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 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 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 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 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.     

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.     

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.     

Application of Supercritical fluid Extraction For Analysis of Organophosphates in Cereals

Abstract

Application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) utilizing pure carbon dioxide for selective isolation of organophosphates from contaminated cereals has been tested.

At the beginning of the experiments the extractability of added standards from an empty extraction vessel (thimble) and from various materials such as filter paper, sand, Celite and anhydrous sodium sulfate was tested to estimate the behavior of organophosphates. Further method development was carried out using a spiked sample of flour, which was analyzed within the proficiency testing for organophosphorus pesticides analysis (round 7) organized by Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS, MAFF-UK).

Comparison of the SFE method with a classical method currently employed for sample preparation (i.e. extraction with acetone/methanol mixture followed by gel permeation chromatographic clean up) showed advantages of the SFE technique such as simplification of the sample preparation step and thereby significant speeding up of the determination of organophosphates in cereals.     

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Saponins from Ginseng

Introduction Ginseng（ Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Araliaceae） is one of the most valuable Chinese crude drugs and has been used widely for over 2000 years. Studies have demonstrated that ginseng can act on the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the endocrine system; it can enhance immune function and metabolism; it possesses a biomodulation action, anticancer effect, anti-stress and anti-ageing activities, and so on.     

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 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 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 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.     

Modifier and Additive Effects in the Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride from Spiked-Sand and Suphedrine Tablets

The effect of modifier and additive composition upon pseudoephedrine recovery from spiked-sand and Suphedrine tablets was examined. Recovery was shown to be dependent on CO₂ density as well as on the addition of an ion pairing agent to the matrix. The presence of methanol in the extraction vessel prior to SFE was shown to play a significant role in the ion-pair extraction process. Recovery was also shown to be a function of ion-pairing reagent composition and concentration. The most successful recovery was obtained in the presence of 1-heptanesulfonic acid (HSA), sodium salt in methanol at a 5:1 molar ratio (reagent to drug). The increased extractability in the presence of ion-pairing reagent was attributed to reduced analyte polarity and analyte-matrix displacement. Alternatively, a matrix-spiked mixture of methanol and 1% water by itself was just as effective as a matrix-spiked mixture of methanol and HSA for attaining efficient extraction. Several in-cell (e. g. to the matrix) and in-line (e. g. to the fluid) modifiers were examined for the extraction of pseudoephedrine from Suphedrine tablets. The greatest pseudoephedrine recovery from Suphedrine tablets of 82% (7.0%) was achieved with 10% (l% H₂O) methanol-modified CO₂ in the presence of 400 μL of methanol (l% H₂O). Finally AgCl tests and infrared analyses were performed on two tablet extracts. It was confirmed that even in the absence of any in-cell modifier, a small fraction of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride could be extracted.