Analysis of PAHs in Water and Fruit Juice Samples by DLLME Combined with LC-Fluorescence Detection

A simple, rapid and efficient method termed dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection, has been developed for the extraction and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and fruit juice samples. Parameters such as the kind and volume of extraction solvent and dispersive solvent, extraction time and salt effect were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the enrichment factors ranged from 296 to 462. The linear range was 0.01–100 μg L^?1 and limits of detection were 0.001–0.01 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, for 5 μg L^?1 of PAHs) varied from 1.0 to 11.5% (n = 3). The relative recoveries of PAHs from tap, river, well and sea water samples at spiking level of 5 μg L^?1 were 82.6–117.1, 74.9–113.9, 77.0–122.4 and 86.1–119.3%, respectively. The relative recoveries of PAHs from grape and apple juice samples at spiking levels of 2.5 and 5 μg L^?1 were 80.8–114.7 and 88.9–123.0%, respectively. It is concluded that the proposed method can be successfully applied for determination of PAHs in water and fruit juice samples.     

Optimization of parameters for the alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of estrogens in water

Extraction and determination of estrogens in water samples were performed using alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (AA-DLLME) and high-performance liquid chromatography (UV/Vis detection). A Plackett–Burman design and a central composite design were applied to evaluate the AA-DLLME procedure. The effect of six parameters on extraction efficiency was investigated. The factors studied were volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, pH, amount of salt and agitation rate. According to Plackett–Burman design results, the effective parameters were volume of extraction solvent and pH. Next, a central composite design was applied to obtain optimal condition. The optimized conditions were obtained at 220 μL 1-octanol as extraction solvent, 700 μL ethanol as dispersive solvent, pH 6 and 200 μL sample volume. Linearity was observed in the range of 1–500 μg L^?1 for E2 and 0.1–100 μg L^?1 for E1. Limits of detection were 0.1 μg L^?1 for E2 and 0.01 μg L^?1 for E1. The enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were 42.2, 46.4 and 80.4, 86.7, respectively. The relative standard deviations for determination of estrogens in water were in the range of 3.9–7.2 % (n = 3). The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of estrogens in environmental water samples.     

Application of vortex-assisted supramolecular solvent liquid–liquid microextraction for trace determination of nitroaniline isomers

A novel, fast and efficient method for the analysis of nitroaniline isomers as model compounds was developed using vortex-assisted supramolecular solvent liquid–liquid microextraction (VA-SMS-LLME). A vortex mixer was used as the mixer in supramolecular solvent liquid–liquid microextraction, and it decreased the extraction time greatly. Several important parameters influencing extraction efficiency, such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, pH of sample, salt effect and extraction time, were optimised in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factor was 133 for p-nitroaniline, 98 for m-nitroaniline and 115 for o-nitroaniline, and the limits of detection by HPLC were 0.3, 1.0 and 0.5 μg L^?1, respectively. Linearity with determination coefficient from 0.9981 to 0.9993 was evaluated using water samples spiked with the nitroanilines at fourteen different concentration ranging from 4 to 1000 μg L^?1. The ranges of intra-day and inter-day precision (n = 5) at 10 μg L^?1 of nitroanilines were 1.67–7.05% and 9.4–11.6%, respectively. The VA-SMS-LLME method was successfully applied for preconcentration of nitroanilines in environmental water samples.     

Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water and Fruit Samples

A fast and effective preconcentration method for extraction of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was developed using a homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction based on phase separation phenomenon in a ternary solvent (water/methanol/chloroform) system. The phase separation phenomenon occurred by salt addition. After centrifugation, the extraction solvent was sedimented in the bottom of the conical test tube. The OCPs were transferred into the sedimented phase during the phase separation step. The extracted OCPs were determined using gas chromatography–electron capture detector. Several factors influencing the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Optimal results were obtained at the following conditions: volume of the consolute solvent (methanol), 1.0 mL; volume of the extraction solvent (chloroform), 55 μL; volume of the sample, 5 mL; and concentration of NaCl, 5 % (w/v). Under optimal conditions, the preconcentration factors in the range of 486–1,090, the dynamic linear range of 0.01–100 μg L^?1, and the limits of detection of 0.001–0.03 μg L^?1 were obtained for the OCPs. Using internal standard, the relative standard deviations for 1 μg L^?1 of the OCPs in the water samples were obtained in the range of 4.9–8.6 % (n = 5). Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of the OCPs in water and fruit samples.     

Liquid–Liquid Microextraction of Nitrophenols Using Supramolecular Solvent and Their Determination by HPLC with UV Detection

A novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly method—supramolecular solvent liquid–liquid microextraction (SMS-LLME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)—was first established for the determination of p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol in water samples. Several important parameters influencing extraction efficiency, such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, pH of sample, temperature, salt effect, extraction time, and stirring rate, were optimized in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factor was 166 for p-nitrophenol and 160 for o-nitrophenol, and the limits of detection by HPLC were 0.26 and 0.58 μg L^?1, respectively. Excellent linearity with coefficients of correlation from 0.9996 to 0.9997 was observed in the concentration range of 2–1,000 μg L^?1. The ranges of intra- and interday precision (n = 5) at 100 μg L^?1 of nitrophenols were 5.85–7.76 and 10.2–11.9 %, respectively. The SMS-LLME method was successfully applied for preconcentration of nitrophenols in environmental water samples.     

Ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the separation and preconcentration of lead in water samples prior to FAAS determination without chelating agent

In the present study, an environment-friendly sample preparation method termed ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed for the determination of Pb(II) ion in water samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination. In this method, ionic liquid was used as an extraction solvent instead of the organic solvent used in the conventional dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) assay, and there is no need for a chelating agent. Several variables that may affect extraction efficiencies, including pH, the volume of ionic liquid, the type and volume of disperser solvent, salt addition, and the time for centrifugation and extraction were studied and optimised. Under the optimised conditions, the calibration curve exhibited linearity over the range of 20.0–1000.0 μg L^?1. The enrichment factor and the limit of detection based on 3S_b/m were 35.0 and 5.9 μg L^?1, respectively. Seven replicate determination of a solution containing of 100.0 μg L^?1 Pb(II) ions gave a relative standard deviation of ±2.1%. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method for Pb(II) determination was assessed by the analysis of certi?ed reference material and various water samples and the satisfactory results were obtained.     

Simultaneous Determination of Deltamethrin and Permethrin in Water Samples Using Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction via Flotation Assistance and GC-FID

A new method was developed for the simultaneous determination of deltamethrin and permethrin in water samples with homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction via flotation assistance and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. A special extraction cell was designed to facilitate collection of the low density solvent extracts. The sample solution was added into the extraction cell, which contained an appropriate mixture of n-hexane (as an extraction solvent) and acetone (as a homogeneous solvent). Air flotation allowed the extraction solvent to be collected from the top of the solution. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was observed in the range of 1.0–200 μg L^?1 with a correlation coefficient (r ²) greater than 0.9980 for both of the analytes. The limits of detection were 0.2 and 0.3 μg L^?1 for deltamethrin and permethrin, respectively (S/N = 3). The developed method was successfully applied to determine the two pesticides in three different water samples.     

Determination of Six Organophosphorus Pesticides in Water by Single-Drop Microextraction Coupled with GC-NPD

A single-drop microextraction (SDME) procedure with a modified microsyringe was developed for the analysis of six organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in water. Microsyringe was modified by attaching a 2-mm cone onto the needle tip end. The conditions affecting SDME performance including microextraction solvent, stirring speed, extraction time, ionic strength and sample pH were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges of the SDME with ethion as internal standard were 0.05–50 μg L^?1 (except for dimethoate 5–5,000 μg L^?1) and limits of detection (LOD) were 0.012–0.020 μg L^?1 (except for dimethoate 0.45 μg L^?1). Recoveries of six pesticides were in the range of 70.6–107.5 % with relative standard deviation lower than 6.0 %. The modified method is simple, rapid and sensitive, and acceptable in the analysis of OPPs pesticides in water samples.     

LC Determination of Trace Amounts of Phenoxyacetic Acid Herbicides in Water after Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) for extraction and preconcentration of phenoxyacetic acid herbicides in water samples is described. After adjusting the pH to 1.5, the sample was extracted in the presence of 10% w/v sodium chloride by injecting 1 mL acetone as disperser solvent containing 25 μL of chlorobenzene as extraction solvent. The effect of parameters, such as the nature and amount of extraction and disperser solvents, ionic strength of the sample, pH, temperature and extraction time were optimized. DLLME was followed by LC for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 4-chloro-2-methyl phenoxyacetic acid. The method had good linearity and a wide linear dynamic range (0.5–750 μg L^?1) with a detection limit of 0.16 μg L^?1 for both the PAAs, making it suitable for their determination in water samples.     

Application of DLLME to Isolation and Concentration of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Environmental Water Samples

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection was applied for determination of selected anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals: ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. Development of DLLME procedure included optimisation of several important parameters such as kind and volume of extracting and dispersive solvents as well as sample pH. Under optimised conditions a two-step extraction with sonication was used. Chloroform was applied as the extracting and acetone as dispersing solvent. Calibration curves ranges were 1–500 μg L^?1 for naproxen and ibuprofen and 0.25–500 μg L^?1 for ketoprofen and diclofenac with correlation coefficients at least 0.997. Limits of quantitation were from 0.5 to 10 ng L^?1. The developed analytical method was employed for determination of ibubrofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and diclofenac in river and tap water samples. The results showed that DLLME is a simple, rapid and sensitive analytical technique for the pre-concentration of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in environmental water samples.     

Determination of BTEX Compounds by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction with GC–FID

Rapid, inexpensive, and efficient sample-preparation by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) then gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) have been used for extraction and analysis of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in water samples. In this extraction method, a mixture of 25.0 μL carbon disulfide (extraction solvent) and 1.00 mL acetonitrile (disperser solvent) is rapidly injected, by means of a syringe, into a 5.00-mL water sample in a conical test tube. A cloudy solution is formed by dispersion of fine droplets of carbon disulfide in the sample solution. During subsequent centrifugation (5,000 rpm for 2.0 min) the fine droplets of carbon disulfide settle at the bottom of the tube. The effect of several conditions (type and volume of disperser solvent, type of extraction solvent, extraction time, etc.) on the performance of the sample-preparation step was carefully evaluated. Under the optimum conditions the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were high, and ranged from 122–311 to 24.5–66.7%, respectively. A good linear range (0.2–100 μg L⁻¹, i.e., three orders of magnitude; r ² = 0.9991–0.9999) and good limits of detection (0.1–0.2 μg L⁻¹) were obtained for most of the analytes. Relative standard deviations (RSD, %) for analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ BTEX compounds in water were in the range 0.9–6.4% (n = 5). Relative recovery from well and wastewater at spiked levels of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ was 89–101% and 76–98%, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully used for preconcentration and analysis of BTEX compounds in different real water samples.

     

Rapid Determination of DDT and Its Metabolites in Environmental Water Samples with Mixed Ionic Liquids Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Prior to HPLC-UV

In this paper, a novel mixed ionic liquids-dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed for rapid enrichment and determination of environmental pollutants in water samples. In this method, two kinds of ionic liquids, hydrophobic ionic liquid and hydrophilic ionic liquid, were used as extraction solvent and disperser solvent, respectively. DDT and its metabolites were used as model analytes and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector for the analysis. Factors that may affect the extraction recoveries, such as type and volume of extraction solvent (hydrophobic ionic liquid) and disperser solvent (hydrophilic ionic liquid), extraction time, sample pH and ionic strength, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range was 1–100 μg L⁻¹, limits of detection could reach 0.21–0.49 μg L⁻¹, and relative standard deviation was 6.01–8.48 % (n = 7) for the analytes. Satisfactory results were achieved when the method was applied to analyze the target pollutants in environmental water samples with spiked recoveries over the range of 85.7–106.8 %.

     

Simultaneous Derivatization and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Fatty Acid GC Determination in Water

Simultaneous derivatization and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique for gas chromatographic determination of fatty acids in water samples is presented. One hundred microlitre of ethanol:pyridine (4:1) were added to 4 mL aqueous sample. Then a solution containing 0.960 mL of acetone (disperser solvent), 10 μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) and 30 μL of ethyl chloroformate (derivatization reagent) were rapidly injected into the aqueous sample. After centrifugation, 1 μL sedimented phase with the analytes was analyzed by gas chromatography. The effects of extraction solvent type, derivatization, extraction, and disperser solvents volume, extraction time were investigated. The calibration graphs were linear up to 10 mg L^?1 for azelaic acid (R ² = 0.998) and up to 1 mg L^?1 for palmitic and stearic acids (R ² = 0.997). The detection limits were 14.5, 0.67 and 1.06 μg L^?1 for azelaic, palmitic, and stearic acids, respectively. Repeatabilities of the results were acceptable with relative standard deviations (RSD) up to 13%. A possibility to apply the proposed method for fatty acids determination in tap, lake, sea, and river water was demonstrated.     

Liquid–Liquid Microextraction of Nitrophenols Using Supramolecular Solvent and Their Determination by HPLC with UV Detection

A novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly method—supramolecular solvent liquid–liquid microextraction (SMS-LLME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)—was first established for the determination of p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol in water samples. Several important parameters influencing extraction efficiency, such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, pH of sample, temperature, salt effect, extraction time, and stirring rate, were optimized in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factor was 166 for p-nitrophenol and 160 for o-nitrophenol, and the limits of detection by HPLC were 0.26 and 0.58 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Excellent linearity with coefficients of correlation from 0.9996 to 0.9997 was observed in the concentration range of 2–1,000 μg L⁻¹. The ranges of intra- and interday precision (n = 5) at 100 μg L⁻¹ of nitrophenols were 5.85–7.76 and 10.2–11.9 %, respectively. The SMS-LLME method was successfully applied for preconcentration of nitrophenols in environmental water samples.

     

Rapid Enrichment and Sensitive Determination of Tetrabromobisphenol A in Environmental Water Samples with Ionic Liquid Dispersive Liquid-Phase Microextraction Prior to HPLC–ESI-MS–MS

A new microextraction method termed ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction has been developed for the rapid enrichment and sensitive determination of tetrabromobisphenol A in environmental water samples prior to high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Instead of using toxic organic solvents, green solvent ionic liquid was used as extraction solvent. Factors that may influence the enrichment efficiency, such as type and volume of ionic liquid, type and volume of disperser solvent, sample pH, extraction time and NaCl content were investigated and optimized in detail. Under optimum conditions, linearity of the method was observed over the range 1–100 μg L^?1 with correlation coefficient 0.9986. The proposed method has been found to have excellent sensitivity with limit of detection 0.06 μg L^?1 and precision 6.95% (RSD, n = 5). This method has been successfully applied to analyze real environmental water samples and satisfactory results were achieved. All these results indicated that the present method was an environmentally friendly method for the rapid enrichment and sensitive analysis of tetrabromobisphenol A at trace level in environmental water samples.     

Determination of five polar herbicides in water samples by ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction

A simple, rapid and efficient ionic liquid based on dispersive liquid-phase microextraction (IL-DLPME) method was developed for the determination of three triazine and two phenylurea herbicides in water samples. IL (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆MIM][PF₆]) that dispersed completely into the water solution under controlled temperature was used as the extraction solvent. The analytes were easily concentrated into the ionic liquid phase. This technique combined the process of extraction and concentration of the analytes into one step and avoided use of the more common, toxic organic solvents. The factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as the IL volume, sample pH, extraction time, centrifugal time, dissoluble temperature and ionic strength were optimized. The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector (DAD). Under the optimized conditions, recoveries (50.5–109.1%) were obtained for the target analytes in water samples. The calibration curves were linear and the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.9947 to 0.9973 in the concentration levels of 5–100 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n?=?5) were 6.80–10.78%. The limit of detections (LODs) for the five polar herbicides were between 0.46 μg L^?1 and 0.89 μg L^?1.     

Occurrence of cytostatic compounds in hospital effluents and wastewaters,determined by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry

The occurrence of 26 commonly used cytostatic compounds in wastewaters was evaluated using an automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) method with liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS). Detection was optimized using Oasis HLB SPE cartridges at pH 2. Two hospital effluents and their two receiving wastewater treatment plants were sampled over five days. In hospital effluents, eight cytostatics were detected at levels up to 86.2 μg L^?1 for ifosfamide, 4.72 μg L^?1 for cyclophosphamide, and 0.73 μg L^?1 for irinotecan, the three most relevant compounds identified. Cyclophosphamide and megestrol acetate were found in wastewaters at concentrations up to 0.22 μg L^?1 for the latter. The predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) in sewage effluents of ifosfamide (2.4–4.3 ng L^?1), capecitabine (11.5–14.2 ng L^?1), and irinotecan (0.4–0.6 ng L^?1), calculated from consumption data in each hospital, published excretion values for the target compounds, and wastewater elimination rates, were in agreement with experimental values.     

On-line Micro Solid-Phase Extraction of Clodinafop Propargyl from Water,Soil and Wheat Samples Using Electrospun Polyamide Nanofibers

An on-line extraction/determination set up was designed for micro solid-phase extraction of clodinafop propargyl from water, soil and wheat samples using electrospun polyamide nanofiber mats. The prepared mats were packed in a stainless steel tube which conveniently acted as a high-performance liquid chromatography injection loop. Influential parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized using a distilled water sample fortified with 25 μg L^?1 of clodinafop propargyl. An enrichment factor of 440 was achieved for clodinafop propargyl indicating the ability of the whole procedure. Under the optimum conditions, the linearity for the analyte was in the range of 6–700 μg L^?1, while a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 2 and 6 μg L^?1 were achieved, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day RSD% at the concentration level of 25 μg L^?1 were 4.6 and 9.3 %, respectively. To investigate the matrix effect, the developed method was applied to the analysis of real water samples including paddy and river waters as well as the wheat and soil samples. The relative recovery percentages for the spiked samples were in the range of 63–95 %.     

Determination of Methadone in Biological Samples Using Liquid Phase Microextraction with Back Extraction Combined with LC

Liquid phase microextraction with back extraction (LPME-BE) combined with liquid chromatography-ultra violet (LC-UV) was applied for the extraction and determination of methadone in biological fluids. At the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor of 386 and detection limit (LOD) of 0.2 μg L^?1 were obtained. The calibration curve was linear (r ² = 0.989) in the concentration range of 0.6–1,000 μg L^?1. Within-day relative standard deviation RSD (S/N = 3) and between-day RSD were 2.7 and 5.9%, respectively. The feasibility of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of methadone in plasma and urine samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Magnetic Stirring-Assisted Dispersive Suspended Microextraction with Solidification of a Floating Organic Droplet for the Determination of Trace Fungicides in Water and Wine

For the first time, a simple method for magnetic stirring-assisted dispersive suspended microextraction has been developed for the determination of three fungicides (azoxystrobin, diethofencarb, and pyrimethanil) in water and wine samples. The method is based on the solidification of a floating organic droplet coupled with high performance liquid chromatography. In the proposed method, the low toxicity solvent 1-dodecanol was used as the extractant. Both the extraction and phase separation process were performed with magnetic stirring. No centrifugation step was involved. After separating the two phases, the extraction solvent droplet was easily collected through solidification at lower temperature. Important parameters such as the kind and volume of organic extraction solvent, extraction and restoration speed, extraction and restoration time, and salt concentration were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the analytes varied from 0.14 to 0.26 µg L^?1. The enrichment factors ranged from 125–200. The linearity ranges were 1–2000 µg L^?1, yielding correlation coefficients (r) higher than 0.9990. The relative standard deviation (n = 6) at two spiked level of 0.2 µg mL^?1 and 4 µg L^?1 varied between 2.2% and 7.8%. Finally, the developed technique was successfully applied to determine target fungicides in real water and wine samples, where the obtained recoveries ranged from 83.8–105.3%