Solid phase extraction of gold(III) on attapulgite modified with triocarbohydrazide prior to its determination in environmental samples by ICP-OES

Eco-friendly optical sensor for precise detection of gold ions in diverse matrices through the integration of β-2-hydroxybenzyl-3-methoxy-2-hydroxyazastyrene in a PVC membrane

An environmentally conscious methodology is investigated for the precise and discerning identification of trace concentrations of gold ions in diverse matrices. A novel optical sensor membrane is proposed for the determination of Au3+ ions, utilizing the immobilization of β-2-hydroxybenzyl-3-methoxy-2-hydroxyazastyrene (HMHS) entrapped in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The sensor incorporates sodium tetraphenylborate (Na-TPB) as the ionic additive and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer. Under optimal conditions, the suggested sensor exhibits a linear calibration response to Au3+ ions within a concentration range of 5.0 to 165 ng mL-1. Detection and quantification limits are specified as 1.5 and 4.8 ng mL-1, respectively, with a rapid response time of 5.0 min. Upon presentation, this optical sensor not only affirms high reproducibility, stability, and an extended operational lifespan but also showcases exceptional selectivity for Au3+ ions. Notably, no discernible interference is observed when assessing the potential influence of other cations and anions on Au3+ ion detection. The adaptability of this optical sensor is validated through its successful application in determining Au3+ ion concentrations across various sample types, including water, environmental, cosmetics, and soil matrices.

Fabrication of a paper-based sensor from graphene quantum dots coated with a polymeric membrane for the determination of gold(III) ions

A novel paper-based sensor using graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as a colorimetric probe for Au³⁺ determination has been developed. The paper sensor was fabricated by the adsorption of GQDs onto cellulose filter paper and then coating with a PVC membrane. The PVC membrane was plasticized with o-NPOE containing potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) as a lipophilic cation-exchanger. According to the ion-exchanged mechanism between the lipophilic phase and aqueous phase, Au³⁺ in the aqueous solution was extracted to the lipophilic phase on the paper layer. Then, adsorbed GQDs on the paper could selectively reduce Au³⁺ to elemental gold (Au⁰). The generated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) resulted in the color of the paper turning from pale yellow to pink, which was recorded by using CIE L*a*b* color space. Under optimized conditions, the change in the color difference (ΔE) was related to the concentration of Au³⁺ in a working linear range of 200-1000 μM and the detection limit was found to be 70 μM. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of Au³⁺ in real water samples. The results were in favorable agreement with standard inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) results.

Using activated attapulgite as sorbent for solid-phase extraction of melamine in milk formula samples

In this study, a simple solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach by using activated attapulgite as sorbent was successfully developed for the determination of melamine in milk formula samples. Crucial factors impacting the extraction efficiency, including sample solvent, elution solvent, and sample loading volume, were investigated. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the sample loading volume was up to 200 mL and the adsorption capacity of the melamine gave rise to 1154 μg g(-1). Excellent linear calibration curves (r (2)  > 0.999) were achieved, and then the limit of detection (S/N = 3) and the limit of quantification (S/N = 10) were found to be 0.15 and 0.5 ng mL(-1), respectively. The recoveries of the melamine spiked in four milk formula samples at three concentration levels ranged from 83.5 to 111.0 % with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 10.2 %. Furthermore, RSDs of batch to batch (n = 4) of the acidified attapulgite used in this developed method were in the range of 2.3∼7.3 %. In comparison to the commercial Oasis MCX, the acidified attapulgite sorbent even outperformed (at least in terms of reproducibility) for melamine analysis in real food samples. Because of its simplicity, the newly developed SPE method based on acidified attapulgite nanoparticles should provide a promising tool for daily monitoring of doped melamine in milk formula or other complex matrices.

Dispersive solid phase extraction of gold with magnetite-graphene oxide prior to its determination via microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

In this paper we demonstrated the quantitative analysis of gold in environmental water samples using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES) after dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) on magnetite graphene oxide (m-GO).

Preparation of 4-butylaniline-bonded attapulgite for pre-concentration of bisphenol A in trace quantity

Ring-opening reaction with synchronous hydrolysis was used to prepare 4-butylaniline-modified attapulgite (abbreviated as BA-ATP) for pre-concentration of bisphenol A (BPA) in trace quantity. The preparation was achieved under mild condition, and the material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy. BA-ATP was used in solid phase extraction (SPE), and SPE was performed in a neutral condition without regard to ionic strength. The results indicate that BA-ATP has high affinity to BPA with a maximum adsorption amount of 44mg g(-1), and the adsorption can be described by Langmuir isotherm model. The content of bisphenol A in water samples was analyzed by HPLC method with the pre-concentration using BA-ATP. The limit of detection (LOD) can be as low as 3.9ng mL(-1), and the average recoveries are in a range of 93-97% with relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 2%.

Speciation of chromium in water samples by solid-phase extraction on a new synthesized adsorbent

Poly(1,3-thiazol-2-yl methacrylamide-co-4-vinyl pyridine-co-divinylbenzene) was prepared and used as a sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. Two forms of chromium showed different exchange capacities at different pH values; Cr(VI) was selectively retained especially at pH 2. The total chromium was determined after the oxidization of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) by potassium permanganate as an oxidizing agent. Then, Cr(III) was calculated by subtracting the Cr(VI) concentration from the total chromium concentration. The optimum conditions were found for species of Cr(VI) (pH 2; eluent, 4 mol L(-1) NH3; sample flow rates, 2 mL min(-1) and eluent flow rates, 1 mL min(-1) etc.). The adsorption capacity and binding equilibrium constant were calculated to be 80.0 mg g(-1) and 0.018 L mg(-1), respectively. A preconcentration factor of 30 and a three-sigma detection limit of 2.4 μg L(-1) (n = 20) were achieved for Cr(VI) ions. The developed method was applied to stream water and waste water samples. At the same time, the polymer was applied to a certified reference material (CRM) (TMDA-52.3) sample.

Selective solid-phase extraction of uranium by salicylideneimine-functionalized hydrothermal carbon

A new salicylideneimine-functionalized hydrothermal-carbon-based solid-phase extractant was developed for the purpose of separating uranium selectively for sustainability of uranium resources. The resulting adsorption material was obtained via hydrothermal carbonization, calcination at mild temperature (573.15K), amination, and grafting with salicylaldehyde in sequence. Both Fourier transform infrared spectra and elemental analysis proved the successful grafting of salicylideneimine onto hydrothermal carbon matrix. Adsorption behaviors of the extractant on uranium(VI) were investigated by varying pH values of solution, adsorbent amounts, contact times, initial metal concentrations, temperatures, and ionic strengths. An optimum adsorption capacity of 1.10 mmol g(-1) (261 mg g(-1)) for uranium(VI) was obtained at pH 4.3. The present adsorption process obeyed pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH=+8.81 kJ mol(-1), ΔS=+110 J K(-1)mol(-1), ΔG=-23.0 kJ mol(-1)) indicated the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Results from batch adsorption test in simulated nuclear industrial effluent, containing Cs(+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), La(3+), Ce(3+), Nd(3+), Sm(3+), and Gd(3+), showed the adsorbent could separate uranium(VI) from those competitive ions with high selectivity. The adsorbent might be promising for use in certain key steps in any future sustainable nuclear fuel cycle.

Preconcentration of trace lead and iron on activated carbon functionalized by o-Anisic acid derivatives prior to their determination in environmental samples

Two solid-phase adsorbents (phase I and phase II) were synthesized successfully that o-Anisic acid derivatives were evenly functionalized on the surface of activated carbon. It was certified that the two adsorbents were applied to preconcentrate and separate trace levels of Pb(II) and Fe(III) from natural liquid samples with satisfactory results. It can be found that the adsorption capacity of the ions adsorbed on phase I and phase II was 48.3 and 85.7 mg g(-1) for Pb(II), 39.5 and 72.5 mg g(-1) for Fe(III), respectively. The detection limit (3σ) of the method separated on phase I and phase II was 0.12 and 0.09 ng mL(-1) for Pb(II), 0.23 and 0.17 ng mL(-1) for Fe(III), respectively. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of the method was lower than 3.0%. The adsorption and desorption property of two kinds of adsorbents was comparatively studied, respectively. The adsorption selectivity of heavy metal ions at certain pH, the adsorption kinetics, the condition of complete elution, the effect of coexisting ions, the adsorption capacity and adsorption isotherm modes were examined. Based on the experimental datum determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), it was certified that the adsorption on the surface of adsorbents was in strict accordance with the monolayer adsorption principle. The structural features of series of multidentate ligand modified on adsorption matrix had been obtained. These conclusions can provide reference for synthesizing an efficient adsorbent which is specific to remove a particular kind of contaminant.