A simple flow injection spectrophotometric procedure for iron(III) determination using Phyllanthus emblica Linn. as a natural reagent

Relevant insights and concepts overlooked throughout the development of flow analysis. A tutorial

The conceptual expansion, fast development, and general acceptance of flow analysis are consequence of its adherence to the principles of green and white analytical chemistry, and chemical derivatization plays an essential role in this context. Through the flow analysis development, however, some of its potentialities and limitations have been overlooked. This is more evident when the involved modifications in flow rates, timing and/or manifold architecture deteriorate the analytical signals. These aspects have not always been systematically investigated, and are addressed here in relation to flow analyzers with UV-Vis spectrophotometric detection. Novel strategies for solution handling, guidance for dealing with the aforementioned analytical signal deterioration, and an alternative possibility for exploiting differential aspiration are presented. The concept of blank reagent carrier stream is proposed.

Synergy of iron-natural phenolic microparticles and hydrophobic ionic liquid for enrichment of tetracycline residues in honey prior to HPLC-UV detection

Iron-natural phenolic microparticles were developed as absorbents for dispersive micro solid phase extraction (D-μSPE) synergistic with hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) to enrich tetracycline residues, including tetracycline, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline. In situ iron microparticles synthesized from betel nut natural reagent were employed as an adsorbent for D-μSPE. The hydrophobic IL [Hmim][PF6] was synergistically utilized as an extraction solvent to extract and accumulate adsorbents bound with tetracyclines before quantitation by HPLC-UV. The synergistic combination of DLLME with D-μSPE provided excellent extraction recovery compared with individual extraction. The developed method was successfully applied to enrich and determine tetracycline residues in honey samples, with recoveries ranging from 80.0 to 121.5% and providing high enrichment factors ranging from 61 to 197. This alternative method is simple and rapid, with high extraction efficiency and a high enrichment factor and is also environmentally friendly for the analysis of tetracyclines.

Reverse Flow Injection Spectrophotometric Determination of Total Acidity in Beverages Using Butterfly Pea Flower Extract

BACKGROUND

Monitoring total acidity during beverage production is crucial for quality control (QC). The standard acid-base titration, though widely used, is slow and generates hazardous waste through the use of acid-base indicators.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an analysis method for beverage samples to determine total acidity using a natural reagent from butterfly pea flower as the colorimetric reagent.

METHODS

The determination of total acidity in beverages was based on the reaction of citric acid with anthocyanin extracted from butterfly pea flowers. The decreased absorbance of anthocyanin was measured at 620 nm. A two-line reverse flow injection manifold was used to perform online dilution of samples.

RESULTS

Under optimal conditions, the calibration curve equation 1/A = 0.03782C + 0.00241 (A = absorbance and C = concentration) was linear over a range of 0.050-0.25% (w/v) citric acid. The LOD and LOQ were 0.0123 and 0.0409% (w/v), respectively. The system achieved a throughput of 120 samples per hour with comparable accuracy and precision to the standard titrimetric method.

CONCLUSION

The injection of butterfly pea flower extract into beverage samples with online dilution in a reverse flow injection system (FIS) was reported for the first time for the determination of total acidity.

HIGHLIGHTS

Use of a green reagent in the method reflects its alignment with the principles of green analytical chemistry, providing a rapid and straightforward solution.

Microflow injection analysis based on modular 3D platforms and colorimetric detection for Fe(III) monitoring in a wide concentration range

A modular microflow injection analysis (microFIA) system for the determination of Fe(III) in a bioleaching reactor has been designed, developed and validated. The different modules of the analyzer (mixer, diluter, disperser and detector) were 3D-printed. Fe(III) quantification is due by measuring the color intensity of the chelate formed between Fe(III) and salicylic acid at 525 nm. The device has been designed to dilute, disperse and detect high Fe(III) concentrations in the form of an inexpensive multi-step photometric flow cell that uses an light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source and an light-dependent resistor (LDR) as a light intensity detector. This microFIA system has been shown to be suitable for automatic and continuous determination of Fe(III) in the operation of a bioreactor for the oxidation of Fe(II). The device has a good repeatability (less than 5% of coefficient of variation in the whole range of concentrations) and accuracy of around 100%. The analyzer features an exceptional wide linear range, between 25 and 6000 mg·L-1. The device was successfully applied to the determination of Fe(III) in real samples. The obtained results proved that the method is applicable for accurate, precise, rapid, and low-cost colorimetric analysis and didn't show significant differences with a conventional UV-Vis method.

Synthesis of green emitted carbon dots from Vachellia nilotica and utilizing its extract as a red emitted fluorescence reagent: Applying for visual and spectroscopic detection of iron (III)

Principles of Green Analytical Chemistry recommended preferring using reagents from renewable sources and eliminating toxic reagents. Vachellia nilotica is a widespread plant throughout different parts of the world. In this study, using microwave energy, fluorescent carbon dots were synthesized for the first time from Vachellia nilotica pods. The morphology of the prepared carbon dots was characterized by SEM and TEM techniques, and the spectroscopic character exhibit green emission at 480 nm at λ_ex = 386.5 nm. This fluorescence can be effectively quenched by adding Fe (III) ions (Method I). Furthermore, Vachellia nilotica pods were extracted by different solvents, including methanol, deionized water, absolute ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile, and DMF. The acetonitrile extract of Vachellia nilotica exhibited a strong red fluorescence emission at 673.9 at λ_ex = 410 nm. Among various types of salt metals, only Fe (III) can effectively quench the fluorescence intensity of the acetonitrile extract (method II). Moreover, the bright yellow color of the aqueous extract can be changed into violet color. The absorbance of the resulted color can be spectrophotometrically measured at λ _max = 530 nm (method III). The best analytical factors were optimized for the developed methods. The developed methods were applied to determine Fe (III) in different water samples.

An Environmentally Friendly Compact Microfluidic Hydrodynamic Sequential Injection System Using Curcuma putii Maknoi & Jenjitt. Extract as a Natural Reagent for Colorimetric Determination of Total Iron in Water Samples

The miniaturization of analytical systems and the utilization of nontoxic natural extract from plants play significant roles for green analytical chemistry methodology. In this work, the microfluidic hydrodynamic sequential injection (HSI) with the LED-phototransistor colorimetric detection system has been proposed to create an ecofriendly and low-cost miniaturized analytical system for online determination of iron in water samples using Curcuma putii Maknoi & Jenjitt. extracts as high stability and good selectivity of a natural reagent. The proposed method was designed for online solution mixing and colorimetric detection on a microfluidic platform. The Curcuma putii Maknoi & Jenjitt. extracts and standard/samples were sequentially aspirated to fill the channel before entering the built-in flow cell. The intensity of iron-Curcuma putii Maknoi & Jenjitt. extract complex was monitored under the optimum conditions of flow rate, sample volume, mixing zone length, and aspiration sequences, by altering the gain control of the colorimetric detector to achieve good sensitivity. The results demonstrated a good performance of the green analytical systems. A linear calibration graph in the range of 0.5-6.0 mg L^-1 was obtained with a limit of detection at an adequate level of 0.11 mg L^-1 for water samples with a sample throughput of 30 h^-1. The precise and accurate measurement results were achieved with relative standard deviations in the range of 1.61-1.72%, and percent recoveries were found in the range of 90.6-113.4. The proposed method offers cost-effective, easy operation over an appropriate analysis time (2 min/injection) with good sensitivity and is environmentally friendly with low consumption of solutions and the use of high stability and good selectivity of nontoxic reagents. The achieved method was demonstrated to be a good choice for routine analysis.

Smartphone-based digital image colorimetry for determination of iron in cereals and crispy seaweed using Terminalia chebula retz. extract as a natural reagent

In this research, a novel sample pretreatment of whole wheat bread, granola, and crispy seaweed samples was developed for iron(III) determination by digital image colorimetry. The developed method was compared with UV-visible spectrophotometry. The procedure involved weighing the sample (∼0.1 g) and mixing it with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid (65%) and hydrogen peroxide (30%) (2 : 1 v/v). Then, the mixture was irradiated with UV light until it became dry. The residue was then dissolved in deionized water. The sample solution was diluted with deionized water before forming a complex with Terminalia chebula Retz. extract in acetate buffer. Under the optimal conditions, the color of the complexes was violet. When analyzed with an inhouse developed smartphone-based digital image colorimeter, the linear range was 1.0-6.0 mg L^-1 with a correlation coefficient of >0.993. The percentage recoveries were in the range of 84.8-90.2. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were 1.06 and 3.55 mg L^-1, respectively. From the results, it can be concluded that the developed method is accurate, simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The statistical paired t-test proved that there was no significant difference in the results when compared with a UV-visible microplate reader using gallic acid as the color forming reagent and a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer as a reference instrument at 95% confidence level.

Ultrasound-Assisted One-Pot Cloud Point Extraction for Iron Determination Using Natural Chelating Ligands from Dipterocarpus intricatus Dyer Fruit

An ultrasound-assisted, one-pot cloud point extraction was developed for the determination of iron in vegetable samples by UV-Visible spectrophotometry. This method was based on the complexation of iron with an environmentally-friendly natural chelating agent extracted from Dipterocarpus intricatus Dyer fruit at pH 5.5 in the presence of Triton X-114. Reagent extraction, complexation, and preconcentration were performed simultaneously using ultrasound-assisted extraction at 45 °C. The surfactant-rich phase was diluted with ethanol and loaded through a syringe barrel packed with cotton that acted as a filter to trap the reagent powder. Analyte-entrapped on cotton was eluted using 0.1 mol·L-1 nitric acid solution. Filtrate and eluate solutions were measured absorbance of the dark-blue product at 575 nm. Influential parameters for the procedure were investigated. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the calibration curve was linear, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 mg·L-1 with r2 = 0.997. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.03 and 0.09 mg·L-1, respectively while precision values of intra-day and inter-day were less than 5%. Recovery at 0.5 mg·L-1 ranged from 89.0 to 99.8%, while iron content in vegetable samples ranged from 2.45 to 13.36 mg/100 g. This method was cost-effective, reliable, eco-friendly, and convenient as a green analytical approach to determining iron content.

Dual determination of nitrite and iron by a single greener sequential injection spectrophotometric system employing a simple single aqueous extract from Areca catechu Linn. serving as a natural reagent

Dual determination of nitrite and iron was proposed by using a single greener sequential injection (SI) spectrophotometric system employing a simple single aqueous extract from Areca catechu Linn. The extract served as a natural reagent to replace N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine (NED) of the Griess reagent with nitrite and 1,10-phenanthroline with iron. The color products possessed analytical wavelengths at 430 and 560 nm, respectively. Conditions for the SI procedure were optimized using a univariate experimental design. Calibration ranges were up to 5.0 mg L-1 and 10.0 mg L-1 with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.04 mg L-1 and 0.05 mg L-1 for nitrite and iron(iii), respectively, and relative standard deviations (RSDs) being less than 3%. Recoveries of spiked standard nitrite and iron(iii) at 0.3 mg L-1 and 0.5 mg L-1 in water samples were 88 to 104% and 84 to 109%, respectively. The developed method successfully achieved dual determination of nitrite and total iron agreeing at a 95% confidence level with the reference methods of the conventional Griess assay and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), respectively. The proposed method utilized locally available material from plants and serves the UN-SDGs.

Sustainable Education with Local-Wisdom Based Natural Reagent for Green Chemical Analysis with a Smart Device: Experiences in Thailand

To minimize chemical waste and protect the environment, our team has used green analysis with natural reagents. In this work, we designed a natural-reagent assay kit for iron determination and implemented it in chemistry education in Thailand. The iron assay method was adapted from Thai local wisdom of testing water quality using guava leaves. The guava leaf powder served as a natural reagent in the assay. The kit included equipment, standard and buffer solutions and a manual. A smart device with a built-in camera was used as a detector. Educators in six universities in Thailand implemented the kit in laboratories with modifications depending on their learning outcomes. The kit implementation was evaluated using a survey with questions in four aspects: usability, learning achievement, green chemistry and portability. The high average scores for all questions (> 4.00 of 5.00 points), with the average overall score of 4.53 ± 0.60, indicated satisfaction regarding in all aspects. Using a locally available bio-resource as a natural reagent for green analysis in chemistry education supported sustainable education in Thailand, in terms of quality education (SDG 4) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and environmental sustainability (SDG 6—Clean water and sanitation, 12—Responsible consumption and production and 14—Life be-low water).

Fruit extracts from Phyllanthus emblica accentuate cadmium tolerance and accumulation in Platycladus orientalis: A new natural chelate for phytoextraction

A key challenge for phytoextraction is the identification of high efficiency, growth-supporting, and low cost chelating agents. To date, no substance has satisfied all above criteria. This study investigated nine traditional Chinese herbs and found that Phyllanthus emblica fruit (FPE) extract could be utilised as an optimal chelate for the phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils. FPE application into soil at a ratio of 0.1% (w/w) significantly increased extractable Cd (by 43%) compared to the control. The success of FPE as a chelating agent was attributed to high quantities of polyphenol compounds (0.76%) and organic acids (9.6%), in particular, gallic acid (7.6%). Furthermore, antioxidative properties (1.4%) and free amino acids in FPE alleviated Cd-induced oxidant toxicity and enhanced plant biomass. FPE promoted 78% higher phytoextraction efficiency in Platycladus orientalis compared to traditional chelating agents (EDTA). Furthermore, 76% of FPE was degraded 90 days after the initial application, and there was no difference in extractable Cd between the treatment and control. FPE has been commercially produced at a lower market price than other biodegradable chelates. As a commercially available and cost-effective chelator, FPE could be utilised to treat Cd-contaminated soils without adverse environmental impacts.

An Environmentally Friendly Flow Injection-Gas Diffusion System Using Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Extract as Natural Reagent for the Photometric Determination of Sulfite in Wines

In this work, a green and simpler method for photometric determination of sulfite based on a flow injection-gas diffusion (FI-GD) system using a natural reagent extracted from roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) was proposed. Despite the fact that the employed reaction is not selective to sulfite, its sensitivity is high, and the selectivity can be improved by coupling a GD unit to the FI system. The method involves monitoring a decrease in absorbance of the reagent solution that is used as an acceptor solution. When a standard solution or sample solution was injected into an acidic donor stream, the liberated sulfur dioxide diffuses through a gas-permeable membrane of the GD unit into the acceptor solution, causing color fading of the reagent. A linear analytical curve in the range of 5-100 mg L^-1 was obtained with a detection limit of 2 mg·L^-1. Relative standard deviations of 0.9%, 0.6%, and 0.6% were obtained for the determination of 30, 70, and 100 mg·L^-1 SO₃ ^2- (n = 11). The developed method was applied to wine samples, giving results that agreed with those obtained with the Ripper titrimetric method. The proposed method offers advantages of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and being environmentally friendly such as reduced chemical consumption and less waste generation.

Fluorometric assay of iron(II) lactate hydrate and ammonium ferric citrate in food and medicine based on poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate)-enhanced Ag nanoclusters

Poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate)-enhanced and D-penicillamine stabilized Ag nanoclusters (PSS-DPA-AgNCs) were prepared using one-step ultraviolet irradiation combined with microwave heating method, and the effects of the AgNCs photo-luminescence performance based on different types of polyelectrolytes and energy suppliers were studied detailedly. The as-prepared AgNCs can be used as a viable fluorescent probe for monitoring indirectly iron(II) lactate hydrate (ILH) and ammonium ferric citrate (AFC), respectively. The fluorescence (FL) quenching of PSS-DPA-AgNCs by Fe³⁺ (it is obtained from oxidized ILH/ionized AFC) mainly derives from a dynamic quenching process. Excellent linear relationships exist between the FL quenching degree of the AgNCs and the concentrations of ILH/AFC in the range of 0.17-6.00/0.067-3.33 μmol·L^-1, and corresponding limit of detection (at 3σ/slope) is 12.4/6.04 nmol·L^-1. Moreover, the AgNCs probe was extended to the assays of ILH in tablets, solid beverage or ILH additive and AFC in two kinds of edible salts or syrup with satisfactory results compared with the standard 1, 10-phenanthroline method. In addition, the AgNCs probe reveals a good temperature sensing capability.

Applications of Green Chemistry Approaches in Environmental Analysis

Background:

Green chemistry is the application of methodologies and techniques to reduce the use of hazardous substances, minimize waste generation and apply benign and cheap applications.

Methods:

In this article, the following issues were considered: greener solvents and reagents, miniaturization of analytical instrumentation, reagent-free methodologies, greening with automation, greener sample preparation methods, and greener detection systems. Moreover, the tables along with the investigated topics including environmental analysis were included. The future aspects and the challenges in green analytical chemistry were also discussed.

Results:

The prevention of waste generation, atomic economy, use of less hazardous materials for chemical synthesis and design, use of safer solvents, auxiliaries and renewable raw materials, reduction of unnecessary derivatization, design degradation products, prevention of accidents and development of real-time analytical methods are important for the development of greener methodologies.

Conclusion:

Efforts should also be given for the evaluation of novel solid phases, new solvents, and sustainable reagents to reduce the risks associated with the environment. Moreover, greener methodologies enable energy efficient, safe and faster that reduce the use of reagents, solvents and preservatives which are hazardous to both environment and human health.

The synthesis of Zr-metal-organic framework functionalized magnetic graphene nanocomposites as an adsorbent for fast determination of multi-pesticide residues in tobacco samples

In this paper, a simple and reliable method has been established to determine the residues of nine pesticides in tobacco by using GC-MS coupled with magnetic solid phase extraction. A novel magnetic Zr-MOF nanocomposite based on graphene was synthesized, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. The prepared material has the advantage of large surface area (178 m2/g), good magnetic response and high thermal stability, which is shown to be suited for the fast enrichment of multi-pesticides in tobacco matrix. The extraction conditions including amount of adsorbent, adsorption time, eluting solvent as well as desorption time were investigated. The whole process of pretreatment is accomplished within 10 min. This method shows low limit of detection, wide linear range and good reproducibility (relative standard deviations <12.7%), satisfactory recoveries were obtained, ranging from 57.9% to 126.3% for tobacco samples.