Determination of Sudan I–IV in candy using ionic liquid/anionic surfactant aqueous two-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

Phase Behavior of Ionic Liquid-Based Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

As an environmentally friendly separation medium, the ionic liquid (IL)-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is attracting long-term attention from a growing number of scientists and engineers. Phase equilibrium data of IL-based ATPSs are an important basis for the design and optimization of chemical reactions and separation processes involving ILs. This article provides the recent significant progress that has been made in the field and highlights the possible directions of future developments. The effects of each component (such as salting-out agents and ILs) on the phase behavior of IL-based ATPSs are summarized and discussed in detail. We mainly focus on the phase behavior of ATPSs by using ILs, expecting to provide meaningful and valuable information that may promote further research and application.

Preparation of Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles and Its Application for Reliable Measurement of Sudan Red Contaminants in Natural Waters at Parts-Per-Billion Levels

The health threat from Sudan red dyes has been the subject of much attention in recent years and is crucial to design and establish reliable measurement technologies. In the present study, a new magnetic nanomaterial, polyamidoamine dendrimer-modified magnetic nanoparticles (Gn-MNPs), was synthesized and characterized. The nanomaterials had good adsorption capacity for Sudan dyes from natural waters. G1.5-MNPs possessed excellent adsorption capacity and a linear adsorption relationship over the range from 0.02 to 300 μg L⁻¹ of Sudan dyes with relative coefficients all larger than 0.996. The sensitivity of the proposed method was excellent with detection limits over the range from 1.8 to 5.5 ng L⁻¹ and the precision was less than 3.0%. G1.5-MNPs showed a remarkable application potential for the enrichment of trace environment pollutants in aqueous samples and the developed method based on this nanomaterial could be a robust and reliable alternative tool for routine monitoring of such pollutants.

Voltammetric Determination of Sudan 1 in Food Samples Using Its Cu(II) Compound

In this work, we developed a sensitive, simple and convenient electrochemical method to determine Sudan 1 in food samples using its Cu(II) coordination compound. Using phosphate buffer solution at pH=5.0 as supporting electrolyte (75% methanol), differential pulse voltammetry and 6-fold concentration of Cu(II), the electrochemical oxidation signal of Sudan 1–Cu(II) coordination compound at glassy carbon electrode significantly increased when compared to the one without the added Cu(II). The experimental conditions such as the amount of methanol, pH, the concentration of Cu(II) and the instrumental parameter were optimized for the determination of Sudan 1. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the oxidation peak current of Sudan 1 was proportional to its concentration in two ranges: 0.04–0.09 to 0.09–5.3 µM with a detection limit of 0.71 nM (S/N=3). The interference effects of Sudan 2-4 with the determination of Sudan 1 was also evaluated. The developed method was successfully applied to tomato, chilli sauces, ketchup and chilli powder. The analysis results of Sudan 1 in food samples obtained by the proposed method were in a good agreement with the reference values detected by HPLC.

Study of interaction between ionic liquids and orange G in aqueous solution with UV-vis spectroscopy and conductivity meter

The interactions between Orange G (OG) with three kinds of ionic liquid surfactants (C₁₀mimBF₄, C₁₂mimBF₄, C₁₆mimBF₄) and CTAB were studied with UV-Vis spectra and conductivity measurements. The systematic changes in UV-Vis spectra with an increase of carbon-chain length may be observed in presence of OG. They correspond to CMC of every system, respectively, and the CMCs of four systems have exhibit the decrease of CMCs compared to pure surfactant. The binding constants are calculated from the results of conductivity measurements in the order of C₁₆mimBF₄>CTAB>C₁₂mimBF₄>C₁₀mimBF₄. Furthermore, system behaviors presented significant association of complex formation and micelles formation, i.e. the change in UV-Vis spectra before and after the formation of micelles in mixed systems. In addition, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and ¹H NMR analysis further confirmed that the complexes are formed by hydrogen bond and van der Waal force. These findings could provide scientific guidance for extraction and separation of dyes.

Extraction and recovery processes for cynaropicrin from Cynara cardunculus L. using aqueous solutions of surface-active ionic liquids

Due to the wide range of relevant biological activities and high commercial value of cynaropicrin, and aiming at developing cost-effective processes, aqueous solutions of ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated for the extraction and recovery of cynaropicrin from the leaves of Cynara cardunculus L. Both cationic (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) and anionic (cholinium carboxylate) surface-active ILs were investigated, as well as a wide range of conventional surfactants and molecular organic solvents, allowing us to conclude that aqueous solutions of cationic surface-active ILs display a better performance for the extraction of cynaropicrin. Operational conditions were optimized, leading to a cynaropicrin extraction yield of 3.73 wt%. The recycling of both the biomass and the solvent were further investigated to appraise the extraction media saturation and to achieve a higher cynaropicrin extraction yield (6.47 wt%). Finally, it was demonstrated that 65 wt% of the extracted cynaropicrin can be efficiently recovered by precipitation from the IL aqueous extract through the addition of water as anti-solvent, allowing us to put forward both the extraction and recovery processes of the target value-added compound from biomass followed by solvent recycling. This approach opens the door to the development of more sustainable processes using aqueous solutions of ILs instead of the volatile organic solvents commonly used in biomass processing.

New approach applying a pet fish air pump in liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of Sudan dyes in food samples by HPLC

A new approach applying a pet fish air pump is introduced to develop an extraction method, namely, air-pump-enhanced emulsion, followed by salt-assisted emulsion breaking based on solidified floating organic drop microextraction for the extraction and preconcentration of Sudan I-IV before high-performance liquid chromatography. The applicability of this method was successfully demonstrated by determination of these dyes in four chili products that include chili powder, chili oil, chili sauce, and chili paste. An enrichment factor of 62 was obtained only with a sample solution of 5 mL. A linear range of 0.5-2500 ng/mL was obtained with a limit of detection of 0.16-0.24 ng/mL and recovery of 90-110%. This method is superior to other liquid-liquid extraction methods, as is simple, rapid, environmental friendly, and its phase separation needs no centrifugation. It also needs no disperser solvent and requires less organic solvent, and satisfies the criteria to be called as a green extraction. Therefore, this facile extraction method can be successfully applied in the determination of Sudan dyes in food samples.