Separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of Cr(III) ions on ion imprinted polymer for atomic absorption determinations in surface water and sewage samples

Polymeric Materials in Speciation Analysis Based on Solid-Phase Extraction

Speciation analysis is a relevant topic since the (eco)toxicity, bioavailability, bio (geo)chemical cycles, and mobility of a given element depend on its chemical forms (oxidation state, organic ligands, etc.). The reliability of analytical results for chemical species of elements depends mostly on the maintaining of their stability during the sample pretreatment step and on the selectivity of further separation step. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a matter of choice as the most suitable and widely used procedure for both enrichment of chemical species of elements and their separation. The features of sorbent material are of great importance to ensure extraction efficiency from one side and selectivity from the other side of the SPE procedure. This review presents an update on the application of polymeric materials in solid-phase extraction used in nonchromatographic methods for speciation analysis.

Simultaneous Detection and Decontamination of Dichromate Ions: The Fluorescence Response and Photocatalysis of Thiadiazole-Modified Zr-Metal-Organic Frameworks

The simultaneous analysis and removal of highly toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) in contaminated water via an easy method remain a serious task. Based on the guidance of bibliometric analysis, a thiadiazole ligand-modified zirconium metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) heralds a new and simple approach to Cr (VI) treatment. The concentration can be determined by fluorescence quenching with a low detection limit of 1.4 μM and a high quenching constant of 6.88 × 103 M-1. For the sensing mechanism, the fluorescence intensity of the Zr-MOF decreased rapidly due to the competition of Cr (VI) with the Zr-MOF for absorption excitation energy and the induction of Zr-MOF aggregation. The analysis system also displayed satisfactory stability and applicability. Apart from sensing application, Zr-MOF can convert Cr (VI) to Cr (III), and the reduction rate constant was 0.004 min-1 under irradiation. Therefore, the bifunctional Zr-MOF provided a potential application method for controlling the pollution caused by Cr (VI) in wastewater.

Cr(III) Ion-Imprinted Hydrogel Membrane for Chromium Speciation Analysis in Water Samples

Novel Cr(III)-imprinted poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate/AuNPs hydrogel membranes (Cr(III)-IIMs) were obtained and characterized and further applied as a sorbent for chromium speciation in waters. Cr(III)-IIMs were prepared via solution blending method using blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) and sodium alginate as film-forming materials, poly(ethylene glycol) as a porogen agent, sodium alginate stabilized gold nanoparticles (SA-AuNPs) as a crosslinking and mechanically stabilizing component, and Cr(III) ions as a template species. The physicochemical characteristics of pre-synthesized AuNPs and obtained hydrogel membranes Cr(III)-IIM were studied by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy, TEM and SEM observations, N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements, and XRD analysis. The mechanism of the adsorption process toward Cr(III) was best described by pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir models. Experiments performed showed that quantitative retention of Cr(III) is attained in 20 h at pH 6 and temperature 40 °C. Under the same conditions, the adsorption of Cr(VI) is below 5%. A simple and sensitive analytical procedure was developed for the speciation of Cr in an aquatic environment using dispersive solid phase extraction of Cr(III) by Cr(III)-IIM prior to selective Cr(VI) measurement by ETAAS in the supernatants. The detection limits and reproducibility achieved for the Cr speciation analysis fulfill the requirements for their monitoring in waters under the demand of the Water Framework Directive.

Selective colorimetric detection of Cr(VI) using starch-stabilized silver nanoparticles and application for chromium speciation

The selective quantitation of Cr(VI) was developed through colorimetric detection using starch-stabilized silver nanoparticles (starch-AgNPs). The detection of Cr(VI) was based on oxidative degradation of starch-AgNPs as the reduction of UV-Vis signal and the distinctive color change from yellow to colorless of starch-AgNPs were observed. To achieve the highest sensitivity by this method, pH 3, and only 1 min were required for the determination of Cr(VI). For analytical performances, two linear ranges of 0-6 µM and 10-80 µM with limit of detection of 0.93 µM (48 µg/L) and 11.57 µM (0.60 mg/L) were obtained, respectively. The developed colorimetric method was combined with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for the speciation analysis of chromium. The concentration of Cr(III) was calculated by subtraction of Cr(VI) from the total chromium concentration determined by ICP-OES. A satisfactory accuracy and precision based on the AOAC guidelines also proved that this simple and rapid sensor was successfully applied for speciation of chromium in real water samples.

Development of Solid Phase Extraction Method Based on Ion Imprinted Polymer for Determination of Cr(III) Ions by ETAAS in Waters

In this work, a new solid phase extraction method for the determination of chromium species in water samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. For selective separation of Cr(III) ions under dynamic conditions, two ion imprinted polymers containing Cr(III)-1,10-phenanthroline complex (Cr(III)-phen) were prepared with the use of one (styrene, ST) or two (styrene and 4-vinylpyridine, ST-4VP) functional monomers. The physicochemical properties of those solid sorbents towards Cr(III) ions were studied and compared. It was found that Cr(III) ions were retained on the Cr(III)-phen-ST and Cr(III)-phen-ST-4VP polymers with high efficiency and repeatability (91.6% and 92.9%, RSD < 2%) from solutions at pH 4.5. The quantitative recovery of the analyte (91.7% and 93.9%, RSD < 4%) was obtained with 0.1 mol/L EDTA solution. The introduction of 4VP, an additional functional monomer, improved selectivity of the Cr(III)-phen-ST-4VP polymer towards Cr(III) ions in the presence of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) ions, and slightly decreased the sorption capacity and stability of that polymer. The accuracy of procedures based on both polymeric sorbents was proved by analyzing the standard reference material of surface water SRM 1643e. The method using the Cr(III)-phen-ST polymer was applied for determining of Cr(III) ions in tap water and infusion of a green tea.

An ion-imprinted thiocyanato-functionalized mesoporous silica for preconcentration of gold(III) prior to its quantitation by slurry sampling graphite furnace AAS

A gold(III)-imprinted thiocyanato-functionalized silica network of type SBA-15 was prepared by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with thiocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (TCTES) in the presence of Pluronic123 and Au(III) ions. Compared to the non-imprinted material, the imprint has a higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for Au(III). The maximum static adsorption capacity for Au(III) is 475 mg·g⁻¹ for the ion-imprinted, and 62 mg·g⁻¹ for the non-imprinted sorbent. The imprint was applied to the sorption of Au(III) from digested geological samples prior to its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Adsorption is fast and does not substantially prolong the analytical procedure. Under optimum conditions, the detection limit for Au(III) is 2 ng·g⁻¹. The method was validated by analyzing certified reference materials, and results were in good agreement with certified values. The procedure was successfully applied to the separation and determination of gold in complex geological samples.

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Gold nanoparticle-based nano-probe for the colorimetric sensing of Cr3+ and Cr2O72- by the coordination strategy

In this work, an N-T/gold nanoparticle system was assembled for the convenient and colorimetric identification of Cr based on its coordination chemistry with the thymine derivative (N-T). In addition to the visible colorimetric changes for the qualitative Cr identification, the A_{630 nm/520 nm} values changed linearly with Cr concentration over a range of 0.5-2.5 μM and the detection limits reached 0.03 μM and 0.07 μM for Cr³⁺ and Cr₂O₇^2-, respectively, both of which satisfied the Cr water quality standards of the U.S. EPA, WHO and China. Furthermore, a more convenient method was developed for quantitative determination of Cr concentrations in practical samples based on the Eyedropper function in Microsoft's PowerPoint software, wherein the RGB (red, green and blue) value of the sample could be easily screened in the colorimetric card for a more accurate result with good recovery, avoiding complicated instrumentation.

Design of a new technique based on combination of ultrasound waves via magnetite solid phase and cloud point microextraction for determination of Cr(III) ions

In this work, we focused on development of a new techniques by coupling of ultrasound irradiation, cloud point method and magnetite solid phase microextraction for the extraction and preconcentration of Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions. In order to reduce cost and improve practicability of proposed process a new efficient and regenerable magnetite sorbent (functionalized chitosan grafted-amino graphene oxide (GO) decorated by zinc ferrite nanoparticles (CS-GO-Zn: Fe₂O₄)) was synthesized through hydrothermal method and then characterized by FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS and XRD analysis. Effect of initial sample volume and type, volume and concentration of eluent on the ER%_Cr(III) were investigated and optimized using one at a time method. Correlation between the main and interaction effects of other operational parameters such as Cr(III) ion concentration, CS-GO-Zn: Fe₂O₄ mass, sonication time, pH and solution temperature on the ER%_Cr(III) were investigated and optimized by central composite design coupled with desirability function approach. The results revealed that there were significant effects for most investigated terms on the ER%_Cr(III) and maximum ER% of 88.09% was obtained in desirability value of 1.0. This maximum efficiency was obtained at 0.035µg/mL Cr(III) ion concentration, 40.16°C temperature, 0.016g of CS-GO-Zn: Fe₂O₄, pH 6.36 and 9.20min sonication time. In addition, under the optimal conditions the linear range, limit of detection, enrichment factor and relative standard deviation were found to be 0.02-4.4µg/mL, 0.002µg/mL, 23.23 and 1.68% respectively. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the separation and preconcentration of Cr(III) ion from tap, river and mineral waters.

Chromium Speciation in Wastewater and Sewage by Solid-Phase Extraction Using a New Diphenylcarbazone-Incorporated Resin

A new procedure for the determination of chromium species in polluted environmental samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed in this work. A new material containing 1,5-diphenylcarbazone included in a polymeric matrix was prepared and employed as a solid-phase extraction material for selective separation of Cr(III) ions under dynamic conditions. Chromium(III) ions were retained on this sorbent with high efficiency and repeatability (95 %, RSD = 1 %) from solutions with pH 9.0. The quantitative recovery of analyte was obtained with 0.1 mol L-1 EDTA. The concentration of Cr(VI) ions was calculated from the difference between the concentration of total chromium and Cr(III) ions. The prepared sorbent exhibits good chemical and mechanical stability, sorption capacity and selectivity towards Cr(III) ions in the presence of Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Ca(II) ions. The accuracy of the separation method was proved by analysis of reference material of wastewater RES 10.2. The developed procedure was applied for chromium speciation analysis in municipal sewage samples.

Graphene membranes as novel preconcentration platforms for chromium speciation by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Graphene membrane as a novel sorptive platform for detection of Cr(vi) and Cr(iii) in water by total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Highly selective monitoring of metals by using ion-imprinted polymers

Ion imprinting technology is one of the most promising tools in separation and purification sciences because of its high selectivity, good stability, simplicity and low cost. It has been mainly used for selective removal, preconcentration, sensing and few miscellaneous fields. In this review article, recent methodologies in the synthesis of IIPs have been discussed. For several applications, different parameters of IIP including complexing and leaching agent, pH, relative selectivity coefficient, detection limit and adsorption capacity have been evaluated and an attempt has been made to generalize. Biomedical applications mostly include selective removal of toxic metals from human blood plasma and urine samples. Wastewater treatment involves selective removal of highly toxic metal ions like Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), As(V), etc. Preconcentration covers recovery of economically important metal ions such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. It also includes selective preconcentration of lanthanides and actinides. In sensing, various IIP-based sensors have been fabricated for detection of toxic metal ions. This review article includes almost all metal ions based on the ion-imprinted polymer. At the end, the future outlook section presents the discussion on the advancement, corresponding merits and the need of continued research in few specific areas. Graphical Abstract IIPs for the selective monitoring of metals.

New ion-imprinted polymer-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 for selective separation and preconcentration of Cr(iii) ions: modeling and optimization

A new Cr(iii) ion-imprinted polymer (Cr(iii)-IIP), prepared by functionalizing an SBA-15 support with dithizone (DZ) indicator, is promising and highly efficient for the separation and preconcentration of Cr(iii) ions from aqueous media.