Improved supercritical fluid extraction of sulphonamides

Summary Different ways used for enhancing the yield of sulphonamides leached from solid supports are reported. Supercritical CO₂ and methanol-modified CO₂ were used as extractants of the target analytes and the impregnation of the solid sample with buffer, derivatization of the analytes and ion-pair formation were assessed. Only the sulphonamide/tetramethyl-ammonium ion-pairs are quantitatively extracted from the solid supports using pure supercritical CO₂, while the other modifications and the presence of a cosolvent lead to recoveries lower than 30% for most of the analytes. Individual separation/quantitation of the analytes was performed off-line using a liquid chromatograph.     

Fast supercritical fluid chromatography using capillaries packed with nonporous particles

Summary Packed columns containing microparticles provide high column efficiency per unit time and strong retention characteristics compared with open tubular columns, and they are favored for fast separations. Nonporous particles eliminate the contribution of solute mass transfer resistance in the intraparticle void volume characteristic of porous particles, and they should be more suitable for fast separations. In this paper, the evaluation of nonporous silica particles of sizes ranging from 5 to 25 μm in packed capillary columns for fast supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using neat CO₂ is reported. These particles were first deactivated using polymethyl-hydrosiloxanes and then encapsulated with a methylphenylpolysiloxane stationary phase. The retention factors, column efficiencies, column efficiencies per unit time, separation resolution, and separation resolution per unit time for fast SFC were determined for various length capillaries packed with various sizes of polymerencapsulated nonporous particles. It was found that 15 μm nonporous particles provided the highest column efficiency per unit time and resolution per unit time for fast packed capillary SFC. Under certain conditions, separations were completed in less than 1 min. Several thermally labile silylation reagent samples were separated in times less than 5 min. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Addition of modifier in supercritical fluid chromatography using a microbore reciprocating pump

Summary Solubilities of polar analytes in supercritical CO₂ can be enhanced by the addition of polar modifiers. The addition of modifier into an SFC system using a low cost reciprocating pump has been studied. Two different mixing chambers were evaluated for mixing the supercritical CO₂ with modifier. It appeared that a mixing chamber with a packed bed was enough to reduce baseline noise from the modifier pump. Results from the effect of pressure and temperature with various modifier flow rates were obtained. High percentages of modifier (>15%) at a low CO₂ pressure (2000 psi) caused baseline instability. In addition, different I.D. columns were tested with the system and the effect of modifier compressiblity on detector noise was also studied. Several pharmaceutical compounds were separated to demonstrate system performance.     

Analytical supercritical fluid extraction of Chinese herbal medicines

Summary An analytical supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique, followed by GC/MS, was developed to separate and determine the volatile components in Chinese herbal medicine. Three kinds of herbs, frankincense, myrrh, andEvodia rutaecarpa were extracted and analyzed. The extraction was carried out using supercritical fluid CO₂ at 20 MPa and 50°C. The main factors affecting the efficiency and selectivity of the extraction are discussed. The results revealed the potential of supercritical fluid extraction as an analytical procedure for the study of medicinal plants.     

Application of a gas-liquid entraining rotor to supercritical fluid extraction : Removal of iron(III) from water

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of aqueous solutions is often limited by poor mass transport. The performance of a new gas-liquid entraining device was investigated to improve mass transport and thereby increase extraction efficiency. As a test system, iron(III) was extracted from water with a β-diketone chelating agent (HL) and supercritical fluid carbon dioxide. Metal β-diketonate complexes with sufficient solubility in supercritical fluid CO₂ are often poorly extracted from aqueous solutions due to limited mass transport between the water-soluble metal ion and the CO₂-soluble chelating agent. The new entraining device maximizes contact between the ligand-rich CO₂ phase and the metal ion-rich aqueous phase. Iron(III) was extracted from water with the chelating agent 2,2,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedione (H(tod)) and supercritical fluid CO₂ at 60 °C and 20.8 MPa. With entrainment, 79% of the iron was removed from the aqueous phase. This represents a three-fold increase in iron extraction efficiency over that of a static system.     

Separation and quantification of components of edible fat utilizing open tubular columns in SFC. Sample introduction by direct injection and SFE coupled on-line to SFC

Summary Geometric isomers of fatty acids were separated by open tubular columns in SFC. The concentration of the analytes varied between 9 and 16 μg mL⁻¹. Quantification of triglycerides with repeatability better than 20% were obtained in a home made SFE-SFC unit. A four point calibration curve for both trimyristin and tripalmitin was developed with correlation coefficients of 0.998 and 0.9998, respectively. The limit of quantification was approximately 3 ng for both components. Supercritical CO₂ as extraction solvent in matrix containing lipids increased the recovery of cholesterol by a factor of three. Using immobilized lipase in on-line SFE-SFC quantification of cholesterol in spray dried egg yolk was possible.     

On-Line coupling of supercritical fluid extraction with high performance liquid chromatography

Supercritical fluid extraction was coupled directly with high performance liquid chromatograph. The system was evaluated for direct injection of supercritical CO₂ and modified supercritical CO₂ at high pressure and temperature onto a HPLC system with varying mobile phase compositions and flow rates. Injection of 9 μL supercritical CO₂ onto the HPLC using methanol/water mobile phases from 100% methanol to 80% with a flow of 1.0 mL/min did not adversely affect the baseline of UV detector. However at higher percentages of water, CO₂ solubility in the mobile phase decreased and caused baseline interferences on the UV detector. At higher HPLC mobile phase flow rates, supercritical CO₂ was injected to higher percentages of water without any effect on the UV baseline. Also, increasing the extraction pressure or modifier concentration did not change the results. Separations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and linear alkenebenzene sulfonate test mixtures were obtained using on-line SFE/HPLC interfaced system.     

Extraction of cationic surfactant templates from mesoporous materials by CH(3)OH-modified CO(2) supercritical fluid

Extraction of cationic surfactant templates from MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-1 and SBA-3 has been conducted using CH₃OH-modified CO₂ supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been integrated with thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N₂ adsorption-desorption to evaluate extraction efficiency and structural stability of mesoporous materials. Experiments of optimization indicate that the conditions of 90 bar, 85 °C, CH₃OH/CO₂ = 0.1/1.0 ml/min and 3 h are most suitable for the SFE of cationic templates. 76-95% of the cationic templates can be extracted from the mesoporous materials. XRD and N₂ adsorption-desorption studies illustrate that SFE possesses some advantages over calcination in maintaining mesoporous uniformity and structural stability when used to remove templates. The impact of curing on mesoporous structure is also dealt with.     

Analysis of propellant stabilizer components via packed and capillary supercritical fluid chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry

The separation of model mixtures of nitrated diphenylamine and nitrated aniline via supercritical fluid chromatography employing both capillary and packed columns is described. With highly deactivated stationary phases each mixture could be separated with 100% CO₂ pressure programmed. Peak identification and peak purity were afforded by on-line Fourier transform infrared spectrometric detection. Nitrosoaniline derivatives were observed via FTIR to have been converted to nitro derivatives on storage.     

The Influence of the Natures of the Carrier Gas and the Stationary Phase on the Separating Properties of Monolithic Capillary Columns in Gas Adsorption Chromatography

A model mixture of light hydrocarbons was used to study the separation capacity of monolithic capillary columns based on divinylbenzene with five different carrier gases, including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. The results were correlated with the previously obtained data on monolithic columns based on silica gel. It was shown that the influence of the nature of the carrier gas was weaker than for silica gel columns; the polymeric columns studied behaved similarly to hollow capillary columns with polymeric stationary phases and exhibited an efficiency gain of 20–30% along the series He < H₂ < N₂ ～ N₂O < CO₂. Based on the minimum HETP (～15 μm) obtained for the investigated monolithic columns under optimum conditions with N₂O or CO₂ as a carrier gas, the conclusion was drawn that the creation of divinylbenzene-based monolithic capillary columns with a high specific efficiency was possible.     

Determination of Microcystins in Cyanobacteria by Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Liquid Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A method for the detection of microcystins (microcystin LR, RR, and YR) in cyanobacteria by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been developed. Supercritical fluids for the analytical extraction of nonvolatile, higher molecular weight compound, and microcystins from cyanobacteria were investigated. The microcystins included in this study are sparsely soluble in neat supercritical fluid CO₂. However, the microcystins was successfully extracted with a ternary mixture (90% CO₂, 9.5% methanol, 0.5% water) at 40°C and 250 atm. The polar carbon dioxide‐aqueous methanol fluid system gave high extraction efficiency for the extraction of the polar microcystins from cyanobacteria. The microcystins were determined by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).     

Supercritical fluid extraction of carbamate pesticides from soils and cereals

Summary A method for the supercritical fluid extraction of carbamate pesticides (propoxur, aminocarb, carbaryl and methiocarb) from soil and cereal samples using CO₂ is proposed. Extractions were at 378 bar and 54 °C. Analytes were determined in the extracts by HPLC with fluorescence detection after post-column derivatization. Recoveries from spiked soil ranged between 39.6 and 91.7%, depending on analyte and soil components. Lowest recoveries were from sandy soils. Aminocarb could not be recovered from any soil using CO₂. Recovery of aminocarb from diatomaceous earth was improved by adding methanol to the extraction cell prior to SFE, but the effect was not observed in soil samples. Recoveries for propoxur and aminocarb from spiked wheat were about 75%, and only between 30–50% for aminocarb from corn and oats, and carbaryl from wheat. Fat was coextracted using CO₂ and retained in the trap together with the analytes, however, appropriate rinsing solvent allowed on-line clean-up of the extract.     

Analysis of organic pollutants in sewage by supercritical fluid extraction

Summary Analytical methods have been developed for the determination of organic pollutants of intermediate polarity in sewage. Water samples are first passed through a solid phase adsorption cartridge. The analytes are then extracted from the absorbent with supercritical CO₂ into a small volume of trapping solvent. Finally, the extracts are analyzed directly by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The various parameters (pressure, temperature, type and concentration of modifiers, trapping solvent, flow rate and volume of supercritical fluid and equilibrium time) influencing the efficiency of extraction were studied. Extraction efficiencies for the test compounds are >70%, and relative standard deviations are <4.6% (n=3). The methods established were applied to the analysis of sewage at the Lanzhou Wastewater Treatment Plant, China. 66 organic pollutants were detected, of which 15 compounds appeared in the list of priority pollutants suggested by the US EPA.     

Effect of moisture on supercritical fluid extraction of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols from soil using an automated extractor

An automated supercritical fluid extraction system was evaluated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols to demonstrate extraction efficiency, collection efficiency, and sample cross contamination. Results showed that 75/25 glass beads/octadecyl silica provided the highest collection efficiency for these classes of compounds. Also, the automated SFE system was used to study the effect of different percentages of water (w/w) in soil on extraction efficiency of fortified PAH and phenols at different temperatures and pressures. Results showed that the presence of (available) water in soil (>10%) does, increase extraction efficiency of higher molecular weight PAH at higher temperature. Also it was demonstrated that temperature rather than pressure had a marked effect on extraction efficiency. The extraction efficiency of phenols from soil which contained 5% of water, using pure supercritical CO₂, was higher than those obtained from dry soil or soil containing 1 % water. Extraction of phenols from soil did not show a dependence on pressure or temperature.     

Analytical scale supercritical fluid fractionation of a low molecular weight,high density polyethylene wax with carbon dioxide

This paper reports on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide to fractionate a low molecular weight, high density polyethylene into very narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs). A simple extraction system was developed that allowed relatively trouble free extractions of the polyethylene samples. Fractions were collected at successively higher densities of CO₂ at constant temperature and then analyzed by capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), or high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and/or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fractionations were performed at three different temperatures (60,80, and 100°C). Higher temperatures were found to yield greater recoveries and higher MWDs at any given density. Reducing the increment between successive extraction steps resulted in polydispersities being reduced to nearly “monodisperse” levels. Total recoveries ranged from 12 to 33% depending on the temperature, and the highest molecular weight fraction extracted by the CO₂ was centered around 1500.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of kava lactones from Piper methysticum (kava) herb

Supercritical fluid extraction of kava lactones from Piper methysticum Forst. herb is described here. The extraction was performed with supercritical carbon dioxide alone and supercritical carbon dioxide modified with 15% ethanol, and the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Seven lactones including: 7,8-dihydrokavain; kavain; 5,6-dehydrokavain; 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydroyangonin; dihydromethysticin; yangonin; and methysticin were the major constituents in the SFE extract.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography of imidazole derivatives

Summary The aim of this work was to use SFC to separate simple, slightly basic, imidazole derivatives which are used for the synthesis of more complex molecules with therapeutic properties. Control of their purity utilizes separation techniques and this paper shows what SFC can do in comparison with LC which requires derivatization before detection and with GC where peak tailing can be a problem. Our results concern the use of sub-critical mixtures of CO₂ and polar modifiers because imidazole derivatives react with neat CO₂, thus failing to elute from packed columns, and are only partially resolved on capillary columns with neat N₂O. Therefore, separations with CO₂-alcohol-amine-water mixtures on aminopropyl-bonded silica with UV detection are discussed. The resolution and sensitivity limits allow real sample analysis within a very short time.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of flumetralin in tobacco

Summary This work evaluates the level of Flumetralin residues in real tobacco samples. Conventional extraction methods were compared with SFE methods in both static and dynamic modes using CO₂ and CO₂ with modifier. Additionally, in the dynamic SFE mode, different collection approaches, such as collection at room temperature without solvent, collection at room temperature in the presence of solvent (hexane) and collection in an ice bath, without solvent, were studied. SFE showed itself to be a promising extraction technique for pesticide residues in tobacco samples.     

Optimisation of supercritical fluid extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their nitrated derivatives adsorbed on highly sorptive diesel particulate matter

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was performed to extract complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated derivatives (nitroPAHs) and heavy n-alkanes from spiked soot particulates that resulted from the incomplete combustion of diesel oils. This polluted material, resulting from combustion in a light diesel engine and collected at high temperature inside the particulate filter placed just after the engine, was particularly resistant to conventional extraction techniques, such as soxhlet extraction, and had an extraction behaviour that differed markedly from certified reference materials (SRM 1650). A factorial experimental design was performed, simultaneously modelling the influence of four SFE experimental factors on the recovery yields, i.e.: the temperature and the pressure of the supercritical fluid, the nature and the percentage of the organic modifier added to CO₂ (chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, methylene chloride), as a means to reach the optimal extraction yields for all the studied target pollutants. The results of modelling showed that the supercritical fluid pressure had to be kept at its maximum level (30 MPa) and the temperature had to be kept relatively low (75 °C). Under these operating conditions, adding 15% of methylene chloride to the CO₂ permitted quantitative extraction of not only light PAHs and their nitrated derivatives, but also heavy n-alkanes from the spiked soots. However, heavy polyaromatics were not quantitatively extracted from the refractory carbonaceous solid surface. As such, original organic modifiers were tested, including pyridine, which, as a strong electron donor cosolvent (15% into CO₂), was the most successful. The addition of diethylamine to pyridine, which enhanced the electron donor character of the cosolvent, even increased the extraction yields of the heaviest PAHs, leading to a quantitative extraction of all PAHs (more than 79%) from the diesel particulate matter, with detection limits ranging from 0.5 to 7.8 ng for 100 mg of spiked material. Concerning the nitrated PAHs, a small addition of acetic acid into pyridine, as cosolvents, gave the best results, leading to fair extraction yields (approximately 60%), with detection limits ranging from 18 to 420 ng.     

A Simple Thermal Pump for In-the-Field Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Abstract

A simple heat driven pump for in-the-field supercritical fluid extraction was constructed and evaluated. The pump pressurized CO₂ from a standard (54 atm) siphon tube supply cylinder to over 400 atm. Pressurization was achieved and maintained by cyclic heating of a pump chamber containing CO₂ to 250°C then cooling and refilling the pump chamber with CO₂. The pressurized CO₂ was transferred to a heated reservoir from which the CO₂ flowed into the extraction cell. Pulse free pressure was maintained in the extraction cell indefinitely at 135 atm with a back pressure regulator. The pressure variation of the solvent delivered to the extraction cell during this period was negligible. The total weight of the system was 5.5 Kg.