Cold-induced aggregation microextraction: a novel sample preparation technique based on ionic liquids

In this research, a novel microextraction technique based on ionic liquids (ILs) termed cold-induced aggregation microextraction (CIAME) is developed. In this method, very small amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Hmim][PF₆] and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide [Hmim][Tf₂N] (as extractant solvents) were dissolved in a sample solution containing Triton X-114 (as an anti-sticking agent). Afterwards, the solution was cooled in the ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed. After centrifuging, the fine droplets of extractant phase were settled to the bottom of the conical-bottom glass centrifuge tube.CIAME is a simple and rapid method for extraction and preconcentration of metal ions from water samples and can be applied for the sample solutions containing high concentration of salt and water miscible organic solvents. Furthermore, this technique is much safer in comparison with the organic solvent extraction.Performance of the technique was evaluated by determination of the trace amounts of mercury as a test analyte in several real water samples. Michler thioketone (TMK) was chosen as a complexing agent. Analysis was carried out using spectrophotometric detection method. Type and amount of IL and the surfactant, temperature and the other parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the method was 0.3 ng mL⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.32% for 30 ng mL⁻¹ mercury.     

Determination of silver in real samples using homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction based on ionic liquid

A new solvent-free mode of homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction based on ionic liquid (IL) named as modified cold induced aggregation microextraction (M-CIAME), was developed. The method is a fast, solvent free, robust against high medium salt content, and simple for extraction and preconcentration of metal ions from various samples. The extraction of silver was preformed in the presence of 4,4-bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone (TMK) as the complexing agent and sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF₆) was added to the sample solution (50°C) containing small amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Hmim][BF₄]. Afterwards, the solution was placed in the ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed due to the decrease of IL solubility. After centrifuging, the fine droplets of extraction phase were settled of the bottom of the conical bottom glass centrifuge tube. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.4 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.8% for 50 ng/mL of silver (n = 5).     

In situ solvent formation microextraction based on ionic liquids: A novel sample preparation technique for determination of inorganic species in saline solutions

In this research, a novel microextraction technique based on ionic liquids (ILs) termed in situ solvent formation microextraction (ISFME) is developed. In this method, small amount of sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF₆, as an ion-pairing agent) was added to the sample solution containing very small amount of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Hmim][BF₄], as hydrophilic IL). A cloudy solution was formed as a result of formation of fine droplets of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Hmim][PF₆]. After centrifuging, the fine droplets of the extractant phase settled to the bottom of the conical-bottom glass centrifuge tube.ISFME is a simple and rapid method for extraction and preconcentration of metal ions from water samples and can be applied for the sample solutions containing very high concentrations of salt. Furthermore, this technique is much safer in comparison with the organic solvent extraction.Reliability of the introduced methodology was evaluated by analyzing water reference material. ISFME was successfully applied to determining mercury (II) in several real water samples. Michler thioketone (TMK) was chosen as a complexing agent. Analysis was carried out using spectrophotometric detection method. Type and amount of IL, temperature and the other parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.7 ng mL⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.94% for 40 ng mL⁻¹ mercury.     

Ionic liquid ultrasound assisted dispersive liquid–liquid/micro-volume back extraction procedure for preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of thallium in water and biological samples

A simple, highly sensitive and environment-friendly method, combined with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) is developed to preconcentrate and determine trace amounts of thallium in aqueous solutions. In the preconcentration step, the thallium (I) from 30?mL of an aqueous solution was extracted into 350?µL of ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexa?uorophosphate [Hmim][PF₆], containing dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DCH-18-crown-6) as complexing agent. Subsequently, the DCH-18-crown-6 complex was back-extracted into 300?µL of nitric acid (2?mol?L^?1) solution, and analyzed by FAAS. Several parameters in?uencing the extraction and determination of thallium, such as pH, concentration of DCH-18-crown-6, sonication and centrifugation times, sample volume, ionic liquid amounts, ionic strength, and concentration of stripping acid solution, were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 5 to 400?ng?mL^?1, the detection limit was 0.64?ng?mL^?1 (3S_b/m, n?=?7), the enhancement factor was 98.2 and the relative standard deviation was ±1.43%. The results for preconcentration and determination of trace amount of thallium in waste water, well water, tap water, sea water, human hair and nail demonstrated the accuracy, recovery and applicability of the presented method.     

Determination of nickel using cold-induced aggregation microextraction based on ionic liquid followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Cold-induced aggregation microextraction (CIAME) combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was applied to preconcentration and determination of nickel(II) ions in natural water samples. The proposed method used 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Hmim][PF ₆ ]) as the extraction solvent and 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) as the complexing agent. The extraction solvent was dissolved in the sample solution at 45°C. After dissolving, the solution was cooled in the ice bath and a cloudy solution of IL fine droplets was formed due to the decrease of IL solubility. After centrifugation, the fine droplets of extractant phase were settled at the bottom of the conical-bottom centrifuge tube. Analysis was carried out by a FAAS. Several important parameters influencing the CIAME extraction efficiency such as pH, complexing agent concentration, extraction solvent volume, salt effect, solution temperature, extraction time, centrifugation time and heating time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.8 ng/mL, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.4% for 50 ng/mL of nickel. The performance of the method was evaluated for extraction and determination of nickel in tap, mineral and seawater samples, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Screen-printed electrode-based electrochemical detector coupled with in-situ ionic-liquid-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for determination of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

A novel method is reported, whereby screen-printed electrodes (SPELs) are combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. In-situ ionic liquid (IL) formation was used as an extractant phase in the microextraction technique and proved to be a simple, fast and inexpensive analytical method. This approach uses miniaturized systems both in sample preparation and in the detection stage, helping to develop environmentally friendly analytical methods and portable devices to enable rapid and onsite measurement. The microextraction method is based on a simple metathesis reaction, in which a water-immiscible IL (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, [Hmim][NTf₂]) is formed from a water-miscible IL (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [Hmim][Cl]) and an ion-exchange reagent (lithium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, LiNTf₂) in sample solutions. The explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used as a model analyte to develop the method. The electrochemical behavior of TNT in [Hmim][NTf₂] has been studied in SPELs. The extraction method was first optimized by use of a two-step multivariate optimization strategy, using Plackett–Burman and central composite designs. The method was then evaluated under optimum conditions and a good level of linearity was obtained, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. Limits of detection and quantification were 7 μg L^?1 and 9 μg L^?1, respectively. The repeatability of the proposed method was evaluated at two different spiking levels (20 and 50 μg L^?1), and coefficients of variation of 7 % and 5 % (n?=?5) were obtained. Tap water and industrial wastewater were selected as real-world water samples to assess the applicability of the method.

Preparation of ionic liquid-encapsulated polymer particles

Encapsulation of ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)amide ([Hmim][TFSA]), was carried out by microsuspension polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) utilizing the self-assembling of phase-separated polymer method, which had been proposed by us for the preparation of hollow polymer particles. After the optimization of the polymerization conditions, ionic liquid-encapsulated polymer particles, which have smooth surface morphology and a single hollow structure, were successfully prepared. Encapsulation efficiency of [Hmim][TFSA] was significantly improved from about 20–70 % by changing the shell polymer from polyEGDM homopolymer to poly(EGDM-butyl methacrylate) (50/50, w/w) copolymer, which was likely to have relatively low affinity for [Hmim][TFSA]. Additionally, ionic liquid-encapsulated polymer particles displaying ionic conductivity were successfully prepared using triethylene glycol dimethacrylate as divinyl monomer instead of EGDM.     

The physicochemical properties of some imidazolium-based ionic liquids and their binary mixtures

The density, viscosity and conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([omim][BF4]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([omim][Cl]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim] BF4]), 1-hexyl- 3-methylimidazolium chloride ([hmim][Cl]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([hmim][PF6]), and the [omim][BF4] + [omim][Cl], [hmim][BF4] + [hmim][Cl], and [hmim][PF6] + [hmim][Cl] binary mixtures were studied at dif- ferent temperatures. It was demonstrated that the densities of both the neat ILs and their mixtures varied linearly with temper- ature. The density sensitivity of a binary mixture is between those of the two components. The excess molar volumes (VE) of [hmim][BF4] + [hmim][Cl] and [hmim][PF6] + [hmim][Cl] mixtures are positive in the whole composition range. For [omim][BF4] + [omim][Cl], the VE is also positive in the [omim][Cl]-rich region, but is negative in the [omim][BF4]-rich re- gion. The viscosity or conductivity of a mixture is in the intermediate of those of the two neat ILs. For all the neat ILs and the binary mixtures studied, the order of conductivity is opposite to that of the viscosity. The Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) equations can be used to fit the viscosity and conductivity of all the neat ILs and the binary mixtures. The neat ILs and their mixtures obey the Fractional Walden Rule very well, and the values of the Walden slopes are all smaller than unit, indicating obvious ion associations in the neat ILs and the binary mixtures.     

The thermochemistry of solvation of imidazolium-based ionic liquids in benzene

ABSTRACT

The present work is devoted to the thermochemical study of solvation of ionic liquids (IL) in benzene. The solution enthalpies of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide [EMIM][C(CN)₃], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF₄], 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [HMIM][PF₆], 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [OMIM][BF₄], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [EMIM][NTf₂], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMIM][NTf₂] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate [BMIM][TfO] in benzene were measured. The solvation enthalpies of imidazolium-based IL were calculated. Molar refractions of imidazolium-based IL form literature data on density and refractive indexes of IL were also calculated. The linear correlation between solvation enthalpy and molar refraction of IL was observed. This correlation can be used to calculate the vaporization enthalpy of imidazolium-based IL from solution calorimetry data.     

Liquid-phase microextraction with in-drop derivatization combined with microvolume fluorospectrometry for free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde determination in textile samples

A novel approach for preconcentration and speciation analysis of trace amount of mercury from water samples was proposed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Mercury species (Hg²⁺, methylmercury (MeHg⁺) and phenylmercury (PhHg⁺)) were complexed with dithizone (DZ) to form hydrophobic chelates and then extracted into the fine drops of extraction solvent dispersed in the aqueous sample by dispersive solvent. After extraction, the sedimented phase was analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Some important parameters affecting the DLLME such as extraction solvent and dispersive solvent type and volume, concentration of dithizone solution, sample pH, extraction time and salt effect were investigated. Ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM][PF₆]) was found to be a suitable extractant for the chelates. Under the optimized conditions (extraction solvent: 70 μL of ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM][PF₆]); dispersive solvent: 0.75 mL of methanol containing dithizone (0.02%, m/v); pH: 4; extraction time: 5 min; and without salt addition), the limits of detection for Hg²⁺, MeHg⁺ and PhHg⁺ were 0.32, 0.96 and 1.91 μg L⁻¹ (S N⁻¹ = 3) respectively, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was between 4.1 and 7.3% (n = 5). Three real water samples (tap water, river water and lake water) spiked with mercury species were detected by the developed method, and the relative recoveries obtained for Hg²⁺, MeHg⁺ and PhHg⁺ were 89.6–101.3%, 85.6–102.0% and 81.3–97.6%, respectively.     

[Hmim]PF6 enhanced the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil with the QuEChERS method

To detect, identify, and quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into the environment, the PAHs need to be isolated from the soil matrix. In this work, a modified quick, easy, cheap, efficient, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method with ionic liquid was combined with liquid chromatography to identify 16 selected PAHs in soil. Ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Hmim]PF₆) was applied as an extractant component to enhance the process. The [Hmim]PF₆ content in acetonitrile (ACN) was optimized. The [Hmim]PF₆ modified QuEChERS method has the advantages defined by its name and a similar recovery to other extraction methods reported in the literature. Adding [Hmim]PF₆ may eliminate the co-extract proportion and achieve a more effective extraction. Compared with ACN alone, the matrix effect (ME) of ACN containing 5% [Hmim]PF₆ was reduced by approximately 35%. Additionally, the ME of using ACN containing [Hmim]PF₆ without a clean-up procedure was similar to that of using ACN followed by a clean-up procedure. The recoveries of the QuEChERS method implemented with [Hmim]PF₆ ranged from 75.19% to 100.98%. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.86 to 4.51 µg/kg and from 2.87 to 15.13 µg/kg, respectively.     

Study on the Conductivities of Pure and Aqueous Bromide-Based Ionic Liquids at Different Temperatures

Electrical conductivities were measured for the pure ionic liquids [C₆mim][Br] (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) and [C₈mim][Br] (1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) at 0.1 MPa from 293.15 to 333.15 K. Conductivity measurements were also made for the binary water + [C₆mim][Br] and water + [C₈mim][Br] systems and their ternary water + [C₆mim][Br] + [C₈mim][Br] system at 0.1 MPa and 293.15, 298.15, and 303.15 K. The conductivity data of the pure ionic liquids were correlated by the VFT (Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher) equation, and the fitting parameters and mean absolute deviations were determined. New explanations are presented for the molality-dependent behavior of the conductivity of the binary water + [C₆mim][Br] and water + [C₈mim][Br] systems. The generalized Young’s rule and the semi-ideal solution theory for conductivity were used to predict the conductivities of the ternary water + [C₆mim][Br] + [C₈mim][Br] system from the conductivities of its corresponding binary water + [C₆mim][Br] and water + [C₈mim][Br] subsystems. The predictions are in good agreement with the measured values.     

Phase equilibria study of the binary systems (ionic liquid + thiophene): Desulphurization process

(Solid + liquid) equilibria (SLE) and (liquid + liquid) equilibria (LLE) for the binary systems: {ionic liquid (IL) N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tosylate (p-toluenesulfonate) [BM⁴Py][TOS], or N-butyl-3-methylpyridinium tosylate [BM³Py][TOS], or N-hexyl-3-methylpyridinium tosylate [HM³Py][TOS], or N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide [BM⁴Py][NTf₂], or 1,4-dimethylpyridinium tosylate [M^1,4Py][TOS], or 2,4,6-collidine tosylate [M^2,4,6Py][TOS], or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [EMIM][SCN], or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [BMIM][SCN], or 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [HMIM][SCN], or triethylsulphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Et₃S][NTf₂] + thiophene} have been determined at ambient pressure. A dynamic method was used over a broad range of mole fractions and temperatures from (270 to 390) K. In the case of systems (pyridinium IL, or sulphonium IL + thiophene) the mutual immiscibility with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) was detected at the very narrow and low mole fraction of the IL. For the binary systems containing (imidazolium thiocyanate IL + thiophene), the mutual immiscibility with the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was detected at the higher mole fraction range of the IL. The basic thermal properties of the pure ILs, i.e. melting and glass-transition temperatures as well as the enthalpy of fusion have been measured using a differential scanning microcalorimetry technique (DSC). The well-known NRTL equation has been used to correlate experimental SLE/LLE data sets.     

超声辅助离子液体液相微萃取-高效液相色谱法分析水样中加替沙星或氟罗沙星

建立了一种采用离子液体1-己基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸([C6mim][PF6])为萃取剂,超声辅助离子液体液相微萃取-高效液相色谱法分析水样中加替沙星和氟罗沙星的方法。 实验考察了溶液酸度、离子液体用量等因素对萃取的影响。在pH值分别为3.3、2.1的加替沙星和氟罗沙星水样中,加入0.4 mL [C6mim][PF6],超声,离心,离子液体相直接用于HPLC进行分析。 该方法的线性范围为0.5~50 mg/L,测定加替沙星和氟罗沙星的相对标准偏差(n=5)为2.80%和5.93%,二者的检出限分别为0.46、0.97 μg/L,该方法萃取水样中加替沙星的加标回收率为80.5%~89.5%,氟罗沙星的加标回收率可达93.3%~99.0%。     

Determination of triazines in honey by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction high-performance liquid chromatography

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for extraction and determination of triazines from honey. A room temperature ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆MIM][PF_6.], was used as extraction solvent and Triton X 114 was used as dispersant. A mixture of 175 μL [C₆MIM][PF₆] and 50 μL 10% Triton X 114 was rapidly injected into the 20 mL honey sample by syringe. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and the sedimented phase was analyzed by HPLC. Some experimental parameters, such as type and volume of extraction solvent, concentration of dispersant, pH value of sample solution, salt concentration and extraction time were investigated and optimized. The detection limits for chlortoluron, prometon, propazine, linuron and prebane are 6.92, 5.84, 8.55, 8.59 and 5.31 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The main advantages of the proposed method are simplicity of operation, low cost, high enrichment factor and extraction solvent volume at microliter level. Honey samples were analyzed by the proposed method and obtained results indicated that the proposed method provides acceptable recoveries and precisions.     

1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids as solvents in the separation of azeotropic mixtures

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium data for the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [EMim][NTf₂], 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [PMim][NTf₂], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [BMim][NTf₂], and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [HMim][NTf₂], mixed with ethanol and heptane were studied at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The ability of these ionic liquids as solvents for the extraction of ethanol from heptane was evaluated in terms of selectivity and solute distribution ratio. Moreover, density and refractive index values over the miscible region for the ternary mixtures were also measured at T = 313.15 K. Finally, the experimental data were correlated with the Non Random Two Liquids (NRTL) and UNIversal QUAsi Chemical (UNIQUAC) thermodynamic models, and an exhaustive comparison with available literature data of the studied systems was carried out.     

Determination of ultraviolet filters in environmental water samples by temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction

In the present study, a rapid, highly efficient and environmentally friendly sample preparation method named temperature-controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction (TC-IL-DLPME), followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the extraction, preconcentration and determination of four benzophenone-type ultraviolet (UV) filters (viz. benzophenone (BP), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) and homosalate (HMS)) from water samples. An ultra-hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([HMIM][FAP]), was used as the extraction solvent in TC-IL-DLPME. Temperature served two functions here, the promotion of the dispersal of the IL to the aqueous sample solution to form infinitesimal IL drops and increase the interface between them and the target analytes (at high temperature), and the facilitation of mass transfer between the phases, and achievement of phase separation (at low temperature). Due to the ultra-hydrophobic feature and high density of the extraction solvent, complete phase separation could be effected by centrifugation. Moreover, no disperser solvent was required. Another prominent feature of the procedure was the combination of extraction and centrifugation in a single step, which not only greatly reduced the total analysis time for TC-IL-DLPME but also simplified the sample preparation procedure. Various parameters that affected the extraction efficiency (such as type and volume of extraction solvent, temperature, salt addition, extraction time and pH) were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method provided good enrichment factors in the range of 240–350, and relative standard deviations (n = 5) below 6.3%. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.2–5.0 ng/mL, depending on the analytes. The linearities were between 1 and 500 ng/mL for BP, 5 and 1000 ng/mL for BP-3, 10 and 1000 ng/mL for HMS and 5 and 1000 ng/mL for EHS. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of UV filters in swimming pool and tap water samples and acceptable relative recoveries over the range of 88.0–116.0% were obtained.     

Determination of five polar herbicides in water samples by ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction

A simple, rapid and efficient ionic liquid based on dispersive liquid-phase microextraction (IL-DLPME) method was developed for the determination of three triazine and two phenylurea herbicides in water samples. IL (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆MIM][PF₆]) that dispersed completely into the water solution under controlled temperature was used as the extraction solvent. The analytes were easily concentrated into the ionic liquid phase. This technique combined the process of extraction and concentration of the analytes into one step and avoided use of the more common, toxic organic solvents. The factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as the IL volume, sample pH, extraction time, centrifugal time, dissoluble temperature and ionic strength were optimized. The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector (DAD). Under the optimized conditions, recoveries (50.5–109.1%) were obtained for the target analytes in water samples. The calibration curves were linear and the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.9947 to 0.9973 in the concentration levels of 5–100 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n?=?5) were 6.80–10.78%. The limit of detections (LODs) for the five polar herbicides were between 0.46 μg L^?1 and 0.89 μg L^?1.     

Calorimetric Study on the Ion Pairing and Aggregation of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([C2mim][NTf2]) and Related Ionic Liquids in the Low-Dielectric Constant Solvent Chloroform

A calorimetric study of dissolution of the ionic liquids (ILs) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([C₂mim][NTf₂]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([C₆mim][NTf₂]), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide ([C₆mim][CTf₃]) into chloroform (CHCl₃) is presented with particular focus on [C₂mim][NTf₂]. The interpretation of the calorimetric data for [C₂mim][NTf₂] was aided by additional NMR self-diffusion measurements and viscosity measurements that through the Stokes–Einstein equation provided information about the average size of the species present. It is evident that the main equilibrium species are ion pairs and aggregates. An estimate for the enthalpy contribution from aggregate formation for [C₂mim][NTf₂] was found to be ?2.09 kJ per mol of added IL at 288.2 K and slightly decreasing in magnitude to ?1.11 kJ·mol^?1 at 318.2 K. While all three ILs release heat upon dissolution into CHCl₃, different temperature trends are observed demonstrating the fine balance of competing contributions from breaking IL interactions, cavity formation for the solutes to reside in, and the establishment of new solute–solvent interactions.     

Formation of metastable crystals of [C4mim][NTf2] and [C6mim][NTf2]

Heat capacities of crystalline 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C₄mim][NTf₂] and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C₆mim][NTf₂] in the range 80 K-T_fus were measured in an adiabatic calorimeter. Anomalies in the heat-capacity curves for the both compounds occurred near 240 K. Positions of the anomalies depended on thermal history of the samples. More stable crystals had higher heat capacities in the range 220-260 K. Below 200 K heat capacities of all the crystals of the same compound were indistinguishable.