Use of surfactant-mediated phase separation (cloud point extraction) with affinity ligands for the extraction of hydrophilic proteins

The feasibility of utilizing a zwitterionic surfactant, 3-(nonyldimethylammonio)propylsulfate, or nonionic surfactant, Triton X-114, mediated phase separation in conjunction with affinity ligands was studied for hydrophilic protein extractions. Below (or above) its critical temperature (so-called cloud point), aqueous solutions of zwitterionic (or nonionic) surfactants separate into two immiscible phases, a surfactant-rich phase and an aqueous phase. Avidin was successfully extracted into the zwitterionic surfactant-rich phase when a small amount of the affinity ligand, N- biotinoyl)dipalmitoyl- l -alpha- phosphatidyl ethanolamine, was added to the system. It was not possible to extract hexokinase into the surfactant-rich phase of the nonionic surfactant, Triton X-114, even if a considerable amount of octyl-beta-d-glucoside was added to the solution as an affinity ligand. In contrast, the use of the zwitterionic surfactant and octyl-beta-d-glucoside as an affinity ligand proved to be effective for the extraction of hexokinase. The hexokinase extraction efficiency was found to depend upon the solution pH and the concentration of the affinity ligand in the system. The results clearly indicate that hydrophilic proteins can be successfully extracted with surfactant mediated phase separations (cloud point extractions) via use of the zwitterionic surfactant, 3-(nonyldimethylammonio)propylsulfate, and appropriate affinity ligands. Some advantages of zwitterionic surfactants in such extractive processes relative to that of nonionic surfactants are delineated.     

Determination of ultra trace amounts of bismuth in biological and water samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) after cloud point extraction

A new approach for a cloud point extraction electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method was used for determining bismuth. The aqueous analyte was acidified with sulfuric acid (pH 3.0-3.5). Triton X-114 was added as a surfactant and dithizone was used as a complexing agent.After phase separation at 50 °C based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted using tetrahydrofuran (THF). Twenty microliters of the enriched solution and 10 μl of 0.1% (w/v) Pd(NO₃)₂ as chemical modifier were dispersed into the graphite tube and the analyte determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. After optimizing extraction conditions and instrumental parameters, a preconcentration factor of 196 was obtained for a sample of only 10 ml. The detection limit was 0.02 ng ml⁻¹ and the analytical curve was linear for the concentration range of 0.04-0.60 ng ml⁻¹. Relative standard deviations were <5%.The method was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of bismuth in tap water and biological samples (urine and hair).     

On the influence of some strong electrolytes on the partitioning of acetic acid to aqueous/organic two-phase systems in the presence of tri-n-octylamine: Part II: Toluene as organic solvent

Water-insoluble amines (dissolved in an organic solvent/organic solvent mixture) are often used for the extractive recovery of carboxylic acids from aqueous phases. The basic design of the extraction process requires a thermodynamic framework that should be able to describe the liquid–liquid phase equilibrium not only in the phase forming systems (water + carboxylic acid + organic solvent + reactive extractant), but also when the aqueous feed phase contains additionally small amounts of strong electrolytes. Even small amounts of strong electrolytes might considerably reduce the recovery rate. In part I of this series such a model was presented and discussed for methyl isobutyl ketone as organic solvent and tri-n-octylamine (TnOA) as the chemical extractant. The present part II is to demonstrate that the procedures/methods described for methyl isobutyl ketone as organic solvent can be applied also for other organic solvents. By way of example, here toluene is that organic solvent. New experimental results are reported for the influence of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, sodium sulfate, sodium acetate and hydrochloric acid on the partitioning of acetic acid to coexisting aqueous/organic liquid phases of the system (water + toluene + tri-n-octylamine) at 25 °C. An extension/adaptation of the previously published thermodynamic framework is successfully applied to describe/predict the new experimental liquid–liquid phase equilibrium data.     

Selective cloud point extraction and preconcentration of trace amounts of silver as a dithizone complex prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination

Dithizone (diphenylthiocarbazone) was used as a complexing agent in cloud point extraction for the first time and applied for selective preconcentration of trace amounts of silver. The analyte in the initial aqueous solution was acidified with sulfuric acid (pH<1) and Triton X-114 was added as a surfactant. After phase separation, based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant rich phase was diluted with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the analyte determined in the enriched solution by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, a preconcentration factor of 43 was obtained for only 10 ml of sample. The analytical curve was linear in the range of 3-200 ng ml⁻¹ and the limit of detection was 0.56 ng ml⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the determination of silver in water samples.     

A novel cloud point extraction approach using cationic surfactant for the separation and pre-concentration of chromium species in natural water prior to ICP-DRC-MS determination

A novel cloud point phase separation of cationic surfactant, Aliquat-336 and capabilities of its reactive solubilizing sites for selective extraction of chromium species at ultra trace levels was examined in natural water. The phase separation behavior of Aliquat-336 is studied with various additives. The nonionic surfactant, Triton X-114 was found to induce the cloud point phase separation of Aliquat-336. The separation of anionic Cr(VI) was enabled by the formation of ion associate with quaternary ammonium head group of Aliquat-336 at pH 2, and the recovery of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) were 101.4 ± 1.4% and 2.2 ± 0.4%, respectively at 0.5-1 ng mL⁻¹, Total Cr was pre-concentrated as Cr-APDC species using the hydrophobic tail group at pH 6.5. The Cr(III) concentration was obtained by subtracting Cr(VI) from total Cr. The recovery of total Cr was 99.5 ± 1.2%. Parameters affecting extraction were assessed. The procedure was applied to NIST 1643c and NIST 1643d waters, and the sum of individual species obtained was compared with the certified chromium values. The method was also applied to various natural waters with limits of detection and pre-concentration factor of 0.010 and 0.025 ng mL⁻¹; 10 and 10, respectively, for Cr(VI) and Cr(III)-APDC using ICP-MS operated in DRC mode.     

Dye aggregation and influence of pre-micelles on heterogeneous catalysis: A photophysical approach

Common cationic dyes used for laser and fluorescent probes present low solubility in water. In order to increase the dye concentration in aqueous solutions, anionic surfactant can be added. The strong interaction between anionic surfactant and cationic dye can affect drastically the dye absorption and fluorescence properties. Here we observed that the fluorescence of the species in aqueous solution is maximized at condition of complete micellization of surfactants at critical micelle concentration (CMC). In addition, combined measurements of absorption, emission and fluorescence lifetime provide fundamental information on the critical concentration of H-aggregates formation and monomer separation, induced by pre-micelles and homomicelles on different surfactant sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) concentration. The experimental results show how to find precisely the critical concentration of H-aggregates by optical method in two different xanthene-derived molecules: rhodamine 6G and rhodamine B. The adequate transference of electron from excited dye to the conduction band of semiconductor (TiO₂) promotes the creation of reactive species that provides the degradation of dye with advantage of use of irradiation in the visible region and strong photobleaching with direct exposure to the visible light irradiation in a scale of time of 10 min.     

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration of cadmium ions with anionic–nonionic surfactants

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF), a surfactant-based separation process, is promising in removing multivalent metal ions from aqueous solutions. The micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration of cadmium from aqueous solution was studied in systems of anionic surfactant and mixed anionic/nonionic surfactants. The micelle sizes and zeta potentials were investigated by dynamic light scattering measurements. The effects of feed surfactant concentration, cadmium concentration and the molar ratio of nonionic surfactants to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the cadmium removal efficiency, the rejection of SDS and nonionic surfactants and the permeate flux were investigated. The rejection efficiencies of cadmium in the MEUF operation were enhanced with higher SDS concentration and moderate Cd concentration. When SDS concentration was fixed at 3 mM, the optimal ranges of the molar ratios of nonionic surfactants to SDS for the removal of cadmium were 0.4–0.7 for Brij 35 and 0.5–0.7 for Triton X-100, respectively. With the addition of nonionic surfactants, the SDS dosage and the SDS concentration in the permeate were reduced efficiently.     

Aqueous two-phase extraction system of sodium perfluorooctanoate and dodecyltriethylammonium bromide mixture and its application to porphyrins and dyes

A new aqueous two-phase system is developed consisting of sodium perfluorooctanoate (SPFO) and dodecyltriethylammonium bromide (C₁₂NE) cationic–anionic surfactant mixture. The two phases with a clear interfacial boundary formed when SPFO to C₁₂NE molar ratio is 1.2:1 in the presence of 5% (v/v) nitric acid. The top phase is transparent and the bottom phase is opalescent. Extractions of dyes, porphyrin compounds with the two-phase system were performed. The results show that hydrophobic molecules were extracted into the surfactant-rich bottom phase with high extraction efficiencies. Positively charged porphyrins were extracted into the bottom phase with higher extraction efficiencies than negatively charged porphyrins. Such a new anionic surfactant two-phase system would be complementary to the C₁₂NE–SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) cationic two-phase which has been proven to be effective for extractions of porphyrins with substituted groups like carboxyl or sulfonic acid groups.     

Salt Effects on the Aqueous Two-Phase System of Gemini(12-3-12, 2Br<Superscript>−</Superscript>)/SDS/PEG

The effect of added salts (NaCl, KCl and NaBr) on the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formed in mixtures of Gemini(12-3-12, 2Br⁻)/sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyethylene glycol has been investigated. Phase diagrams of the aqueous systems containing Gemini(12-3-12, 2Br⁻), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), polyethylene glycol(PEG) and a salt have been determined experimentally at 313.15 K. The results indicate that the addition of salts not only induces the appearance of ATPS-A (in which anionic surfactant is in excess), shortens the phase separation time, enlarges the regions of ATPS-C (in which cationic surfactant is in excess), and decreases the minimum concentration required for forming an ATPS, but also alters the matching between anionic and cationic surfactants. Extractive experiments also showed that these salts notably enhance the extraction ability of ATPS; the Gemini-rich phase exhibits prominent cohesive action with xylenol orange, regardless of whether or not it is the upper phase or the lower phase.     

Separation and sweeping of flavonoids by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography using mixed anionic and cationic surfactants

In this report, a novel means for the separation and sweeping of flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, calycosin, ononin and calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside) by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography using mixed anionic and cationic surfactants as modified pseudostationary phase was presented. The optimized background electrolyte consisted of 0.5% (w/v) ethyl acetate, 2.0% (w/v) SDS, 9 mM DTAC, 4.0% (w/v) 1-butanol and 10 mM sodium borate or 25 mM phosphoric acid. We systematically investigated the separation and preconcentration conditions, including the concentrations of surfactant, types of sweeping, sample matrix, the effect of high salt or acetonitrile, and sample injection volume. It was found that the use of mixed surfactants significantly enhanced the separation efficiency through the change of the efficient electrophoretic mobility of analytes. Compared with normal sample injection, 185-508-fold sensitivity enhancement in terms of limit of detection was achieved through effective sweeping of large sample volume at 50 mbar pressure (up to 45% capillary length). At last, the proposed method was suitable for the determination of Radix Astragali sample.     

Submicellar and micellar reversed-phase liquid chromatographic modes applied to the separation of β-blockers

The behaviour of a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) system (i.e. elution order, resolution and analysis time), used in the analysis of β-blockers with acetonitrile–water mobile phases, changes drastically upon addition of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS). Surfactant monomers cover the alkyl-bonded phase in different extent depending on the concentration of both modifiers, in the ranges 1 × 10⁻³–0.15 M SDS and 5–50% acetonitrile. Meanwhile, the surfactant is dissolved in the mobile phase as free monomers, associated in small clusters or forming micelles. Four characteristic RPLC modes are yielded, with transition regions between them: hydro-organic, micellar, and low and high submicellar. The mobile phases in the two latter modes contain a concentration of SDS below or well above the critical micellar concentration (CMC) in water (i.e. 8 × 10⁻³ M), and more than 30% acetonitrile. High submicellar RPLC appeared as the most promising mode, as it allowed full resolution of the β-blockers in practical times, while these were unresolved or highly retained in the other RPLC modes. The strong attraction of the cationic solutes to the anionic SDS makes a direct transfer mechanism between surfactant molecules in the stationary and mobile phases likely.     

Response surface methodology for the modelling of copper removal from aqueous solutions using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the cumulative effect of the various parameters, namely surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), anionic) concentration, pH, and surfactant/metal molar ratio and to optimise the process conditions for the maximum removal of copper from aqueous solutions via micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). For obtaining the mutual interaction between the variables and optimising these variables, a central composite design (CCD) by use of response surface methodology was employed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the quadratic model demonstrated that the model was highly significant. The model was statistically tested and verified by experimentation. Values of pH at the range of ca. 7.5 were very successful for the separation. The maximum rejection coefficient of 98.4% was obtained for the following optimal conditions: SDS/Cu²⁺ molar ratio *r = 7.85, *pH 7.36, *C_surf = 6.82 g/l SDS. A modification of micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration for the removal of copper from aqueous solutions was studied by the implementation of sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyethylene glycol (PEG) aggregates. A full factorial design (FFD) was employed for studying the effect of molar ratio of surfactant/metal, pH and mass ratio of surfactant/polymer at a constant concentration of surfactant equal to 5 g/l. The comparison of the two systems in the region of their common factors showed that the addition of polyethylene glycol caused a slight increase in rejection coefficient of copper but also could function as ‘scavenger’ for surfactant species.     

Aqueous Two‐Phase System (ATPS) Containing Gemini (12‐3‐12,2Br−) and SDS I: Phase Diagram and Properties of ATPS

Two phases coexist in an aqueous system that contains the two surfactants cationic gemini 12‐3‐12,2Br? and anionic SDS. An aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) is formed in a narrow region of the ternary phase diagram different from that of traditional aqueous cationic‐anionic surfactant systems. In that region, the molar ratio of gemini to SDS varies with the total concentration of surfactants. ATPS not only has higher stability but also has longer phase separation time for the new systems than that of the traditional system. Furthermore, the optical properties of ATPS are different at different total concentrations. All of these experimental observations can be attributed to the unique properties of gemini surfactant and the synergy between the cationic gemini surfactant and the anionic surfactant SDS.     

TiO2 nanotube, nanowire, and rhomboid-shaped particle thin films fixed on a titanium metal plate

Titanium dioxide thin films having various nanostructures could be formed by various treatments on sodium titanate nanotube thin films approximately 5 μm thick fixed on titanium metal plates. Using an aqueous solution with a lower hydrochloric acid concentration (0.01 mol/L) and a higher reaction temperature (90 °C) than those previously employed, we obtained a hydrogen titanate nanotube thin film fixed onto a titanium metal plate by H⁺ ion-exchange treatment of the sodium titanate nanotube thin film. Calcination of hydrogen titanate nanotube thin films yielded porous thin films consisting of anatase nanotubes, anatase nanowires, and anatase nanoparticles grown directly from the titanium metal plate. H⁺ ion-exchange treatment of sodium titanate nanotube thin films at 140 °C resulted in porous thin films consisting of rhomboid-shaped anatase nanoparticles.     

Organocatalysis in aqueous micellar medium: a new protocol for the synthesis of [1,2,4]-triazolyl-thiazolidinones

A new environmentally friendly methodology for the efficient synthesis of biologically significant triazole thiazolidinone hybrids in aqueous medium, using acetic acid as an organocatalyst in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant has been developed for the first time. The effect of several surfactants on the yield and completion time of the reaction was investigated and it was found that the use of CTAB at 60 °C gave the best results (79–96% in 20 min–35 min) for the synthesis of the target compounds.     

Use of a solid-phase extraction disk module in a FI system for the automated preconcentration and determination of surfactants using potentiometric detection

The global determination of anionic surfactants is proposed by using flow injection potentiometry, and by employing specifically developed tubular flow-through ion selective electrodes (ISEs). The low concentration requirements needed for the environmental application are obtained with an on-line preconcentration stage embedded in the flow system, which has as its goal the unattended monitoring of anionic surfactants in surface waters. The on-line preconcentration is achieved by employing an octadecylsilica extraction disk in the FIA system. This stage performs the solid phase extraction (SPE) for the enrichment and purification of the target analytes from common interfering anions. The outlined procedure improves the detection limit of a direct injection system, which is decreased from 10 to 0.25 μM by using a preconcentration volume of 3.0 mL and 50 μL of 75% acetonitrile in water as the eluent. Precision was estimated as 2.9% relative standard deviation (n = 20) for a 0.25 μM (0.070 mg·L^− 1) sodium docecylsulfate standard.     

Surfactant effect on the lower critical solution temperature of poly(organophosphazenes) with methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) and amino acid esters as side groups

 The surfactant effect on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of thermosensitive poly(organophosphazenes) with methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) and amino acid esters as side groups was examined in terms of molecular interactions between the polyphosphazenes and surfactants including various anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants in aqueous solution. Most of the anionic and cationic surfactants increased the LCST of the polymers: the LCST increased more sharply with increasing length and hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic part of the surfactant molecule. The ΔLCSTs (T _0.03M− T _0M), the change in the LCST by addition of 0 and 0.03 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were found to be 7.0 and 14.5 °C for the polymers bearing ethyl esters of glycine and aspartic acid, respectively. The LCST increase of poly(organophosphazene) having a more hydrophobic aspartic acid ethyl ester was 2 times larger compared with that of the polymer having glycine ethyl ester as a side group. The binding behavior of SDS to the polymer bearing glycine ethyl ester as a hydrophobic group was explained from the results of titration of the polymer solutions containing SDS with tetrapropylammonium bromide. Graphic models for the molecular interactions of polymer/surfactant and polymer/surfactant/salt in aqueous solutions were proposed. Received: 17 February 2000/Accepted: 25 April 2000     

A water-in-oil emulsion containing Kelex-100 for the speciation analysis of trace heavy metals in water

A water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion containing Kelex-100 (7-dodecenyl-8-quinolinol) and Span-80 (sorbitan monooleate, non-ionic surfactant) was ultrasonically prepared from 1.0 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid and a (1 + 3) mixture of toluene and n-heptane. The resulting emulsion was gradually injected into water sample and dispersed as numerous tiny globules (0.01-0.1 mm in diameter). Dissolved inorganic species (free metal species) of heavy metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Cu, Cd, and Pb) were selectively transported through the oil layer into the internal aqueous phase of the emulsion, leaving other species, such as humic complexes and suspended particles (larger than 1 μm), in the sample solution. After collecting the dispersed emulsion globules, they were demulsified and the heavy metals in the segregated aqueous phase were determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The emulsion-based separation method allowed the selective collection of free metal species with a high concentration factor of 100, whereas the conventional solvent extraction did not offer such discrimination. This unique property of the emulsion method was successfully applied to the selective determination of free species of heavy metals in fresh water samples.     

Voltammetric behavior of benzo[a]pyrene at boron-doped diamond electrode: a study of its determination by adsorptive transfer stripping voltammetry based on the enhancement effect of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylsulfate

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a member of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) class, is one of the most potent PAH carcinogens. The electrochemical oxidation of BaP was first studied by cyclic voltammetry at the boron-doped diamond electrode in non-aqueous solvent (dimethylsulphoxide with lithium perchlorate). The compound was irreversibly oxidized in a single step at high positive potential, resulting in the well-resolved formation of a couple with a reduction and re-oxidation wave at much lower potentials. Special attention was given to the use of adsorptive stripping voltammetry together with a medium exchange procedure in aqueous and aqueous/surfactant solutions over the pH range of 2.0-8.0. The technique in aqueous solutions had little value in practice because of too small oxidation peak current. This problem was solved when surfactants were added into the sample solution, by which the oxidation peak currents of BaP were found enhanced dramatically. The employed surfactants were sodium dodecylsulfate (anionic, SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic, CTAB) and Tween 80 (non-ionic). Using square-wave stripping mode, the compound yielded a well-defined voltammetric response in Britton-Robinson buffer, pH 2.0 containing 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ M SDS at +1.07 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) (after 120 s accumulation at +0.10 V). The process could be used to determine BaP in the concentration range of 16-200 nM (4.04-50.46 ng mL⁻¹), with a detection limit of 2.86 nM (0.72 ng mL⁻¹). This method was also applied to determine BaP in model water sample prepared by adding its different concentrations into tap water.