Characterization of oligosorbents and application to the purification of ochratoxin A from wheat extracts

The aim of this work was to optimize the preparation of an anti-ochratoxin A (OTA) oligosorbent (OS), a solid-phase extraction sorbent based on OTA aptamers covalently immobilized on sepharose. Different syntheses were carried out by modifying the side of the oligonucleotide chain bound to the sepharose, the length of the spacer arm between the aptamer and the sepharose and the amount of the aptamers introduced during the covalent grafting. Indeed, the capacity of OSs prepared using 3′- or 5′-amino-modified sequences with a C6 or a C12 was studied. In the best conditions, the concentration of aptamers sequence used during their grafting was increased and a capacity close to 40 nmol g^?1 of OS was reached. The potential of the resulting OSs was also studied in pure media. For this, their selectivity was checked by comparing them to a control sorbent prepared without immobilizing aptamers. Extraction recoveries close to 100 % were obtained on all OSs, while no retention was observed on the control sorbent. OS does not demonstrate any cross-reactivity towards OTA metabolites, i.e., ochratoxin B and ochratoxin hydroquinone. The oligosorbent was finally applied to the clean-up of OTA from wheat sample extracts. Extraction recoveries were not affected by matrix interferences and the resulting chromatogram clearly highlights the selectivity of the sorbent that allows the removal of matrix components thus improving the reliability of the quantitation of OTA in real samples.     

Efficient sample pre-concentration of bupivacaine from human plasma by solid-phase extraction on molecularly imprinted polymers

The ability to use imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction is demonstrated in a model pre-concentration of bupivacaine from human plasma samples prior to gas chromatography. Imprinting of the structural analogue pentycaine yielded a sorbent which efficiently extracted analyte and internal standard, while possible interference on analyte quantification from leakage of remaining template molecules was eliminated. Human plasma samples were diluted with citrate buffer pH 5, and applied onto solid phase extraction columns containing 15 mg of imprinted sorbent. Wash steps with 20% methanol in water followed by acetonitrile preceded elution with 2% triethylamine in acetonitrile. A direct comparison with conventional sample pre-treatment methods showed the high selectivity of the imprinted sorbent resulted in distinctly cleaner chromatographic traces than were obtained both after liquid-liquid extraction and C18-based solid-phase extraction.     

Rapid magnetic solid phase extraction with in situ derivatization of methylmercury in seawater by Fe3O4/polyaniline nanoparticle

A new Fe(3)O(4)/polyaniline nanoparticle (PANI) material has been successfully developed as magnetic solid-phase extraction sorbent in dispersion mode for the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) in aqueous samples, via quantification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The resultant core-shell magnetic solid-phase extraction nanoparticle (MSPE-NP) sorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Fe(3)O(4)/PANI composites showed fibrous structure with diameters between 50 and 100 nm for fibers. The MSPE-NP process involved the dispersion of the Fe(3)O(4)/PANI nanoparticles in water samples with sonication, followed by magnetic aided retrieval of the sorbent and then, solvent (hexane) desorption of extracted MeHg for GC-MS analysis. The extraction, derivatization and adsorption conditions were optimized by selecting the appropriate extraction parameters including the amount of sorbent, extraction time, derivatizing reagent volume and extraction solvent. The calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 0.5-300 ng mL(-1) (R(2)>0.993) with detection limit of 0.1 ng mL(-1) (n=3), while the repeatability was 4.1% (n=5). Enrichment factor was obtained as 91. Seawater sample was analyzed as real sample and good recoveries (>98%) were obtained at different spiked values.     

A hierarchical porous composite magnetic sorbent of reduced graphene oxide embedded in polyvinyl alcohol cryogel for solvent-assisted-solid phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A hierarchical porouscomposite magnetic sorbent was fabricated and applied to the dispersive solvent-assisted solid-phase extraction of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A sorbent was first prepared by incorporating graphene oxide, calcium carbonate, and magnetite nanoparticles into a polyvinyl alcohol cryogel. The graphene oxide was converted to reduced graphene oxide using ascorbic acid and a hierarchical porous structure was produced by reacting hydrochloric acid with incorporated calcium carbonate to generate carbon dioxide bubbles which created a second network. Before extracting the target analytes, the extraction solvent was introduced into the hierarchical pore network of the sorbent. The extraction was based on the partition between the analytes and introduced extraction solvent and the adsorption of analytes on reduced graphene oxide.The extraction efficiency was enhanced through π-π and hydrophobic interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and reduced graphene oxide and extraction solvent. The extracted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector. The developed method was applied to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in disposable diaper, coffee, and tea samples and recoveries from 84.5 to 99.4% were achieved with relative standard deviations below 7%. The developed sorbent exhibited good reproducibility and could be reused for 10 cycles.The developed sorbent exhibited good reproducibility and could be reused for 10 cycles.The developed sorbent exhibited good reproducibility and could be reused for 10 cycles.     

n-Octadecylphosphonic acid grafted mesoporous magnetic nanoparticle: Preparation, characterization, and application in magnetic solid-phase extraction

A new sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction, n-octadecylphosphonic acid modified mesoporous magnetic nano particles (OPA/MMNPs), was easily prepared via a two-step strategy. MMNPs were synthesized by a solvent-thermal process, and then OPA was grafted onto the surface of MMNPs via the strong Lewis acid/base interaction. The resultant material was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, tensionmeter, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, elemental analysis, and nitrogen adsorption analysis. The results demonstrated that the particles exhibited mesoporous structure, superparamagnetic (57emu/g) and extremely hydrophobic (water contact angle of 136°) properties. To evaluate the extraction performance of the resultant sorbent, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were chosen as model analytes. The extraction conditions were optimized. Based on these, a rapid, convenient and efficient method for the determination of PAHs in water samples was established by combination of magnetic solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The linearity range of proposed method was 0.2-100μg/L with correlation coefficients (R(2)) of 0.9726-0.9970. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 17.6%. Batch-to-batch reproducibility was acceptable with RSD values less than 12.1%.     

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous analysis of aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, G2 and ochratoxin A in beer

The simultaneous analysis of aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, G2 and ochratoxin A in beer was carried out by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS). Mycotoxins were extracted, purified and concentrated from the beer sample in one step using a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge that contained a polymeric sorbent. Optimization of different parameters, such as type of SPE sorbent, type and amount of wash solvent and pH of the sample, was carried out. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient of methanol + water (0.1% HCOOH) and a reversed-phase C18 column was used for the separation. The mass spectrometer used an electrospray ionization source operated in the positive mode to detect aflatoxins and in the negative mode to detect ochratoxin. UPLC/MS/MS is a rapid and sensitive technique that allows the separation of the five toxins in only 3.2 min. The limit of detection is 1 pg.     

Magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples using iron (III) oxinate nanocomposite as an efficient sorbent

In this work, iron (III) oxinate magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized and employed as an efficient sorbent for the magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples. In the following, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure was used for further preconcentration of the analytes. The prepared sorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, vibrating sample magnetometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results verified the successful formation of the magnetic sorbent. In the extraction process, the sorbent was added into an aqueous solution and the mixture was vortexed. After completing the adsorption process, the supernatant phase was separated in the presence of a magnet and the analytes adsorbed onto sorbent were eluted by acetonitrile. Then, microliter-level 1,1,1–trichloroethane was mixed with the obtained acetonitrile and injected into NaCl solution. Finally, one microliter of the sedimented phase was injected into gas chromatography-flame ionization detector after centrifugation. Under the optimum conditions, a great repeatability (relative standard deviation equal or less than 5 and 6% for intra– and interday precisions, respectively), acceptable extraction recoveries (59–84%), high enrichment factors (118–168), and low limits of detection and quantification (0.16–0.36 and 0.56–1.22 ng/g, respectively) were acquired.     

Extraction of ochratoxin A in red wine with dopamine‐coated magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

A new, rapid, green, and cost‐effective magnetic solid‐phase extraction of ochratoxin A from red wine samples was developed using polydopamine‐coated magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes as the absorbent. The polydopamine‐coated magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were fabricated with magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and dopamine by an in situ oxidative self‐polymerization approach. Transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry were used to characterize the absorbents. Ochratoxin A was quantified with high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection, with excitation and emission wavelengths of 338 and 455 nm, respectively. The conditions affecting the magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure, such as pH, extraction solution, extraction time, absorbent amount, desorption solution and desorption time were investigated to obtain the optimal extraction conditions. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction recovery was 91.8–104.5% for ochratoxin A. A linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.1–2.0 ng/mL. The limit of detection was 0.07 ng/mL, and the limit of quantitation was 0.21 ng/mL. The recoveries of ochratoxin A for spiked red wine sample ranged from 95.65 to 100.65% with relative standard deviation less than 8%. The polydopamine‐coated magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes showed a high affinity toward ochratoxin A, allowing selective extraction and quantification of ochratoxin A from complex sample matrixes.     

Carbon nanotube-based magnetic bucky gels in developing dispersive solid-phase extraction: application in rapid speciation analysis of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in water samples

In this work, we developed dispersive solid-phase extraction method with the use of carbon nanotube based magnetic bucky gels. The hydrophilic carbon nanotube (CNT)-based magnetic bucky gels (M-BGs) were developed with the features of magnetic susceptibility to permit fast injection of sorbent, rapid retrieval of the sorbent and high dispersion of MWCNT in the aqueous sample. We combined magnetic multi-wall carbon nanotube nanocomposite (MMWCNTs) with hydrophilic ionic liquids in order to prepare highly stable carbon nanotube-based magnetic bucky gels. The hydrophilic ILs act simultaneously as modifier and disperser for MMWCNTs and reduce the agglomeration of sorbent in water .Consequently they enhance the extraction efficiency. We used the unique features of this responsive gel (fluidity, stability, magnetic properties, and strong sorbing ability) in developing a new, fast, sensitive, simple, and environmental-friendly magnetic bucky gel-based dispersive solid-phase extraction method (M-BG-dSPE) combined with fibre optic linear array detection spectrophotometer (FO-LADS) for preconcentration and speciation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in water samples. The properties of MMWCNT and magnetic bucky gels were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR). Under the optimised conditions, the enrichment factor of the method was 318, the limit of detection was 0.1 ng mL^?1 and the repeatability of the method, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5), varies between 3.2% and 2.5% in different concentrations. The proposed procedure has been applied for speciation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in water samples with good recoveries in the range from 90 to 105%. Validation of the method was carried out by comparison of the obtained results with results obtained by the ET-AAS and spiking-recovery method.     

Aptamer‐modified magnetic metal‐organic framework MIL‐101 for highly efficient and selective enrichment of ochratoxin A

A facile and efficient strategy is developed to modify aptamers on the surface of the magnetic metal‐organic framework MIL‐101 for the rapid magnetic solid‐phase extraction of ochratoxin A. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to create a robust aptamer‐modified magnetic MIL‐101 with covalent bonding for the magnetic separation and enrichment of ochratoxin A. The saturated adsorption of ochratoxin A by aptamer‐modified magnetic MIL‐101 was 7.9 times greater than that by magnetic metal‐organic framework MIL‐101 due to the former's high selective recognition as well as good stability. It could be used for extraction more than 12 times with no significant changes in the extraction efficiency. An aptamer‐modified magnetic MIL‐101‐based method of magnetic solid‐phase extraction combined with ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of trace ochratoxin A with limit of detection of 0.067 ng/L. Ochratoxin A of 4.53–13.7 ng/kg was determined in corn and peanut samples. The recoveries were in the range 82.8–108% with a relative standard deviation (n = 5) of 4.5–6.5%. These results show that aptamer‐modified magnetic MIL‐101 exhibits selective and effective enrichment performance and have excellent potential for the analysis of ultra‐trace targets from complex matrices.