Extraction of Residues of Dyfonate-ring-14C from Soil

Abstract

Residues of Dyfonate-ring-¹⁴C were extracted from a clay loam soil with various solvents under a variety of conditions. Recovery of radioactivity from the soil was not related to the polarity (dipole moment) or the dielectric constant of the solvents. Commonly used solvents such as acetone, methanol, ethanol, and hexane/acetone (1:1) extracted only 28, 44, 27, and 25%, respectively, of the residues from the air-dried soil. The extraction efficiencies were increased to 46, 60, 54, and 49%, respectively, when 20% water was added to the soil prior to extraction with these solvents. The amount of water added to the soil and time of contact with water also affected the recovery of radioactivity from the soil. Any of the solvents or methods investigated failed to recover more than 60% of the radioactivity in the soil, indicating that residues of Dyfonate were strongly bound to the soil and were difficult to recover.     

A Combined Approach Employing Soxhlet Extraction and Linear Gradient Elution Reversed-Phase HPLC for the Fingerprinting of Soil Organic Matter According to Hydrophobicity

This paper reports the results of a study carried out to evaluate the potentiality of combining selective solvent extraction and linear gradient elution reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for characterizing soil organic matter on the basis of polarity of its constituting organic compounds. Such approach comprises the sequential extraction of soil organic matter with organic solvents of increasing polarity in a Soxhlet extractor and the subsequent separation of each extract by RP-HPLC. Accordingly, each soil sample has been subjected to cycles of sequential extraction with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Each sample extracted by one of the four solvents have been dried in a rotary evaporator device at 40°C and then dissolved again in the proper volume of extraction solvent to obtaining sample solutions of concentration ranging from 5.0 to 15 mg ml⁻¹. These sample solutions have been subjected to RP-HPLC separation using a Supelcosil LC-ABZ column that has been eluted by a linear acetonitrile gradient in water, having the same profile for all samples. The study has evidenced the possibility of producing highly repeatable chromatographic profiles, which are correlated to the polarity of organic solvents employed for extracting the organic matter in the Soxhlet extractor.

     

Multi-residue method for trace pesticide analysis in soils by LC-QQQ-MS/MS and its application to real samples

ABSTRACT

A method for the simultaneous determination of 30 pesticides residues in soil was developed and validated. Among the studied agrochemicals, there are herbicides (auxines, sulfonylureas, fops, imidazolinones), fungicides (azoles) and insecticides (organophosphorus) widely used in extensive agricultural activities in Uruguay. Five methods with different extraction times, type and amount of solvent, as well as the possibility of a clean-up step were compared in terms of percentage of recovery and repeatability. The final method was based on the extraction of the pesticides’ residues from soil using two successive solvent extraction steps. First, the soil was extracted with methanol in an orbital shaker for 4 h. Secondly, the solid residue was re-extracted overnight with ultrapure water. The methanolic extract was concentrated under vacuum, whereas the aqueous solution was passed through an OASIS HLB® cartridge, eluted with an appropriate solvent and concentrated under nitrogen stream. Both extracts were finally combined and analysed by LC-QQQ-MS/MS using the Document SANTE/11,945/2015 criteria. Recovery percentages at 1 and 10 μg kg^?1 for the studied compounds were in the range 70106% with relative standard deviations below 19 %. The quantification was performed using matrix-matched calibration curves as some compounds presented very strong signal suppression. Residuals of the matrix-matched calibration curves were below 20% for all the validated analytes. The quantification limit was1 μg kg^?1. The method also allows the screening of 11 pesticides in soil. Sixty-five real samples collected from regions where the use of pesticides is intensive were analysed. Quinclorac, tebuconazole, penoxsulam and clomazone were the most frequently pesticides detected.     

Volatilization of 14C-Labelled Fenpropimorph after Application to Plants and Soil under Simulated Outdoor Conditions

Abstract

The volatility of fenpropimorph was investigated in a laboratory chamber constructed for studying the volatilization of “4C-labelled pesticides from plant and soil surfaces. Summer barley was cultivated on experimental platforms (0.5 m²) filled with soil and treated in an application chamber with ¹⁴C-labelled fenpropimorph formulation (Corbel^R) at the beginning of ear emergence. After application, the platform was transferred into the volatilization chamber where a 96 h outdoor weather scenario was simulated. The results of three experiments demonstrated that up to 60% of the initial total radioactivity could be released from the plant-soil system within 96 h, most of it being the unchanged ¹⁴C-fenpropimorph which undergoes a fast oxidative (degradation by solar irridation in the atmoshpere. Furthermore, ¹⁴CO, was detected in quantities of 1.1 to 1.8%. After plant extraction, however, mainly polar metabolites, such as fenpropimorh acid, were found four days alter application by Radio-HPLC-analysis. In order to evaluate the volatilization behaviour of fenpropimorph sprayed to bare soils, three additional experiments were carried out showing a volatilization rate of 11.4% at most, much lower than those of plant surfaces.     

Extractability of dioxins from soil: I. Extractability of dioxins from airborne particulates and humic acid fraction in soil

The extractability of dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls) from airborne particulates (APs) and humic acid (HA) in soil was evaluated. APs collected from ambient atmosphere and dioxins-associated precipitated HA fraction (PHA) were extracted by pressurized liquid extraction with either toluene or acetone. Native dioxins were equivalently extracted from APs with both solvents, whereas only acetone could satisfactorily recover the ¹³C-labelled compounds from metal-free PHA. The recovery rates of dioxins by toluene extraction from metal-free PHA varied with the organic carbon content of the PHA. However, even with acetone, the recovery of dioxins from metal-bound HA was poor (11–40%). These results suggest that PHA prevented the solvents from accessing sequestered dioxins. This characteristic of solid HA may influence the extractability of dioxins from humus-rich soil.     

Fractionation and physico-chemical analysis of degraded lignins from the black liquor of Eucalyptus pellita KP-AQ pulping

The degraded Eucalyptus pellita kraft lignin from the black liquor of KP-AQ pulping was precipitated directly at pH ∼2.0 without further purifying, since the lignin obtained is more representative with a whole distribution of molecular weight. The precipitated lignin was fractionated into six fractions by successive extraction with organic solvents. A comparison study of the lignin heterogeneity between the fractions was made in terms of fractional yield, content of associated polysaccharides, alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation, molecular weight distribution, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and thermal stability. It was found that the lignin fractions contained higher associated hemicelluloses and ratios of non-condensed syringyl/guaiacyl units which were extracted by organic solvents with higher Hildebrand solubility parameters. The results from GPC and TGA showed that the polydispersity and the thermal stability of the lignin fractions increased with increasing molecular weight. In the low molecular weight fraction, small amounts of β-aryl ether bond (β-O-4) surviving the KP-AQ pulping were detected by both ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Identification and Isotopic Analysis of Safranal from Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Alcoholic Extracts of Saffron

Abstract

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices. Consequently, it is not so difficult to understand that fraudulent saffron exists. Thus, it was interesting to study the most important flavouring component, in terms of aroma, volatile compound of saffron - safranal - by ¹³C isotopic analysis. Five saffron samples from different countries have been analysed. Safranal has been extracted by methanol or by Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE). The results indicate that there is a significant difference between the synthetic safranal and the natural one. On the contrary, it is difficult to conclude on the difference between the various geographical origins, as the isotopic variations are small. Moreover, it has been found that Supercritical Fluid Extraction allowed the selective extraction of volatile compounds from saffron under optimised conditions. It is a cleaner and faster method of extraction compared to the extraction using organic solvent. Nevertheless, an isotopic fractionation occurs in relation to the extraction yield of safranal.     

Determination of Two Pesticides in Soils by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Combined with LC-Fluorescence Detection

In the present work, a simple, rapid and sensitive sample pre-treatment technique, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (LC-FLD), has been developed to determine carbamate (carbaryl) and organophosphorus (triazophos) pesticide residues in soil samples. Methanol was first used as extraction solvent for the extraction of pesticides from the soil samples and then as dispersive solvent in the DLLME procedure. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1–1,000 ng g⁻¹ for carbaryl and 1–5,000 ng g⁻¹ for triazophos, respectively. Correlation coefficients varied from 0.9997 to 0.9999. The limits of detection (LODs), based on signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3, ranged from 14 to 110 pg g⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (RSDs, for 20.0 ng g⁻¹ of each pesticide) varied from 1.96 to 4.24% (n = 6). The relative recoveries of two pesticides from soil A1, A2 and A3 at spiking levels of 10.0, 20.0 and 50.0 ng g⁻¹ were in the range of 88.2–108.8%, 80.8–110.7% and 81.0–111.1%, respectively. The results demonstrated that DLLME was a sensitive and accurate method to determine the target pesticides, at trace levels, in soils.

     

Immunological determination of triazine pesticides bound to soil humic acids (bound residues)

An immunological method for the determination of triazine herbicides covalently bound to soil humic acids has been developed. A sandwich-immunoassay has been performed, based on both polyclonal humic acid-antibodies and monoclonal triazineantibodies. A peroxidase-labelled third antibody has been used for the photometric detection. A triazine-humic acid conjugate served as calibration standard. The coupling density for this conjugate has been determined by measuring the difference of free amino groups both with ninhydrin and with the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid method. In addition, the coupling density has been confirmed by scintillation counting using a ¹⁴C-atrazine derivative. Due to nonspecific interactions between antibody proteins and humic acids, different blocking steps had to be performed. Finally, the assay has been applied to a triazine contaminated soil sample. Humic acids (including bound residues) have been extracted by diluted sodium carbonate solution. Concentrations of bound atrazine residues have been found in the range of 2 mg/kg soil on fields where triazine herbicides has been applied over a period of 21 years. These results are comparable to both the applied amount and the nonextractable fraction.     

Determination of pesticides in soil by liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Trace amounts of pesticides in soil were determined by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The technique involved the use of a small amount (3 microl) of organic solvent impregnated in a hollow fiber membrane, which was attached to the needle of a conventional GC syringe. The organic solvent was repeatedly discharged into and withdrawn from the porous polypropylene hollow fiber by a syringe pump, with the pesticides being extracted from a 4 ml aqueous soil sample into the organic solvent within the hollow fiber. Aspects of the developed procedure such as organic solvent selection, extraction time, movement pattern of plunger, concentrations of humic acid and salt, and the proportion of organic solvent in the soil sample, were optimized. Limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.05 and 0.1 microg/g with GC-MS analysis under selected-ion monitoring (SIM). Also, this method provided good precision ranging from 6 to 13%; the relative standard deviations were lower than 10% for most target pesticides (at spiked levels of 0.5 microg/g in aqueous soil sample). Finally, the results were compared to those achieved using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The results demonstrated that LPME was a fast (within 4 min) and accurate method to determine trace amounts of pesticides in soil.     

Microwave-assisted solvent elution technique for the extraction of organic pollutants in water

Solid phase extraction (SPE) with appropriate solid sorbents has been commonly used in the routine extraction of organic pollutants in water. The elution of analytes from the solid sorbents normally takes place by organic solvents under an applied vacuum. In this study, a microwave-assisted solvent elution technique was developed for the elution of analytes from C₁₈ membrane disks during microwave irradiation from a microwave extraction system (MES). Several parameters, namely, elution solvent, elution temperature, duration of elution and the volume of solvent which may affect the elution efficiency of microwave-assisted solvent elution (MASE) technique towards organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), fungicides, herbicides and insecticides from the membrane disk were investigated. Good recoveries above 75% were obtained for most of the organic pollutants using the optimum SPE-MASE technique. The effect of sodium chloride and humic acid on the recoveries on the target analytes were also investigated.     

Automated hollow fiber-protected dynamic liquid-phase microextraction of pesticides for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis

Dynamic liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) controlled by a programmable syringe pump was evaluated for extracting pesticides in water prior to GC-MS analysis. A conventional microsyringe with a 1.3-cm length of hollow fiber attached to its needle was connected to a syringe pump to perform the extraction. The microsyringe was used as both the microextraction device as well as the sample introduction device for GC-MS analysis. The attached hollow fiber served as the "holder" and protector" of 3 microl of organic solvent. The solvent was repeatedly withdrawn into and discharged from the hollow fiber by the syringe pump. Pesticides were extracted from 4-ml water samples into the organic solvent impregnated in the hollow fiber. The effects of organic solvents, plunger movement pattern, agitation and extraction time were investigated. Good repeatabilities of extraction performance were obtained, with the RSD values ranging from 3.0% (alachlor) to 9.8% (4-chlorophenol) for the 14 pesticides; most RSD values were under 5.0%. The method provided a 490-fold preconcentration of the target pesticides. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.01-5.1 microg/l (S/N = 3) in the GC-MS selected ion monitoring mode. In addition, sample clean-up was achieved during LPME because of the selectivity of the hollow fiber, which prevented undesirable large molecules from being extracted. A slurry sample (mixture of 40 mg soil/ml of water) containing seven pesticides was extracted using this method which also gave good linearity and precision (most RSDs <7.0%, n = 3).     

Efficiency of Different Methods and Solvents for the Extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Soils

The efficiencies of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), Soxhlet, and ultrasonic extraction in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils were evaluated. Solvents with different polarity were used to extract the PAHs from two soils, one with high and one with low contamination level. ASE showed good results with all solvents almost independent of the solvent polarity and the best results with acetone-toluene (1 : 1). Ultrasonic extraction with acetone-toluene for the uncontaminated soil and acetone-ethanolamine for the highly contaminated also showed good recoveries. The time-consuming Soxhlet extraction with pentane or dichloromethane was less effective. The PAH recovery from SFE was related to the soil matrix or the contamination level. The best extraction conditions (CO 2 /10% pentane) are successful for the soil with a low contamination level and a high humic acid content whereas the extractions of the highly contaminated soil gave poor results irrespective of the solvent used.     

Solid and Homogeneous Extractions

Abstract

Improved techniques for micro and enrichment extractions are described. Molten organic compounds are employed as solvents and removal of the extracted material is facilitated after solidification of the solvent. “Homogeneous extraction” has been achieved by using solid solvents exhibiting increased solubility at elevated temperatures or by volatilization of an added mediating solvent.     

Determination of carbamates and organophosphorus pesticides by SDME–GC in natural water

Water contamination due to the wide variety of pesticides used in agriculture practices is a global environmental pollution problem. Analytical methods with low quantification limits are necessary. The application of a new extraction technique, solvent drop microextraction (SDME), followed by gas chromatography with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector, was assessed for determining carbamates and organophosphorus pesticides in natural water. Experimental parameters which control the performance of SDME such as selection of microextraction solvent, optimization of organic drop volume, effects of sample stirring, salt addition, and, finally, sorption time profiles were studied. Once SDME was optimized, analytical parameters such as linearity (r ²>0.99), precision (<13%), and detection limits (0.2 to 5 μg/L), plus matrix effects were evaluated (no matrix effects were found). SDME is a dynamic technique able to extract pesticides from water in 14 min; the use of organic solvents and water samples for SDME is negligible compared to other extraction techniques.     

Determination of ferrous and ferric iron in aqueous biological solutions

A solvent extraction method was employed to determine ferrous and ferric iron in aqueous samples. Fe³⁺ is selectively extracted into the organic phase (n-heptane) using HDEHP (bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate) and is then stripped using a strong acid. After separation, both oxidation states and the total iron content were determined directly by ICP-MS analysis. This extraction method was refined to allow determination of both iron oxidation states in the presence of strong complexing ligands, such as citrate, NTA and EDTA. The accuracy of the method was verified by crosschecking using a refinement of the ferrozine assay. Presented results demonstrate the ability of the extraction method to work in a microbiological system in the presence of strong chelating agents following the bioreduction of Fe³⁺ by the Shewanella alga BrY. Based on the results we report, a robust approach was defined to separately analyze Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ under a wide range of potential scenarios in subsurface environments where radionuclide/metal contamination may coexist with strongly complexing organic contaminants.     

Derivatization reactions of carbamate pesticides in supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) has been used to dissolve derivatizing agents (e.g. heptafluorobutyric anhydride, HFBA, and pyridine), which also act as a modifier in the fluid phase, for simultaneous extraction and derivatization of carbamates from the sample matrix. The derivatized carbamate pesticides (carbaryl, 3-hydroxycarbofuran, carbofuran, aldicarb, methiocarb) were then analyzed by GC-ECD or GC-MS with excellent sensitivity. Extraction and conversion of the carbamates was complete, as indicated by HPLC with post-column hydrolysis and o-phthalaldehyde derivatization then fluorescence detection. GC-MS (ion trap) was also used to confirm the formation of the carbamate derivatives. Compared with the same HFBA reaction in an organic solvent the derivatization reaction time was considerably shorter in SC-CO(2.) The described approach, combining both extraction and derivatization, simplifies the analysis of carbamate pesticides and eliminates the use of organic solvents associated with the derivatization step.     

Binding of Organic Pollutants to Soil Organic Matter

Abstract

Binding of organic pollutants to water-soluble, low-molecular weight humic substances increases their mobility in soil and their leaching, whereas binding to high-molecular weight humic substances results in unextractable residues. Water-soluble pollutants in leachate may be bound to low-molecular weight humic material, or may be free water-soluble conversion products that are slowly released from a soil-bound form, as shown for a conversion product of the insecticide aldrin. Unextractable soil-bound 4-chloroaniline was isolated by supercritical methanol extraction 16 years after application of the phenylurea herbicide buturon to soil. Biodegradation and bioavailability of unextractable soil-bound residues are greatly reduced as compared to the free compounds. For some chlorinated anilines and phenols, biomineralization and plant uptake was shown to be highest for residues bound in fulvic acids and lowest for those in humic acids. Model experiments demonstrate that chlorinated anilines form covalent bonds with humic acid precursors.     

Solvent Extraction Separation of Zirconium (iv) With Anberlite LA - 1 From Citrate Solutions

Abstract

Zirconium was quantitatively extracted with 8 × 10^?2 M of Amberlite LA-1 or LA-2 xylene from 0.001 M citric acid at pH 3.5 and it was stripped from the organic phase with 2 M hydrochloric acid and was determined spectrophotometrically at 665 nm as its complex with arsenazo III. Zirconium was separated from binary as well as tertiary mixtures by exploiting the difference in the distribution coefficient or by selective extraction or selective stripping. The method was applied for the analysis of zircon.

Zirconium was extracted as its anionic complex with various mineral acids by liquid anion exchanger. The chlorocomplex of zirconium was extracted from 6–10 M hydrochloric acid with trioctylamine^1–5, triisooctylamine⁶ or Aliquat 3365⁷. The sulphotocomplex of zirconium was extracted with Aliquat 3365⁸, Primine JMT⁹, Alamine 336¹⁰. The nitratocomplex was less extensively utilised for the extractive separation of zirconium^{11, 12}.

Zirconium was extracted quantitatively from oxalate^{13, 14} and malonate media¹⁵. These extractions were carried out at low pH and separated zirconium from large number of associated elements. The ion exchange chromatographic behaviour of zirconium on column with cation exchange^16–17 or with anion exchange¹⁸ resin with citric acid as eluent were utilised but extraction studies from citrate solutions were never attempted.

From the critical study of existing methods it was observed that zirconium was extracted at narrow pH range; with high concentration of complexing ligand for extraction with liquid anion exchangers and long period of equilibration for extraction as well as stripping. So also such extractions were possible mostly at milligram concentrations involving use of hazardous diluents like benzene. In order to circumvent these difficulties an attempt was made to develop a better method for the solvent extraction separation of zirconium by ion pair formation.

Therefore this paper presents systematic investigations on the solvent extraction separation of zirconium from citrate media with liquid anion exchangers. From the study of various factors. The optimum conditions for the extraction and the separation of zirconium from associated elements are evaluated. The method has been extended for the analysis of zirconium from zircon.     

Determination of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Sesame Seeds by GC-ECD

A method for the multiresidue analysis of 12 organochlorine pesticides in sesame seeds has been developed. The organochlorine residues in the seeds were first extracted by accelerated solvent extraction and the extract subjected to gel permeation chromatography to remove larger molecular weight materials such as proteins and waxes. The purified extract after gel permeation chromatography was analyzed by GC-ECD. Recoveries were higher than 75% for all compounds with relative standard deviations <20%. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 1.6–3.3 and 5–10 ng g⁻¹, respectively.