Solid‐based disperser liquid–liquid microextraction for the preconcentration of phthalate esters and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) adipate followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry

A new approach for the development of a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by GC with flame ionization detection was proposed for the determination of phthalate esters and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) adipate in aqueous samples. In the proposed method, solid and liquid phases were used as the disperser and extractant, respectively, providing a simple and fast mode for the extraction of the analytes into a small volume of an organic solvent. In this method, microliter levels of an extraction solvent was added onto a sugar cube and it was transferred into the aqueous phase containing the analytes. By manual shaking, the sugar was dissolved and the extractant was released into the aqueous phase as very tiny droplets to provide a cloudy solution. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good precision (RSD less than 5.2%), high enrichment factors (266–556), and low LODs (0.09–0.25 μg/L). The method was successfully applied for the determination of the target analytes in different samples, and good recoveries (71–103%) were achieved for the spiked samples. No need for a disperser solvent and higher enrichment factors compared with conventional dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and low cost and short sample preparation time are other advantages of the method.     

Microwave‐assisted preparation of poly(ionic liquids)‐modified polystyrene magnetic nanospheres for phthalate esters extraction from beverages

The fabrication of novel poly(ionic liquids)‐modified polystyrene (PSt) magnetic nanospheres (PILs‐PMNPs) by a one‐pot miniemulsion copolymerization reaction was achieved through an efficient microwave‐assisted synthesis method. The morphology, structure, and magnetic behavior of the as‐prepared magnetic materials were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, etc. The magnetic materials were utilized as sorbents for the extraction of phthalate esters (PAEs) from beverage samples followed by high‐performance ultrafast liquid chromatography analysis. Significant extraction parameters that could affect the extraction efficiencies were investigated particularly. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 0.5–50 (dimethyl phthalate), 0.3–50 (diethyl phthalate), 0.2–50 (butyl benzyl phthalate), and 0.4–50 μg/L (di‐n‐butyl phthalate), with correlation coefficients R ² > 0.9989. Limits of detection were in the range 125–350 pg. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine PAEs from beverage samples with satisfactory recovery ranging from 77.8 to 102.1% and relative standard deviations ranging from 3.7 to 8.4%. Comparisons of extraction efficiency with PSt‐modified MNPs as sorbents were performed. The results demonstrated that PILs‐PMNPs possessed an excellent adsorption capability toward the trace PAE analytes.     

Two‐phase electromembrane extraction followed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis

A two‐phase electromembrane extraction (EME) was developed and directly coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of imipramine, desipramine, citalopram and sertraline. The model compounds were extracted from neutral aqueous sample solutions into the organic phase filled in the lumen of the hollow fiber. This method was accomplished with 1‐heptanol as organic phase, by means of 60 V applied voltage and with the extraction time of 15 min. Experiments reported recoveries in the range of 69–87% from 1.2 mL neutral sample solution. The compounds were quantified by GC‐MS instrument, with acceptable linearity ranging from 1 to 500 ng mL^?1 (R² in the range of 0.989 to 0.998), and repeatability (RSD) ranging between 7.5 and 11.5% (n = 5). The estimated detection limits (S/N ratio of 3:1) were less than 0.25 ng mL^?1. This novel approach based on two‐phase EME brought advantages such as simplicity, low‐costing, low detection limit and fast extraction with a total analysis time less than 25 min. These experimental findings were highly interesting and demonstrated the possibility of solving ionic species in the organic phase at the presence of electrical potential.     

Determination of phthalate esters in Chinese spirits using isotope dilution gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Phthalate esters are additives used in polyvinylchloride and are found as contaminants in many food products. An isotope dilution mass spectrometry technique has been developed for accurate analysis of 16 phthalate esters in Chinese spirits by adopting the 16 corresponding isotope‐labeled phthalate esters. The ethanol in the spirit sample was first removed by heating with a water bath at 100°C with a stream of nitrogen, after which the residue was extracted with n‐hexane twice. The phthalates collected were identified and quantified by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The spiking recoveries of 16 analytes ranged from 94.3 to 105.3% with relative standard deviation values of <6.5%. The detection limits for 16 analytes were <10.0 ng/g. The expanded relative uncertainties were from 3.0 to 14%. A survey was performed on Chinese spirits from the market. Six of the nine analyzed samples were contaminated by phthalates. Di‐n‐butyl phthalate and di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate showed higher detection frequency and concentrations. This isotope dilution gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method is simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive, which qualifies as a candidate reference method for the determination of phthalates in spirits.     

Determination of organophosphate esters in water samples by mixed‐mode liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of organophosphate esters in water samples by mixed‐mode liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled with solid‐phase extraction is developed. Using seven alkyl phosphates, three chlorinated alkyl phosphates, and four aryl phosphates as the targets, the developed method was systematically evaluated on the basis of the influence of the solid‐phase extraction cartridge, eluting solvent, sample‐loading volume, mobile phase condition, and the separation of reversed‐phase chromatography and mixed‐mode liquid chromatography. Under the optimal conditions, these organophosphate esters can be extracted by ENVI‐18 cartridge, eluted by 6 mL of 25% dichloromethane in acetonitrile, and then qualified and quantified by mixed‐mode liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction‐monitoring mode. The application of mixed‐mode liquid chromatography endows the separation with reasonable retention for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic organophosphate esters regardless of their polarity, which is hardly achieved by reversed‐phase chromatography. Good linearity (from 0.9877 to 0.9969), low quantification limits (1–35 ng/L after extraction of 100 mL of river water), and acceptable recovery rates (58.6–116.2%, with the relative standard deviation <18.0%) were obtained. Finally, the established method was used for analyzing surface water samples, and the good applicability of this method was demonstrated.     

Multiresidue determination of 114 multiclass pesticides in flue‐cured tobacco by solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and robust multiresidue method for the simultaneous analysis of 114 pesticides in tobacco was developed based on solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. In this strategy, tobacco samples were extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up with a multilayer solid‐phase extraction cartridge Cleanert TPT using acetonitrile/toluene (3:1) as the elution solvent. Two internal standards of different polarity were used to meet simultaneous pesticides quantification demands in the tobacco matrix. Satisfactory linearity in the range of 10–500 ng/mL was obtained for all 114 pesticides with linear regression coefficients higher than 0.994. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values were 0.02–5.27 and 0.06–17.6 ng/g, respectively. For most of the pesticides, acceptable recoveries in the range of 70–120% and repeatabilities (relative standard deviation) of <11% were achieved at spiking levels of 20, 100, and 400 ng/g. Compared with the reported multiresidue analytical method, the proposed method provided a cleaner test solution with smaller amounts of pigments, fatty acids as well as other undesirable interferences. The development and validation of the high sensitivity, high selectivity, easy automation, and high‐throughput analytical method meant that it could be successfully used for the determination of pesticides in tobacco samples.     

A porous carbon derived from amino‐functionalized material of Institut Lavoisier as a solid‐phase microextraction fiber coating for the extraction of phthalate esters from tea

In this work, a porous carbon derived from amino‐functionalized material of Institut Lavoisier (C‐NH₂‐MIL‐125) was prepared and coated onto a stainless‐steel wire through sol–gel technique. The coated fiber was used for the solid‐phase microextraction of trace levels of phthalate esters (diallyl phthalate, di‐iso‐butyl ortho‐phthalate, di‐n‐butyl ortho‐phthalate, benzyl‐n‐butyl ortho‐phthalate, and bis(2‐ethylhexy) ortho‐phthalate) from tea beverage samples before gas chromatography with mass spectrometric analysis. Several experimental parameters that could influence the extraction efficiency such as extraction time, extraction temperature, sample pH, sample salinity, stirring rate, desorption temperature and desorption time, were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the linearity existed in the range of 0.05–30.00 μg/L for green jasmine tea beverage samples, and 0.10–30.00 μg/L for honey jasmine tea beverage samples, with the correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.9939 to 0.9981. The limits of detection of the analytes for the method were 2.0–3.0 ng/L for green jasmine tea beverage sample, and 4.0–5.0 ng/L for honey jasmine tea beverage sample, depending on the compounds. The recoveries of the analytes for the spiked samples were in the range of 82.0–106.0%, and the precision, expressed as the relative standard deviations, was less than 11.1%.     

Identification of 19 phthalic acid esters in dairy products by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

A detection method for 19 kinds of phthalic acid ester compounds analyzed by n‐hexane/ether/acetonitrile 1:7:8 v/v/v mixed solvent extraction, quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe purification and internal standard method of quantitative gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was established. This method can effectively remove interfering materials, such as lipids, fatty acids, and pigments, from dairy products. The 19 kinds of phthalic acid ester compounds were within a 0.025–0.2 mg/kg range, the recovery rate was 65.2–125.7%, relative standard deviation was 7.9–15.4% (n = 6), and the limit of detection was 0.005–0.02 mg/kg. Concentrations of the 19 kinds of phthalic acid ester compounds ranged between 0.01 and 0.12 mg/kg in ten dairy materials and 20 dairy products. The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive.     

Multiresidue determination of 160 pesticides in wines employing mixed-mode dispersive-solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new multiresidue method for the efficient screening, identification and quantification of over 160 pesticides belonging to different chemical classes in red, rose and white wines have been developed. The analysis was based on gas chromatographic-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometric determination (GC-QqQ-MS/MS). An optimization strategy involved the selection of buffering conditions and sorbents for dispersive-solid phase extraction (dispersive-SPE) in order to achieve acceptably high recoveries and reduce co-extractives in the final extracts. As a result, the optimized procedure allowed us to obtain consistent recoveries of the target pesticides including problematic ones such as captan, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, folpet and tolylfluanid. The attained recoveries were typically between 80 and 110% (89% on average) with RSD values typically lower than 10% (8% on average) at three spiking levels of 0.01, 0.05 and 0.2 mg kg⁻¹. Linearity was studied in the range between 0.005 and 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ using pesticide standards prepared both in pure solvent and in the presence of matrix, showing coefficients of determination (R²) higher than 0.99 for all the pesticides except for desmedipham, thiabendazole and thiamethoxam in pure solvent. The study of the ratio of the slopes obtained in solvent and in matrix provided information about the matrix effects, which was <10%, 10-20% and >20% for 33, 36 and 31% of the studied pesticides, respectively. To improve accuracy, matrix matched standards were always used for calculation of the quantification results. The expanded uncertainties were estimated by using a “top-down” approach as being 17% on average (coverage factor k = 2, confidence level 95%). Finally, the method was used with success to detect and quantify pesticide residues in commercial wines.     

Application of magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites for the solid‐phase extraction of phthalate esters in water samples

Magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites were successfully prepared in situ and used to develop a highly sensitive magnetic solid‐phase extraction method for the preconcentration of phthalate esters such as di‐n‐butyl phthalate, butyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, and di‐(2‐ethyl hexyl) phthalate from water. The adsorption and desorption of the phthalate esters on magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites were investigated and the parameters affecting the partition of the phthalate esters, such as adsorption, desorption, recovery, were assessed. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed excellent sensitivity with limits of detection (S/N = 3) in the range of 0.05–0.1 μg/L and precision in the range of 1.1–2.6% (n = 5). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, and good spiked recoveries over the range of 79.4–99.4% were obtained. This research provides a possibility to apply this nanocomposite for adsorption, preconcentration, or even removal of various carbon‐based ring or hydrophobic pollutants.     

Enrichment and determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental water samples by magnetic solid‐phase extraction with core–shell magnetic carbon microspheres before gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

Core–shell magnetic carbon microspheres were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and used as a novel magnetic solid‐phase extraction adsorbent for the sensitive determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental water samples. Gas chromatography with negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry was adopted for the detection. Box–Behnken design was used to investigate and optimize important magnetic solid‐phase extraction parameters through response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, low limits of detection (0.07–0.17 ng·L^?1), a wide linear range (1–1000 ng·L^?1), and good repeatability (0.80–4.58%) were achieved. The developed method was validated with several real water samples, and satisfactory results were obtained in the range of 72.8–97.9%. These results indicated that core–shell magnetic carbon microspheres have great potential as an adsorbent for the magnetic solid‐phase extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers at trace levels from environmental water samples.     

Novel solid‐phase membrane tip extraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry methods for the rapid analysis of triazine herbicides in real waters

Novel, fast, selective, eco‐friendly and reproducible solid‐phase membrane tip extraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry methods were developed and validated for the analysis of triazine herbicides (atrazine and secbumeton) in stream and lake waters. The retention times of atrazine and secbumeton were 7.48 and 8.51 min. The solid‐phase membrane tip extraction was carried out in semiautomated dynamic mode on multiwall carbon nanotubes enclosed in a cone‐shaped polypropylene membrane cartridge. Acetone and methanol were found as the best preconditioning and desorption solvents, respectively. The extraction and desorption times for these herbicides were 15.0 and 10.0 min, respectively. The percentage recoveries of atrazine and secbumeton were 88.0 and 99.0%. The linearity range was 0.50–80.0 μg/L (r² > 0.994), with detection limits (<0.47 μg/L, S/N = 3) and good reproducibility (<8.0%). The ease of operation, eco‐friendly nature, and low cost of solid‐phase membrane tip extraction made these methods novel. The Solid‐phase membrane tip extraction method was optimized by considering the effect of extraction time, desorbing solvents and time.     

Determination of pesticides in water samples by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method for the determination of more than 80 pesticides in water has been developed and validated. The proposed method is based on SPE followed by GC coupled to MS/MS. Different variables affecting SPE procedure, such as cartridges, sample volume and solvents were studied, and mass spectrometric conditions were optimised in order to increase selectivity and sensitivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.03-0.5 microg/L. Recoveries were in the range of 70-110% and repeatability was below 20% for the lowest calibration point. LODs ranged from 0.001 to 0.025 microg/L and LOQs from 0.003 to 0.076 microg/L. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the analysis of water samples from southeast of Spain.     

Simultaneous determination of 22 phthalate esters in polystyrene food‐contact materials by ultra‐performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of 22 phthalate esters in polystyrene food‐contact materials has been established using ultraperformance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In this method, 22 phthalate esters were analyzed in <3.5 min on an ACQUITY Tours 1‐AA column by gradient elution. The mobile phase, the compensation solvent, the flow rate of mobile phase, column temperature, and automatic back pressure regulator pressure were optimized, respectively. There was a good linearity of 20 phthalate esters with a range of 0.05–10 mg/L, diisodecyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate were 0.25–10 mg/L, and the correlation coefficients of all phthalates were higher than 0.99 and those of 16 phthalates were higher than 0.999. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification of 15 phthalates were 0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg, meanwhile diallyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, di‐n‐butyl phthalate, and di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate were 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg, and diisodecyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate were 0.10 and 0.25 mg/kg. The spiked recoveries were in the range of 76.26–107.76%, and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.78–12.10%. Results support this method as an efficient alternative to apply for the simultaneous determination of 22 phthalate esters in common polystyrene food‐contact materials.     

Solid‐phase microextraction of phthalate esters by a new coating based on a thermally stable polypyrrole/graphene oxide composite

A novel polypyrole/graphene oxide coating was made by the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and graphene oxide on a platinum wire. The prepared fiber has shown a good thermal stability up to 300°C. The fiber was applied to the direct solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatographic analysis of four phthalate esters. The effect of four parameters on gas chromatography peak area including extraction temperature, extraction time, injection temperature, and ionic strength were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits were between 0.042 and 0.26 μg/L. The intraday and interday relative standard deviations obtained at 55 μg/L, using a single fiber, were 8.2–16% and 17.3–25.6%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of phthalate esters in two real samples of boiling water in cheap disposable clear plastic drinking cups showing recoveries from 83 to 120%.     

Determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products by dispersive solid‐phase extraction with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products. The targets are N‐nitrosodimethylamine, N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, N‐nitrosomorpholine, N‐nitrosoethylmethylamine, N‐nitrosodiethylamine, N‐nitrosodipropylamine, N‐nitrosobuylmethylmine, and N‐nitrosodibutylamine. The samples were treated by dispersive solid‐phase extraction using 1 g of primary secondary amine and 0.5 g of carbon and then analyzed by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with an electron impact ion source. The recoveries for the targets ranged from 84 to 118%, with <16% relative standard deviations at three spiking levels of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 ng/g. The limits of detection ranged from 0.03 to 0.15 ng/g. With the use of the proposed method, we detected the presence of six nitrosamines in the range of 0.4–30.7 ng/g. The study demonstrated that the method could be used as a rapid, convenient, and high‐throughput method for N‐nitrosamines analysis in tobacco matrix.     

Solid‐phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for the highly sensitive determination of five iodinated X‐ray contrast media in environmental water samples

A highly sensitive method based on solid‐phase extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for simultaneous determination of five iodinated X‐ray contrast media in environmental water samples. Various solid‐phase extraction cartridges have been evaluated and a combination of LiChrolute EN and ENVI‐Carb solid phase extraction cartridges was selected for sample enrichment. The method was comprehensively validated on ground water, tap water, surface water, drinking water, and waste water by the conventional procedures: linearity, method detection limits, accuracy and precision, matrix effects. Good linearity (R² > 0.999), low detection limits (0.4–8.1 ng/L), satisfactory recoveries (55.1–109.5%) and precision (0.8–10.0% for intra‐day precisions and 0.6–16.5% for inter‐day precisions) were obtained for all the target compounds. Iopamidol, iohexol, and diatrizoate in some matrices were affected by matrix effects, which were slightly eased by using the isotope‐labeled internal standard. The developed method was successfully applied for real samples collected in Shanghai, China, with detected concentrations up to 2200 ± 200 and 9000 ± 1000 ng/L for iohexol and iopamidol, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of five phthalate esters and bisphenol A in milk by packed‐nanofiber solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

A novel polystyrene/pyridine composite nanofiber was synthesized and utilized as the sorbent material for the solid‐phase extraction of bisphenol A and five common phthalate esters in milk. The method of extraction integrated extraction and preconcentration of target analytes into a single step. Bisphenol A and five common phthalate esters were selected as target compounds for the development and evaluation of the method. The effects of operating parameters for nanofiber‐based solid‐phase extraction, such as selection and amount of sorbent, the volume fraction of perchlorate (precipitate protein), desorption solvent, volume of desorption solvent, and effect of salt addition were optimized. Under optimal conditions, higher extraction recoveries (89.6–118.0%) of the six compounds in milk spiked at three levels were obtained, and the satisfied relative standard deviation were ranged from 0.6 to 10.9%. The detection limits and quantification limits of the method ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 μg/L and 0.05 to 0.53 μg/L, respectively. Matrix effects were also verified and well controlled in the range of 91.3–109.3%. The new method gave better performance metrics than Chinese standard method and other published methods. Thus, the proposed method may be applied to the analysis of the phthalate esters and bisphenol A in complex matrixes.     

Determination of phthalate esters from environmental water samples by micro‐solid‐phase extraction using TiO2 nanotube arrays before high‐performance liquid chromatography

We describe a highly sensitive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method for the pre‐concentration of six phthalate esters utilizing a TiO₂ nanotube array coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography with a variable‐wavelength ultraviolet visible detector. The selected phthalate esters included dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate and dioctyl phthalate. The factors that would affect the enrichment, such as desorption solvent, sample pH, salting‐out effect, extraction time and desorption time, were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range of the proposed method was 0.3–200 μg/L. The limits of detection were 0.04–0.2 μg/L (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of six phthalate esters in water samples and satisfied spiked recoveries were achieved. These results indicated that the proposed method was appropriate for the determination of trace phthalate esters in environmental water samples.     

Rapid analysis of six trace trichlorophenols in seawater by magnetic micro‐solid‐phase extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A new facile, rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive method for the analysis of six trace trichlorophenols in seawater samples was developed by magnetic micro‐solid‐phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Core–shell covalently functionalized ferroferric oxide coated with aminated silicon dioxide and decorated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes was applied as an adsorbent to perform the extraction process. The effect of factors including solution pH, contact time, adsorbent amount, and ionic strength were investigated in detail. The obtained results revealed that the proposed adsorbent was a highly effective and low‐cost magnetic micro‐solid‐phase extraction material for the enrichment of 2,3,4‐trichlorophenol, 2,3,5‐trichlorophenol, 2,3,6‐trichlorophenol, 2,4,5‐trichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, and 3,4,5‐trichlorophenol from seawater. Under the optimized conditions, the recoveries ranged from 88.0 to 99.5% at the three spiking levels, the limits of detection and the limits of quantification were 0.002 and 0.007 μg/L for the six trichlorophenols, respectively. The intra‐ and interday relative standard deviations were 2.0–6.7 and 4.5–8.9%, respectively. The calibration curves showed a good linearity in the range of 0.02–5.0 μg/L. The routine run analyses showed that the developed method was fast, simple, accurate, solvent‐saving and high resolution, and it was suitable for the determination of trace trichlorophenols in seawater.