Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometric analysis of benzoylurea insecticides in citrus fruits

A liquid chromatography (LC) method for the quantitative determination of three benzoylurea insecticide residues (diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and hexaflumuron) in citrus fruits is described. Residues were successfully separated on a C18 column by methanol/water gradient elution. Detection was by negative-ion, selected-ion monitoring atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS); the main ions were [M - H]-, and the secondary fragment ions were [M - H - HF]-. Useful confirmatory information can thus be obtained at low extraction voltages from losses of HF. Detection limits for standard solutions were 10 fg injected and good linearity and reproducibility were obtained. The optimum LC/APCI-MS conditions were applied to the analysis of benzoylureas in oranges. Samples were extracted using matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD), in which orange samples were homogenized with Cs, placed onto a glass column and eluted with dichloromethane. Detection limits of 2 microg kg(-1) in the crop were obtained. Average recoveries from citrus fortified with approximately (25-1000 microg kg(-1)) ranged from 87 to 102%. The method was applied to field-treated orange samples and benzoylureas were sometimes detected at concentration levels lower than maximum residue limits.     

Development of new solid-phase microextraction fibers by sol-gel technology for the determination of organophosphorus pesticide multiresidues in food

Allyloxy bisbenzo 16-crown-5 trimethoxysilane was first used as precursor to prepare the sol-gel-derived bisbenzo crown ether/hydroxyl-terminated silicone oil (OH-TSO) SPME coating. The coating procedure involving sol solution composition and conditioning process was presented. Compared with commercial SPME stationary phases, the new coatings showed higher extraction efficiency and therefore could provide higher sensitivity for organphosphorous pesticides (OPs). Limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.003-1.0 ng/g for these OPs in food samples (honey, juice, orange and pakchoi). The optimal extraction conditions of the new coatings to OPs in these samples were investigated by adjusting extraction time, salt addition, extraction temperature, and dilution ratios of samples with distilled water by using SPME coupled with gas chromatography (GC)-flame photometric detection (FPD). The method was applied to determine the concentrations of OPs in real samples.     

Preparation of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer by atom‐transfer radical polymerization for the extraction of parabens from fruit juices

A silica‐based surface magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective recognition of parabens was prepared using a facile and general method that combined atom‐transfer radical polymerization with surface imprinting technique. The prepared magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and physical property measurement. The isothermal adsorption experiment and kinetics adsorption experiment investigated the adsorption property of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer to template molecule. The four parabens including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben were used to assess the rebinding selectivity. An extraction method, which used magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer as adsorbents coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the determination of the four parabens in fruit juice samples was developed. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detections of the four parabens were 0.028, 0.026, 0.021, and 0.026 mg/L, respectively. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation ranging from 2.6 to 8.9% was obtained. In all three fortified levels, recoveries of parabens were in the range of 72.5–89.4%. The proposed method has been applied to different fruit juice samples including orange juice, grape juice, apple juice and peach juice, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Determination of benzoylureas in ground water samples by fully automated on-line pre-concentration and liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection

An on-line pre-concentration method for the analysis of five benzoylureas (diflubenzuron, triflumuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron and flufenoxuron) in ground water samples was evaluated using two C(18) columns, and fluorescence detection after photochemical induced fluorescence (PIF) post-column derivatization. The trace enrichment was carried out with 35 mL of ground water modified with 15 mL of MeOH on a 50 mm x 4.6 mm I.D. first enrichment column (C-1) packed with 5 microm Hypersil Elite C(18). Retention properties of pesticides and humic acids usually contained in ground water were studied on C-1 at concentration levels ranging between 0.04 and 14.00 microg/L in water samples. The results obtained in this study show that the pesticides are pre-concentrated in the first short column while the humic acids contained in the ground water samples are eluted to waste. Pesticides recoveries ranged between 92.3 and 109.5%. The methodology proposed was used to determine benzoylureas in ground water samples at levels lower than 0.1 microg/L (maximum levels established by the European Union).     

Evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction-based heteroduplex assay for detecting the adulteration of processed orange juice with mandarin juice

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based heteroduplex assay was evaluated for the detection of mandarin juice in processed orange juice. PCR amplification of a fragment of the chloroplast trnT-trnL intergenic spacer derived from mixtures of DNA extracted from orange and mandarin juice resulted in heteroduplex formation. The heteroduplex resulted from the co-amplification of a fragment containing an 8 base-pair indel that distinguished mixtures of orange and mandarin juice from orange juice and mandarin juice alone. The heteroduplex assay was evaluated against authentic juices obtained from different citrus species and confirmed that the marker was homogeneous within Citrus. The data obtained demonstrated maternal inheritance of chloroplast type in Citrus sp. and allowed the identification and confirmation of the maternal parentage of unknown and known citrus hybrids. Analysis of the quantitative potential of the PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis demonstrated good repeatability with a coefficient of variation of 7.5%. Greatest sources of variance in experimental results were attributable to species and varietal differences in the levels of the PCR target. Mandarin juice contained approximately 18% (w/v) less PCR target sequence than did orange juice. The assay was tested in a blind trial using processed juices and correctly identified 20/22 samples with no false-positive results.     

Combining solid-phase microextraction and on-line preconcentration-capillary electrophoresis for sensitive analysis of pesticides in foods

The combined use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and different on-line preconcentration strategies for ultrasensitive capillary electrophoresis-ultraviolet (CE-UV) analysis of five pesticides in a single run is investigated. Normal stacking mode (NSM), field-enhanced sample injection (FESI), and stacking with matrix removal (SWMR) are explored to increase the sensitivity of the CE-UV analysis of a selected group of pesticides (cyprodinil, cyromazine, pyrifenox, pirimicarb, and pyrimethanil). It could be observed that reverse polarity-stacking with matrix removal (RP-SWMR) provided the best results in terms of sensitivity (enhancement was up to 272-fold compared with normal injection). The separation buffer consisted of 0.4 mM cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), 0.4 M acetic acid at pH 4 containing 5% v / v 2-propanol. This approach was then combined with SPME to determine the pesticides in water, apple, and orange juice. The combination of both preconcentration procedures allowed the determination of these pesticides at concentrations down to 2.5 microg / L in water and 3.1 microg / L in juices (i.e., levels well below the maximum residue limits allowed for these compounds). To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the great possibilities of the combined use of SPME, on-line sample preconcentration, and CE for pesticide analysis.     

Determination of the fungicides vinclozolin and dicloran in soils using ultrasonic extraction coupled with solid-phase microextraction

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to ultrasonic extraction was evaluated for extracting trace amounts of two agrochemical fungicides, vinclozolin and dicloran, in soil samples. Extraction was performed following two experimental approaches prior to the submission of the aqueous extracts to SPME-GC analysis. In the first approach, extraction involved sample homogenization with a water solution containing 5% (v/v) acetone and centrifugation prior to fiber extraction. In the second approach, the extraction of the fungicides from the soil samples was conducted using acetone as organic solvent which was then diluted with water to give a 5% (v/v) content. The pesticides were isolated with fused silica fiber coating with 85 μm polyacrylate. Parameters that affect both the extraction of the fungicides by the soil samples and the trapping of the analytes by the fiber were investigated and their impact on the SPME-GC-MS was studied. The procedures with respect to repeatability and limits of detection were evaluated by soil spiked with both analytes. Repeatability was between 5.6 and 14.2% and the limits of detection were 2-13 ng g⁻¹. The efficiency of acetone/SPME was generally better than that for water/SPME procedure showing good linearity (R²>0.99) with coefficient variations below 9%, recoveries higher than 91% and limits of detection between 2 and 3 ng g⁻¹. Finally, the recoveries obtained with acetone/SPME procedure were compared with the conventional liquid-liquid extraction using real soil samples. The acetone/SPME method was shown to be an inexpensive, fast and simple preparation method for the determination of target analytes at low nanogram per gram levels in soils.     

Application of solid-phase microextraction for the determination of pyrethroid residues in vegetable samples by GC-MS

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method has been developed for the determination of 7 pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, and tau-fluvalinate) in water, vegetable (tomato), and fruit (strawberry) samples, based on direct immersion mode and subsequent desorption into the injection port of a GC/MS. The SPME procedure showed linear behavior in the range tested (0.5-50 microg L(-1) in water and 0.01-0.1 mg kg(-1) in tomato) with r(2) values ranging between 0.97 and 0.99. For water samples limits of detection ranged between 0.1 and 2 microg L(-1 )with relative standard deviations lower than 20%. Detection limits for tomato samples were between 0.003 and 0.025 mg kg(-1) with relative standard deviations around 25%. Finally, the SPME procedure has been applied to vegetable (tomato) and fruit (strawberry) samples obtained from an experimental plot treated with lambda-cyhalothrin, and in both cases the analyte was detected and quantified using a calibration curve prepared using blank matrix. SPME has been shown to be a simple extraction technique which has a number of advantages such as solvent-free extraction, simplicity, and compatibility with chromatographic analytical systems. Difficulties with the correct quantification in a complex matrix are also discussed.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on the solidification of deep eutectic solvent for the determination of benzoylureas in environmental water samples

We present a novel dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method based on the solidification of deep eutectic solvent coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography with a variable‐wavelength detection for the detection of five benzoylureas in real water samples. In this work, a green solvent consisting of 1‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and 1‐dodecanol was used as an extraction solvent, yielding the advantages of material stability, low density, and a suitable freezing point near room temperature. Parameters that significantly affect extraction efficiency were optimized by the one‐factor‐at‐a‐time approach. Under optimal conditions, the recoveries of five target compounds were obtained ranging from 87.39 to 98.05% with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9994 to 0.9997 for pure water. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.09–0.16 μg/L. The enrichment factors were in the range of 171–188. Linearities were achieved in the range of 0.5–500 μg/L. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine benzoylureas in environmental water samples with a satisfactory recovery of approximately 81.38–97.67%.     

Application of solid-phase microextraction for determination of pyrethroids in groundwater using liquid chromatography with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a rapid and simple analytical technique which uses coated fused-silica fibers to extract analytes from aqueous samples. This study develops a method of SPME analysis for seven pyrethroids, including fenpropathrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, permethrin, tau-fluvalinate and bifenthrin in groundwater samples using high performance liquid chromatography combined with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection (SPME-LC-PIF-FD). To perform the SPME, a 60 microm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber was used for the extraction of the pesticides from groundwater samples. The main factors affecting the SPME process, such as extraction time, stirring rate, extraction temperature, pH and the desorption process were studied. The use of photochemically induced fluorescence for detection improved sensitivity and selectivity. The limits of quantification (LOQs) obtained in the matrix, with respect to EURACHEM Guidance, varied between 0.03 and 0.075 microgL(-1). Relative recoveries ranged from 92 to 109% and relative standard deviations values ranged from 2 to 9%.     

Development of a stir bar sorptive extraction method for the determination of volatile compounds in orange juices

A stir bar sorptive extraction method for the determination of volatile compounds in orange juices was developed. The extraction variables were optimized using a reduced two‐level factorial screening design (2^5‐1), and the most suitable analytical conditions for the extraction of the studied compounds were: sample volume 10 mL, extraction time 60 min, stirring speed 1800 rpm, NaCl amount 30% (weight/volume), and twister length 10 mm. The optimized method was further validated, obtaining good linearity and detection and quantification limits low enough to correctly determine the studied compounds. As well, for most of the studied compounds precision and recovery values were good. Several orange juice samples (squeezed and commercial) were extracted following the optimized extraction method and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection. The method has proven to be suitable for the determination of the aroma of orange juice, of which limonene was the major volatile compound in all the studied samples.     

Analysis of Dichlorobenzene in Water by Solid‐Phase Microextraction

The solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) technique using a 100 μm film polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated fiber has been examined with the aim to determine dichlorobenzene in aqueous samples. The feasibility of SPME‐GC‐ECD analysis has been evaluated. Absorption time of 30 min was selected and 1 min was long enough for complete desorption of the analytes in the injection port of the gas chromatograph. Linear ranges from 0.03 to 5 μg/L and method detection limits between 7 and 9 ng/L for dichlorobenzenes were obtained. The relative standard deviations were less than 12% for a spiking level of 3 μg/L. The proposed method was applied to determine dichlorobenzenes in spiked deionized water, ground water, and in industrial effluent samples.     

Capillary electrophoretic separation of sugars in fruit juices using on-line mid infrared Fourier transform detection

Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy has been coupled to on-line capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation and detection of natural sugars in orange fruit juices. The CE separation electrolyte comprised 50 mM sodium carbonate buffer adjusted to pH 12.3 with NaOH. Galactose was selected as an internal standard. To ensure tight connections between the custom-made IR-transparent flow cell (optical path length was 15 [micro sign]m) and the fused silica capillaries, commercially available O-rings were used. The scanner of the spectrometer was operated at a HeNe laser modulation frequency of 320 kHz, recording interferograms in a double-sided, forward-backward mode with 8 cm(-1) spectral resolution. For each spectrum 64 interferograms (512 for the background) were co-added and a Blackman-Harris 3-term apodization function was performed. A low-pass filter at 1828 cm(-1) was inserted in the IR beam to increase the light throughput in the spectral region of interest (1800 cm(-1)-900 cm(-1)). Using these features a new spectrum could be obtained every two seconds. Sucrose, glucose and fructose were structurally identified and quantified in orange juice samples. The limits of detection (3S/N) for all analytes were in the low millimolar range (0.7-1.9 mM) or, in absolute amounts, the low nanogram range (1.5-3.2 ng). The resolution ranged between 1.14 to 3.15 and the RSD of the proposed method was 1.8-4.4%.     

Determination of thiabendazole in orange juice and rind by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after extraction by matrix solid-phase dispersion

A method was developed for the determination of thiabendazole (TBZ) in orange juice and rind based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD). TBZ was extracted with ethyl acetate and the extract was subsequently cleaned up on a solid-phase extraction column. Fungicide residues were determined by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Recoveries through the method ranged from 87 to 97% with relative standard deviations < or = 11%. The detection and quantitation limits were 0.15 and 0.50 microg/kg, respectively. The confirmation of TBZ residues in positive samples was performed by solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection using selected ion monitoring. The developed method was applied to determine TBZ levels in commercial orange juices and in juice and rind of fresh oranges. The influence of storage and washing of fruits on TBZ residues was also studied.     

果汁中天然色素紫胶红的UPLC/TUV定量检测及UPLC - MS/MS结构确证

建立了天然色素紫胶红各组分的UPLC/TUV定量检测及UPLC - MS/MS结构确证方法,并将所建立的分析方法应用于果汁中紫胶红色素的定性定量检测.通过Oasis(R) HLB小柱固相萃取技术净化、提取果汁饮料样品中的紫胶红色素.使用Waters Acquity UPLC BEH Shield RP C18(1.7 ...     

Physically incorporated extraction phase of solid-phase microextraction by sol-gel technology

A sol-gel method for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was described and evaluated. The extraction phase of poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) containing 3% vinyl group was physically incorporated into the sol-gel network without chemical bonding. The extraction phase itself is then partly crosslinked at 320 degrees C, forming an independent polymer network and can withstand desorption temperature of 290 degrees C. The headspace extraction of BTX by the fiber SPME was evaluated and the detection limit of o-xylene was down to 0.26 ng/l. Extraction and determination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in water, orange juice and red wine by the SPME-GC thermionic specified detector (TSD) was validated. Limits of detection of the method for OPPs were below 10 ng/l except methidathion. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the range of 1-20% for pesticides being tested.     

A simple and rapid method for simultaneous determination of benzoic and sorbic acids in food using in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid and sensitive on-line method for the simultaneous determination of benzoic and sorbic acids in food was developed by coupling in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The diethylamine-modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolithic capillary selected as the extraction medium exhibited a high extraction capability towards benzoic and sorbic acids. To obtain optimum extraction performance, several in-tube SPME parameters were investigated, including pH value, inorganic salt, and the organic solvent content of the sample matrix. After simple dilution with 0.02 mol/L phosphate solution (pH 4.0), carbonated drink, juice drink, sauce and jam samples could be directly injected for extraction. For succade samples, a small amount of acetonitrile was required to extract analytes prior to dilution and subsequent extraction. The linearity of the method was investigated over a concentration range of 5–20000 ng/mL for both analytes, and the correlation coefficients (R ² values) were higher than 0.999. The detection limits for benzoic and sorbic acids were 1.2 and 0.9 ng/mL, respectively. The method reproducibility was tested by evaluating the intra- and interday precisions; relative standard deviations of less than 4.4 and 9.9%, respectively, were obtained. Recoveries of compounds from spiked food samples ranged from 84.4 to 106%. The developed method was shown to be suitable for the routine monitoring of benzoic and sorbic acids in various types of food samples.     

碳纳米管顶空固相微萃取测定水中的多溴联苯醚

建立了顶空固相微萃取联结气相色谱-电子捕获检测器（HS-SPME-GC-ECD）测定水中多溴联苯醚的方法。制作了多壁碳纳米管涂层固相微萃取探头。优化了萃取时间,萃取温度,搅拌速度,顶空体积,溶液的pH,离子强度及有机溶剂等影响萃取效率的各种因素。比较了室温和100 ℃顶空萃取和直接萃取的效率。结果表明,室温下直接萃取比顶空萃取的效率高2-4倍,而在100 ℃时顶空萃取比直接萃取的效率高1-8倍。除BDE-154外,无论直接萃取还是顶空萃取,100 ℃时的萃取效率均高于室温。方法的线性范围50-1600 ng/L,相关系数为0.995-0.998,5种多溴联苯醚的最低检出限（S/N=3）为1.14-16.25 ng/L,相对标准偏差（RSD%,n=5）小于10%。本方法用于真实水样的测定,回收率为74.2%-98.7%。     

Fast speciation analysis of iodophenol compounds in river waters by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with off-line solid-phase microextraction

An analytical methodology for the fast separation and determination of iodophenol species in natural water samples was developed using capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Based on the element-specific and highly sensitive detection provided by ICP-MS, the methodology has been applied to the analysis of 2-iodophenol, 4-iodophenol, and 2,4,6-triiodophenol. The use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME), after proper optimization, improved the signal by a factor of 100 leading to detection limits in the sub microg.L(-1). Different desorption conditions of iodophenol compounds from the SPME microfiber were studied to achieve the optimum preconcentration factor and best analytical performance. Different CE conditions were studied to achieve complete baseline separation of iodophenols in short migration times. Three different CE buffer systems were evaluated using ICP-MS detection. A buffer solution containing 20 mmol.L(-1) 3-(cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid (CAPS) and an applied potential of +22 kV were finally selected leading to a maximum separation time of 6.6 min. A relative standard deviation (%RSD) of about 5.0% for ten consecutive determinations was obtained. Finally, the speciation methodology developed was utilized for the determination of iodophenol compounds in natural water samples.     

Development of a headspace solid-phase microextraction procedure for the determination of free volatile fatty acids in waste waters

An analytical procedure based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to GC-flame ionization detection/Negative Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry has been developed for the determination of free volatile fatty acids (C2-C7) in waste water samples. Five different coatings have been evaluated and polydimethylsiloxane-Carboxen was the only fiber that allows a successful extraction of the shortest chain fatty acids (acetic and propionic). Several parameters such as extraction time and temperature, desorption conditions, agitation speed and sample volume have been optimized using the polydimethylsiloxane-Carboxen fiber. The linear dynamic range was over two-four orders of magnitude, depending on the acid. Procedural detection limits were in the low to medium microg/l levels and the RSDs were between 5.6% and 13.3%. To evaluate the applicability of the developed SPME procedure on real samples, fermented urban wastewaters were analysed.