Monosegmented micro-volume liquid–liquid flow-extraction system based on intermittent pumping and spectroscopic detection

Green chemistry and the evolution of flow analysis. A review

Flow analysis has achieved its majority as a well-established tool to solve analytical problems. Evolution of flow-based approaches has been analyzed by diverse points of view, including historical aspects, the commutation concept and the impact on analytical methodologies. In this overview, the evolution of flow analysis towards green analytical chemistry is demonstrated by comparing classical procedures implemented with different flow approaches. The potential to minimize reagent consumption and waste generation and the ability to implement processes unreliable in batch to replace toxic chemicals are also emphasized. Successful applications of greener approaches in flow analysis are also discussed, focusing on the last 10 years.

A review of recent advances in electrochemically modulated extraction methods

The use of electrochemistry and electrical behavior as a control and manipulation factor in analyte extractions is reviewed. Electromodulated extractions of ionic and neutral analytes are possible using this general approach. Extractions based on solid-liquid, liquid-liquid and membrane behaviors have been demonstrated and reported together with analyte extractions from real matrices and interfacing with instrumental detection methods. The electromodulation strategy offers great opportunities for selectivity in sample preparation.

Selectivity in the Coextraction of Cation and Anion by Electrochemically Modulated Liquid−Liquid Extraction

Electrochemistry at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions has been presented as a method of electrochemically modulated liquid-liquid extraction, where ions in a mixture can be selectively partitioned as a function of the applied interfacial potential difference. In this study, a mixture comprising 4-octylbenzenesulfonate (4-OBSA-) and tetraethylammonium (TEA+) ions was evaluated. The application of negative potential differences enabled the selective extraction of 4-OBSA- into the organic phase, and more positive potential differences enabled the selective extraction of TEA+. However, intermediate potentials lead to the coextraction of both ions into the organic phase, with apparent selectivity for TEA+ over 4-OBSA-. An increased concentration of either ion in the mixture inhibited the extraction response of the other ion, but the order of the extraction at these intermediate potentials was always TEA+ followed by 4-OBSA-. The reasons for the selectivity for the cation over the anion are discussed.

Headspace solvent microextraction as a simple and highly sensitive sample pretreatment technique for ultra trace determination of geosmin in aquatic media

A headspace solvent microextraction method was developed for the trace determination of geosmin, an odorant compound, in water samples. After performing the extraction by a microdrop of an organic solvent, the microdrop was introduced directly into a GC-MS injection port. One-at-the-time optimization strategy was applied to investigate and optimize some important extraction parameters such as type of solvent, drop volume, temperature, stirring rate, ionic strength, sample volume, and extraction time. The analytical data exhibited an RSD of less than 5% (n = 5), a linear calibration range of 5-900 ng/L (r2 > 0.998), and a detection limit of 0.8 and 3.3 ng/L using two different sets of selected ions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of geosmin in the spiked real water sample and reasonable recovery was achieved.

Determination of pesticides in soil by liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Trace amounts of pesticides in soil were determined by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The technique involved the use of a small amount (3 microl) of organic solvent impregnated in a hollow fiber membrane, which was attached to the needle of a conventional GC syringe. The organic solvent was repeatedly discharged into and withdrawn from the porous polypropylene hollow fiber by a syringe pump, with the pesticides being extracted from a 4 ml aqueous soil sample into the organic solvent within the hollow fiber. Aspects of the developed procedure such as organic solvent selection, extraction time, movement pattern of plunger, concentrations of humic acid and salt, and the proportion of organic solvent in the soil sample, were optimized. Limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.05 and 0.1 microg/g with GC-MS analysis under selected-ion monitoring (SIM). Also, this method provided good precision ranging from 6 to 13%; the relative standard deviations were lower than 10% for most target pesticides (at spiked levels of 0.5 microg/g in aqueous soil sample). Finally, the results were compared to those achieved using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The results demonstrated that LPME was a fast (within 4 min) and accurate method to determine trace amounts of pesticides in soil.

Determination of caffeine using oscillating chemical reaction in a CSTR

A new analytical method for the determination of caffeine by the sequential perturbation caused by different amounts of caffeine on the oscillating chemical system involving the manganese(II)-catalyzed reaction between potassium bromate and tyrosine in acidic medium in a CSTR was proposed. The method exposed for the first time in this work. It relies on the relationship between the changes in the oscillation amplitude of the chemical system and the concentration of caffeine. The calibration curve fits a second-order polynomial equation very well when the concentration of caffeine over the range 4.0 x 10(-6) - 1.2 x 10(-4) M (r = 0.9968). The effect of influential variables, such as the concentration of reaction components, injection point, temperature, flow rate and stirring rate were studied. Some aspects of the potential mechanism of action of caffeine on the chemical oscillating system were also discussed. A real sample was determined and the result was satisfactory.