Allylated cyclodextrins as effective affinity materials in chemical sensing of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons using an optical planar Bragg grating sensor

We report on the application of perallyl-substituted α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins to an optical planar Bragg grating refractive index sensor for the effective sensitization of the sensor for airborne volatile aromatic hydrocarbons. Thereby, the emphasis of this work lies on the comparison of the different cyclodextrin types regarding their suitability as affinity material assessed by the sensors sensitivity and response behavior. The opto-chemical sensor device showed an immediate and quick response to the application of the investigated analytes benzene, toluene and m-xylene as well as a linear dependence on the concentration of those analytes. Studies on the sensors sensitivity depending on the applied cyclodextrin types revealed a generally higher sensitivity for the sensor sensitized with perallyl-substituted β-cyclodextrins. Here, the sensor systems detection limit was found to 60 ± 4 ppm for benzene, 18 ± 3 ppm for toluene and 3.8 ± 0.5 ppm for m-xylene. The response time and recovery time were found to approximately 30 s and 40 s, respectively, depending on the applied cyclodextrin and the chosen analyte.     

Anodic bromination of aromatic compounds in acetonitrile

The electrochemical bromination of benzene, toluene and p-xylene has been investigated in acetonitrile; even if the mechanism was found to be somewhat similar to that postulated in a previous paper for acetic acid as the solvent, the yields of the brominated products in this case are near to 100% because the solvent is not brominated in these conditions.     

Separation of nonpolar analytes using methanol-water mixtures at elevated temperatures

Pure subcritical water has been found to be an efficient mobile phase for reversed-phase separations of both polar and moderately polar compounds. However, subcritical water must be modified with organic solvent in order to elute nonpolar analytes in an efficient manner. In this study, the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and benzene, toluene, and p-xylene (BTX) was performed by using heated methanol-water mixtures as the mobile phase. Temperatures employed in this study ranged from 21 to 140 °C, while the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase ranged from 52 to 90%. The retention times of analytes were matched under different mobile phase conditions by increasing the temperature and decreasing the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase.     

Densities and Viscosities of Tris(acetylacetonato)cobalt(III) Complex Solutions in Various Solvents

The densities and the viscosities of tris(acetylacetonato)cobalt(III) solutions in acetonitrile, dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrachloromethane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene were measured in the dilute concentration regions at several temperatures ranging from 278 to 313 K under ambient pressure. The partial molar volumes of the solvents and solute were calculated. They are independent of concentration and increase slightly as the temperature increases. The viscosity A- and B-coefficients of the Jones-Dole equation were obtained. The A-coefficients were found to be zero within experimental error. The B-coefficients are positive and decrease as the temperature increases. Thermodynamic quantities of activation for viscous flow were calculated on the basis of Eyring’s viscosity equation. From the quantities obtained in this study, along with some information from the literature, it is suggested that structure-making interactions occur between the segments of the complex and the solvent molecules. These interactions include electrostatic interactions between the local charge on the complex and the dipole moment of the solvent in solutions of acetonitrile and dichloromethane, interlocking packing interactions along C ₃-axis of the complex with solvent in solutions of chloroform and tetrachloromethane, and π-electron interactions between the chelate ring of the complex and the solvent in solutions of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene.     

Comparison of SPE-TD-GC-FID with UPLC-PDA and GC-MS Methods for Analysis of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene Isomers in Solid-Liquid Mixing Paints

Three methods were developed for analysis of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene (BTX) in a solid-liquid mixing paint. These methods were based on solid phase extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (SPE-TD-GC-FID), ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). At their optimum conditions of operation, the developed methods were compared in terms of recovery, sensitivity, selectivity and universality. Although the time required for GC-MS analysis was shorter than for GC-FID and UPLC-PDA, it offered relatively poorer recoveries and suffered from matrix interferences. All of the mentioned methods were proven to be ideal for the analysis of targeted analytes; SPE-TD-GC-FID was particularly fit for the determination of trace level BTX residues present in the complex matrix. As one of the sample pretreatment techniques, the novel SPE also showed some selectivity towards BTX and was found to be superior to the conventional SPE.     

Dispersion‐solidification liquid–liquid microextraction for volatile aromatic hydrocarbons determination: Comparison with liquid phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating drop

Two microextraction techniques – liquid phase microextraction based on solidification of a floating organic drop (LPME‐SFO) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with a solidification of a floating organic drop (DLLME‐SFO) – are explored for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o‐xylene sampling and preconcentration. The investigation covers the effects of extraction solvent type, extraction and disperser solvents' volume, and the extraction time. For both techniques 1‐undecanol containing n‐heptane as internal standard was used as an extracting solvent. For DLLME‐SFO acetone was used as a disperser solvent. The calibration curves for both techniques and for all the analytes were linear up to 10 μg/mL, correlation coefficients were in the range 0.997–0.998, enrichment factors were from 87 for benzene to 290 for o‐xylene, detection limits were from 0.31 and 0.35 μg/L for benzene to 0.15 and 0.10 μg/L for o‐xylene for LPME‐SFO and DLLME‐SFO, respectively. Repeatabilities of the results were acceptable with RSDs up to 12%. Being comparable with LPME‐SFO in the analytical characteristics, DLLME‐SFO is superior to LPME‐SFO in the extraction time. A possibility to apply the proposed techniques for volatile aromatic hydrocarbons determination in tap water and snow was demonstrated.     

Surface tensions and surface heats of mixing of mixtures of 1,2-dibromoethane with cyclohexane,benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene,and p-xylene at 298.15, 303.15, And 308.15 K

Surface tensions of mixtures of 1,2-dibromoethane+cyclohexane, benzene, +toluene, +o-xylene, +m-xylene, and +p-xylene have been measured as a function of composition at 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15 K. Interchange energies and surface heats of mixing in these mixtures were computed.     

Tandem use of solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of mononitrotoluenes in aquatic environment

Solid‐phase extraction (SPE) in tandem with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed for the determination of mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) in several aquatic samples using gas chromatography‐flame ionization (GC‐FID) detection system. In the hyphenated SPE‐DLLME, initially MNTs were extracted from a large volume of aqueous samples (100 mL) into a 500‐mg octadecyl silane (C₁₈) sorbent. After the elution of analytes from the sorbent with acetonitrile, the obtained solution was put under the DLLME procedure, so that the extra preconcentration factors could be achieved. The parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as breakthrough volume, type and volume of the elution solvent (disperser solvent) and extracting solvent, as well as the salt addition, were studied and optimized. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.5–500 μg/L and the limit of detection for all analytes was found to be 0.2 μg/L. The relative standard deviations (for 0.75 μg/L of MNTs) without internal standard varied from 2.0 to 6.4% (n=5). The relative recoveries of the well, river and sea water samples, spiked at the concentration level of 0.75 μg/L of the analytes, were in the range of 85–118%.     

The stability of suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in organic solvents in the presence of triton X-165

The stability of suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in isopropanol, toluene, and p-xylene has been studied. Suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in isopropanol (unlike those in toluene and p-xylene) display high aggregation stability, which is explained by the formation of repulsive solvation layers as a result of interactions between the polar solvent and nanotube surface. The addition of a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-165, noticeably increases aggregate sizes and accelerates sedimentation processes in nanotube suspensions in isopropanol, while, in toluene and p-xylene, the aggregate sizes decrease and the nanotube suspensions are stabilized.     

Isothermal Phase Equilibrium Studies on the Binary Mixtures of some Alkylbenzenes

Abstract

The gas chromatographic method proposed by us for simple and accurate measurement of isothermal phase equilibria has been applied to the binary mixtures formed by alkylbenzenes amongst themselves. Results on the binary mixtures of: benzene - toluene, toluene + o-xylene, toluene + p-xylene, toluene + ethylbenzene, ethylbenzene + o-xylene and ethylbenzene + p-xylene are presented in this paper. The present measurements on benzene + toluene system at 40°C are in good agreement with the isothermal phase equilibrium data available in the literature.     

Desorption of BTEX from activated charcoal using accelerated solvent extraction: evaluation of occupational exposures

A procedure for the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene (BTEX) in occupational environments is proposed. These compounds are extracted from activated charcoal using accelerated solvent extraction. Operational parameters are optimized and quantitative recovery is obtained using acetonitrile as the extraction solvent and 1-mL extraction cells, a preheat time of 2 min, a temperature of 160 °C, a pressure of 1,500 psi, a static period of 5 min, a flush volume of 110%, two cycles and a purge time of 90 s. Determination of BTEX compounds is carried out by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The recoveries, obtained for a confidence level of 95%, are 91 ± 4, 100 ± 3, 104 ± 2, 93 ± 4, 99 ± 2 and 99 ± 2% for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene, respectively. The detection limits are 0.5 μg for benzene, 0.7 μg for toluene and 1.0 μg for the other compounds. The proposed procedure has been applied to real samples collected in several workplaces, like a microbiology laboratory, an analytical chemistry laboratory, a printer’s, a car repair shop and a petrol station. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the occupational exposures determined are always acceptable because they are lower than the tenth part of the recommended exposure limits (VLA-ED and VLA-EC).     

The catalytic oxidation of organic compounds in superacids

Transformations of aromatic and aliphatic organic substances in anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at room temperature were studied. TFA was found to be capable of activating molecular oxygen dissolved in it. This activated oxygen endows the acid with strong oxidizer properties. Transformations of organic substances in TFA involved the formation of peroxo compounds, and alkylaromatic molecules were only oxidized at the benzene ring, side chains remaining intact. The transformations of toluene and p-xylene in trifluoroacetic acid were similar in a way to the biochemical oxidation of these substrates by mono-and dioxygenases. Mechanisms were suggested for the oxidation of toluene, p-xylene, and propylene by active oxygen in superacids.     

Concentration dependence of the density of C<Subscript>70</Subscript> fullerene solutions in aromatic solvents

The concentration dependences of densities of fullerene C₇₀ solutions in benzene, toluene, and p-xylene were determined pycnometrically.     

Excess volumes for trichloroethene + benzene, + toluene, + p-xylene, + tetrachloromethane,and + trichloromethane at 303.15 K

Excess volumes V^E for trichloroethene (CCl₂CHCl) + benzene, + toluene, + p-xylene, + tetrachloromethane, and + trichloromethane have been measured at 303.15 K, by direct dilatometry. V^E has been found to be positive for trichloroethene + benzene, and + trichloromethane, and negative for trichloroethene + toluene, and + p-xylene. For trichloroethene + tetrachloromethane V^E is positive at low mole fractions of C₂HCl₃ and negative at high mole fractions.     

Preparation of a Carbon-Coated SPME Fiber and Application to the Analysis of BTEX and Halocarbons in Water

A carbon-coated fiber for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been prepared from powdered activated carbon (PAC) and a fused-silica fiber. Scanning electron microscopy of the coating revealed the carbon particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of the fiber substrate. Efficient extraction of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene) and halocarbons (chloroform, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride), with short extraction and desorption times, was achieved by use of the coated fiber. The maximum working temperature of the coated fiber was 300 °C and the lifetime was over 140 desorption operations at 260 °C. Limits of quantification (LOQ) of the SPME method for the eight analytes ranged from 0.01 to 0.94 μg L⁻¹, and relative standard deviations (RSD) were below 7.2% (n=6). Recoveries were 87.9–113.4% when the method was applied to the analysis of BTEX and the halocarbons in real aqueous samples. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Excess volumes of mixing of 1,2-dichloroethane and aromatic hydrocarbons

Excess volumes of mixing, V^E, for binary mixtures of 1,2-dichloroethane with benzene, toluene, o^?, m^?, and p-xylenes have been determined at 308.15 K over the complete composition range. V^E is positive for all these mixtures and varies in the order m-xylene >o-xylene >p-xylene > benzene > toluene. The experimental data have been analyzed in terms of the Prigogine's average potential cell model coupled with Balescu's theory. The calculated V^E values do not agree with the corresponding experimental values.     

Viscosities and activation energies of flow of mixtures containing 1,2-dibromoethane

The viscosities of the mixtures of 1,2-dibromoethane + cyclohexane, + benzene, +toluene, +o-xylene, +m-xylene, and +p-xylene have been measured at 298.15 and 308.15 K as a function of composition. The viscosity data have been analysed in the light of approaches developed by Hind and Grunberg . Using Eyring kine- matic scheme the viscosity data have been employed to calculate activation energies of flow.     

Solid-phase microextraction and chromatography of water samples containing aromatic compounds

A concentrator was designed for solid-phase microextraction of aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene) from water samples. The concentrator was used as an attachment to a water vapor mobile phase chromatograph with a detection limit (compounds <1 μg/l).     

Infrared spectroscopic and gravimetric studies on the cyclopropylaminemetal(II) tetracyanonickellate(II) host–aromatic guest systems

The host complexes M(Cyclopropylamine)₂Ni(CN)₄ (M = Co or Cd) have been prepared in powder form. The spectral data suggest that the structures of these compounds are similar to those of the Hofmann-type hosts. The absorption and the liberation processes of the aromatic guests (benzene, toluene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) in these hosts have been examined at room temperature by gravimetric and spectroscopic measurements. The desorption of the benzene guest against time has been measured. The host structures do not change on inclusion and liberation of the guest. The host compounds have been suggested as sorbents for isomeric separations.     

Structuring of aromatic solvents in the presence of small amounts of fullerence C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

Changes in the structure and some properties in a series of aromatic solvents, such as p-xylene, toluene, and benzene, under the action small amounts of dissolved fullerene C₆₀ were studied by small-and wide-angle X-ray diffractometry.