Determination of inorganic selenium species in water and garlic samples with on-line ionic liquid dispersive microextraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A non-chromatographic separation and preconcentration method for Se species determination based on the use of an on-line ionic liquid (IL) dispersive microextraction system coupled to electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is proposed. Retention and separation of the IL phase was achieved with a Florisil^®-packed microcolumn after dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with tetradecyl(trihexyl)phosphonium chloride IL (CYPHOS^® IL 101). Selenite [Se(IV)] species was selectively separated by forming Se-ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (Se-APDC) complex followed by extraction with CYPHOS^® IL 101. The methodology was highly selective towards Se(IV), while selenate [Se(VI)] was reduced and then indirectly determined. Several factors influencing the efficiency of the preconcentration technique, such as APDC concentration, sample volume, extractant phase volume, type of eluent, elution flow rate, etc., have been investigated in detail. The limit of detection (LOD) was 15 ng L⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 10 replicates at 0.5 μg L⁻¹ Se concentration was 5.1%, calculated with peak heights. The calibration graph was linear and a correlation coefficient of 0.9993 was achieved. The method was successfully employed for Se speciation studies in garlic extracts and water samples.     

Sequential injection anodic stripping voltammetry with monosegmented flow and in-line UV digestion for determination of Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) in water samples

A cost-effective sequential injection system incorporating with an in-line UV digestion for breakdown of organic matter prior to voltammetric determination of Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) of a small scale voltammetric cell was developed. A low-cost small scale voltammetric cell was fabricated from disposable pipet tip and microcentrifuge tube with volume of about 3 mL for conveniently incorporated with the SI system. A home-made UV digestion unit was fabricated employing a small size and low wattage UV lamps and flow reactor made from PTFE tubing coiled around the UV lamp. An in-line single standard calibration or a standard addition procedure was developed employing a monosegmented flow technique. Performance of the proposed system was tested for in-line digestion of model water samples containing metal ions and some organic ligands such as strong organic ligand (EDTA) or intermediate organic ligand (humic acid). The wet acid digestion method (USEPA 3010a) was used as a standard digestion method for comparison. Under the optimum conditions, with deposition time of 180 s, linear calibration graphs in range of 10-300 μg L⁻¹ Zn(II), 5-200 μg L⁻¹ Cd(II), 10-200 μg L⁻¹ Pb(II), 20-400 μg L⁻¹ Cu(II) were obtained with detection limit of 3.6, 0.1, 0.7 and 4.3 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Relative standard deviation were 4.2, 2.6, 3.1 and 4.7% for seven replicate analyses of 27 μg L⁻¹ Zn(II), 13 μg L⁻¹ Cd(II), 13 μg L⁻¹ Pb(II) and 27 μg L⁻¹ Cu(II), respectively. The system was validated by certified reference material of trace metals in natural water (SRM 1640 NIST). The developed system was successfully applied for speciation of Cd(II) Pb(II) and Cu(II) in ground water samples collected from nearby zinc mining area.     

Feasibility of internal standardization in the direct and simultaneous determination of As, Cu and Pb in sugar-cane spirits by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Bismuth and Sb were evaluated as internal standards (IS) to minimize matrix effects on the direct and simultaneous determination of As, Cu, and Pb in cachaça by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using W-coated platform plus Pd-Mg(NO₃)₂ as modifier. For 20 μL injected sample, calibration within the 0.5-10 μg L⁻¹ As, 100-1000 μg L⁻¹ Cu and 0.5-30 μg L⁻¹ Pb intervals were established using the ratios As absorbance to Sb absorbance, Cu absorbance to Bi absorbance and Pb absorbance to Bi absorbance versus analytes concentration, respectively. Typical linear correlations of 0.998, 0.999 and 0.999 were, respectively, obtained. The proposed method was applied for direct determination of As, Cu and Pb in 10 commercial cachaça samples and results were in agreement with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at 95% confidence level. The found characteristic masses were 30 pg As, 274 pg Cu and 39 pg Pb. The useful lifetime of the graphite tube was around 760 firings. Recoveries of As, Cu and Pb added to cachaça samples varied, respectively, from 98% to 109%, 97% to 108% and 98% to 104% with internal standards and from 48% to 54%, 53% to 92% and 62% to 97% without internal standards. The limits of detection were 0.13 μg L⁻¹ As, 22 μg L⁻¹ Cu and 0.05 μg L⁻¹ Pb. The relative standard deviations (n = 12) for a spiked sample containing 20 μg L⁻¹ As, Pb and 500 μg L⁻¹ Cu were 1.6%, 1.0%, and 1.8% with IS and 4.3%, 5.2%, and 5.5% without IS.     

Highly selective ionic liquid-based microextraction method for sensitive trace cobalt determination in environmental and biological samples

A simple and rapid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure based on an ionic liquid (IL-DLLME) was developed for selective determination of cobalt (Co) with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) detection. Cobalt was initially complexed with 1-nitroso-2-naphtol (1N2N) reagent at pH 4.0. The IL-DLLME procedure was then performed by using a few microliters of the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆mim][PF₆] as extractant while methanol was the dispersant solvent. After microextraction procedure, the Co-enriched RTIL phase was solubilized in methanol and directly injected into the graphite furnace. The effect of several variables on Co-1N2N complex formation, extraction with the dispersed RTIL phase, and analyte detection with ETAAS, was carefully studied in this work. An enrichment factor of 120 was obtained with only 6 mL of sample solution and under optimal experimental conditions. The resultant limit of detection (LOD) was 3.8 ng L⁻¹, while the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.4% (at 1 μg L⁻¹ Co level and n = 10), calculated from the peak height of absorbance signals. The accuracy of the proposed methodology was tested by analysis of a certified reference material. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Co in environmental and biological samples.     

Sensitive determination of cadmium in water samples by room temperature ionic liquid-based preconcentration and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive preconcentration methodology for Cd determination at trace levels in water samples was developed in this work. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]) room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) was successfully used for Cd preconcentration, as cadmium-2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol complex [Cd-5-Br-PADAP]. Subsequently, Cd was back-extracted from the RTIL phase with 500 μL of 0.5 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). A preconcentration factor of 40 was achieved with 20 mL of sample. The limit of detection (LOD) obtained under optimum conditions was 3 ng L⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 10 replicates at 1 μg L⁻¹ Cd²⁺ concentration level was 3.5%, calculated at peak heights. The calibration graph was linear from concentration levels near the detection limits up to at least 5 μg L⁻¹. A correlation coefficient of 0.9997 was achieved. Validation of the methodology was performed by standard addition method and analysis of certified reference material (CRM). The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd in river and tap water samples.     

Determination of the steroid hormone levels in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with solidification of a floating organic drop followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

In this study, the steroid hormone levels in river and tap water samples were determined by using a novel dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method based on the solidification of a floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO). Several parameters were optimized, including the type and volume of the extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, and salt effect. DLLME-SFO is a fast, cheap, and easy-to-use method for detecting trace levels of samples. Most importantly, this method uses less-toxic solvent. The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was higher than 0.9991. The linear range was from 5 to 1000 μg L⁻¹. The spiked environmental water samples were analyzed using DLLME-SFO. The relative recoveries ranged from 87% to 116% for river water (which was spiked with 4 μg L⁻¹ for E1, 3 μg L⁻¹ for E2, 4 μg L⁻¹ for EE2 and 9 μg L⁻¹ for E3) and 89% to 102% for tap water (which was spiked with 6 μg L⁻¹ for E1, 5 μg L⁻¹ for E2, 6 μg L⁻¹ for EE2 and 10 μg L⁻¹ for E3). The detection limits of the method ranged from 0.8 to 2.7 μg L⁻¹ for spiked river water and 1.4 to 3.1 μg L⁻¹ for spiked tap water. The methods precision ranged from 8% to 14% for spiked river water and 7% to 14% for spiked tap water.     

Ion chromatography for rapid and sensitive determination of fluoride in milk after headspace single-drop microextraction with in situ generation of volatile hydrogen fluoride

In this article, we report a new method that involves headspace single-drop microextraction and ion chromatography for the preconcentration and determination of fluoride. The method lies in the in situ hydrogen fluoride generation and subsequent sequestration into an alkaline microdrop (15 μL) exposed to the headspace above the stirred aqueous sample. The NaF formed in the drop was then determined by ion chromatography. The influences of some crucial single-drop microextraction parameters such as the extraction temperature, extraction time, sample stirring speed, sulphuric acid concentration and ionic strength of the sample, on extraction efficiency were investigated. In the optimal condition, an enrichment factor of 97 was achieved in 15 min. The calibration working range was from 10 μg L⁻¹ to 2000 μg L⁻¹ (R² = 0.998), and the limit of detection (signal to noise ratio of 3) was 3.8 μg L⁻¹ of fluoride. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of fluoride in different milk samples. The recoveries of fluoride (at spiked concentrations of 200 μg L⁻¹ and 600 μg L⁻¹ into milk) in real samples ranged from 96.9% to 107.7%. Intra-day precision (N = 3) in terms of peak area, expressed as relative standard deviation, was found to be within the range of 0.24-1.02%.     

Development, validation and application of a SDME/GC-FID methodology for the multiresidue determination of organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in water

A single-drop microextraction (SDME) procedure was developed for the analysis of organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides in water by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The significant parameters that affect SDME performance, such as the selection of microextraction solvent, solvent volume, extraction time, and stirring rate, were studied and optimized using a tool screening factorial design. The limits of detection (LODs) in water for the four investigated compounds were between 0.3 and 3.0 μg L⁻¹, with relative standard deviations ranging from 7.7 to 18.8%. Linear response data were obtained in the concentration range of 0.9-6.0 μg L⁻¹ (λ-cyhalothrin), 3.0-60.0 μg L⁻¹ (methyl parathion), 9.0-60.0 μg L⁻¹ (ethion), and 9.0-30.0 μg L⁻¹ (permethrin), with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9337 to 0.9977. The relative recoveries for the spiked water ranged from 73.0 to 104%. Environmental water samples (n = 26) were successfully analyzed using the proposed method and methyl parathion presented concentration up to 2.74 μg L⁻¹. The SDME method, coupled with GC-FID analysis, provided good precision, accuracy, and reproducibility over a wide linear range. Other highlights of the method include its ease of use and its requirement of only small volumes of both organic solvent and sample.     

Determination of trace heavy metals in herbs by sequential injection analysis-anodic stripping voltammetry using screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrodes

A method for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) at low μg L⁻¹ concentration levels by sequential injection analysis-anodic stripping voltammetry (SIA-ASV) using screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrodes (SPCNTE) was developed. A bismuth film was prepared by in situ plating of bismuth on the screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrode. Operational parameters such as ratio of carbon nanotubes to carbon ink, bismuth concentration, deposition time and flow rate during preconcentration step were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges were found to be 2-100 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and Cd(II), and 12-100 μg L⁻¹ for Zn(II). The limits of detection (S_bl/S = 3) were 0.2 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II), 0.8 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) and 11 μg L⁻¹ for Zn(II). The measurement frequency was found to be 10-15 stripping cycle h⁻¹. The present method offers high sensitivity and high throughput for on-line monitoring of trace heavy metals. The practical utility of our method was also demonstrated with the determination of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) by spiking procedure in herb samples. Our methodology produced results that were correlated with ICP-AES data. Therefore, we propose a method that can be used for the automatic and sensitive evaluation of heavy metals contaminated in herb items.     

Headspace liquid-phase microextraction using ionic liquid as extractant for the preconcentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites at trace levels in water samples

A novel technique, high temperature headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME) with room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]) as extractant, was developed for the analysis of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDT) and its metabolites including 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p′-DDD) in water samples by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The parameters such as salt content, sample pH and temperature, stirring rate, extraction time, microdrop volume, and sample volume, were found to have significant influence on the HS-LPME. The conditions optimized for extraction of target compounds were as follows: 35% NaCl (w/v), neutral pH condition, 70 °C, 800 rpm, 30 min, 10 μL [C₄MIM][PF₆], and 25 mL sample solutions. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range, detection limit (S/N = 3), and precision (R.S.D., n = 6) were 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.07 μg L⁻¹, and 8.0% for p,p′-DDD, 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.08 μg L⁻¹, and 7.1% for p,p′-DDT, 0.3-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.08 μg L⁻¹, and 7.2% for o,p′-DDT, and 0.2-30 μg L⁻¹, 0.05 μg L⁻¹, and 6.8% for p,p′-DDE, respectively. Water samples including tap water, well water, snow water, reservoir water, and wastewater were analyzed by the proposed procedure and the recoveries at 5 μg L⁻¹ spiked level were in the range of 86.8-102.6%.     

Preparation of ionic liquid based solid-phase microextraction fiber and its application to forensic determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in human urine

A new solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedure using an ionic liquid (IL) has been developed. Reusable IL-based SPME fiber was prepared for the first time by fixing IL through cross-linkage of IL impregnated silicone elastomer on the surface of a fused silica fiber. 1-Ethoxyethyl-3-methylimidazloium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonylimide ([EeMim][NTf₂]) ionic liquid was employed as a demonstration and the prepared fiber was applied to the forensic headspace determination of methamphetamine (MAP) and amphetamine (AP) in human urine samples. Important extraction parameters including the concentration of salt and base in sample matrix, extraction temperature and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) working in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, the new method showed good linearity in the range of 20–1500 μg L⁻¹, good repeatability (RSD < 7.5% for MAP, and <11.5% for AP, n = 6), and low detection limits (0.1 μg L⁻¹ for MAP and 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for AP). Feasibility of the method was evaluated by analyzing human urine samples. Although IL-based SPME is still at the beginning of its development stage, the results obtained by this work showed that it is a promising simple, fast and sensitive sample preparation method.     

Sequential injection monosegmented flow voltammetric determination of cadmium and lead using a bismuth film working electrode

A cost-effective sequential injection monosegmented flow analysis (SI-MSFA) with anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) detection has been developed for determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II). The bismuth film working electrode (BiFE) was employed for accumulative preconcentration of the metals by applying a fixed potential of −1.10 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode for 90 s. The SI-MSFA provides a convenient means for preparation of a homogeneous solution zone containing sample in an acetate buffer electrolyte solution and Bi(III) solution for in situ plating of BiFE, ready for ASV measurement at a flow through thin layer electrochemical cell. Under the optimum conditions, linear calibration graphs in range of 10-100 μg L⁻¹ of both Cd(II) and Pb(II) were obtained with detection limits of 1.4 and 6.9 μg L⁻¹ of Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. Relative standard deviations were 2.7 and 3.1%, for 11 replicate analyses of 25 μg L⁻¹ Cd(II) and 25 μg L⁻¹ Pb(II), respectively. A sample throughput of 12 h⁻¹ was achieved with low consumption of reagent and sample solutions. The system was successfully applied for analysis of water samples collected from a draining pond of zinc mining, validating by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method.     

Separation of lead from high matrix electroless nickel plating waste solution using an ion-selective immobilized macrocycle system

Separation of trace levels of lead from concentrated-matrix electroless nickel plating (ENP) waste solutions is required to meet the increasingly stringent environmental regulations. A solid phase extraction (SPE) system using a molecular recognition technology (MRT) gel was used for the selective separation of trace levels of lead (Pb) from the waste discharge of ENP operations, followed by subsequent analysis with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Two SPE-MRTs, AnaLig® Pb-01 and AnaLig® Pb-02, packed in 3 mL polypropylene cartridges were used to treat the synthetic metal-waste solutions that were used to simulate the typical metal mixture in ENP bath waste. The fortified solutions contained 100-1000 μg L^− 1 of Pb in an HNO₃ matrix with pre-added Ni, Cu and other interfering elements (1000 mg L^− 1). After the sample treatment, the SPE-MRT cartridges were washed with water and 0.1 M nitric acid, followed by elution with 0.03 M EDTA. The matrix elements (e.g., Ni, Cu) were completely removed at the washing step, while the ‘captured’ Pb was quantitatively eluted, as determined by ICP-OES measurements. The detection limit of the proposed method was 2.6 μg L^− 1. ‘Real’ samples from commercial ENP operations were used to assess the validity of this method, and almost quantitative Pb recovery was observed. The excellent Pb selectivity of the SPE-MRT system indicates the potential of the proposed technique for trace-level Pb separation from the Pb-containing high matrix aqueous waste discharge.     

Antimony-film electrode for the determination of trace metals by sequential-injection analysis/anodic stripping voltammetry

The possibility of applying antimony-film modified glassy carbon electrode in sequential-injection analysis (SIA) was investigated with the objective of determining Pb(II) and Cd(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The conditions of antimony-film deposition concerning composition of the plating/carrier solutions, concentrations of Sb(III) and hydrochloric acid, effects of different supporting electrolyte salts, and plating potential were optimized. It was found that the antimony-film deposition on glassy carbon substrate in a sample solution consisting of 750 μg L⁻¹ Sb(III), 0.5 mol L⁻¹ HCl at −1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/3 mol L⁻¹ KCl) yielded a modified electrode suitable for the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) at the μg L⁻¹ level. The reproducibility of the analytical signals was characterized by a relative standard deviation lower than 2.8%, and the calculated values of detection limits were 1.2 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 1.4 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II). The presence of KSCN in the sample solution offers the possibility of detecting ions with more negative oxidation potentials like Zn(II), Mn(II) or Cr(III). The developed SIA-ASV procedure was compared with the commonly used batch method, and its applicability was tested on a spiked tap water sample.     

A novel microextraction technique based on 1-hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid for the preconcentration of zinc in water and milk samples

A simple dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction methodology based on the application of 1-hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate [HPy][PF₆] ionic liquid (IL) as an extractant solvent was proposed for the preconcentration of trace levels of zinc as a prior step to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Zinc was complexed with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) and extracted into ionic liquid. Some effective factors that influence the microextraction efficiency such as pH, oxine concentration, amount of IL, ionic strength, temperature and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized. In the optimum experimental conditions, the limit of detection (3 s) and the enhancement factor were 0.22 μg L⁻¹ and 71, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for six replicate determinations of 13 μg L⁻¹ Zn was 1.92%. In order to validate the developed method, a certified reference material (NIST SRM 1549) was analyzed and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was successfully applied to the trace determination of zinc in water and milk samples.     

Determination of acrylamide in food by solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-positive chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A method has been developed to determine acrylamide in aqueous matrices by using direct immersion solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-positive chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (GC-PCI-MS-MS) in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The optimized SPME experimental procedures to extract acrylamide in water solutions were: use of a carbowax/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB)-coated fiber at pH 7, extraction time of 20 min and analyte desorption at 210 °C for 3 min. A detection limit of 0.1 μg L⁻¹ was obtained. The linear range was 1-1000 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 10.64% (n = 7). The proposed analytical method was successfully used for the quantification of trace acrylamide in foodstuffs such as French fries (1.2 μg g⁻¹) and potato crisps (2.2 μg g⁻¹).     

Analysis of phenylurea and propanil herbicides by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography combined with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection

This study examines the application of solid-phase microextraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography combined with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection (SPME-HPLC-PIF-FD) for the determination of four phenylurea herbicides (monolinuron, diuron, linuron and neburon) and propanil in groundwater. Direct immersion (DI) SPME was applied using a 60 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber for the extraction of the pesticides from groundwater samples. An AQUASIL C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) was used for separation and determination in HPLC. The method was evaluated with respect to the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) according to IUPAC. The limits of detection varied between 0.019 μg L⁻¹ and 0.034 μg L⁻¹. Limits of quantification ranged between 0.051 μg L⁻¹ and 0.088 μg L⁻¹. These values meet the recommended limits for individual pesticides in groundwater (0.1 μg L⁻¹) established by the EU. Recoveries ranged between 86% and 105% and relative standard deviation values between 2% and 8%.     

NMR investigation of acrolein stability in hydroalcoholic solution as a foundation for the valid HS-SPME/GC–MS quantification of the unsaturated aldehyde in beverages

Acrolein (propenal) is found in many foods and beverages and may pose a health hazard due to its cytotoxicity. Considerable knowledge gaps regarding human exposure to acrolein exist, and there is a lack of reliable analytical methods. Hydroalcoholic dilutions prepared for calibration purposes from pure acrolein show considerable degradation of the compound and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that 1,3,3-propanetriol and 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde are formed. The degradation can be prevented by addition of hydroquinone as stabilizer to the calibration solutions, which then show linear concentration-response behaviour required for quantitative analysis. The stabilized calibration solutions were used for quantitative headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC–MS) determination of acrolein in alcoholic beverages with a detection limit of 14 μg L⁻¹. Of 117 tested alcoholic beverages, 64 were tested positive with the highest incidence in grape marc spirits and whiskey (100%, mean 252 μg L⁻¹), followed by fruit spirits (86%, mean 591 μg/L⁻¹), tequila (86%, mean 404 μg L⁻¹), Asian spirits (43%, mean 54 μg L⁻¹) and wine (9%, mean 0.7 μg L⁻¹). Acrolein could not be detected in beer, vodka, absinthe and bottled water. Six of the fruit and grape marc spirits had acrolein levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional tolerable concentration of 1.5 mg L⁻¹.     

One-step extraction and derivatization liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of chlorophenols by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A sample pretreatment method for the determination of 18 chlorophenols (CPs) in aqueous samples by derivatization liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) was investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Derivatization reagent was spiked into the extraction solvent to combine derivatization and extraction into one step. High sensitivity of 18 CPs derivatives could be achieved after optimization of several parameters such as extraction solvent, percentage of derivatization reagent, extraction time, pH, and ionic strength. The results from the optimal method showed that calibration ranging from 0.5 to 500 μg L⁻¹ could be achieved with the RSDs between 1.75% and 9.39%, and the limits of detection (LOD) are ranging from 0.01 to 0.12 μg L⁻¹ for the CPs. Moreover, the proposed LPME method was compared with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with on-fiber derivatization technique. The results suggested that using both methods are quite agreeable. Furthermore, the recoveries of LPME evaluated by spiked environmental samples ranged from 87.9% (3,5-DCP) to 114.7% (2,3,5,6-TeCP), and environmental water samples collected from the Pearl River were analyzed with the optimized LPME method, the concentrations of 18 CPs ranged from 0.0237 μg L⁻¹ (3,5-DCP) to 0.3623 μg L⁻¹ (2,3,6-TCP).     

Disposable screen-printed sensors modified with bismuth precursor compounds for the rapid voltammetric screening of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II)

In this article, a study of novel screen-printed electrodes bulk-modified with five potential bismuth precursor compounds (bismuth citrate, bismuth titanate, bismuth oxide, bismuth aluminate and bismuth zirconate) is presented for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry. During the electrolytic deposition step, the precursor was reduced and served as the source of bismuth. Different key parameters were investigated in detail such as the nature of the bismuth precursor compound, the precursor content in the carbon ink, the polarisation range of the sensors, the supporting electrolyte, the stripping waveform, the deposition time, the deposition potential and the long-term stability of the sensors under continuous use. Using bismuth citrate as the precursor, the limit of detection was 0.9 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 1.1 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II). The reproducibility on the same sensor (expressed as % relative standard deviation, (n = 8)) was 5.4% for Pb(II) and 7.2% for Cd(II) at the 20 μg L⁻¹ level. Finally, the sensors were applied to the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water samples.