Headspace liquid-phase microextraction using ionic liquid as extractant for the preconcentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites at trace levels in water samples

A novel technique, high temperature headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME) with room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]) as extractant, was developed for the analysis of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDT) and its metabolites including 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p′-DDD) in water samples by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The parameters such as salt content, sample pH and temperature, stirring rate, extraction time, microdrop volume, and sample volume, were found to have significant influence on the HS-LPME. The conditions optimized for extraction of target compounds were as follows: 35% NaCl (w/v), neutral pH condition, 70 °C, 800 rpm, 30 min, 10 μL [C₄MIM][PF₆], and 25 mL sample solutions. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range, detection limit (S/N = 3), and precision (R.S.D., n = 6) were 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.07 μg L⁻¹, and 8.0% for p,p′-DDD, 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.08 μg L⁻¹, and 7.1% for p,p′-DDT, 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.08 μg L⁻¹, and 7.2% for o,p′-DDT, and 0.2-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.05 μg L⁻¹, and 6.8% for p,p′-DDE, respectively. Water samples including tap water, well water, snow water, reservoir water, and wastewater were analyzed by the proposed procedure and the recoveries at 5 μg L⁻¹ spiked level were in the range of 86.8-102.6%.     

Analysis of endocrine disruptor compounds in marine sediments by in cell clean up-pressurized liquid extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination

A less time-, solvent- and sorbent-consuming analytical methodology for the determination of bisphenol A and alkylphenols (4-tert-octylphenol, 4-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, nonylphenol) in marine sediment was developed and validated. The method was based on selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) with a simultaneous in cell clean up combined with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in negative mode (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The SPLE extraction conditions were optimized by a Plackett–Burman design followed by a central composite design. Quantitation was performed by standard addition curves in order to correct matrix effects. The analytical features of the method were satisfactory: relative recoveries varied between 94 and 100% and repeatability and intermediate precision were <6% for all compounds. Uncertainty assessment of measurement was estimated on the basis of an in-house validation according to EURACHEM/CITAC guide. Quantitation limits of the method (MQL) ranged between 0.17 (4-n-nonylphenol) and 4.01 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (nonylphenol). Sensitivity, selectivity, automaticity and fastness are the main advantages of this green methodology. As an application, marine sediment samples from Galicia coast (NW of Spain) were analysed. Nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were measured in all samples at concentrations between 20.1 and 1409 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Sediment toxicity was estimated and no risk to aquatic biota was found.     

Solid phase microextraction procedure for the determination of alkylphenols in water by on-fiber derivatization with N-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide

The solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique with on-fiber derivatization was evaluated for the analysis of alkylphenols (APs), including 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), technical nonylphenol isomers (t-NPs) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), in water. The 85 μm polyacrylate (PA) fiber was used and a two-step sample preparation procedure was established. In the first step, water sample of 2 mL was placed in a 4 mL PTFE-capped glass vial. Headspace extraction of APs in water was then performed under 65 °C for 30 min with 800 rpm magnetic stirring and the addition of 5% of sodium chloride. In the second step, the SPME fiber was placed in another 4 mL vial, which contained 100 μL of N-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) with 1% tert-butyl-dimethylchlorosilane (TBDMCS). Headspace extraction of MTBSTFA and on-fiber derivatization with APs were performed at 45 °C for 10 min. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used for the analysis of derivatives formed on-fiber. The adsorption-time profiles were also examined. The precision, accuracy and method detection limits (MDLs) for the analysis of all the APs were evaluated with spiked water samples, including detergent water, chlorinated tap water, and lake water. The relative standard deviations were all less than 10% and the accuracies were 100 ± 15%. With 2 mL of water sample, MDLs were in the range of 1.58-3.85 ng L⁻¹. Compared with other techniques, the study described here provided a simple, fast and reliable method for the analysis of APs in water.     

A novel fatty-acid-based in-tube dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique for the rapid determination of nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol in aqueous samples using high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection

In this study, a novel fatty-acid-based in-tube dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (FA-IT-DLLME) technique is proposed for the first time and is developed as a simple, rapid and eco-friendly sample extraction method for the determination of alkylphenols in aqueous samples using high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV). In this extraction method, medium-chain saturated fatty acids were investigated as a pH-dependent phase because they acted as either anionic surfactants or neutral extraction solvents based on the acid–base reaction caused solely by the adjustment of the pH of the solution. A specially designed home-made glass extraction tube with a built-in scaled capillary tube was utilized as the phase-separation device for the FA-IT-DLLME to collect and measure the separated extractant phase for analysis. Nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4-tOP) were chosen as model analytes. The parameters influencing the FA-IT-DLLME were thoroughly investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the detector responses of NP and 4-tOP were linear in the concentration ranges of 5–4000 μg L⁻¹, with correlation coefficients of 0.9990 and 0.9996 for NP and 4-tOP, respectively. The limits of detection based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 0.7 and 0.5 μg L⁻¹, and the enrichment factors were 195 and 143 for NP and 4-tOP, respectively. The applicability of the developed method was demonstrated for the analysis of alkylphenols in environmental wastewater samples, and the recoveries ranged from 92.9 to 107.1%. The extraction process required less than 4 min and utilized only acids, alkalis, and fatty acids to achieve the extraction. The results demonstrated that the presented FA-IT-DLLME approach is highly cost-effective, simple, rapid and environmentally friendly in its sample preparation.     

Optimization of temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid phase microextraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography for analysis of chlorobenzenes in water samples

Temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid phase microextraction (TCIL-DLPME) combined with high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was applied for preconcentration and determination of chlorobenzenes in well water samples. The proposed method used 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim][PF₆]) as the extraction solvent. The effect of different variables on extraction efficiency was studied simultaneously using an experimental design. The variables of interest in the TCIL-DLPME were extraction solvent volume, salt effect, solution temperature, extraction time, centrifugation time, and heating time. The Plackett-Burman design was employed for screening to determine the variables significantly affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were optimized by using a central composite design (CCD) and the response surface equations were developed. The optimal experimental conditions obtained from this statistical evaluation included: extraction solvent volume, 75 μL; extraction time, 20 min; centrifugation time, 25 min; heating time, 4 min; solution temperature, 50 °C; and no addition of salt. Under optimal conditions, the preconcentration factors were between 187 and 298. The limit of detections (LODs) ranged from 0.05 μg L⁻¹ (for 1,2-dichlorobenzene) to 0.1 μg L⁻¹ (for 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene). Linear dynamic ranges (LDRs) of 0.5-300 and 0.5-500 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for dichloro- and trichlorobenzenes, respectively. The performance of the method was evaluated for extraction and determination of chlorobenzenes in well water samples in micrograms per liter and satisfactory results were obtained (RSDs < 9.2%).     

Langmuir-Blodgett film of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene modified glassy carbon electrode as voltammetric sensor for the determination of Hg(II)

The π-A isotherms and UV-vis spectra of the transferred films suggested that the monolayer of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene can coordinate with Hg²⁺ at the air-water surface. From these observations, a glassy carbon electrode coated with Langmuir-Blodgett film of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4] arene as a new voltammetric sensor is designed for the determination of trace amounts of Hg²⁺. Compared with bare glassy carbon electrode and modified glassy carbon electrode using direct coating method, the Langmuir-Blodgett film-modified electrode can greatly improve the measuring sensitivity of Hg²⁺. Under the selected conditions, the Langmuir-Blodgett film-modified electrode in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄ + 0.01 mol L⁻¹ KCl solution shows a linear voltammetric response for Hg²⁺ in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method was also applied to determine Hg²⁺ in water samples (tap, lake and river water). In addition, the fabricated electrode exhibited a distinct advantage of simple preparation, non-toxicity, good reproducibility and good stability.     

Ionic liquids extraction of Para Red and Sudan dyes from chilli powder, chilli oil and food additive combined with high performance liquid chromatography

A simple analytical method, based on the coupling of ionic liquid-based extraction with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is developed for the determination of Sudan dyes (I, II, III and IV) and Para Red in chilli powder, chilli oil and food additive samples. Two ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim][PF₆]) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈mim][PF₆]), were compared as extraction solvents; experiments indicated that the latter possesses higher recoveries for each analyte. Parameters related to extraction of Sudan dyes and Para Red were also optimized. Under the optimal conditions, good reproducibility of extraction performance was obtained, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from 2.0% to 3.5%. The detection limits of Sudan dyes and Para Red (LOD, S/N = 3) were in the range of 7.0-8.2 μg kg⁻¹ for chilli powder and 11.2-13.2 μg L⁻¹ for chilli oil and food additive. The recoveries were in the range of 76.8-109.5% for chilli powder samples and 70.7-107.8% for chilli oil and food additive samples.     

Determination of phenylurea and triazine herbicides in milk by microwave assisted ionic liquid microextraction high-performance liquid chromatography

The determination of phenylurea and triazine herbicides in milk based on microwave assisted ionic liquid microextraction (MAILME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatographic separation was described. The experimental parameters of the MAILE, including type and amount of ionic liquid, microwave extraction power, extraction time and salt concentration in sample, were evaluated by a univariate method and orthogonal screening. When 60 μL of [C₆MIM][PF₆] was used as extraction solvent the target compounds can be isolated from the 4 mL of milk. The MAILME is quick (7 min) and simple. The detection limits for isoproturon, monolinuron, linuron, propazine, prometryne, terbutryn and trietazine are 0.46, 0.78, 1.00, 1.21, 1.96, 0.84 and 1.28 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of milk samples and the recoveries of the analytes ranged from 88.4 to 117.9% and relative standard deviations were lower than7.43%.     

Ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase micro-extraction: A novel approach for the sensitive determination of aromatic amines in water samples

Ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase micro-extraction was developed for the determination of four aromatic amines such as 2,4-dichloroaniline, 1-naphthylamine, 6-chloroanline and N,N-dimethylaniline. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detector was used for the determination of aromatic amines. In the novel procedure, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆MIM] [PF₆] was dispersed into the aqueous sample solution as fine droplets by ultrasonication, and which promoted the analytes more easily migrate into the ionic liquid phase. Variable affecting such as the volume of [C₆MIM] [PF₆], sample pH, ultrasonication time, extraction time, centrifuging time have been investigated in detail. The proposed method has been found to have excellent detection sensitivity with limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) in the range of 0.17–0.49 μg L⁻¹ and precisions in the range of 2.0–6.1% (RSDs, n = 6). This method has been also successfully applied to analyze the real water samples and good spiked recoveries over the range of 92.2–119.3% were obtained.     

Optimisation of derivatisation for the analysis of estrogenic compounds in water by solid-phase extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An optimisation of derivatisation methods for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water by solid-phase extraction (SPE) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed in this study. Seven highly potent EDCs including 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), 16α-hydroxyestrone, 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were selected as the target compounds. The SPE technique, followed by the derivatisation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) was used for the extraction recoveries of compounds from water and effluent samples. The stability of the silylation derivatives under different reaction conditions was investigated. The combined use of BSTFA and pyridine as derivatisation reagents, together with the use of hexane as the final solvent, was preferred in order to generate more stable derivatives of EDCs. The relative response factor (RRF) of all derivatives except that of EE2 was stable 120 h after derivatisation. The addition of pyridine as derivatisation reagent with BSTFA can prevent the conversion of EE2 to other products during the reaction. Several parameters that may affect the recovery of EDCs, such as the SPE flow rate, and water properties including aquatic colloid content and surfactant concentration were tested. The results showed that the flow rate (1-25 mL min⁻¹), colloid concentration (0-50 mg L⁻¹) and surfactants concentration (0-10 μg L⁻¹) did not cause significant decrease in the EDCs recovery.     

Combination of ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction with stopped-flow spectrofluorometry for the pre-concentration and determination of aluminum in natural waters, fruit juice and food samples

In this research, we combined ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (IL-based DLLME) with stopped-flow spectrofluorometry (SFS) to evaluate the concentration of aluminum in different real samples at trace level. 1-Hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate [Hpy][PF₆] ionic liquid and 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine), which forms a highly fluorescent complex with Al³⁺, were chosen as the extraction solvent and chelating agent, respectively. The hydrophobic Al-oxine complex was extracted into the [Hpy][PF₆] and separated from the aqueous phase. Then, the concentration of the enriched aluminum in the sediment phase was determined by SFS. Some effective parameters that influence the SFS signals and the micro-extraction efficiency, such as the suction and sending time, the concentration of the chelating agent, pH, the amount of the ionic liquid, the type of disperser solvent and diluting agent, ionic strength, extraction time, equilibration temperature and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized. In the optimum experimental conditions, the limit of detection (3 s) and enrichment factor were 0.05 μg L⁻¹ and 100, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for six replicate determinations of 6 μg L⁻¹ Al was 1.7%. The calibration graph using the pre-concentration system was linear in the range of 0.06-15 μg L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9989. The developed method was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials and applied successfully to the determination of aluminum in several water, fruit juice and food samples.     

Speciation of mercury by ionic liquid-based single-drop microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection

Room temperature ionic liquids can be considered as environmentally benign solvents with unique physicochemical properties. Ionic liquids can be used as extractant phases in SDME, being compatible with chromatographic systems. A single-drop microextraction method was developed for separation and preconcentration of mercury species (MeHg⁺, EtHg⁺, PhHg⁺ and Hg²⁺), which relies on the formation of the corresponding dithizonates and microextraction of these neutral chelates onto a microdrop of an ionic liquid. Afterwards, the separation and determination were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. Variables affecting the formation and extraction of mercury dithizonates were optimized. The optimum conditions found were: microextraction time, 20 min; stirring rate, 900 rpm; pH, 11; ionic liquid type, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₆MIM][PF₆]); drop volume, 4 μL; and no sodium chloride addition. Limits of detection were between 1.0 and 22.8 μg L⁻¹ for the four species of mercury, while the repeatability of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation, was between 3.7 and 11.6% (n = 8). The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury species in different water samples.     

Sensitive determination of cadmium in water samples by room temperature ionic liquid-based preconcentration and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive preconcentration methodology for Cd determination at trace levels in water samples was developed in this work. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]) room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) was successfully used for Cd preconcentration, as cadmium-2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol complex [Cd-5-Br-PADAP]. Subsequently, Cd was back-extracted from the RTIL phase with 500 μL of 0.5 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). A preconcentration factor of 40 was achieved with 20 mL of sample. The limit of detection (LOD) obtained under optimum conditions was 3 ng L⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 10 replicates at 1 μg L⁻¹ Cd²⁺ concentration level was 3.5%, calculated at peak heights. The calibration graph was linear from concentration levels near the detection limits up to at least 5 μg L⁻¹. A correlation coefficient of 0.9997 was achieved. Validation of the methodology was performed by standard addition method and analysis of certified reference material (CRM). The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd in river and tap water samples.     

Tuning the selectivity of polymeric ionic liquid sorbent coatings for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using solid-phase microextraction

A new generation polymeric ionic liquid (PIL), poly(1-4-vinylbenzyl)-3-hexadecylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (poly(VBHDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻)), was synthesized and is shown to exhibit impressive selectivity towards the extraction of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous samples when used as a sorbent coating in direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography (GC). The PIL was imparted with aromatic character to enhance π–π interactions between the analytes and the sorbent coating. For comparison purposes, a PIL with similar structure but lacking the π–π interaction capability, poly(1-vinyl-3-hexadecylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide) (poly(HDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻)), as well as a commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sorbent coating were evaluated and exhibited much lower extraction efficiencies. Extraction parameters, including stir rate and extraction time, were studied and optimized. The detection limits of poly(VBHDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻), poly(HDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻), and PDMS coatings varied between 0.003–0.07 μg L⁻¹, 0.02–0.6 μg L⁻¹, and 0.1–6 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The partition coefficients (log K_fs) of eight PAHs to the three studied fiber coatings were estimated using a static SPME approach. This study represents the first report of analyte partition coefficients to any PIL-based material.     

Determination of 4-nonylphenol and 4-tert.-octylphenol in water samples by stir bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and highly sensitive method called thermal desorption (TD)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which is used for the determination of trace amounts of 4-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert.-octylphenol (OP) in water samples, is described. NP and OP in samples are extracted from water samples and concentrated by the stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) technique. A stir bar coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is added to a 2.0 ml water sample and stirring is carried out for 60 min at room temperature (25 °C) in a headspace vial. Then the extract is high sensitively analyzed by TD-GC-MS without any derivatization step. The optimum SBSE conditions are realized at an extraction time of 60 min. The detection limits are 0.02 ng ml⁻¹ for NP and 0.002 ng ml⁻¹ for OP. The method shows good linearity over the concentration range of 0.1-10 ng ml⁻¹ for NP and 0.01-10 ng ml⁻¹ for OP, and the correlation coefficients are higher than 0.999. The average recoveries of NP and OP are higher than 97% (R.S.D.: 3.6-6.2%) with correction using the added surrogate standards, 4-(1-methyl) octylphenol-d₅ and deuterium 4-tert.-octylphenol. This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective analytical method may be used in the determination of trace amounts of NP and OP in tap and river water samples.     

Ionic liquid-based single drop microextraction combined with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of manganese in water samples

Room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₄MIM][PF₆], was used as an alternative to volatile organic solvents in single drop microextraction-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (SDME-ETAAS). Manganese was extracted from aqueous solution into a drop of the ionic liquid after complextaion with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) and the drop was directly injected into the graphite furnace. Several variables affecting microextraction efficiency and ETAAS signal, such as pyrolysis and atomization temperature, pH, TAN concentration, extraction time, drop volume and stirring rate were investigated and optimized. In the optimum experimental conditions, the limit of detection (3 s) and the enhancement factor were 0.024 μg L⁻¹ and 30.3, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for five replicate determinations of 0.5 μg L⁻¹ Mn(II) was 5.5%. The developed method was validated by the analysis of a certified reference material (NIST SRM 1643e) and applied successfully to the determination of manganese in several natural water samples.     

A new room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-trimethylsilylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as a solvent for extraction and preconcentration of mercury with determination by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

A new room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-trimethylsilylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate abbreviated as [C₄tmsim][PF₆] was synthesized and developed as a novel medium for liquid/liquid extraction of inorganic mercury in this work. Under optimal condition, o-carboxyphenyldiazoamino-p-azobenzene abbreviated as CDAA reacted with inorganic mercury to form a neutral Hg-CDAA complex, the complex was rapidly extracted into ionic liquid phase. After back-extracting into aqueous phase with sulfide sodium solution, the mercury concentration was detected by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The extraction and back-extraction efficiencies were 99.9 and 100.1% for 5.0 μg L⁻¹ standard mercury in 1000 mL of water solution, respectively. The detection limit, calculated using three times the standard error of estimate of the calibration graph, is 0.01 ng of mercury per milliliter water sample. The proposed method has been used to the determination of trace inorganic mercury in natural water with satisfactory results. Moreover, Zeta potential and surface tension of [C₄tmsim][PF₆] solution were measured and applied to explain the extraction mechanism of [C₄tmsim][PF₆] system.     

Solid-phase spectrophotometric determination of nickel in water and vegetable samples at sub-mug l(-1) level with o-carboxylphenyldiazoaminoazobenzene loaded XAD-4

A highly sensitive and selective solid-phase spectrophotometric method for the determination of sub-μg l⁻¹ level nickel(II) is described. Nickel(II) was sorbed on a styrene-divinylbenzene-type resin Amberlite XAD-4 as a Ni(II)-o-carboxylphenyldiazoaminoazobenzene (o-CDAA) complex. At pH 9.0, resin phase absorbances at 588 and 800 nm were measured directly with an apparent molar absorptivity of 2.95×10⁷ g mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The linear range of the determination was 1.2-41 μg g⁻¹ resin. The detection limit and the quantification limit were found to be 0.24 and 0.76 μg g⁻¹ resin, respectively. The relative standard deviation of 10 replicate determinations of 1.0 μg nickel(II) in 100 ml sample was of 1.5%. The tolerance limit of coexistent ions was also investigated. Most of them are in tolerable amount. For practical analyses, 1 ml acetylacetone used can eliminate the interferences caused by Cu and Fe. The procedure was validated by analysis a certified water reference material (GBW 08618 Beijing, China) and a tomato leaf certified reference material (GBW 08402 Beijing, China) with the results in agreement with the certified values. The method was applied to the determination of nickel(II) in water and vegetable samples with satisfactory results.     

Room temperature imidazolium ionic liquid: a solvent for extraction of carbamates prior to liquid chromatographic analysis

A simple and rapid method for preconcentration of carbamate insecticides, including methomyl, propoxur, carbofuran, carbaryl, isoprocarb, methiocarb and promecarb, has been developed. It was based on a liquid-liquid microextraction using a [C₄MIM][PF₆] room temperature ionic liquid as an extraction solvent prior to analysis by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction performance, such as the volumes of sample, extractant and dissolving solvent, and extraction time, were studied. Under the selected conditions, the enrichment factors in the range between 10 and 25 could be achieved with the limit of detection in the range of 2-40 μg L⁻¹, and with the relative standard deviations of lower than 0.6 and 10.2% for retention time and peak area, respectively. The proposed method offers advantages in reduction of the exposure danger to toxic solvents used in the conventional liquid-liquid extraction, simplicity of the extraction processes, rapidity, and sensitivity enhancement. The method was demonstrated to apply to the analysis of fruit and natural surface water samples.     

Determination of chlorophenols in landfill leachate using headspace sampling with ionic liquid-coated solid-phase microextraction fibers combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A new microextraction technique based on ionic liquid solid-phase microextraction (IL-SPME) was developed for determination of trace chlorophenols (CPs) in landfill leachate. The synthesized ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]), was coated onto the spent fiber of SPME for extraction of trace CPs. After extraction, the absorbed analytes were desorbed and quantified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The term of the proposed method is as ionic liquid-coated of solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (IL-SPME-GC/MS). No carryover effect was found, and every laboratory-made ionic liquids-coated-fiber could be used for extraction at least eighty times without degradation of efficiency. The chlorophenols studied were 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (2,3,4,6-TeCP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The best results of chlorophenols analysis were obtained with landfill leachate at pH 2, headspace extraction for 4 min, and thermal desorption with the gas chromatograph injector at 240 °C for 4 min. Linearity was observed from 0.1 to 1000 μg L⁻¹ with relative standard deviations (RSD) less than 7% and recoveries were over 87%. The limit of detection (LOD) for pentachlorophenol was 0.008 μg L⁻¹. The proposed method was tested by analyzing landfill leachate from a sewage farm. The concentrations of chlorophenols were detected to range from 1.1 to 1.4 μg L⁻¹. The results demonstrate that the IL-SPME-GC/MS method is highly effective in analyzing trace chlorophenols in landfill leachate.