrifugation and clean-up of the extract by continuous solid-phase extraction. EDCs in the extract are derivatised by heating in a microwave oven and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The proposed method features good limits of detection (6-40 ng/kg) and precision (relative standard deviation < 7.6%); also, it is scarcely subject to matrix effects (1-20%). EDC recoveries from spiked samples ranged from 80 to 108%. The method was used to analyse a total of 33 samples of dairy products including cow, sheep and goat milk, yoghourt, milkshakes, cheese, cream, butter and custard. Bisphenol A was the individual contaminant detected in the greatest number of samples, at concentrations from 180 to 4800 ng/kg. 2-Phenylphenol and ethylparaben were found in more than one-half, at concentrations over the range 130-3500 and 89-4300 ng/kg, respectively. In contrast, alkylphenols, organophosphorus pesticides and triclosan were detected in none.

Determination of phenolic compounds in estuary water and sediment by solid-phase isotope dansylation coupled with liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

A method consisting of solid-phase isotope dansylation (derivatization with dansyl chloride) and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds (phenols) in environmental samples. A magnetic-HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balanced) material was synthesized and applied as an adsorbent in magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) for the enrichment of the analytical targets. Furthermore, with the solid-phase isotope labeling, the desalting and removal of labeling residuals could be simplified over conventional in-solution labeling. In addition to overcoming the matrix effect by isotope dansylation, the sensitivity for the analysis of phenols by LC-HRMS was remarkably improved by over 100-fold. The method was systematically verified, and good accuracy (86.5-104.9%) and precision (<8.6% and <11.4% for intra- and inter-day, respectively) were achieved for the tested 15 phenols. The limits of detection (LODs) of this method were estimated to be 0.2-5 ng L^-1 and 5-100 ng kg^-1 in estuary water and sediment samples, respectively. With this method, samples collected from the Daliao River estuary (Panjin, China) were analyzed. It was found that all of the targeted phenols were detected at concentrations ranging from unquantifiable to 485 ng L^-1 (the total concentration of analytes found in each sample were in the range 822-957 ng L^-1) and unquantifiable to 1368 ng kg^-1 (the total concentration of analytes found in each sample were in the range 2251-2992 ng kg^-1) in water and sediment, respectively.

Overview of Sample Preparation and Chromatographic Methods to Analysis Pharmaceutical Active Compounds in Waters Matrices

In the environment, pharmaceutical residues are a field of particular interest due to the adverse effects to either human health or aquatic and soil environment. Because of the diversity of these compounds, at least 3000 substances were identified and categorized into 49 different therapeutic classes, and several actions are urgently required at multiple steps, the main ones: (i) occurrence studies of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) in the water cycle; (ii) the analysis of the potential impact of their introduction into the aquatic environment; (iii) the removal/degradation of the pharmaceutical compounds; and, (iv) the development of more sensible and selective analytical methods to their monitorization. This review aims to present the current state-of-the-art sample preparation methods and chromatographic analysis applied to the study of PhACs in water matrices by pinpointing their advantages and drawbacks. Because it is almost impossible to be comprehensive in all PhACs, instruments, extraction techniques, and applications, this overview focuses on works that were published in the last ten years, mainly those applicable to water matrices.

Determination of bisphenol A: Old problem, recent creative solutions based on novel materials

Bisphenol A is a synthetic compound widely used in industry, in the production of polycarbonate, epoxy resins, and thermal paper, among others. Its annual production is estimated at millions of tons per year, demonstrating its importance. Despite its wide application in various everyday products, once in the environment (due to its disposal or leaching), it has high toxicity to humans and animal life, and this problem has been well known for years. Given this problem, many researchers seek alternatives for its monitoring in matrices such as natural water, waste, food, and biological matrices. For this, new advanced materials have been developed, characterized, and applied in creative ways for the preparation of samples for the determination of bisphenol A. This article aims to present some of these important and recent applications, describing the use of molecularly imprinted polymers, metal and covalent organic frameworks, ionic liquids and magnetic ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents as creative solutions in sample preparation for the long-standing problem of bisphenol A determination.

Thin Porous Poly(ionic liquid) Coatings for Enhanced Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction

In this contribution, thin poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) coatings with a well-defined pore structure built up from interpolyelectrolyte complexation between a PIL and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were successfully used for enhanced solid phase microextraction (SPME). The introduction of porosity with tunable polarity through the highly versatile PIL chemistry clearly boosts the potential of SPME in the detection of compounds at rather low concentrations. This work will inspire researchers to further explore the potential of porous poly(ionic liquid) materials in sensing and separation applications.

Molecularly imprinted polymers prepared from a single cross-linking functional monomer for solid-phase microextraction of estrogens from milk

In this work, a single cross-linking functional monomer, 2,5-divinylterephthalaldehyde, was designed and synthesized to simplify the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). In the presence of estradiol as a template, MIPs were successfully prepared using 2,5-divinylterephthalaldehyde along with a solvent and initiator. This method reduced most of the complex variables encountered in the traditional synthesis. Characterization of the morphology and structure of the MIPs was performed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Compared with non-imprinted polymers, the MIPs had higher adsorption capacities for five estrogens with imprinting factors above 2.9. The MIPs had high extraction efficiencies, good functional properties, long lifetimes, and good reproducibility, which made them suitable for solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, the MIP-based fibers were applied to SPME for the analysis of five estrogens in milk samples. Under the best conditions, the established method had a wide linear range (0.5-10000 ng kg^-1), low limits of detection (0.08-0.26 ng kg^-1) and quantification (0.26-0.87 ng kg^-1), good precision (3.2-8.1%, n = 6), and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility (4.3%-8.8%, n = 3). The MIPs-based fibers can be reused at least 60 times without apparent loss of extraction efficiency. Finally, this method was applied to the determination of target estrogens in milk samples with satisfactory relative recoveries (84.3%-105%, relative standard deviation ≤ 7.8%).

Analysis of non-conjugated steroids in water using paper spray mass spectrometry

A novel strategy for the direct analysis of non-conjugated steroids in water using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) has been developed. PS-MS was used in the identification and quantification of non-conjugated (free) steroids in fish tank water samples. Data shown herein indicates that individual amounts of free steroids can be detected in aqua as low as; 0.17 ng/µL, 0.039 ng/µL, 0.43 ng/µL, 0.0076 ng/µL for aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, and β-estrone, respectively, and with an average relative standard deviation of ca. < 10% in the positive ion mode using PS-MS/MS. Direct detection of free steroids in a raw water mixture, from aquaculture, without prior sample preparation is demonstrated. The presence of free steroids released in fish water samples was confirmed via tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced dissociation. This approach shows promise for rapid and direct water quality monitoring to provide a holistic assessment of non-conjugated steroids in aqua.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction based on magnetic amino modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the fast determination of seven pesticide residues in water samples

A rapid and simple analytical method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction with magnetic amino modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is reported for the determination of seven pesticides (futriafol, metalaxyl, myclobutanil, napropamide, epoxiconazole, fipronil and diniconazole) in water samples. In this study, magnetic amino modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized and selected as a new kind of material to adsorb pesticides in the water samples. Various magnetic solid-phase extraction parameters, such as the amount and type of adsorbent, extraction methods, extraction time, the type and volume of desorption solvent, desorption time and solution ionic strength, were systematically optimized. Under optimum conditions, the method validation results showed good linearity and recoveries. The calibration curves were in the range of 1.0-100 ng mL-1 for napropamide, epoxiconazole, metalaxyl, and fipronil, while they were 5.0-500 ng mL-1 for futriafol, myclobutanil, and diniconazole, with determination coefficients (R2) higher than 0.9909. The limits of quantification were 1.0-5.0 ng mL-1 and the limits of detection were 0.3-1.5 ng mL-1. The recoveries of the seven pesticides ranged from 80.4% to 103.2%. This developed method, which is more convenient and effective in comparison with traditional methods, has been successfully applied for the analysis of pesticides in water samples qualitatively and quantitatively.

Combination of Counter Current Salting-Out Homogenous Liquid-Liquid Extraction with Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for the High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Environmental Estrogens in Water Samples

In this paper, counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction was combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of environmental estrogens in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography. In this method, initially, sodium chloride was filled into a syringe and a mixture of water sample and acetonitrile was driven to pass through the syringe. Due to salting-out effect, fine droplets of acetonitrile went up through the remaining mixture and aggregated as a separated layer on the top. Then, the collected organic phase (acetonitrile) was removed with a syringe and mixed with carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent). In the second step, the mixed organic phase was rapidly injected into 5 mL of distilled water to further enrich the analytes. Good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 2.0~200 ng/mL for diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 8.0~200 ng/mL for octylphenol (OP), respectively. Limits of detection were 0.09 ng/mL for DES and 0.20 ng/mL for OP, respectively. Relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 2.1 and 3.1%, respectively. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to determine DES and OP in river water, well water, bottled water and campus drinking water samples with recoveries in the range from 81.0 to 105.9%.

Trace analysis of estrogens in milk samples by molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction with genistein as a dummy template molecule and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Dummy molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres (DMIPMS) towards estrogens were synthesized by Pickering emulsion polymerization employing genistein (GEN) as a dummy template molecule. The FTIR analysis indicated the successful preparation of the imprinted polymers, and the characterization results of scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption desorption measurement indicated that the obtained DMIPMS are in possess of regular spherical shapes, porous structures and narrow diameter distribution, a BET surface area of 402.74 m² g^-1, a total pore volume of 0.568 cm³ g^-1 and a pore diameter of 3.62 nm. The binding capacity and selectivity of DMIPMS were investigated in equilibrium binding experiments and chromatographic evaluation experiments through scatchard analysis and molecular imprinting factor (IF) analysis, respectively. The MIPs showed high binding capacity and excellent selectivity towards seven selected natural and synthetic estrogens, which are Estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (βE2), estriol (E3), ethinylestradiol (EE2), dienestrol(DS), diethylstilbestrol (DES), and hexestrol (HEX). A method for selective determination of seven estrogens in milk samples via dummy molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction coupled with HPLC-MS/MS was developed, which showed good linearity from 2 to 500 µg L^-1 with a correlation coefficient (R2) of more than 0.999. The detection limits were within the range of 0.10-0.35 µg L^-1 and the recoveries of the seven estrogens at three spiking levels (10,100,250 µg L^-1) ranged from 88.9% to 102.3% with relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) for intra-day and inter-day assays varied from 0.8% to 4.5%. The developed method is thus proven to be efficient and reliable for regular monitoring of trace estrogens in complex matrices such as milk samples.

Development of on-line monolith-based in-tube solid phase microextraction for the sensitive determination of triazoles in environmental waters

In this work, a convenient and sensitive method for the determination of triazoles in environmental waters was developed by on-line combining in-tube solid phase microextraction (IT-SPME) and high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). To extract triazoles effectively, poly (4-vinyl pyridine-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith was in-situ fabricated and utilized as the extraction phase of IT-SPME. A series of key extraction parameters including desorption solvent, sample volume, adsorption and desorption flow rate, pH value and ionic strength in sample matrix were optimized thoroughly. Under the most favorable conditions (volume of sample, 6.0 mL; adsorption flow rate, 0.2 mL/min; desorption solvent, 80.0 µL mixture of ACN/water (70/30, v/v); desorption flow rate, 50.0 µL/min; sample pH value, 8.0; ionic strength did not be adjusted), the developed monolith-based IT-SPME could extract target analytes effectively and expected analytical merits were achieved. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) and limits of quantification (S/N = 10) were in the ranges of 0.014-0.031 µg/L and 0.11-0.074 µg/L, respectively. Satisfactory method reproducibility was obtained by intra-day and inter-day precisions, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 10%. The optimized IT-SPME-HPLC-DAD method was then applied to detect triadimenol, triazolone and hexaconazole in water samples including lake, river and sewage waters. The spiked recoveries were 78.9-106% and the RSDs were in the range of 0.2-7.2%. The results well evidence that the proposed method is convenient, accurate, sensitive, practical and environmentally friendly for the determination of triazoles in environmental waters.

An organically modified silica aerogel for online in-tube solid-phase microextraction

Aerogels have received considerable attentions because of its porous, high specific surface, unique properties and environmental friendliness. In this work, an organically modified silica aerogel was functionalized on the basalt fibers (BFs) and filled into a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) tube, which was coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME). The aerogel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The extraction efficiency of the tube was systematically investigated and shown enrichment factors from 2346 to 3132. An automated, sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of five estrogens. The linear range was from 0.03 to 100μgL^-1 with correlation coefficients (r) higher than 0.9989, and low detection limits (LODs) were 0.01-0.05μgL^-1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for intra-day and inter-day were less than 4.5% and 6.7% (n=6), respectively. Finally, the analysis method was successfully applied to detect estrogens in sewage and emollient water samples.

Effervescence-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction using ionic-liquid-modified magnetic β-cyclodextrin/attapulgite coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for fungicide detection in honey and juice

In this study, a simple effervescence-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction method was developed to detect fungicides in honey and juice. Most significantly, an innovative ionic-liquid-modified magnetic β-cyclodextrin/attapulgite sorbent was used because its large specific surface area enhanced the extraction capacity and also led to facile separation. A one-factor-at-a-time approach and orthogonal design were employed to optimize the experimental parameters. Under the optimized conditions, the entire extraction procedure was completed within 3 min. In addition, the calibration curves exhibited good linearity, and high enrichment factors were achieved for pure water and honey samples. For the honey samples, the extraction efficiencies for the target fungicides ranged from 77.0 to 94.3% with relative standard deviations of 2.3-5.44%. The detection and quantitation limits were in the ranges of 0.07-0.38 and 0.23-1.27 μg/L, respectively. Finally, the developed technique was successfully applied to real samples, and satisfactory results were achieved. This analytical technique is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and time-saving.

Voltammetric determination of hexestrol based on the enhanced effect of a polymerized 3-decyl-1-(3-pyrrole-propyl)imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid film electrode

3-Decyl-1-(3-pyrrole-propyl)imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (DPIMBF4) ionic liquid was synthesized and characterized. DPIMBF4 ionic liquid not only possesses a pyrrole group that can be electrochemically polymerized onto a glassy carbon electrode surface by using a multipotential step technique, but it also contains a long carbon chain that can improve the stability of a polymerized ionic liquid film in an aqueous solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to confirm the successful polymerization of the ionic liquid. Voltammetry was employed to investigate the electrochemical behaviors of an environmental estrogen, hexestrol, at the polymerized ionic liquid film electrode. Hexestrol presents an irreversible oxidation peak at the polymerized DPIMBF4 ionic liquid film electrode. Compared with the bare glassy carbon electrode, the oxidation peak of hexestrol increased significantly on the polymerized DPIMBF4 ionic liquid film electrode. The oxidation peak current was found to be linearly related to hexestrol concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10−9 to 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1. The detection limit was calculated to be 1.25 × 10−9 mol L−1 (S/N = 3). Hexestrol in crucian meat was determined using the polymerized DPIMBF4 ionic liquid film electrode with good accuracy.