Surfactant‐based ionic liquids for extraction of phenolic compounds combined with rapid quantification using capillary electrophoresis

A rapid liquid phase extraction employing a novel hydrophobic surfactant‐based room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), tetrabutylphosphonium dioctyl sulfosuccinate ([4C₄P][AOT]), coupled with capillary electrophoretic‐UV (CE‐UV) detection is developed for removal and determination of phenolic compounds. The long‐carbon‐chain RTIL used is sparingly soluble in most solvents and can be used to replace volatile organic solvents. This fact, in combination with functional‐surfactant‐anions, is proposed to reduce the interfacial energy of the two immiscible liquid phases, resulting in highly efficient extraction of analytes. Several parameters that influence the extraction efficiencies, such as extraction time, RTIL type, pH value, and ionic strength of aqueous solutions, were investigated. It was found that, under acidic conditions, most of the investigated phenols were extracted from aqueous solution into the RTIL phase within 12 min. Good linearity was observed over the concentration range of 0.1–80.0 μg/mL for all phenols investigated. The precision of this method, expressed as RSD, was determined to be within 3.4–5.3% range. The LODs (S/N = 3) of the method were in the range of 0.047–0.257 μg/mL. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to determination of phenols in real water samples.     

Monitoring of headspace total volatile basic nitrogen from selected fish species using reflectance spectroscopic measurements of pH sensitive films

The release of amines from decomposing fish such as trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylamine (DMA) and ammonia, collectively known as total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), are in high enough concentrations in headspace to be monitored by a colour change in a pH-sensitive sensor. A method developed here uses a pH indicator dye physically trapped in a cellulose polymer film to respond to the headspace TVB-N released from selected fish species during spoilage. Two species were selected for analysis on the basis of economic importance and the levels of volatile amines released were followed with time using uv/vis reflectance spectroscopic measurements. The results show that there is a significant increase in the TVB-N content in the headspace of fish samples after an incubation period of 8-12 h for cod and 12-15 h for orange roughy.     

Development of a volatile amine sensor for the monitoring of fish spoilage

A sensor with potential for the development of a “chemical barcode” for real-time monitoring of fish freshness is described. This on-package sensor contains a pH sensitive dye, bromocresol green, that responds through visible colour change to basic volatile spoilage compounds, such as trimethylamine (TMA), ammonia (NH₃) and dimethylamine (DMA) collectively known as Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N). The sensor characteristics were studied as well as its response with standard ammonia gas. Trials on cod and under-utilised species have verified that the sensor response correlates with bacterial growth patterns in fish samples thus enabling the “real-time” monitoring of spoilage in various fish species. The sensor response can be interrogated with a simple, inexpensive reflectance colorimeter that we have developed based on two light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a photodetector.     

Direct detection of trimethylamine in meat food products using ion mobility spectrometry

Biogenic amines are degradation products generated by bacteria in meat products. These amines can indicate bacterial contamination or have a carcinogenic effect to humans consuming spoiled meats; therefore, their rapid detection is essential. Trimethylamine (TMA) is a good target for the detection of biogenic amines because its volatility. TMA was directly detected in meat food products using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). TMA concentrations were measured in chicken meat juice for a quantitative evaluation of the meat decaying process. The lowest detected TMA concentration in chicken juice was 0.6 ± 0.2 ng and the lowest detected signal for TMA in a standard aqueous solution was 0.6 ng. IMS data were processed using partial least squares (PLS) and Fuzzy rule-building expert system (FuRES). Using these two chemometric methods, trimethylamine concentrations of different days of meat spoilage can be separated, indicating the decaying of meat products. Comparing the two methods, FuRES provided a better classification of different days of meat spoilage.     

Determination of volatile aliphatic amines in air by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography with flame ionization detection

Practical aspects of the application of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to the determination of volatile aliphatic amines in air are described. Analytes included methylamine (MA), ethylamine (EA), dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine (DEA), trimethylamine (TMA) and triethylamine (TEA). New SPME stationary phases were examined. The effects of relative humidity and temperature on analytes uptake were taken into account in analysis. Gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID) was used for the final analysis.     

Amine‐Assisted Syntheses of Carbonate‐Free and Highly Crystalline Nitrate‐Containing Zn‐Al Layered Double Hydroxides

Zn‐Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs), with nitrate as the charge balancing anion in the interlayer space, were synthesized by precipitation from homogeneous solution containing different amines [e.g., hexamethylenetetraamine (HMTA), diethylenediamine (DEDA), trimethylamine (TMA) and dimethylamine (DMA)]. The applied method does not require nitrogen atmosphere. The solution pH and concentration of different amines were varied in order to identify the controlling parameters and whether nitrate or carbonate are the interlayer anion. Particularly, the addition of amines turns out to be an effective tool for the synthesis of nitrate containing Zn‐Al LDHs independent from the nitrogen atmosphere. The structure, textural, composition, and morphological properties were investigated using the powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT‐IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analyses showed that the samples had high crystallinity and purity. The NO₃‐ZnAl LDHs samples show that LDH sheets are predominantly smooth textured and the thickness of LDH sheets are found to be around 23 nm. The results also indicate that this method successfully produces a NO₃^– form Zn‐Al LDH that is almost identical to the one synthesized by conventional methods.     

Simultaneous separation and determination of six arsenic species in rice by anion‐exchange chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The simultaneous separation and determination of arsenite As(III), arsenate As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine (AsB), and arsenocholine (AsC) in rice samples have been carried out in one single anion‐exchange column run by high‐performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. To estimate the effect of variables on arsenic (As) speciation, the chromatographic conditions including type of competing anion, ionic strength, pH of elution buffer, and flow rate of mobile phase have been investigated by a univariate approach. Under the optimum chromatographic conditions, baseline separation of six As species has been achieved within 10 min by gradient elution program using 4 mM NH₄HCO₃ at pH 8.6 as mobile phase A and 4 mM NH₄HCO₃, 40 mM NH₄NO₃ at pH 8.6 as mobile phase B. The method detection limits for As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA, AsB, and AsC were 0.4, 0.9, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.3 μg/kg, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to separation and quantification of As species in real rice samples collected from Hunan Province, China. The main As species detected in all samples were As(III), As(V) and DMA, with inorganic As accounting for over 80% of total As in these samples.     

Intake of different chemical species of dietary arsenic by the japanese,and their blood and urinary arsenic levels

We calculated the intake of each chemical species of dietary arsenic by typical Japanese, and determined urinary and blood levels of each chemical species of arsenic. The mean total arsenic intake by 35 volunteers was 195±235 (15.8-1039) μg As day^?1, composed of 76% trimethylated arsenic (TMA), 17.3% inorganic arsenic (As_i), 5.8% dimethylated arsenic (DMA), and 0.8% monomethylated arsenic (MA): the intake of TMA was the largest of all the measured species. Intake of As_i characteristically and invariably occurred in each meal. Of the intake of As_i, 45-75% was methylated in vivo to form MA and DMA, and excreted in these forms into urine. The mean measured urinary total arsenic level in 56 healthy volunteers was 129±92.0 μg As dm^?3, composed of 64.6% TMA, 26.7% DMA, 6.7% As_i and 2.2% MA. The mean blood total arsenic level in the 56 volunteers was 0.73±0.57 μg dl^?1, composed of 73% TMA, 14% DMA and 9.6% As_i. The urinary TMA levels proved to be significantly correlated with the whole-blood TMA levels (r = 0.376; P<0.01).     

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative method using liquid chromatography selected reaction monitoring-triggered quantitation-enhanced data-dependent tandem mass spectrometry for the identification and classification of amphetamine-type stimulant abusers in human urine

Amphetamine (AP) and amphetamine‐type stimulants, methamphetamine (MA) and N,N‐dimethylamphetamine (DMA), are known as central nervous system stimulants, and their abuse throughout the world has recently increased. Since it is difficult to physically distinguish among AP, MA and DMA, analysts may not be aware of what abusers have administered. In this study, following the detection of specific metabolites of AP, MA and DMA as biomarkers in abuser urines, a rapid and sensitive method was developed for the identification and classification of AP‐type stimulants abusers. After the simple filtration of the urine samples, the samples were directly analyzed using a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry system with selected reaction monitoring (SRM)‐triggered quantitation‐enhanced data‐dependent MS/MS (QED‐MS/MS) for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of p‐hydroxy AP, p‐hydroxy MA, p‐hydroxy DMA, AP, MA, DMA and DMA N‐oxide. The determination of p‐hydroxy AP, p‐hydroxy MA, AP, MA, DMA and DMA N‐oxide was accurate and reproducible, with the limits of quantitation of 5 ng/mL in urine. When applied to the urine samples of suspected AP‐type stimulants abusers, the abused drugs were precisely identified between MA and DMA abusers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of gaseous arsenic species and stability studies of arsine and trimethylarsine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A rapid method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for analysis of four volatile arsenic species: arsine, monomethylarsine (MMA), dimethylarsine (DMA) and trimethylarsine (TMA). With the proposed method gaseous arsenic species could be determined in less than 2 min and no pre-treatment for gas phase samples was needed, which minimized the risks of species conversion before analysis. The detection limits for different species were 24–174 pg. The standards for arsine, MMA and DMA were prepared by reaction between arsenic acid, monomethylarsonic acid or dimethylarsinic acid with tetrahydroborate(III) and nitric acid. The effect of pH on recovery of different arsine species was examined and is discussed. The TMA was obtained commercially as liquid. Also stability of inorganic (arsine) and organic (TMA) gaseous arsenic species in air was studied as a function of time.     

An evaluation of solid phase microextraction for aliphatic amines using derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate and liquid chromatography

The reliability of SPME combined with a chemical reaction for the analysis of short-chain aliphatic amines by liquid chromatography has been investigated. Different options to couple SPME and derivatization have been tested and compared: (i) derivatization of the analytes in solution followed by the extraction of the derivatives, (ii) extraction of the analytes and subsequent derivatization by immersing the SPME fibre onto a solution of the reagent, and (iii) extraction/derivatization of the analytes using fibres previously coated with the reagent. Methylamine (MA), dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) have been selected as a model of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, respectively. The analytes have been derivatized with the fluorogenic reagent 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC), and the fibre coating was Carbowax-templated resin (CW-TR). The employment of fibres coated with FMOC to extract and derivatize the analytes was the best option, as compared with the other approaches tested the sensitivity was considerably improved. On the basis of these studies, a new procedure for the determination of MA, DMA and TMA in water is presented. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed conditions data on linearity, accuracy, repeatability and sensitivity are given. Results of the determination of the amines in tap, river and waste water are also presented.     

Determination of volatile biogenic amines in muscle food products by ion mobility spectrometry

The extent of spoilage of muscle food products was determined through measurement of volatile biogenic amines that emanated from food samples. The release of the amines was enhanced by addition of a few drops of an alkaline solution and the amines were monitored by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The limit of detection of the method for trimethylamine (TMA) was 2 ng and the measurement was completed within <2 min with short and long term reproducibility of 15 and 25%, respectively, for replicate samples. The method provides qualitative information as it distinguishes between different amines, as well as quantitative data for the key compounds. A good correlation was found between the IMS results and the microorganism populations in microbiological cultures. The effects of storage time and temperature and of the type of meat on the formation of biogenic amines were examined, and as expected, the higher the storage temperature the faster the spoilage. Thus, this pilot study shows that the measurement of biogenic amines can serve as an indicator for food spoilage or freshness.     

Theoretical and Experimental Study of Complex Ions from Reactions of Al+ (Cu+) with Amine Molecules

The gas phase reactions of metal ions (Al⁺, Cu⁺) with amine molecules [CH₃NH₂=MA, (CH₃)₂NH=DMA] were investigated using a laser ablation‐molecular beam method. The directly associated product complex ions,Al⁺‐MA and Al⁺‐DMA, and the dehydrogenation product ions, Cu⁺(CH₂NH) and Cu⁺(C₂H₅N), as well as hydrated ion Cu⁺(NC₂H₅·H₂O), have been obtained and recorded from the reactions of the metal ions and organic amine molecules, and density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations have been performed to reveal the optimized geometry, energetics, and reaction mechanism of the title reactions with basis set 6‐311+G(d,p) adopted.     

Fabrication,Characterization, and Application of ‘Sandwich‐Type’ Electrode Based on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Room Temperature Ionic Liquid

The much‐enhanced electrochemical responses of potassium ferricyanide and methylene blue (MB) were firstly explored at the glassy carbon electrode modified with single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT/GCE), indicating the distinct electrochemical activity of SWNTs towards electroactive molecules. A hydrophobic room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆), was used as electrode modification material, which presented wide electrochemical windows, proton permeation and selective extraction ability. In consideration with the advantages of SWNTs and RTIL in detecting target molecules (TMs), a novel strategy of ‘sandwich–type’ electrode was established with TMs confined by RTIL between the SWNT/GCE and the RTIL membrane. The strategy was used for electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA), and detection limits of 400 and 80 fmol could be obtained, respectively. The selective detection of DA in the presence of high amount of AA could also be realized. This protocol presented many attractive advantages towards voltammetric detection of TMs, such as low sample demand, low cost, high sensitivity, and good stability.     

Conformation of poly(L-glutamic acid) in aqueous solutions of linear amphiphiles with a cationic group at both ends

The conformations of poly(l-glutamic acid) [P(Glu)] in solutions of the bipolar amphiphile 1,20-icosanediylbis(alkylammonium chloride) [C20(RA)₂], where RA includes trimethylammonium (TMA), dimethylammonium (DMA), or methylammonium (MA), were investigated with measurements of the circular dichroism spectra at 10–35 °C. All C20(RA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) in the aqueous solutions. The residue molar ellipticity at 222 nm showed a similar dependence on the amphiphile concentration (C _s) below 0.5 of the ratio of 2C _s to the residue concentration (C _p) of P(Glu), but it separated into three directions at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(MA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) at 2C _s/C _p<0.5 followed by a helix aggregate at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(DMA)₂ and C20(TMA)₂ also induced an α-helix, but a helix aggregate. C20(TMA)₂ indicated a strong temperature dependence and did not induce a complete α-helix at 35 °C. Received: 20 June 2001 Accepted: 6 September 2001     

Effects of different types of polyethylene on the morphology and properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene compatibilized blends

Recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R‐PET) was blended with four types of polyethylene (PE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE; LL0209AA, Fs150), low density polyethylene (LDPE; F101‐1), and metallocene‐LLDPE (m‐LLDPE; Fv203) by co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. Maleic anhydride‐grafted poly(styrene‐ethylene/butyldiene‐styrene) (SEBS‐g‐MA) was added as compatibilizer. R‐PET/PE/SEBS‐g‐MA blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and mechanical property testing. The results indicated that the morphology and properties of the blends depended to a great extent on the miscibility between the olefin segments of SEBS‐g‐MA and PE. Due to the proper interaction between SEBS‐g‐MA and LDPE (F101‐1), most SEBS‐g‐MA, located at the interface between two phases of PET and LDPE to increase the interfacial adhesion, lead to better mechanical properties of R‐PET/LDPE (F101‐1) blend. However, both the poor miscibility of SEBS‐g‐MA with LLDPE (LL0209AA) and the excessive miscibility of SEBS‐g‐MA with LLDPE (Fs150) and m‐LLDPE (Fv203) reduced the compatibilization effect of SEBS‐g‐MA. DSC results showed that the interaction between SEBS‐g‐MA and PE obviously affected the crystallization of PET and PE. DMA results indicated that PE had more influence on the movement of SEBS‐g‐MA than PE did. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Carbon‐based Engineered Nanoparticles in Marketed Fish by Microwave‐assisted Extraction and Liquid Chromatography‐atmospheric Pressure Photoionization‐tandem Mass Spectrometry

An optimized method for the determination of two major carbon‐based engineered nanoparticles (C₆₀ and C₇₀) in marketed fish samples is described. The method involves the use of microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) coupled with liquid chromatography ‐ tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure photoionization (LC‐APPI‐MS/MS). Factors affecting the extraction efficiency of the analytes from fish samples were optimized by a central composite design method. The optimal extraction temperature and time for MAE were found to be 233 °C for 22 min, and the extraction solution was composed of toluene and acetone in a ratio of 4.64:1. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 0.1 and 0.05 ng/g for C₆₀ and C₇₀, respectively. The precision for these analytes at two spiked levels, as indicated by relative standard deviations (RSDs), were less than 10% for both intra‐ and inter‐day analysis. Accuracy, expressed as the mean extraction recovery, was between 85 and 98%. The method was further validated based on EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, including a decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) for marketed fish samples.     

Chromatographic determination of biogenic amines in wines after treatment with ionic liquids as novel media

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]), were used as the novel media for derivatization, extraction and preconcentration of biogenic amines (BAs) in wines. Six BAs, tryptamine (Try), phenylethylamine (Phe), putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), tyramine (Tyr) and spermine (Spe) were selected as the model compounds and dansyl chloride (Dns‐Cl) as the derivatizing reagent. The derivatizations of amines were conducted in water‐IL two‐phase system, in which the partition property of related substance in the IL was investigated and the mechanism ( http://www.iciba.com/mechanism/ ) of derivation and extraction of amines was discussed. The influencing factors, including sample volume, derivatizing reagent concentration, pH value and ultrasound reaction time, were optimized. The Dns‐amines were separated by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and detected with UVD at 254 nm. For each of the tested amines, a good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1–20 mg/L with the correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9814–0.9930. The limits of detection reached μg/L level and the relative standard deviations (RSD, n=3) were between 3.2 and 8.1%. Satisfactory recovery for each BA was obtained, ranging from 82.3 to 114.0%. The developed method was successfully applied to determine six BAs in red wines and Chinese yellow wine.     

Reactivity of functional SAN toward coreactive EPR‐g‐MA at planar interface

The grafting kinetics of reactive poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (SAN) onto EPR‐g‐MA was studied under isothermal conditions, at the planar interface of an SAN/ethylene‐propylene rubber (EPR) bilayer film in relation to the type of reactive groups, NH₂ versus carbamate (which is an amine precursor), attached to SAN. The amount of SAN chemically bound to EPR chains at the interface was estimated by selectively washing off the unreacted SAN chains before X‐ray photon spectroscopic analysis of the released surface. It is clear that the mutual reactivity of the reactive groups, i.e., the NH₂–MA pair versus the carbamate–MA pair, has a decisive effect on the amount of SAN that reacts with EPR‐g‐MA at the interface. In case of SAN‐carb, the grafting reaction is controlled by the thermolysis of the carbamate groups into primary amines. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3682–3689, 2000     

Chemical reaction kinetics measurements for single and blended amines for CO2 postcombustion capture applications

The present study has established the direct pseudo–first‐order reaction kinetics of different aqueous‐based single and blended amines over the temperature range of 298.15‐313.15 K using stopped‐flow techniques. The single amines include one primary amine (monoethanolamine, MEA), two secondary amines (diethanolamine, DEA and 2‐ethyl(amino)ethanol, 2EAE), four tertiary amines (N‐methyldiethanolamine, MDEA, 1‐dimethylamino‐2‐propanol, 1DMA2P, 3‐dimethylamino‐1‐propanol, 3DMA1P, and 2‐dimethylaminoethanol, 2DMAE), one sterically hindered amine (2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanol, AMP), and one cyclic diamine (piperazine, PZ). The blend systems used are MEA/PZ, DEA/PZ, MDEA/PZ, AMP/PZ, MEA/AMP, MDEA/2EAE, 1DMA2P/2EAE, 3DMA1P/2EAE, and 2DMAE/2EAE. Different reaction mechanisms for the reaction of CO₂ with aqueous solutions of amines, such as base‐catalysis, zwitterion, termolecular, hybrid of zwitterion, hybrid of base‐catalysis‐zwitterion, and hybrid of base‐catalysis‐termolecular reaction mechanisms, are used to correlate the experimental data. For the single amines, the zwitterion mechanism is well suited to fit the experimental data of primary, secondary, sterically hindered and cyclic amines with an absolute average deviation (AAD%) less than 5%. The base‐catalysis mechanism fits the experimental data of all the tertiary amines well with an AAD less than 5%. For the blends, the hybrid of zwitterion mechanism fits the experimental data of MEA/PZ, DEA/PZ, AMP/PZ, and MEA/AMP well with an AAD less than 5%, whereas the hybrid of base‐catalysis‐zwitterion mechanism fits the experimental data of MDEA/PZ, MDEA/2EAE, 1DMA2P/2EAE, 3DMA1P/2EAE, and 2DMAE/2EAE well with an AAD less than 5%.