Molecularly imprinted nano particles combined with miniaturized homogenous liquid–liquid extraction for the selective extraction of loratadine in plasma and urine samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection

In this work a molecularly imprinted polymer was developed as a selective sorbent for extraction of loratadine (as a model) in complex matrices followed by miniaturized homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (MHLLE) for the first time. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) which is based on loratadine as the template was synthesized successfully by precipitation polymerization and was used as a selective sorbent. This technique was applied for preconcentration, sample preparation, and determination of loratadine using high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection (HPLC-PDA). Optimization of various parameters affecting molecular imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE), such as pH of adsorption, composition and volume of eluent, adsorption and desorption times were investigated. Besides, in the subsequent stage (MHLLE) the type and volume of extraction solvent, sodium hydroxide amount, surfactant concentration, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal condition, maximum enrichment capacity and Langmuir constant were 91 mg g⁻¹ and 0.014 L mg⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, enrichment factor and extraction recovery of MIP-MHLLE method were 30 and 90%, respectively. The LOD of the proposed method was 0.2 μg L⁻¹ and a linear dynamic range of 1–1000 μg L⁻¹ was obtained with correlation coefficient of greater than 0.998. The present method was applied for extraction and determination of loratadine in plasma and urine samples in μg L⁻¹ levels and satisfactory results were achieved (RSD <8% based on three replicate measurements).     

Novel molecularly imprinted polymer prepared by nanoattapulgite as matrix for selective solid-phase extraction of diethylstilbestrol

Using nanoattapulgite as matrix, both diethylstilbestrol surface molecularly imprinted polymer and non-imprinted polymer were synthesized in this work. Compared with each other, the diethylstilbestrol surface molecularly imprinted polymer is superior to non-imprinted polymer in adsorption capacity, selectivity and mass transfer property. The maximum static adsorption capacities of diethylstilbestrol surface molecularly imprinted polymer, non-imprinted polymer and nanoattapulgite for diethylstilbestrol was 105.14, 78.54 and 28.50 mg g⁻¹, respectively. As the packing material of solid-phase extraction, the diethylstilbestrol surface molecularly imprinted polymer has been applied to concentrating diethylstilbestrol in pond water and fish samples. A corresponding analytical method to determine diethylstilbestrol has been developed. The limit of detection for diethylstilbestrol in pond water sample and fish samples were 3 μg L⁻¹ and 15 μg kg⁻¹.     

Determination of trace bisphenol A in complex samples using selective molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis

The highly selective, fast and effective sample pretreatment technique molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) can overcome the low sensitivity of the highly efficient capillary electrophoresis-UV method (CE-UV). In this work, narrowly dispersible bisphenol A (BPA)-imprinted polymeric microspheres with a high capacity factor of k′ = 6.8 and an imprinted factor of I = 6.53 were investigated as selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for use in extraction of BPA from different sample matrices (tap water, wastewater, Yangtze River water, soil from the Yangtze River, shrimp and human urine). Washing and eluting protocols of MISPE were optimized. Under optimal conditions, recoveries of MISPE were investigated. Recoveries were basically constant and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 5.8% when loading volumes changed from 1 to 50 mL. Recoveries ranged from 71.20% to 86.23% for different sample matrices. Compared with C18 SPE, MISPE had higher selectivity and recovery for BPA. BPA was determined with good accuracy and precision in different complex samples using CE-UV coupled with MISPE. Spiked recoveries ranged from 95.20% to 105.40%, and the RSD was less than 7.2%. Because a large loading volume was achieved, the enrichment efficiency of pretreatment and the sensitivity of this method were improved. The limits of detection of this MISPE-CE-UV method for BPA in tap water, wastewater, Yangtze River water, soil from the Yangtze River, shrimp and human urine were 3.0 μg L^− 1, 5.4 μg L^− 1, 6.9 μg L^− 1, 2.1 μg L^− 1, 1.8 μg L^− 1 and 84 μg L^− 1, respectively.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective determination of bromhexine in human serum and urine with high performance liquid chromatography

In this work, a novel method is described for the determination of bromhexine in biological fluids using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction as the sample cleanup technique combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, chloroform as porogen and bromhexine as the template molecule. The novel imprinted polymer was used as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the extraction of bromhexine from human serum and urine. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the polymer have been evaluated. The optimal conditions for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) consisted of conditioning 1 mL methanol and 1 mL of deionized water at neutral pH, loading of 5 mL of the water sample (25 μg L⁻¹) at pH 6.0, washing using 2 mL acetonitrile/acetone (1/4, v/v) and elution with 3× 1 mL methanol/acetic acid (10/1, v/v). The MIP selectivity was evaluated by checking several substances with similar molecular structures to that of bromhexine. Results from the HPLC analyses showed that the calibration curve of bromhexine using MIP from human serum and urine is linear in the ranges of 0.5-100 and 1.5-100 μg L⁻¹ with good precisions (3.3% and 2.8% for 5.0 μg L⁻¹), respectively. The recoveries for serum and urine samples were higher than 92%.     

Determination of the steroid hormone levels in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with solidification of a floating organic drop followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

In this study, the steroid hormone levels in river and tap water samples were determined by using a novel dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method based on the solidification of a floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO). Several parameters were optimized, including the type and volume of the extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, and salt effect. DLLME-SFO is a fast, cheap, and easy-to-use method for detecting trace levels of samples. Most importantly, this method uses less-toxic solvent. The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was higher than 0.9991. The linear range was from 5 to 1000 μg L⁻¹. The spiked environmental water samples were analyzed using DLLME-SFO. The relative recoveries ranged from 87% to 116% for river water (which was spiked with 4 μg L⁻¹ for E1, 3 μg L⁻¹ for E2, 4 μg L⁻¹ for EE2 and 9 μg L⁻¹ for E3) and 89% to 102% for tap water (which was spiked with 6 μg L⁻¹ for E1, 5 μg L⁻¹ for E2, 6 μg L⁻¹ for EE2 and 10 μg L⁻¹ for E3). The detection limits of the method ranged from 0.8 to 2.7 μg L⁻¹ for spiked river water and 1.4 to 3.1 μg L⁻¹ for spiked tap water. The methods precision ranged from 8% to 14% for spiked river water and 7% to 14% for spiked tap water.     

Synthesis and application of a carbamazepine-imprinted polymer for solid-phase extraction from urine and wastewater

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) designed to enable the selective extraction of carbamazepine (CBZ) from effluent wastewater and urine samples has been synthesised using a non-covalent molecular imprinting approach. The MIP was evaluated chromatographically in the first instance and its affinity for CBZ also confirmed by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The optimal conditions for SPE consisted of conditioning of the cartridge using acidified water purified from a Milli-Q system, loading of the sample under basic aqueous conditions, clean-up using acetonitrile and elution with methanol. The attractive molecular recognition properties of the MIP gave rise to good CBZ recoveries (80%) when 100 mL of effluent water spiked with 1 μg L⁻¹ was percolated through the polymer. For urine samples, 2 mL samples spiked with 2.5 μg L⁻¹ CBZ were extracted with a recovery of 65%. For urine, the linear range was 0.05-24 mg L⁻¹, the limit of detection was 25 μg L⁻¹ and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation at 0.5 mg L⁻¹ (n = 3), was 3.1% and 12.6% for repeatability and reproducibility between days, respectively.     

Simultaneous analysis of chlorophenols, alkylphenols, nitrophenols and cresols in wastewater effluents, using solid phase extraction and further determination by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical methodology has been developed for the simultaneous extraction of 13 phenolic compounds, including chlorophenols (CPs), nitrophenols (NTPs), cresols and alkylphenols (APs) in different types of wastewater (WW) effluents. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method has been optimized prior to the determination by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS). Due to the complexity of the matrix, a comparison study of matrix-matched-calibration (MMC) and standard addition calibration (SAC) was carried out for quantification purposes. The optimized procedure was validated using the SAC approach since it provided the most adequate quantification results (in terms of recovery and precision values). Recoveries were in the range 60-135% (0.5 μg L⁻¹), 70-115% (1 μg L⁻¹), and 78-120% (5 μg L⁻¹), with precision values (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD) ≤30% (except for 2-nitrophenol) involving intra-day and inter-day precision studies. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were also evaluated, and LOQs ranged from 0.03 μg L⁻¹ to 2.5 μg L⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of 8 real WW effluent samples, finding some phenolic compounds (e.g. 2-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 4-tert-octylphenol) at concentrations higher than the established LOQs.     

Novel molecularly imprinted stir bar sorptive extraction based on an 8-electrode array for preconcentration of trace exogenous estrogens in meat

A novel 8-electrode array as stir bar was designed for selective extraction of trace level exogenous estrogens from food samples, followed by liquid desorption and HPLC-photodiode array detection. The array consisted of 8 screen-printed electrodes and each electrode was modified with Fe₃O₄@meso-/macroporous TiO₂ microspheres and molecularly imprinted film (m-TiMIF). The fabrication of the imprinted film coating was very simple without organic solvents and chemical grafting. Both bisphenol A (BPA) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were employed as templates in m-TiMIF fabrication in order to enrich both targets simultaneously. Interestingly, the imprinted stir bar array showed higher extraction capacity and selectivity for BPA and DES than the non-imprinted counterpart. Meanwhile, it exhibited fast adsorption and desorption kinetics due to increased mass transport in the ultra-thin film. Importantly, the m-TiMIF coating was robust enough for at least 20 uses without obvious alteration in extraction performance. The main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including stir speeding, sample pH, ionic strength, extraction time, desorption solvent and time, were optimized. Under optimal experimental conditions, the limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the developed method were 0.28 and 0.47 μg L⁻¹ for BPA and DES respectively, with enrichment factors of 32.6 and 52.8-fold. The linear ranges were 3.0–1500 μg L⁻¹ and 4.0–1500 μg L⁻¹ for BPA and DES, respectively. The m-TiMIF-coating conferred better recovery and selectivity, compared with the commercial stir bar coating. The new method was successfully applied to assess BPA and DES in pork and chicken samples with satisfactory recovery.     

Imprinted polymer particles for selenium uptake: synthesis, characterization and analytical applications

This work reports the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles for selective extraction and determination of selenium ions from aqueous media. Polymerization was achieved in a glass tube containing SeO₂, o-phenylenediamine, 2-vinylpyridine (VP), ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (EDMA), 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The polymer block obtained was ground and sieved (55-75 μm) and the Se-o-phenylenediamine complex was removed from polymer particles by leaching with 2 M of HCl, which leaves a cavity in the polymer particles. The polymer particles both prior to and after leaching have been characterized by IR and thermogravimetric (TG) studies. The effect of different parameters, such as pH, extraction time, type and least amount of eluent for elution of complex from polymer were evaluated. Extraction efficiencies >99% were obtained by elution of the polymers with 15 mL of methanol-acetonitrile mixture (1:2, v/v). The limit of detection of the proposed method followed by hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS) was found to be 3.3 μg L⁻¹ and a dynamic linear range (DLR) of 10-200 μg L⁻¹ was obtained. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) at 30.0 μg L⁻¹ of Se were below than 8.1%. The influence of various cationic interferences on percent recovery of complex was studied. The method was applied to the recovery and determination of selenium in different real samples.     

Application of liquid-phase microextraction to the analysis of trihalomethanes in water

A liquid-phase microextraction method for the determination of trihalomethanes (THMs) including chloroform (CHCl₃), bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl₂), dibromochloromethane (CHBr₂Cl) and bromoform (CHBr₃) in water samples was developed, with analysis by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). After the determination of the most suitable solvent and stirring rate for the extraction, several other parameters (solvent drop volume, extraction time and ionic strength of the sample) were optimized using a factorial design to obtain the most relevant variables. The optimized extraction conditions for 5 mL of sample volume in a 10 mL vial were as follows: n-hexane an organic solvent; a solvent drop volume of 2 μL; an extraction time of 5.0 min; a stirring rate of 600 rpm at 25 °C; sample ionic strength of 3 M sodium chloride. The linear range was 1-75 μg L⁻¹ for the studied THMs. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.23 μg L⁻¹ (for CHBr₂Cl) to 0.45 μg L⁻¹ (for CHCl₃). Recoveries of THMs from fortified distilled water were over 70% for a fortification level of 15 μg L⁻¹, and relative standard deviations of the recoveries were below 5%. Real samples collected from tap water and well water were successfully analyzed using the proposed method. The recovery of spiked water samples was from 73% to 78% with relative standard deviations below 7%.     

Novel enrofloxacin imprinted polymer applied to the solid-phase extraction of fluorinated quinolones from urine and tissue samples

A new molecularly imprinted polymer, prepared following a non-covalent approach, was synthesised using enrofloxacin as a template molecule. The imprinting effect of the polymer was verified by chromatographic evaluation and, interestingly, this evaluation also revealed that the imprinted polymer showed a high degree of cross-reactivity for ciprofloxacin, the major metabolite of enrofloxacin. The molecularly imprinted polymer was then applied as a selective sorbent in a two-step solid-phase extraction method focussing upon complex biological matrices, specifically human urine and pig liver. This two-step solid-phase extraction protocol, in which a commercial Oasis HLB cartridge and a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction cartridge were combined, allowed enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin to be determined by liquid chromatography coupled to a UV detector at levels below the maximum residue limits established by the European Union. The quantification and detection limits in tissue samples of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were established at 50 μg kg⁻¹ and 30 μg kg⁻¹, respectively.     

Development, validation and application of a SDME/GC-FID methodology for the multiresidue determination of organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in water

A single-drop microextraction (SDME) procedure was developed for the analysis of organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides in water by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The significant parameters that affect SDME performance, such as the selection of microextraction solvent, solvent volume, extraction time, and stirring rate, were studied and optimized using a tool screening factorial design. The limits of detection (LODs) in water for the four investigated compounds were between 0.3 and 3.0 μg L⁻¹, with relative standard deviations ranging from 7.7 to 18.8%. Linear response data were obtained in the concentration range of 0.9-6.0 μg L⁻¹ (λ-cyhalothrin), 3.0-60.0 μg L⁻¹ (methyl parathion), 9.0-60.0 μg L⁻¹ (ethion), and 9.0-30.0 μg L⁻¹ (permethrin), with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9337 to 0.9977. The relative recoveries for the spiked water ranged from 73.0 to 104%. Environmental water samples (n = 26) were successfully analyzed using the proposed method and methyl parathion presented concentration up to 2.74 μg L⁻¹. The SDME method, coupled with GC-FID analysis, provided good precision, accuracy, and reproducibility over a wide linear range. Other highlights of the method include its ease of use and its requirement of only small volumes of both organic solvent and sample.     

Determination of octylphenol and nonylphenol in aqueous sample using simultaneous derivatization and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple and fast sample preparation method for the determination of nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) in aqueous samples by simultaneous derivatization and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) was investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In this method, a combined dispersant/derivatization catalyst (methanol/pyridine mixture) was firstly added to an aqueous sample, following which a derivatization reagent/extraction solvent (methyl chloroformate/chloroform) was rapidly injected to combine in situ derivatization and extraction in a single step. After centrifuging, the sedimented phase containing the analytes was injected into the GC port by autosampler for analysis. Several parameters, such as extraction solvent, dispersant solvent, amount of derivatization reagent, derivatization and extraction time, pH, and ionic strength were optimized to obtain higher sensitivity for the detection of NP and OP. Under the optimized conditions, good linearity was observed in the range of 0.1–1000 μg L⁻¹ and 0.01–100 μg L⁻¹ with the limits of detection (LOD) of 0.03 μg L⁻¹ and 0.002 μg L⁻¹ for NP and OP, respectively. Water samples collected from the Pearl River were analyzed with the proposed method, the concentrations of NP and OP were found to be 2.40 ± 0.16 μg L⁻¹ and 0.037 ± 0.001 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The relative recoveries of the water samples spiked with different concentrations of NP and OP were in the range of 88.3–106.7%. Compared with SPME and SPE, the proposed method can be successfully applied to the rapid and convenient determination of NP and OP in aqueous samples.     

Synthesis and application of a peroxidase-like molecularly imprinted polymer based on hemin for selective determination of serotonin in blood serum

This work reports the preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective catalytic detection of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). The process is based on the synthesis of polymers with hemin introduced as the catalytic center to mimic the active site of peroxidase. The copolymer MIP, containing artificial recognition sites for 5-HT, has been prepared by bulk polymerization using methacrylic acid (MAA) and hemin as the functional monomers, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker. For the determination of 5-HT, a flow injection analysis system coupled to an amperometric detector was optimized using multivariate analysis. The effects of different parameters, such as pH, buffer flow rate, buffer nature, peroxide concentration and sample volume were evaluated. After optimizing the experimental conditions, a linear response range from 1.0 up to 1000.0 μmol L⁻¹ was obtained with a sensitivity of 0.4 nA/μmol L⁻¹. The detection limit was found to be 0.30 μmol L⁻¹, while the precision values (n = 6) evaluated by relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) were, respectively, 1.3 and 1.7% for solutions of 50 and 750 μmol L⁻¹ of 5-HT. No interference was observed by structurally similar compounds (including epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine), thus validating the good performance of the imprinted polymer. The method was applied for the determination of 5-HT in spiked blood serum samples.     

Optimization of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography for the analysis of nitroaromatic compounds in water

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was developed for preconcentration and determination of some nitroaromatic compounds in wastewater samples. The effects of different variables on the extraction efficiency were studied simultaneously using experimental design. The variables of interest in the DLLME process were extraction and disperser solvent volumes, salt effect, sample volume, extraction temperature and extraction time. A Plackett-Burman design was performed for screening of variables in order to determine the significant variables affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were optimized by using a central composite design (CCD) and the response surface equations were derived. The optimum experimental conditions found from this statistical evaluation included: sample volume, 9 mL; extraction solvent (CCl₄) volume, 20 μL; disperser solvent (methanol) volume, 0.75 mL; sodium chloride concentration, 3% (w/v); extraction temperature, 20 °C and extraction time, 2 min. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration factors were between 202 and 314. Limit of detections (LODs) ranged from 0.09 μg L⁻¹ (for 2-nitrotoluene) to 0.5 μg L⁻¹ (for 2,4-dinitrotoluene). Linear dynamic ranges (LDRs) of 0.5-300 and 1-400 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) and dinitrotoluenes (DNTs), respectively. Performance of the present method was evaluated for extraction and determination of nitroaromatic compounds in wastewater samples in the range of microgram per liter and satisfactory results were obtained (RSDs < 10.1%).     

Solid-phase extraction combined with headspace single-drop microextraction of chlorophenols as their methyl ethers and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) of phenol and chlorophenols, their derivatization to methyl ethers, headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) of methyl ethers using 1-butanol as extraction solvent, and direct transfer of the drop into the injector for high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) have been reported. A flanged-end polytetrafluoroethylene sleeve, 3 mm × 0.5 mm, placed at the tip of the syringe needle, allowed the use of 10 μL solvent drop for extraction. The procedure has been optimized for variables involved in SPE and HS-SDME. A rectilinear relationship was obtained between the amount of chlorophenols and peak area ratio of their methyl ethers/internal standard (4-methoxyacetophenone) in the range 0.01-10 mg L⁻¹, correlation coefficient in the range 0.9956-0.9996, and limit of detection in the range 1.5-3.9 μg L⁻¹ when HS-SDME alone was used for sample preparation. When using coupled SPE and HS-SDME, the linear range obtained was 0.1-500 μg L⁻¹, correlation coefficient in the range 0.9974-0.9998, and the limit of detection in the range 0.04-0.08 μg L⁻¹. Spiked real samples have been analyzed with adequate accuracy, and application of the method has been demonstrated for the analysis of chlorophenols formed upon bamboo pulp bleaching.     

Combination of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with flame atomic absorption spectrometry using microsample introduction for determination of lead in water samples

The dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was combined with the flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for determination of lead in the water samples. Diethyldithiophosphoric acid (DDTP), carbon tetrachloride and methanol were used as chelating agent, extraction solvent and disperser solvent, respectively. A new FAAS sample introduction system was employed for the microvolume nebulization of the non-flammable chlorinated organic extracts. Injection of 20 μL volumes of the organic extract into an air-acetylene flame provided very sensitive spike-like and reproducible signals.Some effective parameters on the microextraction and the complex formation were selected and optimized. These parameters include extraction and disperser solvent type as well as their volume, extraction time, salt effect, pH and amount of the chelating agent. Under the optimized conditions, the enrichment factor of 450 was obtained from a sample volume of 25.0 mL. The enhancement factor, calculated as the ratio of the slopes of the calibration graphs with and without preconcentration, which was about 1000. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 1-70 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.5 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for seven replicate measurements of 5.0 and 50 μg L⁻¹ of lead were 3.8 and 2.0%, respectively. The relative recoveries of lead in tap, well, river and seawater samples at the spiking level of 20 μg L⁻¹ ranged from 93.8 to 106.2%. The characteristics of the proposed method were compared with those of the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), cloud point extraction (CPE), on-line and off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) as well as co-precipitation, based on bibliographic data. Operation simplicity, rapidity, low cost, high enrichment factor, good repeatability, and low consumption of the extraction solvent at a microliter level are the main advantages of the proposed method.     

Liquid–liquid–solid microextraction based on membrane-protected molecularly imprinted polymer fiber for trace analysis of triazines in complex aqueous samples

A novel liquid–liquid–solid microextraction (LLSME) technique based on porous membrane-protected molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated silica fiber has been developed. In this technique, a MIP-coated silica fiber was protected with a length of porous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane which was filled with water-immiscible organic phase. Subsequently the whole device was immersed into aqueous sample for extraction. The LLSME technique was a three-phase microextraction approach. The target analytes were firstly extracted from the aqueous sample through a few microliters of organic phase residing in the pores and lumen of the membrane, and were then finally extracted onto the MIP fiber. A terbutylazine MIP-coated silica fiber was adopted as an example to demonstrate the feasibility of the novel LLSME method. The extraction parameters such as the organic solvent, extraction and desorption time were investigated. Comparison of the LLSME technique was made with molecularly imprinted polymer based solid-phase microextraction (MIP-SPME) and hollow fiber membrane-based liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME), respectively. The LLSME, integrating the advantages of high selectivity of MIP-SPME and enrichment and sample cleanup capability of the HF-LPME into a single device, is a promising sample preparation method for complex samples. Moreover, the new technique overcomes the problem of disturbance from water when the MIP-SPME fiber was exposed directly to aqueous samples. Applications to analysis of triazine herbicides in sludge water, watermelon, milk and urine samples were evaluated to access the real sample application of the LLSME method by coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Low limits of detection (0.006–0.02 μg L⁻¹), satisfactory recoveries and good repeatability for real sample (RSD 1.2–9.6%, n = 5) were obtained. The method was demonstrated to be a fast, selective and sensitive pretreatment method for trace analysis of triazines in complex aqueous samples.     

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%.     

Preparation and evaluation of propranolol molecularly imprinted solid-phase microextraction fiber for trace analysis of β-blockers in urine and plasma samples

An improved multiple co-polymerization technique was developed to prepare a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber with propranolol as template. Investigation was performed for the characteristics and application of the fibers. The MIP coating was highly crosslinked and porous with the average thickness of only 25.0 μm. Consequently, the adsorption and desorption of β-blockers within the MIP coating could be achieved quickly. The specific selectivity was discovered with the MIP-coated fibers to propranolol and its structural analogues such as atenolol, pindolol, and alprenolol. In contrast, only non-specific adsorption could be shown with the non-imprinted polymer (NIP)-coated fibers, and the extraction efficiencies of propranolol and pindolol with the MIP-coated fibers were higher markedly than that with the commercial SPME fibers. A MIP-coated SPME coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for propranolol and pindolol determination was developed under the optimized extraction conditions. Linear ranges for propranolol and pindolol were 20–1000 μg L⁻¹ and detection limits were 3.8 and 6.9 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Propranolol and pindolol in the spiked human urine and plasma samples, extracted with organic solvent firstly, could be simultaneous monitored with satisfactory recoveries through this method.