Application of microcrystalline cellulose as an efficient and cheap sorbent for the extraction of metoprolol from plasma and wastewater before HPLC–MS/MS determination

A dispersive solid-phase extraction method based on a new sorbent has been performed on plasma and wastewater samples to determine metoprolol by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, the analyte was adsorbed from the samples onto microcrystalline cellulose as a green and efficient sorbent and then eluted for use in the determination step. In the mass spectrometer, the analyte was detected in the positive mode and selectivity of the analysis was increased by sequential mass analysis through multiple reaction monitoring. All of the effective parameters in the extraction of metoprolol from plasma and wastewater were optimized. Under optimal conditions the method was linear in the ranges of 1–1,000 and 0.1–1,000 ng/ml in plasma and wastewater samples, respectively. The detection limits of the method were 0.30 and 0.03 ng/ml in plasma and wastewater samples, respectively. The data showed that the method provides low detection limit, wide linear range, good precision and high extraction recovery. Finally several plasma and wastewater samples were successfully analyzed using the method. The use of a small amount of a green and inexpensive sorbent and a low volume of plasma without the need for further pretreatment steps are the main advantages of the method.     

A sensitive and efficient method for trace analysis of some phenolic compounds using simultaneous derivatization and air‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction from human urine and plasma samples followed by gas chromatography–nitrogen phosphorous detection

In present study, a simultaneous derivatization and air‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction method combined with gas chromatography–nitrogen phosphorous detection has been developed for the determination of some phenolic compounds in biological samples. The analytes are derivatized and extracted simultaneously by a fast reaction with 1‐flouro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene under mild conditions. Under optimal conditions low limits of detection in the range of 0.05–0.34 ng mL^?1 are achievable. The obtained extraction recoveries are between 84 and 97% and the relative standard deviations are less than 7.2% for intraday (n = 6) and interday (n = 4) precisions. The proposed method was demonstrated to be a simple and efficient method for the analysis of phenols in biological samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Headspace SPME–GC Method for Acetone Analysis and its Biomedical Application

A new method for extraction and analysis of acetone in human urine based on headspace solid phase microextraction using a mixture of activated carbon and zeolite as sorbents in a PVC matrix coated on a silver wire and its application to the determination of ketone bodies is described. Unlike commercial fibers, which are coated on fused silica, the coating adheres strongly to the silver wire and is thermally stable up to 250 °C. After optimization of coating composition and microextraction conditions the fiber was used for the analysis of acetone in human urine.     

Semi-micro solvent extraction as a rapid and efficient preconcentration technique for the determination of n-alkanes in oil-contaiminated water and soil samples by capillary gas chromatography

Summary In this study, a rapid and efficient semi-micro extraction procedure is presented for the extraction of some higher n-alkanes from water and soil samples. In the case of water samples n-hexane was used as the organic phase in a phase volume ratio (volume of aqueous phase/volume of organic phase) higher than 285, while in the case of soil samples, extraction with n-hexane was carried out in the presence of an excess of 2 M NaCl solution. The extraction rate from soil samples is very high and is better than Soxhlet extraction, comparable with supercritical fluid extraction. High preconcentration factor in water samples allows the limits of detection to be in the ng.mL⁻¹ level with the use of gas chromatographic analysis. Flame ionization detector was used for monitoring the analytes. The obtained recoveries of all studied compounds from both water and soil samples are higher than 90%. This method was successfully used to determine some n-alkanes in municipal wastewater and contaminated soil.     

HPLC and GC Methods for Determination of Lubricants and Their Evaluation in Analysis of Real Samples of Polyethylene

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) are introduced for analysis of polymer lubricants (stearamide, oleamide and erucamide). In the HPLC method, a reverse phase octadecylsilane (ODS) column along with acetonitrile/methanol (60:40) as a mobile phase were used. Detection of analytes was performed by a UV detector at 202 nm. The analysis time was less than 8 min. In the GC method, polar capillary column and flame ionization detector (FID) were used for separations and detection, respectively. The analysis time by GC was longer than HPLC and was about 30 min. Limits of detection, linear range and repeatability of both methods are similar, but determination of oleamide in real samples by HPLC method is difficult due to complexity of the initial part of HPLC chromatogram in polyethylene samples. That problem is not observed in the GC method. Detection limits in both methods for all analytes are lower than 0.003% which are much lower than the amount of lubricants in commercial polymers (0.05–0.2%).     

Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography for Determination of Some Organophosphorus Pesticides

A simple and rapid solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method is presented based on activated charcoal–PVC fiber for determination of some organophosphorus pesticides from aqueous samples in direct mode SPME. After optimization of the experimental variables affecting SPME of the target compounds from aqueous solutions, the proposed method was applied to determine pesticides in fruit juice. The analytes in this procedure were preconcentrated for 15 min on the SPME fiber and subsequently desorbed by heating the fiber at 200 °C for 5 min in the GC injection port. Separation was on a capillary column GC followed by flame ionization detection. Recoveries of the pesticides studied in aqueous samples ranged 42%–63% and repeatability for all analytes was < 9% for a single fiber. Fiber-to-fiber reproducibility was < 18%.     

Rice Bran as an Excellent Sorbent for Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media, 1. Optimization of Conditions

In this two‐part report, the efficiency of rice bran in removal of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel, copper and iron(III) from aqueous solution is investigated. The different experimental conditions such as pH, temperature, volume of solution, bran amount, particle size, exchange time, stirring speed, etc. are studied, and the optimum conditions are selected in part 1 of this series of reports. The efficiency of bran in removal of heavy metals is presented with and without treatments. For treatment, heat or acid, alkali and salt solutions were used. The results obtained show that after treating with saturated sodium chloride solution, its efficiency for Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ improves. At pH 5, all studied cations have recoveries more than 93% (lead and cadmium 100%). The exchange speed is very high and has preference over the classical ion exchangers.     

Inside-Needle Extraction Method Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Solid-Phase Dynamic Extraction and Preconcentration of Triazine Herbicides Followed by GC–FID Determination

An inside-needle extraction method was developed through thermal polymerization of atrazine-molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on the internal surface of a stainless steel hollow needle, which was oxidized and silylated. The fabricated coating (MIP layer) for the needle was durable and showed very good chemical and thermal stability. It could be mounted on a glass syringe and be directly coupled with gas chromatographic (GC) systems. The parameters being effective on the coating and extraction processes, namely nature of oxidizing agent, silylation time, nature and amount of porogen, template-to-MIP components ratio, polymerization time and temperature, sample volume, flow rate, pH and ionic strength of the sample were investigated and optimized. The extraction needle showed high selectivity as well as a great extraction capacity for triazines. The extraction of atrazine, simazine, cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn and terbutryn using the fabricated extraction needle and followed by GC analysis resulted in detection limits of 2.6, 21, 24, 32, 38 and 42 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The fabricated needle proved to be applicable to the analysis of real samples by comparing the results obtained for non-spiked and spiked samples of grape juice, tap water and groundwater.