Determination of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the simultaneous pre-concentration of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc after the formation of a complex with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN), and later analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the separation phase and the viscosity affecting the detection process were optimized. At pH 8.6, pre-concentration of only 50 ml of sample in the presence of 0.05% Triton X-114 and 2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ TAN permitted the detection of 0.099, 0.27, 1.1 and 0.095 ng ml⁻¹ cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. The enhancement factors were 57.7, 64.3, 55.6 and 63.7 for cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in water samples and a standard reference material (SRM).     

Cloud point extraction, preconcentration and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nickel and cobalt in water samples

Cloud point extraction has been used for the preconcentration and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nickel and cobalt after the formation of a complex with 2-amino-cyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid (ACDA), and latter analysis by spectrophotometer using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The parameters affecting the separation phase and detection process were optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions (i.e. pH=5, 0.07 mM ACDA, Triton X-114=0.25% (w/v)), calibration graphs were linear in the range of 20-500 and 20-200 microg l(-1) with detection limits of 10 and 7.5 microg l(-1) for Ni and Co, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Ni and Co in natural and waste water samples with satisfactory results.     

Cloud point extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry determination of manganese(II) and iron(III) in water samples

Cloud point extraction (CPE) was applied as a preconcentration step prior to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) determination of manganese(II) and iron(III) in water samples. After complexation with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP), the analytes could be quantitatively extracted to the phase rich in the surfactant p-octylpolyethyleneglycolphenylether (Triton X-100) and be concentrated, then determined by GFAAS. The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as solution pH, concentration of PMBP and Triton X-100, equilibration temperature and time, were investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration of 10 ml of sample solution permitted the detection of 0.02 ng ml(-1) of Mn(II) and 0.08 ng ml(-1) of Fe(III) with enrichment factors of 31 and 25 for Mn(II) and Fe(III), respectively. The proposed method was applied to determination of trace manganese(II) and iron(III) in water samples with satisfactory results.     

Spectrophotometric determination of paracetamol in urine with tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene as a coupling reagent and preconcentration with triton X-114 using cloud point extraction

In the present paper, conventional spectrophotometry in conjunction with cloud point extraction-preconcentration were investigated as alternative methods for paracetamol (PCT) assay in urine samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was employed for the preconcentration of p-aminophenol (PAP) prior to spectrophotometric determination using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) as an extractant. The developed methods were based on acidic hydrolysis of PCT to PAP, which reacted at room temperature with 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CAL4) in the presence of an oxidant (KIO(4)) to form an blue colored product. The PAP-CAL4 blue dye formed was subsequently entrapped in the surfactant micelles of Triton X-114. Cloud point phase separation with the aid of Triton X-114 induced by addition of Na(2)SO(4) solution was performed at room temperature as an advantage over other CPE assays requiring elevated temperatures. The 580 nm-absorbance maximum of the formed product was shifted bathochromically to 590 nm with CPE. The working range of 1.5-12 mug ml(-1) achieved by conventional spectrophotometry was reduced down to 0.14-1.5 mug ml(-1) with cloud point extraction, which was lower than those of most literature flow-through assays that also suffer from nonspecific absorption in the UV region. By preconcentrating 10 ml sample solution, a detection limit as low as 40.0 ng ml(-1) was obtained after a single-step extraction, achieving a preconcentration factor of 10. The stoichiometric composition of the dye was found to be 1 : 4 (PAP : CAL4). The impact of a number of parameters such as concentrations of CAL4, KIO(4), Triton X-100 (TX-100), and TX-114, extraction temperature, time periods for incubation and centrifugation, and sample volume were investigated in detail. The determination of PAP in the presence of paracetamol in micellar systems under these conditions is limited. The established procedures were successfully adopted for the determination of PCT in urine samples. Since the drug is rapidly absorbed and excreted largely in urine and its high doses have been associated with lethal hepatic necrosis and renal failure, development of a rapid, sensitive and selective assay of PCT is of vital importance for fast urinary screening and antidote administration before applying more sophisticated, but costly and laborious hyphenated instrumental techniques of HPLC-SPE-NMR-MS.     

Determinaton of trace amounts of titanium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

In this work a cloud-point extraction has been used for the preconcentration of the trace amounts of titanium after complex formation with morin (2′,3,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the phase separation and the viscosity affecting the detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were optimized. At pH 4.5, preconcentration of 50 mL of sample in the presence of 0.08% Triton X-114 and 1.0 × 10^?4 M morin enabled the detection limit (c _L = 3S _b/m) of 2.9 ng/mL titanium and linear range 0.02–2.0 μg/mL to be achived. The preconcentration factor was 61, and the relative standard deviation was 3.8% for 0.1 μg/mL solution of Ti(IV) by repeated assays (n = 9). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of titanium in well water, spiked water and plant (Haloxylon).     

Development of a new sequential injection in-line cloud point extraction system for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of manganese in food samples

A preconcentration method for manganese determination by sequential injection cloud point extraction with subsequent detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been developed. The enrichment of Mn was performed after a preliminary on-line cloud point extraction and entrapment of manganese-containing surfactant aggregated within a minicolumn packed with cotton. The laboratory-made reagent 4-(5′-bromo-2′-thiazolylazo)orcinol (Br-TAO) and the surfactant Triton X-114 were used for cloud point extraction. The manganese ions were eluted with sulphuric acid solution and directly introduced into the FAAS. Chemical and flow variables affecting the preconcentration were studied. Using a sample volume of 2.80 mL the limit of detection and enrichment factor were calculated to be 0.5 μg L⁻¹ and 14, respectively. The sample frequency is 48 h⁻¹, considering a total run cycle of 75 s. The accuracy of the proposed method has been demonstrated by the analysis of the certified reference biological materials rice flour and tomato leaves. The method has been applied to determination of manganese in food samples.     

Simultaneous cloud-point extraction of nine cations from water samples and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

The cloud-point methodology was successfully employed for the preconcentration of heavy metal cations at trace levels from aqueous samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Cations were taken into a complex with 8-quinolinol in an aqueous non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-114, medium and concentrated in the surfactant rich phase by bringing the solution to the cloud-point temperature. The preconcentration of only 100 mL of the solution with 1% Triton X-114 and 10(-3) M 8-quinolinol at pH 7.0 gave a preconcentration factor higher than 100 for most cations. Under these conditions, the detection limits of the cloud-point extraction-FAAS system were 0.8 - 15 microg/L.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nitroaniline isomers after cloud point extraction by using least-squares support vector machines

Cloud point extraction has been used for the preconcentration of m-nitroaniline, o-nitroaniline and p-nitroaniline and later simultaneous spectrophotometric determination using polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-100) as surfactant. The resolution of a ternary mixture of the nitroaniline isomers (after extraction by cloud point) by the application of least-squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) was performed. The chemical parameters affecting the separation phase and detection process were studied and optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions (i.e. pH 7.0, Triton X-100=0.6%, equilibrium time 20 min and cloud point 75 degrees C), calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.2-20.0, 0.1-15.0 and 0.1-17.0 microg ml(-1) with detection limits of 0.08, 0.05 and 0.06 microg ml(-1) for m-nitroaniline, o-nitroaniline and p-nitroaniline, respectively. The experimental calibration matrix was designed with 21 mixtures of these chemicals. The concentrations were varied between calibration graphs concentrations of nitroaniline isomers. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) for m-nitroaniline, o-nitroaniline and p-nitroaniline were 0.0146, 0.0308 and 0.0304, respectively. This procedure allows the simultaneous determination of nitroaniline isomers in synthetic and real matrix samples good reliability of the determination was proved.     

Sensitive and simple cloud-point preconcentration atomic absorption spectrometry: application to the determination of cobalt in urine samples.

A new approach for developing a cloud-point extraction-flame atomic absorption spectrometric method has been described and used for the determination of cobalt. In this approach, water was removed from the final diluted surfactant rich phase obtained in cloud-point extraction procedure. The results indicated that removing water from this phase increased the enhancement factor by 4-fold. 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) were used as a hydrophobic ligand and a nonionic surfactant, respectively. The chemical variables affecting the preconcentration step were optimized. The effect of the water concentration in the final diluted methanolic surfactant solution on the analytical signal was investigated. The results showed that the analytical signal decreased by 30% and 52% in 15% and 25% water concentrations in methanol, respectively. An enhancement factor of 115 was obtained for cobalt extracted from only 10 ml of a sample. The detection limit obtained under the optimal condition was 0.38 microg l(-1). The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of cobalt in urine samples.     

Cloud point preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of Cd and Pb in human hair

Cloud point methodology has been successfully used for the preconcentration of trace amounts of Cd and Pb as a prior step to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. O,O-Diethyldithiophosphate and Triton X-114 are used as hydrophobic ligand and non-ionic surfactant, respectively. After phase separation at 40 °C based on cloud point of the mixture, the surfactant-rich phase is diluted with methanol. The enriched analyte in the final solution is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using conventional nebulization. After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, enhancement factors of 22 and 43 were obtained for Cd and Pb, respectively. Under the experimental conditions used, preconcentration of only 10 ml of sample in the presence of 0.05% (v/v) Triton X-114 permitted the detection of 0.62 μg l⁻¹ of Cd and 2.86 μg l⁻¹of Pb. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Cd and Pb in human hair samples.     

Determination of lead in water samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the pre-concentration of lead, after the formation of a complex with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)-phenol (5-Br-PADAP), and later analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) using octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (TritonX-114) as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the separation phase were optimized. Separation of the two phases was accomplished by centrifugation for 15 min at 4000 rpm. Under the optimum conditions i.e., pH 8.0, cloud point temperature 40 °C, [5-Br-PADAP] = 2.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹, [Triton X-114] = 0.05%, added methanol volume = 0.15 ml, pre-concentration of only 10 ml sample permitted an enhancement factor of 50-fold. The lower limit of detection (LOD) obtained under the optimal conditions was 0.08 μg l⁻¹. The precision for 10 replicate determinations at 5 μg l⁻¹ Pb was 2.8% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.). The calibration graph using the pre-concentration system for lead was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9984 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 30 μg l⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of lead in water samples.     

Use of cloud point extraction methodology for the determination of PAHs priority pollutants in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and wavelength programming

The cloud point extraction methodology has been used to develop a new procedure for the preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples (bottled and network supply). Triton X-114 was used as extractant agent. The procedure, consisting of three steps (preconcentration into the surfactant, clean-up and concentration of the eluate), allows good detection limits to be reached (from nanograms per liter to even sub-nanograms per liter in some cases). Determination was carried out by HPLC, with fluorimetric detection and wavelength programming.     

Development of a cloud point extraction and preconcentration method for determination of trace aluminum in mineral waters by FAAS

A cloud point extraction (CPE) method has been developed for the preconcentration of trace aluminum prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The CPE method is based on the complex of Al(III) with Xylidyl Blue (XB) and then entrapped in non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114. The main factors affecting CPE efficiency, such as pH of sample solution, concentration of XB and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and time, were investigated in detail. An enrichment factor of 50 was obtained for the preconcentration of Al(III) with 50 mL solution. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of this method for Al(III) is 1.43 μg L^− 1, and the relative standard deviation is 2.7% at determination of 100 μg L^− 1 Al(III). The proposed method has been applied for determination of trace amount of aluminum in mineral water samples with satisfactory results. Also, the proposed method was applied to the certified reference materials. The results obtained were in good agreement with certified values.     

An on-line cloud point extraction system for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace manganese in food samples

The development of an on-line preconcentration system with cloud point extraction for the determination of manganese is described. The system was used to determine manganese levels in food samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). All steps of the cloud point extraction procedure were performed on-line, from the mixing of reagents to detection. The manganese ions are complexed in a mixture of the reagent 2-[2′-(6-methyl-benzothiazolylazo)]-4-bromophenol (Me-BTABr) and Triton X-114. The components are retained on a minicolumn and then desorbed with eluent acid to subsequent detection of manganese by FAAS. Under the optimized conditions, the method presented a detection limit of 0.7 μg L^− 1 and an enrichment factor of 17 to a volume of 3000 μL. The sampling frequency was 30 h^− 1. The accuracy of the method was tested by evaluating the amount of Mn in certified reference materials (apple leaves NIST 1515 and spinach leaves NIST 1570a). The proposed procedure was applied to food samples (shrimp powder, flaxseed flour, wheat flour, soy flour and oat), and the results agreed with those obtained by the determination of Mn in foods by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization (ETAAS).     

Micellar extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-ultra violet determination of some explosives in water samples

An analytical method based on the cloud point extraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography is used for the extraction, separation and determination of four explosives; octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazine (HMX), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). These compounds are extracted by using of Triton X-114 and cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). After extraction, the samples were analyzed using a HPLC-UV system. The parameters affecting extraction efficiency (such as Triton X-114 and CTAB concentrations, amount of Na₂SO₄, temperature, incubation and centrifuge times) were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration factor was 40 and the improvement factors of 34, 29, 61 and 42 with detection limits of 0.09, 0.14, 0.08 and 0.40 (μg L⁻¹) were obtained for HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of these compounds in water samples and showed recovery percentages of 97-102% with RSD values of 2.13-4.92%.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of p-benzoquinone and chloranil after microcrystalline naphthalene extraction by using genetic algorithm-based wavelength selection-partial least squares regression.

Microcrystalline naphthalene extraction has been used for the preconcentration of p-benzoquinone and tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (chloranil), after their reaction by aniline, and later simultaneous spectrophotometric analysis by genetic algorithm-partial least squares (GA-PLS) calibration. The chemical variables affecting the analytical performance of the methodology were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions i.e., [aniline] = 0.05 M and [naphthalene] = 2.2% (w/v), preconcentration of 25 ml of sample solution permitted the detection of 0.32 and 0.23 microg ml(-1) for p-benzoquinone and chloranil, respectively. The predictive abilities of partial least squares regression (PLS) and genetic algorithm-partial least squares regression (GA-PLS) were examined for simultaneous determination of two quinones. The GA-PLS shows superiority over other PLS methods due to the wavelength selection in PLS calibration using a genetic algorithm without loss of prediction capacity, provides useful information about the chemical system.     

pH-mediated dual-cloud point extraction as a preconcentration and clean-up technique for capillary electrophoresis determination of phenol and m-nitrophenol

pH-mediated dual-cloud point extraction (dCPE) technique for capillary electrophoresis (CE) determination of phenol and m-nitrophenol is proposed in this paper. This technique for the preconcentration and clean-up of the two analytes includes two steps through simple pH-mediation. The analytes are transferred into surfactant-rich phase in the first step (under acidic condition) with Triton X-114 as the extractant because the two analytes become hydrophobic in acidic solution. They were back-extracted into alkaline aqueous phase in the second cloud point step. Because the concentration of Triton X-114 in the final aqueous solution after dCPE is only around critical micelle concentration, its adsorption on the inner wall of capillary and its possible influence on electrophoretic separation are eliminated. Baseline separation of phenol and m-nitrophenol is realized in a 60 cm x 75 microm i.d. capillary at 18 kV using 50 mM boric acid solution (pH 9.5). The preconcentration factors are 24.0 for phenol and 22.5 for m-nitrophenol. The detection limits of phenol and m-nitrophenol are 2.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) and 2.5 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of two analytes in spiked natural water samples.     

Cloud point extraction of trace metals from seawater and determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with iridium permanent modifier.

A simple method is described for preconcentration and separation of trace metals such as Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb simultaneously from seawater using a cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure. Triton X-114 nonionic surfactant and ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) have been used as an extraction medium and a chelating extractant, respectively. The amounts of Triton X-114 and APDC and the pH value necessary for extraction were carefully optimized. The preconcentration factor of about 200 is achieved for all the studied metals. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with an Ir coated graphite tube as permanent chemical modifier has been used for determination. The limits of detection of Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb were 0.003, 0.008, 0.003, 0.006, 0.015, 0.002, 0.009 and 0.01 ng ml-1, respectively. Certified reference materials such as CASS-4 and NASS-5 (seawater) and NIST-1640 (natural water) have been used for validation of the new method. The relative standard deviation (%) obtained for all the metals are in the range 0.8 - 3.6% for natural water and 11-25% for seawater materials, except for Co in NASS-5 for which it was 50%.     

Cloud point preconcentration of rather polar compounds: application to the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of priority pollutant chlorophenols

The potential of the cloud point methodology for the preconcentration of relatively polar compounds was studied using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 and five EPA chlorophenols as test analytes. Analyte determination was performed using reversed-phase gradient LC with electrochemical and spectrophotometric detection. The amount of surfactant used is a critical variable in the preconcentration factor because it determines the extraction yield and the volume of surfactant-rich phase obtained. These values were determined as a function of the Triton X-114 concentration, together with the phase ratio, which allows prediction of the maximum preconcentration factor under given conditions.     

Temperature-induced aggregation ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method for separation trace amount of cobalt ion

A simple and rapid temperature induced aggregation micro extraction method based on ionic liquid for extraction and preconcentration of cobalt ions from water samples was proposed. In this investigation small amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Hmim][PF₆] and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Hmim][Tf₂N] (as extractant solvents) were added in a sample solution containing Triton X-114 (as an anti-sticking agent). After centrifuging the cooled solution, analysis was carried out by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Some effective parameters have been optimized. Under the optimum conditions, detection limit of the method was 0.44 ng/mL and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 100.0 ng/mL cobalt was ±2.3% (n = 7).The calibration curve was linear in the range of 3.0–200.0 ng/mL cobalt and enrichment factor was obtained as 26.5. The applicability of the technique was evaluated by the determination of trace amounts of cobalt in several water samples and synthetic alloys.