Supercritical fluid extraction of mercury species

Supercritical fluid extraction was used to recover organic and inorganic mercury species. Variations in pressure, water, methanol, and chelator create methods that allowed separation of inorganic from organic mercury species. When extracted using a compromised set of extraction conditions, the order of extraction was methyl, phenyl and inorganic mercury. For the individually optimized conditions, quantitative recoveries were observed. Level as low as 20 ppb were extracted and then determined using ICP.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of Kava lactones from Kava root and their separation via supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Seven Kava lactones were extracted from Kava root using both pure and 15% ethanol modified CO₂. Most of the Kava lactones were extracted employing 100% CO₂ with an efficiency greater than 90% relative to conventional solvent extraction using organic solvents. Extraction efficiency did not increase significantly when using 15% ethanol-modified CO₂ as an extraction fluid. Separation of extracted Kava lactones was obtained using various packed columns and methanol-modified CO₂. An optimized separation was achieved using either an amino or protein C₄ column at 125 atm and 80°C. Semi-preparative separation of Kava lactones was also obtained using two columns connected in series.     

Recent advances in sample introduction for supercritical fluid chromatography

New strategies for sample introduction in supercritical fluid chromatography are reviewed. Both open tubular and packed column systems are examined as the injection demands of each column type are addressed. In addition to advances made in solvent injection methods, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is discussed as a solventless injection technique for supercritical fluid chromatography.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of flumetralin in tobacco

Summary This work evaluates the level of Flumetralin residues in real tobacco samples. Conventional extraction methods were compared with SFE methods in both static and dynamic modes using CO₂ and CO₂ with modifier. Additionally, in the dynamic SFE mode, different collection approaches, such as collection at room temperature without solvent, collection at room temperature in the presence of solvent (hexane) and collection in an ice bath, without solvent, were studied. SFE showed itself to be a promising extraction technique for pesticide residues in tobacco samples.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin from sediment samples

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is a promising technique for the extraction of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) from environmental matrices such as contaminated sediments. The ability of SFE to solubilize many organic contaminants is well documented in industrial processes but its analytical applications were exploited just recently. In this study supercritical carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and their mixtures with 2% methanol were used to extract 2,3,7,8-TCDD from aquatic sediments. An attractive feature of this process is that the carbon dioxide, being a virtually inert fluid, leaves no solvent residue on the processed sediment. Almost 100% of the 2,3,7,8-TCDD can be extracted from a sediment spiked with 200 μg/kg 2,3,7,8-TCDD in 30 minutes by using supercritical carbon dioxide + 2% methanol. Cleanup procedure is compared with the Soxhlet extraction procedure currently used as a standard method for extracting dioxins from sediment samples.     

Supercritical fluid extraction

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) provides for the first time a viable option to conventional and widely used Soxhlet extraction. The ability to change the solvating power of a single supercritical fluid by changing its density is an exceedingly attractive feature. An environmentally safe alternative such as supercritical carbon dioxide to organochlorine solvents which are widely used today in many government and industrial analytical laboratories for sample preparation is desirable. SFE may also constitute a viable alternative to other popular sample preparation techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction and purge/trap. Much research, however, must be done in order to understand, optimize and apply this technology. For example, (a) automation of extraction, (b) matrix effects, (c) new fluids/modifiers/additives, (d) trapping efficiency, (e) recovery of extracted analytes, and (f) extraction kinetics are some areas which need a greater understanding. This review is concerned with many of these topics as they relate to trace organic analysis wherein SFE is the primary sample preparation technique.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of oxadixyl from food crops

Summary This work describes the study of a degradation curve of Oxadixyl in field-treated potato and tomato samples. The residues were extracted using classical and supercritical fluid (SFE) extraction methods and analyzed by HRGC/ECD. The extraction techniques were compared and the results indicate the advantages of using SFE as an alternative method for pesticide analyses in these samples.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of atrazine and its metabolites from soil

Soxhlet (methanol) and SFE extraction with carbon dioxide in the presence of modifiers at different temperatures (100–200°C) for the extraction of atrazine and its main metabolites from a soil sample were compared. The most effective extraction conditions for both atrazine and its metabolites (i.e. deethylatrazine and deisopropylatrazine) were Co₂ modified with 20% molar methanol-trifluoroacetic acid (MeOH-TFA) (TFA 0.65M in MeOH) at 100°C, leading to an extraction efficiency comparable with that of Soxhlet extraction with MeOH for atrazine and ca. 20% higher for its main metabolites. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of SFE was lower than that obtained by Soxhlet extraction, probably because of less interference in the cGC-NPD determination. All the other modifiers evaluated (acetone, triethylamine, and methanol) were less effective than MeOH-TFA for the extraction of atrazine and its metabolites from a soil sample, even at high molar concentrations (20%) and use of higher extraction temperatures (200°C). These results indicate the importance of matrix effects and the need of the selection of an appropriate modifier in order to obtain quantitative extractions by SFE.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of Beauvericin from maize

Beauvericin (BEA), a supercritical fluid extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide from maize was investigated. Extraction efficiencies under several different extraction conditions were examined. Pressure, temperature, extraction time, organic modifier and water matrix content (10%) were investigated. The best extraction conditions were at a temperature of 60 °C, 3200 psi, for 30 min static extraction time and methanol as modifier solvent. Extraction recovery of 36% without modifier by adding water to the matrix in the extraction vessel (reproducibility relative standard deviations (R.S.D.)=3-5%) were recorded. Extraction recovery of 76.9% with methanol as co-solvent (reproducibility R.S.D.=3-5%) was obtained. Data shows that SFE gives a lower BEA recovery compared to conventional extraction protocol with organic solvents while SFE with modifier and conventional extraction yields are comparable. BEA extract contents were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector (DAD) at 205 nm and BEA peak confirmed by LC-MS. Acetonitrile-water as mobile phase and column C-18 were both tested. Instrumental and analytical parameters were optimized in the range linear interval from 1 to 500 mg kg⁻¹ and reached a detection limit of 2 ng.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of carbamate pesticides from soils and cereals

Summary A method for the supercritical fluid extraction of carbamate pesticides (propoxur, aminocarb, carbaryl and methiocarb) from soil and cereal samples using CO₂ is proposed. Extractions were at 378 bar and 54 °C. Analytes were determined in the extracts by HPLC with fluorescence detection after post-column derivatization. Recoveries from spiked soil ranged between 39.6 and 91.7%, depending on analyte and soil components. Lowest recoveries were from sandy soils. Aminocarb could not be recovered from any soil using CO₂. Recovery of aminocarb from diatomaceous earth was improved by adding methanol to the extraction cell prior to SFE, but the effect was not observed in soil samples. Recoveries for propoxur and aminocarb from spiked wheat were about 75%, and only between 30–50% for aminocarb from corn and oats, and carbaryl from wheat. Fat was coextracted using CO₂ and retained in the trap together with the analytes, however, appropriate rinsing solvent allowed on-line clean-up of the extract.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of triazine herbicides from solid matrices

Summary Several investigations were performed to optimise the extraction of polar triazine herbicides using supercritical fluid extraction from two different solid matrices: C₁₈-silica and soil samples. Supercritical CO₂ modified with methanol [10% (VV)] at 250 bars and 50°C was required to quantitatively extract Atrazine and 2-Hydroxyatrazine from spiked C₁₈-silica. Extraction of Desisopropyl-desethyl-2-hydroxyatrazine (MET) attained only 52%, even following addition of water to the polar modifier. Extractions of spiked soil samples (20 ppm of each pesticide) were successful at 300 bars and 65°C. A non polar wash improved the recoveries of the three target analytes [i.e. atrazine: 88%; 2-hydroxyatrazine: 96%; MET: 41%]. The extraction parameters employed are discussed in this paper.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography and some of its applications: A review

The general topic of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is introduced, and historical aspects of its development are discussed. The physical properties of supercritical fluids, gases and liquids are tabulated. SFC is compared and contrasted with the classical forms of chromatography - gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The selectivity of SFC, GC, and HPLC are discussed and compared. Instrumentation employed for supercritical fluid chromatography is depicted. A wide variety of SFC applications are introduced. New examples of the use of SFC for analysis of a variety of complex oligomeric mixtures indcluding polypropylene glycol, polysiloxanes, fluorocarbon oligomers (i.e. -3M's fluoro-chemical surfactant Fluorad 171, and Kel-F) and high molecular weight normal alcohols are shown. The use of SFC for separation of mono-, di-, and triglycerides at low operating temperatures is described. Lastly, the use of SFC for separations of complex hydrocarbon mixtures from liquid fuels, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, synthetic alpha-olefins, and petroleum functional group separations are depicted.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins from municipal incinerator fly ash

The supercritical fluid extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins from an incinerator fly ash sample has been investigated; supercritical nitrous oxide and its mixtures with methanol and toluene were employed as mobile phases. Recoveries of individual polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins congeners were calculated from results of analysis of ¹³C-labeled dioxins by high resolution GC-MS employing selected ion monitoring. The extraction procedure was compared with extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus, which is currently used as a standard method for removing chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins from fly ash samples: the results indicated that the time required for the extraction and clean-up can be reduced from 24 to 2.5 hours/sample. Quantitative recovery of the chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins was achieved at μg/kg levels, the relative standard deviation was between 1.8 and 5.8%. The use of a virtually inert fluid such as pure nitrous oxide provides significant improvement over conventional extraction procedures because no solvent residue is left in the processed extract.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from orally treated-chicken breast muscles

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from chicken breast muscles was examined. A liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for the determination of the fluoroquinolones. Extraction conditions of the SFE were optimized by determining the extraction parameters to achieve a sufficiently high recovery of each fluoroquinolone in fortified-muscle samples. Recovery values for the extraction of the fluoroquinolones using the SFE ranged from 70 to 87%. Chickens were treated orally with each fluoroquinolone and their muscles were extracted at set time intervals for time-course determination of the fluoroquinolones in chickens. The SFE combined with liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the concentrations of the fluoroquinolones decreased gradually with time in the chicken muscles after oral treatment, giving a concentration less than 5 ng/ml in 120 h. No further sample cleanup procedures were required after the SFE. These results suggest that SFE method is an extraction method for the determination of norfloxacin and ofloxacin in chicken muscle.     

On-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography for the determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrix

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was on-line coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for the determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrix. Inert ODS-silica gel packings were used as a trap column for an interface between SFE and SFC and as an analytical column for the satisfactory separation of extracts. Thiolcarbamate herbicides could be extracted satisfactorily from the soil matrix, which had different characteristics. The results indicated that the proposed system was useful for the rapid determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrices.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of the volatile oil from Santolina chamaecyparissus

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the volatile oil from Santolina chamaecyparissus L. flower heads was performed under different conditions of pressure, temperature, mean particle size and CO₂ flow rate. This oil was compared with the essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation (HD). The SFE volatile and essential oils were analysed by GC and GC‐MS. The range of the main volatile components obtained with HD and SFE were, respectively: 1,8‐cineole (25–30% and 7–48%), camphor (7–9% and 8–14%), borneol (7–8% and 2–11%), terpinen‐4‐ol (6–7% and 1–4%), terpinolene (1–4% and 1–7%) and isobornyl acetate (1–2% and 1–11%). The chemical composition of the extracts was greatly influenced by the conditions of pressure and temperature used. In fact, it was possible to enrich the sesquiterpene fraction by increasing the pressure from 8 to 9 MPa, while changing the temperature from 40 to 50°C at 90 bar enriched of the volatiles in n‐alkanes.     

Supercritical fluid extraction as a preparative tool for strawberry aroma analysis

To improve the aroma characterization of various strawberry cultivars, we tested supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to determine its suitability for the extraction of aroma compounds from fresh fruit, comparing SFE results with traditional solvent extraction with dichloromethane. Using SFE it was possible to recover the majority of the aroma compounds which can be also found in the solvent extract; patterns related to variety and degree of maturation were preserved. Our results showed, however, that SFE is more selective and was able to recover the ‘character impact’ compound of wild strawberry. Our findings from the odor analysis of furaneol standard emphasize the importance of using a more selective extraction procedure, and always combining instrumental detection with sensory analysis.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of kava lactones from Piper methysticum (kava) herb

Supercritical fluid extraction of kava lactones from Piper methysticum Forst. herb is described here. The extraction was performed with supercritical carbon dioxide alone and supercritical carbon dioxide modified with 15% ethanol, and the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Seven lactones including: 7,8-dihydrokavain; kavain; 5,6-dehydrokavain; 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydroyangonin; dihydromethysticin; yangonin; and methysticin were the major constituents in the SFE extract.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of PCBs in tandem with high resolution gas chromatography in environmental analysis

A simple method has been developed for the direct coupling of supercritical fluid extractions (SFE) with a high resolution gas chromatograph (HRGC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). SFE conditions have been investigated for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from sediments in terms of mobile phase, entrainer, pressure, temperature, and mass-flow through the extractor. Dynamic leaching and static steady-state extractions were compared. Extraction efficiencies of up to 100% in less than 15 minutes have been obtained. The extracted PCBs are quantitatively transferred into a fused silica open tubular column (OTC). Determination of PCBs was tested on certified sediment from National Water Research Institute and the results agreed well with certified values.