Determination of desipramine in biological samples using liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction combined with in‐syringe derivatization,gas chromatography,and nitrogen/phosphorus detection

A method was established for the determination of desipramine in biological samples using liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction followed by in‐syringe derivatization and gas chromatography–nitrogen phosphorus detection. The extraction method was based on the use of two immiscible organic solvents. n‐Dodecane was impregnated in the pores of the hollow fiber and methanol was placed inside the lumen of the fiber as the acceptor phase. Acetic anhydride was used as the reagent for the derivatization of the analyte inside the syringe barrel. Parameters that affect the extraction efficiency (composition of donor and acceptor phase, ionic strength, sample temperature, and extraction time) as well as derivatization efficiency (amount of acetic anhydride and reaction time and temperature) were investigated. The limit of detection was 0.02 μg/L with intra and interday RSDs of 2.6 and 7.7%, respectively. The linearity of the method was in the range of 0.2–20 μg/L (r² = 0.9986). The method was successfully applied to determine desipramine in human plasma and urine.     

Derivatization following hollow‐fiber microextraction with tetramethylammonium acetate as a dual‐function reagent for the determination of benzoic acid and sorbic acid by GC

Derivatization at the injection port following hollow‐fiber‐based liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction with tetramethylammonium acetate as a dual‐function reagent, i.e. an acceptor and derivatization reagent, for the determination of benzoic acid (BA) and sorbic acid (SA) in real samples by GC was developed. BA and SA were extracted from aqueous samples to an organic phase impregnated into the pores of the hollow fiber wall, and then back‐extracted to the acceptor solution located inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. Upon injection, the extracted analytes were quantitatively derivatized to their methyl esters with tetramethylammonium acetate in the GC injection port. Several parameters related to the derivatization and extraction efficiency were optimized. The linearity was satisfactory over a concentration range of 0.1–50 mg/L with r > 0.993 for both analytes. The LODs were 2.0 μg/L for SA and 20 μg/L for BA. The recoveries (83–116%) and precisions (RSDs of 1.2–11.4% (n = 3)) were examined by analyzing real spiked samples. The enrichment factors of BA and SA were 300 and 425. The results demonstrated that this is a simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive method for the determination of BA and SA in various samples.     

Low‐density solvent‐based vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction and its application

For the first time, the low‐density solvent‐based vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction, followed by GC‐flame photometric detection has been developed for the determination of eight organophosphorus pesticides in aqueous samples. A small volume of organic extraction solvent (toluene) was dispersed into the aqueous samples by the assistance of surfactant and vortex agitator. The extraction was performed in a special disposable polyethylene pipette, allowing using the reagents with lower density than water as extraction solvents. The influence parameters were systemically investigated and optimized: toluene (30 μL) and Triton X‐100 (0.2 mmol/L) were used as the extraction solvent and the surfactant, respectively, and the extraction was performed for 1 min under room temperature without adding sodium chloride. Under the optimum conditions, the validation parameters such as the RSD (n = 6; 2.1–11.3%), LOD (0.005 and 0.05 μg/L), and linear range (0.1–50.0 μg/L with correlation coefficients (0.9958–0.9992) showed the method was satisfying. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of the organophosphorus pesticides in real samples with recoveries between 82.8 and 100.2%.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop combined with field‐amplified sample injection in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of beta(2)‐agonists in bovine urine

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME–SFO) was for the first time combined with field‐amplified sample injection (FASI) in CE to determine four β₂‐agonists (cimbuterol, clenbuterol, mabuterol, and mapenterol) in bovine urine. Optimum BGE consisted of 20 mM borate buffer and 0.1 mM SDS. Using salting‐out extraction, β₂‐agonists were extracted into ACN that was then used as the disperser solvent in DLLME–SFO. Optimum DLLME–SFO conditions were: 1.0 mL ACN, 50 μL 1‐undecanol (extraction solvent), total extraction time 1.5 min, no salt addition. Back extraction into an aqueous solution (pH 2.0) facilitated direct injection of β₂‐agonists into CE. Compared to conventional CZE, DLLME–SFO–FASI–CE achieved sensitivity enhancement factors of 41–1046 resulting in LODs in the range of 1.80–37.0 μg L^?1. Linear dynamic ranges of 0.15–10.0 mg L^?1 for cimbuterol and 15–1000 μg L^?1 for the other analytes were obtained with coefficients of determination (R²) ≥ 0.9901 and RSD% ≤5.5 (n = 5). Finally, the applicability of the proposed method was successfully confirmed by determination of the four β₂‐agonists in spiked bovine urine samples and accuracy higher than 96.0% was obtained.     

In situ ionic‐liquid‐dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of Sudan dyes from liquid samples

In situ ionic‐liquid‐dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was introduced for extracting Sudan dyes from different liquid samples followed by detection using ultrafast liquid chromatography. The extraction and metathesis reaction can be performed simultaneously, the extraction time was shortened notably and higher enrichment factors can be obtained compared with traditional dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. When the extraction was coupled with ultrafast liquid chromatography, a green, convenient, cheap, and efficient method for the determination of Sudan dyes was developed. The effects of various experimental factors, including type of extraction solvent, amount of 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, ratio of ammonium hexafluorophosphate to 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, pH value, salt concentration in sample solution, extraction time and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized for the extraction of four kinds of Sudan dyes. The limits of detection for Sudan I, II, III, and IV were 0.324, 0.299, 0.390, and 0.655 ng/mL, respectively. Recoveries obtained by analyzing the seven spiked samples were between 65.95 and 112.82%. The consumption of organic solvent (120 μL acetonitrile per sample) was very low, so it could be considered as a green analytical method.     

Trace analysis of some organophosphorus pesticides in rice samples using ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography

An ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of a floating organic drop method followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of trace amounts of organophosphorus pesticides in rice samples. Variables affecting the performance of both steps were thoroughly investigated. Some effective parameters on extraction were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, recoveries for rice sample are in the range of 58.0–66.0%. The calibration graphs are linear in the range of 4–800 μg/kg and, limits of detection and limits of quantification are in the range of 1.5–3 and 4.2–8.5 μg/kg, respectively. The relative standard deviation for 50.0 μg/kg of organophosphorus pesticides in rice sample are in the range of 4.4–5.1% (n = 5). The obtained results show that proposed method is a fast and simple method for the determination of pesticides in cereals.     

Rapid pretreatment and determination of bisphenol A in water samples based on vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method for the rapid pretreatment and determination of bisphenol A in water samples based on vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was proposed in this paper. A simple apparatus consisting of a test tube and a cut‐glass dropper was designed and applied to collect the floating extraction drop in liquid–liquid microextraction when low‐density organic solvent was used as the extraction solvent. Solidification and melting steps that were tedious but necessary once the low‐density organic solvent used as extraction solvent could be avoided by using this apparatus. Bisphenol A was selected as model pollutant and vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction was employed to investigate the usefulness of the apparatus. High‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was selected as the analytical tool for the detection of bisphenol A. The linear dynamic range was from 0.10 to 100 μg/L for bisphenol A, with good squared regression coefficient (r² = 0.9990). The relative standard deviation (n = 7) was 4.7% and the limit of detection was 0.02 μg/L. The proposed method had been applied to the determination of bisphenol A in natural water samples and was shown to be economical, fast, and convenient.     

Determination of aromatic amines from textiles using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure coupled with GC‐MS is described for preconcentration and determination of banned aromatic amines from textile samples. Experimental conditions affecting the microextraction procedure were optimized. A mixture of 30 μL chlorobenzene (extraction solvent) and 800 μL ACN (disperser solvent), 5 min extraction time, and 5 mL aqueous sample volume were chosen for the best extraction efficiency by the proposed procedure. Satisfactory linearity (with correlation coefficients >0.9962) and repeatability (<9.78%) were obtained for all 20 aromatic amines; detection limits attained were much lower than the standardized liquid–liquid method. The proposed method has advantages of being quicker and easier to operate, and lower consumption of organic solvent.     

Determination of anti‐malaria agent chloroquine using single drop liquid‐liquid‐liquid microextraction

A simple, sensitive, and inexpensive single drop liquid‐liquid‐liquid microextraction combined with isocratic RP‐HPLC and UV detection was developed for the determination of anti‐malaria drug, chloroquine. The target compound was extracted from alkaline aqueous sample solution (adjusted to 0.5 mol/L sodium hydroxide) through a thin layer of organic solvent membrane and back‐extracted to an acidic acceptor drop (adjusted to 0.02 mol/L phosphoric acid) suspended on the tip of a 25 μL HPLC syringe in the organic layer. This syringe was also used for direct injection after extraction. The linear range was 1–200 μg/L. The LOD and LOQ were 0.3 and 1.0 μg/L, respectively. Intra‐and inter‐day precisions were less than 2.0 and 2.3%, respectively. The real samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method. The recoveries of spiked samples were more than 94.6%.     

Hollow‐fiber‐supported liquid membrane microextraction of amlodipine and atorvastatin

A simple, environmentally friendly, and efficient method, based on hollow‐fiber‐supported liquid membrane microextraction, followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the extraction and determination of amlodipine (AML) and atorvastatin (ATO) in water and urine samples. The AML in two‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid microextraction is extracted from 24.0 mL of the aqueous sample into an organic phase with microliter volume located inside the pores and lumen of a polypropylene hollow fiber as acceptor phase, but the ATO in three‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid microextraction is extracted from aqueous donor phase to organic phase and then back‐extracted to the aqueous acceptor phase, which can be directly injected into the high‐performance liquid chromatograph for analysis. The preconcentration factors in a range of 34–135 were obtained under the optimum conditions. The calibration curves were linear (R² ≥ 0.990) in the concentration range of 2.0–200 μg/L for AML and 5.0–200 μg/L for ATO. The limits of detection for AML and ATO were 0.5 and 2.0 μg/L, respectively. Tap water and human urine samples were successfully analyzed for the existence of AML and ATO using the proposed methods.     

Determination of herbicides in environmental water samples by simultaneous in‐syringe magnetic stirring‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and silylation followed by GC–MS

An on‐line, fast, simple, selective, and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of three herbicides belonging to the following families: triazines (atrazine), chloroacetamide (alachlor), and phenoxy (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) in water samples. The method involves an in‐syringe magnetic stirring‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction along with simultaneous silylation prior to their determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Extraction, derivatization, and preconcentration have been simultaneously performed using acetone as dispersive solvent, N‐methyl‐N‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide as derivatization agent and trichloroethylene as extraction solvent. After stirring for 180 s, the sedimented phase was transferred to a rotary micro‐volume injection valve (3 μL) and introduced by an air stream into gas chromatograph with mass spectrometry detector. Recovery and enrichment factors were 87.2–111.2% and 7.4–10.4, respectively. Relative standard deviations were in the ranges of 6.6–7.4 for intraday and 9.2–9.6 for interday precision. The detection limits were in the range of 0.045–0.03 μg/L, and good linearity was observed up to 200 μg/L, with R² ranging between 0.9905 and 0.9964. The developed method was satisfactorily applied to assess the occurrence of the studied herbicides in groundwater samples. The recovery test was also performed with values between 77 and 117%.     

Determination of phthalate esters in bottled water using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with GC–MS

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed for the determination of the amount of phthalate esters in bottled drinking water samples and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction samples were analyzed by GC–MS. Various experimental conditions influencing the extraction were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, very good linearity was observed for all analytes in a range between 0.05 and 150 μg/L with coefficient of determination (R²) between 0.995 and 0.999. The LODs based on S/N = 3 were 0.005–0.22 μg/L. The reproducibility of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was evaluated. The RSDs were 1.3–5.2% (n = 3). The concentrations of phthalates were determined in bottled samples available in half shell. To understand the leaching profile of these phthalates from bottled water, bottles were exposed to direct sunlight during summer (temperature from 34–57°C) and sampled at different intervals. Result showed that the proposed dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction is suitable for rapid determination of phthalates in bottled water and di‐n‐butyl, butyl benzyl, and bis‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate compounds leaching from bottles up to 36 h. Thereafter, degradation of phthalates was observed.     

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction using a low‐toxicity solvent for the determination of five organophosphorus pesticides in water samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was applied to determine Isocarbophos, Parathion‐methyl, Triazophos, Phoxim and Chlorpyrifos‐methyl in water samples. 1‐Bromobutane was used as the extraction solvent, which has a higher density than water and low toxicity. Centrifugation and disperser solvent were not required in this microextraction procedure. The optimum extraction conditions for 15 mL water sample were: pH of the sample solution, 5; volume of the extraction solvent, 80 μL; vortex time, 2 min; salt addition, 0.5 g. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors ranging from 196 to 237 and limits of detection below 0.38 μg/L were obtained for the determination of target pesticides in water. Good linearities (r > 0.9992) were obtained within the range of 1–500 μg/L for all the compounds. The relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.62–2.86% and the recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 89.80 to 104.20%. The whole proposed methodology is simple, rapid, sensitive and environmentally friendly for determining traces of organophosphorus pesticides in the water samples.     

Dispersion‐solidification liquid–liquid microextraction for volatile aromatic hydrocarbons determination: Comparison with liquid phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating drop

Two microextraction techniques – liquid phase microextraction based on solidification of a floating organic drop (LPME‐SFO) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with a solidification of a floating organic drop (DLLME‐SFO) – are explored for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o‐xylene sampling and preconcentration. The investigation covers the effects of extraction solvent type, extraction and disperser solvents' volume, and the extraction time. For both techniques 1‐undecanol containing n‐heptane as internal standard was used as an extracting solvent. For DLLME‐SFO acetone was used as a disperser solvent. The calibration curves for both techniques and for all the analytes were linear up to 10 μg/mL, correlation coefficients were in the range 0.997–0.998, enrichment factors were from 87 for benzene to 290 for o‐xylene, detection limits were from 0.31 and 0.35 μg/L for benzene to 0.15 and 0.10 μg/L for o‐xylene for LPME‐SFO and DLLME‐SFO, respectively. Repeatabilities of the results were acceptable with RSDs up to 12%. Being comparable with LPME‐SFO in the analytical characteristics, DLLME‐SFO is superior to LPME‐SFO in the extraction time. A possibility to apply the proposed techniques for volatile aromatic hydrocarbons determination in tap water and snow was demonstrated.     

Comparison of air‐agitated liquid–liquid microextraction and ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determination in hookah water

In this work, two disperser‐free microextraction methods, namely, air‐agitated liquid–liquid microextraction and ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction are compared for the determination of a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous samples, followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The effects of various experimental parameters upon the extraction efficiencies of both methods are investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors and limits of detection were found to be in the ranges of 327–773 and 0.015–0.05 ng/mL for air‐agitated liquid–liquid microextraction and 406–670 and 0.015–0.05 ng/mL for ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction, respectively. The linear dynamic ranges and extraction recoveries were obtained to be in the range of 0.05–120 ng/mL (R² ≥ 0.995) and 33–77% for air‐agitated liquid–liquid microextraction and 0.05–110 ng/mL (R² ≥ 0.994) and 41–67% for ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction, respectively. To investigate this common view among some people that smoking hookah is healthy due to the passage of smoke through the hookah water, samples of both the hookah water and hookah smoke were analyzed.     

Coupling stir bar sorptive extraction‐dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for preconcentration of triazole pesticides from aqueous samples followed by GC‐FID and GC‐MS determinations

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed as a new approach for the extraction of six triazole pesticides (penconazole, hexaconazole, diniconazole, tebuconazole, triticonazole and difenconazole) in aqueous samples prior to GC‐flame ionization detection (GC‐FID). A series of parameters that affect the performance of both steps were thoroughly investigated. Under optimized conditions, aqueous sample was stirred using a stir bar coated with octadecylsilane (ODS) and then target compounds on the sorbent (stir bar) were desorbed with methanol. The extract was mixed with 25 μL of 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane and the mixture was rapidly injected into sodium chloride solution 30% w/v. After centrifugation, an aliquot of the settled organic phase was analyzed by GC‐FID. The methodology showed broad linear ranges for the six triazole pesticides studied, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.993, lower LODs and LOQs between 0.53–24.0 and 1.08–80.0 ng/mL, respectively, and suitable precision (RSD < 5.2%). Moreover, the developed methodology was applied for the determination of target analytes in several samples, including tap, river and well waters, wastewater (before and after purification), and grape and apple juices. Also, the presented SBSE‐DLLME procedure followed by GC‐MS determination was performed on purified wastewater. Penconazole, hexaconazole and diniconazole were detected in the purified wastewater that confirmed the obtained results by GC‐FID determination. In short, by coupling SBSE with DLLME, advantages of two methods are combined to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity of the method. This method showed higher enrichment factors (282–1792) when compared with conventional methods of sample preparation to screen pesticides in aqueous samples.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction using extraction solvent lighter than water

For the first time a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method on the basis of an extraction solvent lighter than water was presented in this study. Three organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were selected as model compounds and the proposed method was carried out for their preconcentration from water samples. In this extraction method, a mixture of cyclohexane (extraction solvent) and acetone (disperser) is rapidly injected into the aqueous sample in a special vessel (see experimental section) by syringe. Thereby, a cloudy solution is formed. In this step, the OPPs are extracted into the fine droplets of cyclohexane dispersed into aqueous phase. After centrifuging the fine droplets of cyclohexane are collected on the upper of the extraction vessel. The upper phase (0.40 μL) is injected into the gas chromatograph (GC) for separation. Analytes were detected by a flame ionization detector (FID) (for high concentrations) or MS (for low concentrations). Some important parameters, such as the kind of extraction and dispersive solvents and volume of them, extraction time, temperature, and salt amount were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors (EFs) ranged from 100 to 150 and extraction recoveries varied between 68 and 105%, both of which are relatively high over those of published methods. The linear ranges were wide (10–100 000 μg/L for GC‐FID and 0.01–1 μg/L for GC‐MS) and LODs were low (3–4 μg/L for GC‐FID and 0.003 μg/L for GC‐MS). The RSDs for 100.0 μg/L of each OPP in water were in the range of 5.3–7.8% (n = 5).     

High‐density extraction solvent‐based solvent de‐emulsification dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with MEKC for detection of chlorophenols in water samples

For the first time, the high‐density solvent‐based solvent de‐emulsification dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (HSD‐DLLME) was developed for the fast, simple, and efficient determination of chlorophenols in water samples followed by field‐enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles in CE. The extraction of chlorophenols in the aqueous sample solution was performed in the presence of extraction solvent (chloroform) and dispersive solvent (acetone). A de‐emulsification solvent (ACN) was then injected into the aqueous solution to break up the emulsion, the obtained emulsion cleared into two phases quickly. The lower layer (chloroform) was collected and analyzed by field‐enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles in CE. Several important parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of HSD‐DLLME such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, disperser solvent and de‐emulsification solvent, sample pH, extraction time as well as salting‐out effects were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method provided a good linearity in the range of 0.02–4 μg/mL, low LODs (4 ng/mL), and good repeatability of the extractions (RSDs below 9.3%, n = 5). And enrichment factors for three phenols were 684, 797, and 233, respectively. This method was then utilized to analyze two real environmental samples from wastewater and tap water and obtained satisfactory results. The obtained results indicated that the developed method is an excellent alternative for the routine analysis in the environmental field.     

Salting‐out homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction in narrow‐bore tube: Extraction and preconcentration of phthalate esters from water

In this study a simple and rapid sample preparation technique, homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction based on phase separation in the presence of a salt performed in a narrow‐bore tube, followed by GC‐flame ionization detection has been developed. In this work, sodium chloride and ACN were used as the salting‐out agent and water‐soluble extraction solvent, respectively. The homogeneous solution of water and ACN was broken by addition of the salt. Small volume of ACN was collected on top of the tube and the extracted analytes in the collected phase were determined. It has been successfully used for the analysis of five phthalate esters as model compounds in aqueous sample. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as kind and volume of the water‐soluble organic solvent, length and diameter of the tube, and pH of the sample solution were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs were between 0.02 and 0.7 μg/L and enrichment factors were in the range of 172–309. In addition, good linearity (between 1 and 5000 μg/L) and high precision on the base of RSD (<8%, C = 600 μg/L, n = 6) were achieved.     

Surfactant‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of nitrazepam and lorazepam from plasma and urine samples followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV analysis

Surfactant‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection has been developed for the simultaneous preconcentration and determination of lorazepam and nitrazepam in biological fluids. In this study, an ionic surfactant (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) was used as an emulsifier. The predominant parameters affecting extraction efficiency such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, the type and concentration of surfactant, sample pH, and the concentration of salt added to the sample were investigated and opted. Under the optimum conditions (extraction solvent and its volume, 1‐octanol, 70 μL; surfactant and its concentration, 1 mL of ultra‐pure water containing 2 mmol L^?1 cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide; sample pH = 9 and salt content of 10% NaCl w/v), the preconcentration factors were obtained in the range of 202–241 and 246–265 for nitrazepam and lorazepam, respectively. The limits of quantification for both drugs were 5 μg L^?1 in water sample and 10 μg L^?1 in biological fluids with R² values higher than 0.993. The suitability of the proposed method was successfully confirmed by the extraction and determination of the target drugs in human urine and plasma samples in the range of microgram per liter.