Development of ultrasound-assisted emulsification solidified floating organic drop microextraction for determination of trace amounts of iron and copper in water, food and rock samples

A simple and efficient liquid-phase microextraction technique was developed using ultrasound-assisted emulsification solidified floating organic drop microextraction combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry, for the extraction and determination of trace amounts of iron and copper in real samples. 2-Mercaptopyridine n-oxide was used as chelating agent and 1-dodecanol was selected as extraction solvent. The factors influencing the complex formation and extraction were optimized. Under optimum conditions, an enrichment factor of ~13 was obtained for both iron and copper from only 6.7 mL of aqueous phase. The analytical curves were linear between 40–800 and 20–1,200 μg L^?1 for iron and copper respectively. Based on three SD of the blank, the detection limits were 8.6 and 4.1 μg L^?1 for iron and copper respectively. The relative SDs for ten replicate measurements of 500 μg L^?1 of metal ions were 2.9 and 1.2 for iron and copper respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of iron and copper in environmental waters and some food samples including chess, rice, honey and powdered milk. Finally, method validation was made using rock certified reference material. A student’s t test indicated that there was no significant difference between experimental results and certified values.     

Application of a new nanoporous sorbent for extraction and pre-concentration of lead and copper ions

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L^?1 copper (II) and 3–700 μg L^?1 lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L^?1, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g^?1, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.     

Migration Study of Polypropylene (PP) Oil Blends in Food Simulants

Migration study in aqueous and olive oil food simulants was carried out on PP and its blend with oil mixture. It was found that after 10 days at 44 °C PP with oil content up to 0.83% had overall migration into olive oil less than 10 mg/dm². However, under high temperature migration test (at 110–138 C for 4 hours), the overall migration into olive oil was large for both the virgin PP and all its blends. The overall migration in water, 10% ethanol, and 3% acetic acid was smaller than those in olive oil under both migration test conditions. DSC and density measurement showed that addition of oil in PP led to smaller spherulite size and increased degree of crystallinity in the pure PP part. Small decrease in tensile strength in the oil blends was also observed but there was no significant change in tensile strength after migration test.     

Determination of Copper in Human Urine by RP-LC After Pre-column Derivatization with Neocuproine and Use of Monolithic Column

A selective sensitive RP-LC–UV/VIS method with pre-column derivatization was developed for the determination of copper in human urine at a trace level. This method is based on the selective reaction of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) with copper(I) to produce a yellow-orange hydrophobic complex in a neutral or slightly acidic buffer solution (adjusted to pH 5.9). Copper(II) was reduced to copper(I) ions by ascorbic acid as a weak reducer, which was added both to urine sample and mobile phase, respectively. A hydrophobic copper(I)–neocuproine chelate was determined by RP-LC–UV/VIS using a monolithic column Chromolith Performance RP-8e (100 × 4 mm I.D.) at 30.0 ± 0.1 °C with a methanol: aqueous buffer (pH 5.9, ammonium acetate and ascorbic acid 2.8 mmol L^?1) mobile phase at flow rate of 2.00 mL min^?1. Sample injection volume was 20 μL and detection was done at 453 nm. The method was validated over a concentration range of 0.09–11.50 μmol L^?1. The LOD of copper in human urine was found to be 0.07 μmol L^?1 concentration level, suitable for clinical analysis. The precision of the results, reported as the RSD, was below 4.6 % for copper concentration within range 0.5–5.0 μmol L^?1 in the spiked human urine samples.     

Flow-Injection Determination of Iron Based on Its Catalysis on the Oxidation Reaction of Xylenol Orange by Potassium Bromate

A flow injection system is proposed for catalytic kinetic spectrophotometric determination of trace iron(II + III). The involved reaction is based on the catalytic effect of iron(III) on oxidation reaction of xylenol orange by potassium bromate to form a blue-violet complex. Iron(II) is also determined, being oxidized to iron(III) by potassium bromate. The calibration graph is linear in the range of 0.02–10.0 µg l^?1 and 10.0–1100 µg l^?1. The relative standard deviation is 1.5% for 4.0 µg l^?1 iron(III) and 2.3% for 60.0µg l^?1 iron(III) (n = 11). The presented system was applied successfully to the determination of iron in natural waters.     

Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Sorbent for Flow Injection On‐Line Microcolumn Preconcentration Coupled with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for Determination of Cadmium and Copper

Abstract

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as sorbent for flow injection (FI) on‐line microcolumn preconcentration coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for determination of trace cadmium and copper in environmental and biological samples. Effective preconcentration of trace cadmium and copper was achieved in a pH range of 4.5–6.5 and 5.0–7.5, respectively. The retained cadmium and copper were efficiently eluted with 0.5 mol L^?1 HCl for on‐line FAAS determination. The MWNTs packed microcolumn exhibited fairly fast kinetics for the adsorption of cadmium and copper, permitting the use of high sample flow rates up to at least 7.8 mL min^?1 for the FI on‐line microcolumn preconcentration system without loss of the retention efficiency. With a preconcentration time of 60 sec at a sample loading flow rate of 4.3 mL min^?1, the enhancement factor was 24 for cadmium and 25 for copper at a sample throughput of 45 h^?1. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.30 and 0.11 µg L^?1 for Cd and Cu, respectively. The precision (RSD) for 11 replicate measurements was 2.1% at the 10‐µg L^?1 Cd level and 2.4% at the 10‐µg L^?1 Cu level. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace Cd and Cu in a variety of environmental and biological samples.     

Fast ultrasound-assisted extraction of copper,iron, manganese and zinc from human hair samples prior to flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

A dynamic ultrasound-assisted extraction procedure utilizing diluted nitric acid was developed for the determination of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in human hair taken from workers in permanent contact with a polluted environment. The extraction unit of the dynamic ultrasound-assisted extraction system contains a minicolumn into which a specified amount of hair (5–50 mg) is placed. Once inserted into the continuous manifold, trace metals were extracted at 3 mL min⁻¹ with 3 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid under the action of ultrasound for 2 min for zinc and 3 min for copper, iron and manganese determination, and using an ultrasonic water-bath temperature of 70 °C for zinc and 80 °C for copper, iron and manganese determination. The system permits the direct analysis of hair and yields concentrations with relative standard deviations of <3% (n = 11). The applicability of the procedure was verified by analysing human hair samples from workers exposed to welding fumes, and its accuracy was assessed through comparison with a conventional sample dissolution procedure and the use of a certified reference material (BCR 397, human hair).     

Continuous sonoassisted digestion coupled to flow injection minicolumn separation for the determination of total and labile Cu and Fe in fresh waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An automatic on-line system is developed for the trace determination of copper and iron species in fresh waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using only 5 and 2?mL of sample, for copper and iron determination, respectively. This system, which includes a home-made minicolumn of commercially available resin containing aminomethylphosphonic acid functional groups (Chelite P), comprises two operational modes. The first, used for the determination of the dissolved labile fraction (free copper and iron ions and their weak complexes) is based on the elution of this fraction from a minicolumn containing the chelating resin loaded in-situ with the sample. The second mode is used for the determination of total trace copper and iron concentrations. This last mode is based on the retention/preconcentration of total metals on the Chelite P resin after on-line sonoassisted digestion of water samples acidified with nitric acid (0.5?mol?L^?1 final concentration) to break down metal organic complexes present in fresh waters as river waters. The figures of merit for copper and iron determination in both fractions are given and the obtained values are discussed. The analytical method was characterized and the limit of detection and limit of quantification for the two metals were 0.5 and 1.6?µg?L^?1 for Cu and 2.3 and 6.1?µg?L^?1 for Fe, respectively. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was in the range 1.0–2.1%. The speciation scheme was applied to the analysis of river surface water samples collected in Galicia (Northwest, Spain).     

Modified Screen-Printed Electrode for Potentiometric Determination of Copper(II) in Water Samples

Modified screen printed (SPE) and carbon paste electrodes (CPE) with phenanthroline–tetraphenyl borate ionophore [Phen:TPB] were fabricated for the determination of copper(II). The modified electrodes have linear responses over a wide concentration range (1 × 10^?6–1 × 10^?2 mol·L^?1) of copper(II) ion at 25 °C with divalent cationic slopes of 29.85 ± 0.58 and 29.45 ± 0.81 mV·decade^?1 and exhibit a detection limit of 1 × 10^?6 mol·L^?1 for SPE and CPE. The selectivity coefficient was measured using the match potential method in acetate buffer of pH = 4.2. The modified SPE and CPE sensors show high selectivity and sensitivity for determination of copper(II) and also show stable and reproducible response over a period of five and three months for SPE and CPE sensors, respectively. This method can be used for determination of copper(II) in water, soil, plant and fish tissue samples and the results obtained agreed with those obtained with atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).     

A DANREF certified reference plastic for measurement of overall migration into the food simulant olive oil by single sided testing

A reference material for the determination of overall migration from a plastic coextrudate into the fatty food simulant olive oil was produced and certified in an interlaboratory study. The analyses were carried out according to the ENV 1186 standard from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) [1, 2, 3] with exposure of the coextrudate to olive oil for 10 days at 40?°C. After an initial preliminary interlaboratory study eight laboratories participated in the certification round, and two different methods were used to obtain single sided exposure of the plastic to the oil. The certified value was determined as the mean of laboratory mean values. No outliers were found. A reference value of 8.6 mg/dm²± 1.4 mg/dm² (± half width of the 95% confidence interval) was obtained which is within the range relevant for the regulatory limit (10 mg/ dm²), making this reference material suitable for laboratories measuring according to the EU overall migration limit [4]. The material has been found stable over 45 months.     

Chemometrics-assisted gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of volatile components of olive leaf oil

Iranian olive leaf essential oil components were extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ninety-seven components were identified by direct similarity searches for olive leaf essential oil. Chemometrics was used to find more components with the help of multivariate curve resolution methods. Eigenvalues-based methods and Malinowski functions were used for chemical rank determination of GC–MS data. Multivariate curve resolution-alternative least squares as an iterative method was used for resolving the overlapped and embedded peaks. With the use of this method the number of 97 components was extended to 127 components. Major constituents in the olive leaf essential oil are 2-decenal-(E) (20.43 %), benzeneacetaldehyde (4.00 %), 2-undecenal (3.71 %) and valencen (3.31 %).     

LC–MS Determination of Sterols in Olive Oil

Sterols in olive oils have been analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization in positive-ion mode. A simple procedure based on saponification and extraction of the compounds from olive oils was studied. Validation of the method included calibration and determination of recovery and repeatability was carried out. Good linearity was obtained up to 100 mg kg^?1 for all the sterols studied except β-sitosterol, for which linearity was obtained up to 2,000 mg kg^?1. Recovery ranged from 88 to 110%, detection limits from 0.9 to 3.1 mg kg^?1, and precision was good. The method has been successfully used for analysis of sterols in different types of oil. The predominant sterol was β-sitosterol; other minor components, for example sitostanol and cholesterol, were also detected. Total sterol content depended on the type of oil, and ranged from 687 to 2,479 mg kg^?1. Stigmasterol and the amount of erythrodiol plus uvaol can be used to distinguish between olive oil and seed oil.     

Determination of ultra traces of lead in water samples after combined solid-phase extraction–dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A solid-phase extraction coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of ultra trace amounts of lead in water samples. Variables affecting the performance of both steps were thoroughly investigated. Under optimized conditions, 100 mL of lead solution were first concentrated using a solid phase sorbent. The extracts were collected in 1.50 mL of THF and 18 μL of carbon tetrachloride was dissolved in the collecting solvent. Then 5.0 mL pure water was injected rapidly into the mixture of THF and carbon tetrachloride for DLLME, followed by GFAAS determination of lead. The analytical figures of merit of method developed were determined. With an enrichment factor of 1,800, a linear calibration of 3–60 ng L^?1 and a limit of detection of 1.0 ng L^?1 were obtained. The relative standard deviation for seven replicate measurements of 30 ng L^?1 of lead was 5.2 %. The relative recoveries of lead in mineral, tap, well, and river water samples at spiking level of 10 and 20 ng L^?1 are in the range 94–106 %.     

Accurate Determination of Tributyltin in Tannery Wastewater by a New Procedure Using ID-HPLC–ICP-MS Combined with Low Temperature Extraction

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry is recognized as a primary method to obtain traceable values in the measurement of substances including trace elements and their organometallic compounds. This paper reports a novel method where isotope dilution high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-HPLC–ICP-MS) was combined with low temperature extraction for the determination of tributyltin (TBT) in tannery wastewater from the leather industry. It has been found that the liquid–liquid extraction at very low temperature is in the favor of extraction of organotin, as the enrichment factor for low temperature (?80 °C) extraction was about 1.3 times higher than for extraction at room temperature (20 °C). The method detection limit of TBT, obtained from the proposed ID-HPLC–ICP-MS procedure after extraction with a sample volume of 7.5 by 2.5 mL of organic phase, was found to be 0.13 ng g^?1. When TBT was determined in a range of 10–1000 ng g^?1 in tannery wastewater samples, the analyte recoveries were in the range 90.1–107.2% with relative standard deviations of between 2.0 and 7.2%. Finally, the new method of ID-HPLC–ICP-MS combined with low temperature extraction was applied to the determination of TBT in actual tannery wastewater. The TBT contents from three different tanning procedures (chrome tanning, vegetable tanning and aldehyde tanning), expressed as the mean ± the expanded uncertainty (k = 2) were 378.65 ± 20.38, 110.04 ± 5.96 and 690.17 ± 35.31 ng g^?1, respectively.     

Thermal conductivity enhancement of copper–diamond composites by sintering with chromium additive

The thermal diffusivity (TD) and thermal conductivity (TC) of Cu–Cr–diamond composite materials were examined in the temperature range from 50 to 300 °C for diamond volume fractions of 22, 40, 50, 55, and 60 %. The samples were fabricated by the plasma pulse sintering (PPS) method. TC does not increase proportionally with the diamond fraction in the particular composite materials. The highest TD was determined for 50 % diamond volume fraction, and the evaluated TC reached 658 W m^?1 K^?1 at 50 °C. This article complements earlier articles concerning synthesis and characterization of the diamond–copper composites produced by the PPS method.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper in calcium carbonate scale and carbonate rocks by direct atomization of solid samples

Powdered samples (1 mg) are mixed with 1 mg of powdered graphite and copper is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in a miniature graphite cup placed in a graphite crucible. Optimum conditions were drying at 200 °C (30 s), ashing at 900 °C (30 s), atomizing at 2700 °C (15 s) and cleaning at 2800 °C (10 s). Samples were powdered to 1–10 μm particle size. Magnesium, manganese and iron did not interfere. The effect of calcium carbonate was eliminated by the graphite addition. Results for copper (0.5–5 μg g^?1) in the scale and rocks agreed well with values obtained for dissolved samples. Relative standard deviations (n=10) were 4.9% for 1.2 μg g^?1 copper and 14.8% for 0.577 μg g^?1.     

Synergistic extraction and spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II), iron(III), and tellurium(IV) at trace level by newly synthesized p-[4-(3,5-dimethylisoxazolyl)azophenylazo]calix(4)arene

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of palladium, iron and tellurium from nitric acid media after extraction of their p-[4-(3,5-dimethylisoxazolyl)azophenylazo]calix(4)arene [DMIAPAC] complexes has been developed and possible synergistic effects have been investigated. Chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, toluene and xylene were used as the diluents. The maximum enhancement was obtained in the presence of 30% 1,2-dichloroethane. The trace amounts of metals were determined spectrophotometrically. Beer’s law obeyed in the concentration range of 5.0–95.0 μg, 8.0–120.0 μg and 10.0–140.0 μg/10 mL of the final solution of palladium, iron and tellurium, respectively. The molar absorptivities (l mol^?1cm^?1) and Sandell’s sensitivities (μg cm ^?1) were calculated: Pd(II) = 1.73 × 10⁴ and 0.0061; Fe(III) = 1.08 × 10⁴ and 0.0052; Te(IV) = 1.67 × 10⁴ and 0.0077. Ten replicate analyses containing 20 μg of Pd(II), 12.5 μg of Fe(III) and 32 μg of Te(IV) gave mean absorbance of 0.326, 0.242 and 0.418 with relative standard deviation of 0.36, 0.65 and 0.82% for Pd(II), Fe(III) and Te(IV), respectively. The interference of various ions was studied and optimum conditions were developed for the determination of these metals in certain alloys and synthetic mixtures.     

Polycarboxylic microsphere polymer gel for solid phase extraction of trace elements

A simple and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Fe and Pb) in sea water and natural waters by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The method is based on column solid phase extraction of trace elements on a newly synthesized polycarboxylic gel. The sorbent was prepared by dispersion copolymerization of methacrylic acid (as a monomer) and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (as a crosslinking agent) in the form of monodisperse microspheres. It exhibits high regeneration ability, chemical and mechanical resistivity. The influence of pH, flow rates and concentration of the eluent on the degree of sorption of trace elements have been evaluated. The maximum static adsorption capacities of the sorbent at the optimal conditions for lead, nickel, cobalt, iron, cadmium and copper are determined. Detection limits achieved for the elements studied for 100 mL water sample volume were between 0.005 and 0.05 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviation varied in the range 5–13% for all elements studied. The validity of the method was checked by an analysis of standard reference material SRLS-3 Riverine Water. Very good agreement between the analytical results and the certified values (t-test at 95% confidence level) was observed. The new polycarboxylic gel was applied to passive sampling procedures due to its high chemical and mechanical stability.     

Properties and performance of metakaolin pozzolanic cement pastes

The heating rate effect on the thermal behavior of clays from Arumetsa and Kunda deposits (Estonia) and an illitic clay from Füzérradvány (Hungary) was studied. Experiments were carried out under dynamic heating condition up to 1050 °C at the heating rates of 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 °C min^?1 in a stream of gas mixture containing 79 % of Ar and 21 % of O₂ with Setaram Labsys 1600 analyzer. Two different ashes were used as additives: the electrostatic precipitator ash from the first field and the cyclone ash formed, respectively, at circulating fluidized bed combustion (temperatures 750–830 °C) and pulverized firing (temperatures 1200–1400 °C) of Estonian oil shale at Estonian Power Plant. For calculation of kinetic parameters, the TG data were processed by the differential isoconversional Friedman method. The results of thermal analysis and the variation of the value of activation energy E along the reaction progress α indicated the complex character of decomposition of clays and their blends with Estonian oil shale ashes, and the certain differences in thermal behavior of different clays depending on their origin.     

Thermal behavior of some Estonian clays and their mixtures with oil shale ash additives

Thermal behavior of green clay samples from Kunda and Arumetsa deposits (Estonia) as potential raw materials for production of ceramics and the influence of previously fired clay and hydrated oil shale ash additives on it were the objectives of this research. Two different ashes were used as additives: the electrostatic precipitator ash from the first field and the cyclone ash formed, respectively, at circulating fluidized bed combustion (temperatures 750–830 °C) and pulverized firing (temperatures 1,200–1,400 °C) of Estonian oil shale at Estonian Power Plant. The experiments on a Setaram Labsys Evo 1600 thermoanalyzer coupled with Pfeiffer OmniStar Mass Spectrometer by a heated transfer line were carried out under non-isothermal conditions up to 1,050 °C at the heating rate of 5 °C min^?1 in an oxidizing atmosphere containing 79 % of Ar and 21 % of O₂. Standard 100 µL Pt crucibles were used, the mass of samples was 50 ± 0.5 mg, and the gas flow 60 mL min^?1. The results obtained indicate the complex character of transformations and show certain differences in the thermal behavior of Arumetsa and Kunda clays and their mixtures with oil shale ashes depending on the chemical and mineralogical composition of the clays as well as of the oil shale ashes studied.