Fluorescent determination of graphene quantum dots in water samples

This work presents a simple, fast and sensitive method for the preconcentration and quantification of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) in aqueous samples. GQDs are considered an object of analysis (analyte) not an analytical tool which is the most frequent situation in Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. This approach is based on the preconcentration of graphene quantum dots on an anion exchange sorbent by solid phase extraction and their subsequent elution prior fluorimetric analysis of the solution containing graphene quantum dots. Parameters of the extraction procedure such as sample volume, type of solvent, sample pH, sample flow rate and elution conditions were investigated in order to achieve extraction efficiency. The limits of detection and quantification were 7.5 μg L⁻¹ and 25 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The precision for 200 μg L⁻¹, expressed as %RSD, was 2.8%. Recoveries percentages between 86.9 and 103.9% were obtained for two different concentration levels. Interferences from other nanoparticles were studied and no significant changes were observed at the concentration levels tested. Consequently, the optimized procedure has great potential to be applied to the determination of graphene quantum dots at trace levels in drinking and environmental waters.     

Humic acids as both matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and adsorbent for magnetic solid phase extraction

In the present study, humic acids (HAs) were applied as both a matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and an adsorbent of magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) for the first time. As natural macromolecule compounds, HAs are inherently highly functionalized and contain laser energy absorbing–transferring aromatic structures. This special molecular structure made HAs a good candidate for use as a MALDI matrix in small molecule analysis. At the same time, due to its good adsorption ability, HAs was prepared as MSPE adsorbent via a simple co-mixing method, in which the commercially available HAs were directly mixed with Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in a mortar and grinded evenly and completely. In this process, MNPs were physically wrapped and adhered to tiny HAs leading to the formation of magnetic HAs (MHAs). To verify the bi-function of the MHAs, Rhodamine B (RdB) was chosen as model compound. Our results show that the combination of MHAs-based MSPE and MALDI-TOF-MS can provide a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of RdB in chili oil. The whole analytical procedure could be completed within 30 min for simultaneous determination of more than 20 samples, and the limit of quantitation for RdB was found to be 0.02 μg/g. The recoveries in chili oil were in the range 73.8–81.5% with the RSDs less than 21.3% (intraday) and 20.3% (interday). The proposed strategy has potential applications for high-throughput analysis of small molecules in complex samples.     

Carboxylated graphene oxide/polyvinyl chloride as solid-phase extraction sorbent combined with ion chromatography for the determination of sulfonamides in cosmetics

A carboxylated graphene oxide/polyvinyl chloride (CGO/PVC) material was prepared as a sorbent for the selective extraction of sulphonamides from complex sample. After being dispersed in buffer solution, sample was transferred into the prefabricated solid-phase extraction (SPE) column, which integrated extraction and cleanup into one single-step. A multi-response optimization based on the Box-Behnken design was used to optimize factors affecting extraction efficiency. Compared with the commonly commercial sorbents including MCX, WCX and C₁₈, CGO/PVC hybrid material had higher extraction selectivity and capacity to sulphonamides. The limits of detection and quantification for seven target compounds were in the range of 3.4–7.1 μg/L and 11.4–23.7 μg/L, respectively. The self-assembly SPE cartridge was successfully used to enrich seven analytes in anti-acne cosmetics prior to ion chromatography detection with good recoveries of 87.8–102.0% and relative standard deviations of 1.2–6.4%, implying that this method was suitable for routine analysis of cosmetics.     

Fabrication of the Monolithic Fiber for the Solid Phase Micro‐extraction of Malachite Green

A monolithic fiber of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared by in situ polymerization within the capillary with an inner diameter of 530 µm. It was carried out in 8 min by microwave irradiation using malachite green (MG) as a template molecule, α‐methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, acetonitrile (ACN) as a porogenic solvent, ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as a crosslinker, azodiiso‐butyronitrile (AIBN) as a thermal initiator. The resulted MIP fibers were pushed out from the capillary, eluted and inserted in the capillary again, which successfully used for the solid phase microextraction (SPME) procedure. The factors affecting the extraction of MG, such as the molar ratio of template/monomer (MG/MAA), concentration of NaCl, extraction and desorption time, and extraction and desorption solvents were investigated in detail. The selectivity of the MIP fibers was compared using MG analogues crystal violet (CV) and non‐analogue Sudan II. It was also employed for the pretreatment of trace MG in the fish feed followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of MG was 10‐600 μg/L, the detection limit (LOD) was 1.23 μg/L and the recovery of spiked fish feed sample was 88.7～113.9%.     

Proteome profile of salt gland‐rich epidermis extracted from a salt‐tolerant tree species

Preparation of proteins from salt‐gland‐rich tissues of mangrove plant is necessary for a systematic study of proteins involved in the plant's unique desalination mechanism. Extraction of high‐quality proteins from the leaves of mangrove tree species, however, is difficult due to the presence of high levels of endogenous phenolic compounds. In our study, preparation of proteins from only a part of the leaf tissues (i.e. salt gland‐rich epidermal layers) was required, rendering extraction even more challenging. By comparing several extraction methods, we developed a reliable procedure for obtaining proteins from salt gland‐rich tissues of the mangrove species Avicennia officinalis. Protein extraction was markedly improved using a phenol‐based extraction method. Greater resolution 1D protein gel profiles could be obtained. More promising proteome profiles could be obtained through 1D‐LC‐MS/MS. The number of proteins detected was twice as much as compared to TUTS extraction method. Focusing on proteins that were solely present in each extraction method, phenol‐based extracts contained nearly ten times more proteins than those in the extracts without using phenol. The approach could thus be applied for downstream high‐throughput proteomic analyses involving LC‐MS/MS or equivalent. The proteomics data presented herein are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001691.     

基于双功能单体的磁性双酚A印迹聚合物的制备及应用

以二氧化硅包覆的四氧化三铁为载体,双酚A(BPA)为模板分子,β-环糊精和4-乙烯基吡啶为二元功能单体,采用热聚合方法制备了对双酚A具有特异吸附性能的磁性印迹复合材料(mag-MIPs).采用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和振动样品磁强计(VSM)对该印迹复合材料进行了表征,并结合磁固相萃取(M-SPE)技术和高效液相色谱(HPLC)研究了其对双酚A的吸附行为,结果表明该印迹复合材料对双酚A具有良好的选择吸附能力.液相色谱检测结果表明,该磁性印迹复合材料可用于环境水样中双酚A的快速分离富集,回收率为90.51%~98.21%.     

甲酸处理对微藻油脂提取的影响

采用易于回收的有机酸处理微藻细胞,以微藻Chlorella protothecoides为原料,系统研究了甲酸处理对微藻油脂提取的影响.结果表明,甲酸能有效破碎微藻细胞,最终油脂得率和脂肪酸甲酯(FAME)得率均与传统无机酸热法相当.甲酸浓度、温度和处理时间对油脂提取有显著影响.当甲酸浓度为88%,液固比为6 m L/g,100℃下处理30 min,Chlorella protothecoides油脂得率为49.2%,FAME得率高达92.1%.甲酸处理提取到的微藻油脂脂肪酸组成与无机酸热法结果无明显区别.Chlorella protothecoides油脂主要含有5种脂肪酸,其中C18∶1含量最高.实验还考察了甲酸处理对Nannochlorum sp和Nannochloropsis oceanic的适用性,结果表明,对于不同微藻原料,甲酸处理提取到的微藻油脂得率和FAME得率均与无机酸热法结果相当.     

溶剂极性控制下的煤抽余物吸附甲烷能力研究

基于原煤和有机溶剂抽余物的等温吸附实验结果,对比分析溶剂极性与其煤抽余物吸附甲烷能力变化关系,探讨抽提溶剂极性差异对煤抽余物吸附甲烷能力控制的地球化学机理。结果表明,煤溶剂抽余物等温吸附甲烷曲线都遵循Langmuir方程,且二硫化碳(CS₂)和苯(C₆H₆)溶剂抽提作用增大了煤吸附甲烷量,四氢呋喃(THF)和丙酮溶剂抽提作用减小了煤吸附甲烷量。实验发现,煤抽余物吸附甲烷能力变化与抽提溶剂极性成负相关关系,该现象可用相似相容原理解释:CS₂和C₆H₆溶剂极性较弱,抽提出较多具有非极性结构(-CH₃和-CH₂-)的烷烃和芳烃,为甲烷在煤表面吸附增多了吸附位而增强了抽余物吸附甲烷能力,THF和丙酮溶剂极性较强,抽提出较多具有极性结构(-CHO、-OH、和-COOH)的非烃和沥青质,减少了吸附位而降低煤抽余物的甲烷吸附能力。     

Screening of drugs of abuse and toxic compounds in human whole blood using online solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

A novel method for the screening of 151 drugs of abuse and toxic compounds in human whole blood has been developed and validated by online solid‐phase extraction with liquid chromatography coupled to time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Analytes were extracted and separated by using a fully automated online solid‐phase extraction liquid chromatography system with total chromatographic run time of 26 min. Time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry screening of 151 drugs of abuse and toxic compounds was performed in a full‐scan (m/z 50–800) mode using an MS^E acquisition of molecular ions and fragment ions data at two collision energies (one was 6 eV and another one was in the range of 5–45 eV). The compounds were identified based on retention times and exact mass of molecular ions and fragment ions. The limit of detection ranged from 1 to 100 ng/mL and the recovery of the method ranged from 6.3 to 163.5%. This method is proved to be a valuable screening method allowing fast and specific identification of drugs in human whole blood.