Orthogonal array optimization of ionic liquid based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for toxic anilines in foods

A simple and rapid method of ionic liquid based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction(DLLME) combining with high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was developed for the analysis of four toxic anilines in flour steamed bread and maize steamed bread.Several possible influential factors such as the type of ionic liquid and disperser solvent,extraction time,sample pH,ionic strength and the volume of ionic liquid and disperser solvent were optimized using single factor experiments and orthogonal array design(OAD) with OA 25(5 4) matrix.Analysis of variance(ANOVA) and percent contribution(PC) were used to investigate the significance of the factors of OAD.Sample pH and ionic strength are statistically demonstrated two chief factors.Under the optimum condition,the method exhibits a good linearity(r 2 > 0.99) over the studied range(50-1000 ng g 1) for anilines.The extraction factors and recoveries for the anilines in two kinds of steamed breads ranged between 34.1%-73.3% and 44.3%-95.3%,respectively.The limit of detections(LODs) and limit of quantitations(LOQs) ranged between 10-15 ng g 1 and 30-45 ng g-1.     

Simultaneous determination of ultraviolet filters in aqueous samples by plunger-in-needle solid-phase microextraction with graphene-based sol–gel coating as sorbent coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive and selective method for the simultaneous determination of five ultraviolet (UV) filters: benzophenone, octyl salicylate, homosalate, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone in aqueous samples was developed. The analytes were extracted by plunger-in-needle solid-phase microextraction with graphene as sorbent, then silylated on-fiber with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Factors affecting the performance of extraction and derivatization steps were thoroughly evaluated. For the optimization of extraction conditions, six relevant factors (parameters) were investigated, including sample pH, salt concentration, extraction time, extraction temperature, stirring speed and sampling mode. In the first stage, a two-level orthogonal array design OA₈ (2⁷) matrix was employed to study the effect of six factors. Based on the results of the first stage, three factors were selected for further optimization with a univariant approach during the second stage. Under the final optimized conditions, the method limits of detection for the five UV filters were determined to be in the range of 0.5 and 6.8 ng L⁻¹ (at a signal/noise ratio of 3) and the precision (% relative standard deviation, n = 5) was 0.8–5.6% at a concentration level of 1 μg L⁻¹. The linearities for different analytes were 10–10,000 or 1–5000 ng L⁻¹. The coefficients of determination for the calibration curves were all greater than 0.994. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of the UV filters in river water samples.     

Evaluation of the matrix‐like effect in multiresidue pesticide analysis by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

In multiresidue pesticide analysis using gas chromatography, it has long been recognized that an increase in the number of pesticides present in a standard solution can result in an enhancement of the peak responses of certain pesticides. Despite being widely acknowledged, this phenomenon has been rarely studied and is poorly understood. In this study, the authors have tentatively called this phenomenon the “matrix‐like effect” and demonstrated it clearly using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Five selected pesticides, namely, omethoate, terbufos, malathion, procymidone, and permethrin, and four internal standard candidates, namely, triphenyl phosphate, naphthalene‐d ₈, phenanthrene‐d ₁₀, and fluoranthene‐d ₁₀, were used to evaluate the matrix‐like effect following the addition of 58, 108, and 166 other pesticides. With the exception of naphthalene‐d ₈, the responses of all evaluated pesticides and internal standard candidates were dramatically enhanced by the addition of up to 166 coexisting pesticides. The relative response factors of the five pesticides to each internal standard candidate were not constant under the conditions studied, meaning that these internal standard candidates did not adequately compensate for the matrix‐like effect, at least for the five evaluated pesticides. The results revealed that the presence of various mixtures of pesticides in standard solutions might act as an unintentional analyte protectant, that is, some sort of troublesome “quasi‐matrix.”     

气相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱准确鉴定常见水果蔬菜中的农药残留

建立了一种新型农药多残留检测方法。采用气相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱（GC-QTOF MS）结合Carbon NH₂柱固相萃取净化可对不同类别的152种农药残留进行准确的鉴定。一级（MS¹）精确质量数据库评价3~5个特征离子,以3个及以上特征离子检出且离子丰度比（Q/q_i）合适作为一级质谱定性依据。对部分特征离子数不足及特征离子检出情况不符合条件的农药进行二级（MS²）确证,应用二级谱图库检索及镜像结果对比分析实现疑似农药确证。本文对梨、甘蓝、番茄3种代表性果蔬在5.0和10.0 μg/kg 2个添加水平的152种农药进行测定,回收率在70%~120%范围的比例分别为甘蓝91.45 %、94.08%,番茄88.20%、88.80%,梨86.84%、92.10%。本方法为常见果蔬中农药残留的准确判断提供了可靠依据,扩大了分析范围。     

Application of the taguchi experimental design to the optimisation of a photo-oxidation procedure for trace metal analysis in freshwater

A UV photo-oxidation device was constructed for the destruction of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in freshwater samples in order to determine traces of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper bound to DOM as inert species, by anodic stripping voltammetry in the differential pulse mode (DPASV). The photodigestor performance was optimised by means of the Taguchi experimental design. Four control factors (or design parameters) at three levels were explored: exposure-time to the UV-irradiation, pH of the sample, hydrogen peroxide concentration and mineral acid added, and assigned to the columns of a L₉(3⁴) saturated orthogonal array. A noise factor (nitrilotriacetic acid concentration) at three levels was introduced in the experiment to simulate the uncontrollable amount of DOM in water samples. The experiment was conducted with two replications of each trial and an optimum response insensitive to the variations of DOM concentration was found when samples, acidified at pH 2 with sulphuric acid, were irradiated for 30 min in the presence of 12.3 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide. The proposed procedure is more precise, accurate and fast than the wet digestion method.     

Behaviour of selected pesticide residues in blackcurrants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ribes nigrum</Emphasis>) during technological processing monitored by liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

In this experiment, the behaviour of ten pesticides on field-sprayed blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) after washing, juicing and cooking was investigated. The concentration level changes in two acaricides (fenazaquin, propargite), three insecticides (alpha-cypermethrin, deltamethrin and lambdacyhalothrin) and five fungicides (boscalid, bupirimate, difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, thiophanate-methyl) were quantified. Analysis was carried out using the QuEChERS method followed by chromatographic analysis based on LC-MS/MS. The matrix effects ranged from —(17.4 ± 8.1) % to (15.9 ± 7.8) %. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 0.003 mg kg^?1 and 0.01 mg kg^?1, respectively. The mean recoveries of the analytes ranged between 71 % and 109 %. The processing factors of all the blackcurrant products were determined. Washing reduced the pesticide residues up to 71 %. Juicing significantly reduced all the pesticide residues (processing factors (PFs) ranged 0.14–0.47). Cooking resulted in a decrease in residues up to 82 %. The residue levels of alpha-cypermethrin, deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin in blackcurrant jam increased, and PFs > 1 were noted as PF = 1.38, 1.66 and 1.04, respectively. Cluster analysis was performed to find any similarity in the behaviour of pesticides after processing. The results confirmed that solubility, polarity and mode of action could be used to explain differences in the behaviour of pesticides.     

Voltammetric Determination of Neonicotinoid Pesticides at Disposable Screen‐Printed Sensors Featuring a Sputtered Bismuth Electrode

This work reports the determination of 5 neonicotinoid pesticides (Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Nitenpyram and Dinotefuran) in water samples by cathodic differential pulse (DP) voltammetry at screen‐printed disposable sensors featuring a sputtered bismuth thick‐film working electrode, a Ag reference electrode and a carbon counter electrode. The performance of the bismuth thick‐film electrodes was compared to that of a home‐made bismuth thin‐film electrode and a bismuth‐bulk electrode. The electrodes were further characterized by electrochemical and optical techniques. The effect of the pH of the supporting electrolyte on the DP reduction currents of the 5 pesticides was studied. The limits of quantification (LOQs) in 4 water matrices (distilled water, tap water, mineral water and surface water) were in the range 0.76 to 2.10 mg L^?1 but severe matrix effects were observed in the analysis of mineral and, especially, surface water samples. Using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure using Lichrolut EN cartridges and elution with methanol, the matrix effects were substantially reduced and the LOQs were in the range 9 to 17 µg L^?1_. The recoveries of surface water samples spiked with the 5 target neonicotinoids at two concentration levels (20 and 50 µg L^?1) were in the range 89 to 109 % and the % relative standard deviations ranged from 4.3 to 7.2 %.     

新型氧离子导体La2Mo1.8Ga0.2O9陶瓷的合成及其电性能

通过高温固相合成法首次合成了La₂Mo_1.8Ga_0.2O₉陶瓷样品. 粉末XRD结果表明, 该样品为单一立方相La₂Mo₂O₉结构. 以陶瓷样品为固体电解质、多孔性铂为电极, 采用交流阻抗谱、气体浓差电池、氧泵等方法研究了样品在600～1000 ℃下各种气氛中的离子导电特性. 结果表明, 氧浓差电池电动势的实测值与理论值吻合得很好, 氧离子迁移数为1, 表明该陶瓷样品在该温度下氧气气氛中为一纯氧离子导体; 氧泵(氧的电化学透过)实验结果进一步证实了该样品在氧气气氛中为一纯氧离子导体; 在氧分压p(O₂)＝10^－5～10⁵ Pa的高氧分压气氛中, 电导率与氧分压变化基本无关, 表明在该氧分压范围内样品为纯离子导体, 这与氧浓差电池电动势测定结果相吻合; 在低氧分压为10^－5～10^－15 Pa范围内, 总电导率随氧分压降低而稍有升高, 表明在该氧分压范围样品为氧离子与电子的混合导体; 在600～1000 ℃下氧离子电导率＞10^－2 S•cm^－1, 显著高于母体La₂Mo₂O₉的氧离子电导率, 1000 ℃时的氧离子电导率为0.07 S•cm^－1.     

Novel tantalum phosphate Na13Sr2Ta2(PO4)9: synthesis,crystal structure,DFT calculations and Dy3+‐activated fluorescence performance

A new tantalum phosphate, tridecasodium distrontium ditantalum nonaphosphate, Na₁₃Sr₂Ta₂(PO₄)₉, was prepared using the high‐temperature flux method. The structure can be described as a three‐dimensional open framework containing isolated [Ta^V₂(PO₄)₉]¹⁷⁻ units that are interlocked by Na and Sr ions. Band structure studies by the first‐principles method revealed that Na₁₃Sr₂Ta₂(PO₄)₉ is an insulator with an indirect band gap of 4.78 eV, which makes it suitable as a luminescent host matrix. A series of solid solutions, i.e. Na₁₃Sr_2–xTa₂(PO₄)₉:xDy³⁺ (x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12 and 0.14), were prepared and their photoluminescence properties studied. Under 350 nm light excitation, these emit two typical emissions of the Dy³⁺ ion, i.e. the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2 transition centred at 476 nm and the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transition centred at 570 nm.     

A stoichiometric imprinted chelating resin for selective recognition of copper(II) ions in aqueous media

This work reports the preparation of a new copper(II) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) material, using 5,6;14,15-dibenzo-1,4-dioxa-8,12-diazacyclopentadecane-5,14-diene (DBDA15C4) and 2-vinylpyridine (VP) as a non-vinylated chelating agent and a functional vinyl monomer, respectively. The Cu²⁺ ion can form stable complexes with DBDA15C4 and VP. The stoichiometries of Cu²⁺-DBDA15C4 and ternary Cu²⁺-DBDA15C4-VP complexes were elucidated using conductometric and spectrophotometric methods, and found to be Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4), Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)₂ and Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)(VP)₂. The results obtained from solution studies were also supported by ab initio theoretical calculations. The resulting ternary complex Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)(VP)₂ was copolymerized with ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, as a cross-linking monomer, via bulk polymerization method. The imprinted copper ion was removed from the polymeric matrix by 0.1 M HNO₃. The Cu²⁺-imprinted polymer particles were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Optimum pH range for rebinding of Cu²⁺ on the IIP and equilibrium binding time were 7.0-7.5 and 45 min, respectively. Sorbent capacity and enrichment factor for Cu²⁺ were obtained as 75.3 ± 1.9 μmol g⁻¹ and 100, respectively. In selectivity study, it was found that imprinting results in increased affinity of the material toward Cu²⁺ ion over other competitor metal ions with the same charge and close ionic radius. The prepared IIPs were repeatedly used and regenerated for five times without a significant decrease in polymer binding affinities.     

A strategy to enhance the thermal stability of a nanostructured polypyrrole-based coating for solid phase microextraction

We report on a nanostructured self-doped polypyrrole (SPPy) film that was prepared by an electrochemical technique in an electrolyte containing fluorosulfonic acid as the sulfonation reagent. The film was applied as a new fiber material for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of the pesticides lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, endosulfans I and II prior to their quantitation by GC with electron capture detection. The SPPy nanoparticles have a diameter of <100?nm. The introduction of covalently bound sulfo groups into the backbone of the polymer resulted in improved temperature resistance (~350?°C) and satisfactory extraction efficiency. The thermal stability of the SPPy fiber is superior to common polypyrrole fibers. Extraction was optimized by means of the Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design with an OA₁₆ (4⁵) matrix including extraction temperature, extraction time, salt concentration, stirring rate, and headspace volume. The method displays good repeatability (RSD?<?6%) and linearity (in the range from 0.78 to 100?ng?mL^?1; with an R² of >0.998. The detection limits are <0.23?ng?mL^?1. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of the pesticides in skimmed milk and fruit juice samples, and recoveries are from 84?±?1 to 105?±?1%.

Development and validation of a multiresidue method for determination of 37 pesticides in soil using GC-NPD

In this study, a multiresidue analytical method for the detection of 37 pesticides in a soil matrix was developed and validated. The soil sample was fortified with a known quantity of pesticides at two different concentration levels (0.1 and 0.01 µg/g) and the analytes were extracted via a liquid–solid extraction method. The pesticides were separated on an HP5 capillary column and were analyzed with a gas chromatograph coupled to a nitrogen–phosphorous detector (GC‐NPD). Method validation was accomplished with good linearity (r² = 0.994–0.999) within a considerable range of concentrations. Satisfactory recoveries (70.5–110.4%) were obtained with 32 pesticides at both spiking concentration levels, whereas five pesticides—dimepiperate, buprofezin, prometryn, pirimicarb, and fludioxonil—were recovered at relatively low levels (43.6–61.8%). The applicability of the method was demonstrated by analyzing field samples collected from 24 different sites around Yeongsan and Sumjin rivers in the Republic of Korea. No residues of the selected pesticides were detected in any of the samples. The developed method could be employed as a simple and cost‐effective method for the routine detection and analysis of 37 pesticides in soil samples. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of matrix on suitability of four methods for organochlorine pesticide analysis in waters

The monitoring of organochlorine pesticides has raised a great concern in the last years due to their toxicity (some of them are carcinogenic and endocrine disruptor compounds) and persistence. European Directive 2008/105/EC establishes very restrictive levels for organochlorine pesticides in surface waters. Therefore, simple, fast, highly sensitive and low cost analytical methods are required to detect and quantify these pollutants in water. In the present work, four procedures for extraction and determination are proposed and compared for the analysis of 28 organochlorine pesticides in tap, surface and sea waters. The suitability of each method of analysis was evaluated for each kind of water. The extraction methods proposed were: two solid-phase extraction methods using C₁₈ laminar disk and Oasis HLB cartridges, a solid-phase microextraction procedure using a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fibre, and a micro liquid–liquid extraction procedure using ethyl acetate as solvent. Determination of pesticides was performed by large volume on-column injector-gas chromatography-electron capture detection (LVOCI-GC-ECD), splitless-GC-ECD and GC-MS (mass spectrometry). All methods present a good sensitivity with method detection limits lower than 10?ng?L^?1, good accuracy with recoveries between 75 and 120% (with some exceptions) and good precision (relative standard deviations <15%), according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed in terms of the green chemistry principles, the figures of merit and the matrix effect. This work tries to be a useful guidance for routine and control analysis laboratories.     

Determination of pesticides in dried minor tropical fruits from Colombia using the Quick,Easy, Cheap,Effective, Rugged,and Safe method‐gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The AOAC 2007.1 quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe official method, together with gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was applied for the analysis of 38 multiclass pesticides from dried fruits typically cultivated and exported from Colombia: uchuva (Physalis peruviana), lulo (Solanum quitoense), guanabana (Anona muricata), and pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus). The whole method was validated in terms of matrix‐matched calibration, matrix effect, and recovery using atrazine‐d₅ as internal standard, triphenylphosphate for quality control of the injection, and a proper mixture of analytes protectants. Matrix‐matched calibration data were found satisfactory for all pesticides and dried fruits, reporting R² values above 0.99. Matrix effect values evidenced the existence of such effect in most cases. The applied procedure gave satisfactory recovery percentages (70–120%) and relative standard deviation values (< 20%) for 92% of the 456 combinations pesticide/fruit studied (spiked levels of 25, 200, and 400 µg/kg). Finally, 20 real dried fruit samples were analyzed and residues of tebuconazole were found in two samples of uchuva at a concentration below the lowest calibration level of the method for one of them and at 10.8 ± 1.6 µg/kg for the other, being below or similar to the general maximum residue level established for monitoring purposes in food applications.     

Extraction and preconcentration of tylosin from milk samples through functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles reinforced with a hollow fiber membrane as a novel solid/liquid‐phase microextraction technique

The aim of this study was to introduce a novel, simple, and highly sensitive preparation method for determination of tylosin in different milk samples. In the so‐called functionalized TiO₂ hollow fiber solid/liquid‐phase microextraction method, the acceptor phase is functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles that are dispersed in the organic solvent and held in the pores and lumen of a porous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane. An effective functionalization of TiO₂ nanoparticles has been done in the presence of aqueous H₂O₂ and a mild acidic ambient under UV irradiation. This novel extraction method showed excellent extraction efficiency and a high enrichment factor (540.2) in comparison with conventional hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction. All the experiments were monitored at λ_max = 284 nm using a simple double beam UV‐visible spectrophotometer. A Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design with an OA₁₆ (4⁵) matrix was employed to optimize the factors affecting the efficiency of hollow fiber solid/liquid‐phase microextraction such as pH, stirring rate, salt addition, extraction time, and the volume of donor phase. This developed method was successfully applied for the separation and determination of tylosin in milk samples with a linear concentration range of 0.51–7000 μg/L (r² = 0.991) and 0.21 μg/L as the limit of detection.     

Preparation and evaluation of thermally stable nano-structured self-doped polythiophene coating for analysis of phthalate ester trace levels

Nano‐structured self‐doped polythiophene (SPT) electrodeposited in the presence of fluorinated organic acid was applied as a thermally stable conductive polymer‐based solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fiber candidate. Quantitative determination of trace levels of phthalate esters including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was carried out using this novel fiber, coupling with gas chromatography‐flame ionization detector (GC‐FID). The SPT coating was proved to be stable at high temperatures (～350°C) with a high extraction capacity and long lifetime (more than 60 times). Improved temperature resistance was obtained by the presence of sulfonated groups in the backbone of polymer. Thermal stability of novel SPT was superior to common polythiophene (synthesized in LiClO₄). The extraction procedure was optimized by means of the Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design with an OA₁₆ (4⁵) matrix including extraction temperature, extraction time, salt concentration, stirring rate, and headspace volume. The good linearity was obtained for most compounds with correlation coefficients (R²) of between 0.993 and 0.995. The detection limits were lower than 0.12 ng/mL for dimethyl phthalate, DEP, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of water samples with the recoveries from 90±1 to 107±1%.     

Optimization of Adiponitrile Hydrolysis in Subcritical Water Using an Orthogonal Array Design

A study of the hydrolysis of adiponitrile (ADN) was performed in subcritical water to research the dependence on experimental conditions. An L₂₅(5⁶) orthogonal array design (OAD) with six factors at five levels using statistical analysis was employed to optimize the experimental conditions for each product in which the interactions between the variables were temporarily neglected. The six factors were adiponitrile concentration (ADN c, wt%), temperature (T), time (t h), percentage of additives (reactant/additive, wt/wt%), additives (A), and pressure (p, MPa). The effects of these parameters were investigated using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the relationship between experimental conditions and yield levels of different products. The results showed that (ADN c) and T had a significant influence on the yields of adipamide, adipamic acid, and adipic acid at p<0.05. Time was the statistically significant factor for the yield of 5-cyanovalermic acid at p<0.05 and (ADN c) was the significant factor for the yield of 5-cyanovaleramide at p<0.1. Finally, five supplementary experiments were conducted under optimized conditions predicted by the Taguchi method; the results showed that the yield obtained of each product was no lower than that of the highest in the 25 experiments. Carbon balance was calculated to demonstrate the validity of the experimental technique and the reliability of the results. Based on the experimental results, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Direct hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 NMR study of magnesium(II)-isothiocyanate complexing

A hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 NMR study of magnesium(II)-isothiocyanate complexation in aqueous mixtures has been completed. At temperatures low enough to slow proton and ligand exchange, separate¹H,¹³C, and¹⁵N NMR signals are observed for coordinated and bulk water molecules and anions. The¹H NMR spectra reveal signals for the hexahydrate and the mono-through triisothiocyanato complexes, as well as two small signals attributed to [Mg(H₂O)₅(OH)]¹⁺ and [Mg(H₂O)₄(OH)(NCS)]. Accurate hydration numbers were obtained from signal area integrations at each NCS^– concentration. In the¹⁵N NMR spectra, signals also were observed for the mono-through triisothiocyanato complexes, and a small signal believed to be due to [Mg(H₂O)₄(OH)(NCS)]. Coordination number contributions for NCS^– were measured from these spectra and when combined with the hydration numbers they totalled essentially six at each anion concentration. Signals for [Mg(H₂O)₅(NCS)]¹⁺ through [Mg(H₂O)₃(NCS)₃]^1– also were observed in the¹³C NMR spectra and the area evaluations were comparable to the¹⁵N NMR results. An analysis of the magnitude and sign of the coordinated NCS^– chemical shifts identified the nitrogen atom as the anion binding site. All spectra indicated [Mg(H₂O)₅(NCS)]¹⁺ and [Mg(H₂O)₄(NCS)₂] were the dominat isothiocyanato complexes over the entire range of anion concentrations. The inability to detect evidence for complexes higher than the triisothiocyanato reflects the competitive binding ability of water molecules and perhaps the decreased electrostatic interaction between NCS^– and negatively charged higher complexes.