Application of non-ionic surfactant in the microwave-assisted extraction of alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis

The feasibility of employing non-ionic surfactant oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as an alternative and effective solvent for the microwave-assisted extraction of alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis was demonstrated. When compared with commonly used solvents, 5% Genapol X-080 enhanced the extraction efficiency. Under optimal conditions, i.e. 5% acidified Genapol X-080 (v/v), microwave-assisted extraction for 10 min at 100 °C, the extraction recovery of alkaloids reached 92.8% in a one-step extraction. The efficiency of cloud-point preconcentration of three alkaloids was in the range 93.6-94.7% with relative standard deviation lower than 3.3% by the proposed procedure. Furthermore, the combination of microwave-assisted extraction and cloud-point extraction was shown to be a green, rapid and effective approach for alkaloids preconcentration of Rhizoma Coptidis samples.     

Micelle-mediated extraction of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography

The feasibility of employing non-ionic surfactant oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as an alternative and effective solvent for the extraction of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge was studied for the first time. Various experimental conditions were investigated to optimize the extraction. Under optimum conditions, i.e. 10% Genapol X-080 (w/v), liquid/solid ratio of 20:1 (ml g⁻¹), ultrasonic-assisted extraction for 45 min, the extraction recovery of the tanshinones reached the highest value. When compared with commonly used solvents, 10% Genapol X-080 yielded almost the same extraction efficiency as methanol and dichloromethane-methanol (1:4). For the pre-concentration of tanshinones by cloud-point extraction (CPE), sodium chloride was added to the solution to facilitate the phase separation and increase the pre-concentration factor by reducing the volume of the surfactant-rich phase.     

Study of high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of selected herbicides by hydro-methanolic and micellar liquid chromatography using Genapol X-080 non-ionic surfactant as mobile phase constituent

Chromatographic behaviour of six selected herbicides (chlortoluron, metoxuron, chloridazon, simazine, propazine and atrazine) was studied by reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) containing Genapol X-080 non-ionic surfactant as methanol/water mobile phase constituent. The concentration of methanol was changed from 50 to 0% (v/v) for constant 2% (v/v) concentration of the surfactant. The surfactant concentration in purely aqueous micellar mobile phase varied from 1 to 5% (v/v) what is approximately 360-1800 times above the CMC. Within this concentration range Genapol X-080 proves concentration dependent selectivity changes for chlortoluron/atrazine critical pair not occurred in hydro-methanolic mobile phases. Further studies revealed that this chromatographic system offers high compatibility with cloud-point extraction environmental sample pretreatment approaches using Genapol X-080 for the purpose, too.     

Development and application of high-performance liquid chromatography for the study of ampelopsin pharmacokinetics in rat plasma using cloud-point extraction

A simple, rapid and specific method based on cloud-point extraction (CPE) was developed to determine ampelopsin in rat plasma after oral administration by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The non-ionic surfactant Genapol X-080 was chosen as the extract solvent. Some important parameters affecting the CPE efficiency, such as the nature and concentration of surfactant, extraction temperature and time, centrifuge time and salt effect, were investigated and optimized. Separation was accomplished using a C(18) column by gradient elution with a acetonitrile-phosphate buffer solution as the mobile phase. The detection wavelength was set at 290 nm. Under optimum conditions, the linear range of ampelopsin in rat plasma was 20-2000 ng/mL (r(2)=0.9996). The limit of detection was 6 ng/mL (S/N=3) with the limit of quantification being 20 ng/mL (S/N=10). The proposed method has been successfully applied for pharmacokinetic studies of ampelopsin from rat plasma after oral administration.     

Micelle-mediated extraction and cloud-point preconcentration of osthole and imperatorin from Cnidium monnieri with analysis by high performance liquid chromatography

A new method based on micelle-mediated extraction and cloud-point preconcentration was developed for the separation and determination of hydrophobic compounds osthole and imperatorin from Cnidium monnieri by high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The non-ionic surfactant C(13)E(8) (Genapol X-080) was chosen as the extract solvent. Various experimental conditions were investigated to evaluate and optimize the extraction and preconcentration process. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a Zorbax SB-C(18) analytical column (150 mm x 4.6mm i.d., 5 microm particle diameter) maintained at 30 degrees C and detected by UV absorption at 320 nm. The gradient elution was achieved with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for both analytes was linear in the range of 0.52-33.5 microg mL(-1) with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.9996. The intra-day and inter-day precision (RSD) is below 5.3% and the limits of detection (LOD) for the analytes are 93 and 124 ng mL(-1)(S/N=3). The proposed technique is a low cost, simple and sensitive method with high clean-up effect. Finally, the method was successfully applied to separate and determine osthole and imperatorin from C. monnieri, respectively.     

Determination of benzimidazole fungicides in soil samples using microwave-assisted micellar extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple and fast analytical method was developed for the determination of benzimidazole fungicides (benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, and fuberidazole) in soil samples. The analytes were extracted from the soil samples by means of conventional microwave-assisted extraction, using the non-ionic surfactants polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) and oligoethylene glycol monooalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as extractants. Determinations were made by using liquid chromatography with direct fluorescence detection. The use of an analytical column Symmetry C-18 offered short retention times of analytes without the need of any pH regulators with mobile phase methanol-water (50 + 50, v/v). The best results were obtained using 5% (v/v) POLE as extractant with recoveries of the fungicides in spiked soil samples between 71 and 105%. The results were compared with those obtained when Soxhlet extraction was applied to the same soil samples.     

Use of non-ionic surfactant solutions for the extraction and preconcentration of phenolic compounds in water prior to their HPLC-UV detection

A simple and rapid HPLC method with spectrophotometric detection to determine phenolic compounds in water, including the 11 priority phenolic pollutants, is described. As they are present in low concentrations, an extraction and preconcentration step is necessary prior to their determination. A methodology based on the cloud point phenomenon is applied using the non-ionic surfactant oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as extractant. The optimum conditions for the extraction and preconcentration of phenolic derivatives have been established and detection limits lower than 10 micrograms L-1 were obtained for all studied compounds. The method has been applied to their determination in sea water and depurated waste water samples.     

Combination of microwave assisted micellar extraction and liquid chromatography for the determination of organophosphorous pesticides in soil samples

A new methodology based on the microwave assisted micellar extraction (MAME) technique has been optimised, using soil samples, to extract and determine a mixture of the eight organophosphorous pesticides mainly used in agriculture. The pesticides under study have been extracted using the non-ionic surfactants polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) and oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080). The optimal extraction variables, such as surfactant concentration, pH, radiation time and microwave power were determined for each surfactant. The results show the advantage of using POLE instead of Genapol X-080 for the extraction of the organophosphorus pesticides with recoveries higher than 70% for most of the compounds and relative standard deviations (RSD) below 2.6%. This method was successfully applied to fresh samples as well as to aged samples for the analysis of soils with different characteristics and compared with the traditional Soxhlet technique.     

Determination of antihyperglycemic drugs in nanomolar concentration levels by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with non-ionic surfactant

A method for the separation of six selected antihyperglycemic (antidiabetic) drugs (tolbutamide, gliclazide, glimepiride, glibenclamide, repaglinide, and glipizide) was developed with use of micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Two non-ionic poly(ethylene glycol)-based surfactants Genapol X-080 and Triton X-114 (reduced) were studied as neutral pseudostationary phases. High alkaline pH 10.0 was used to obtain negative charges of separated antidiabetic drugs and non-ionic surfactants were employed for selectivity alteration. Both non-ionic surfactants provided good selectivity at concentration 0.2% (v/v) in sodium borate buffer and the separation of six drugs was obtained within 5 min. An on-line preconcentration method based on reversed electrode polarity switching was employed for the determination of antihyperglycemic drugs in blood serum after acetonitrile protein precipitation. The limits of detection ranged from 20.8 nmol L⁻¹ for tolbutamide to 6.5 nmol L⁻¹ for glibenclamide, respectively.     

Determination of arsenic in scalp hair samples from exposed subjects using microwave-assisted digestion with and without enrichment based on cloud point extraction by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and rapid cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure was applied for preconcentration of trace quantities of arsenic (As) in scalp hair samples. The samples were subjected to microwave-assisted digestion in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide (2 + 1, v/v) prior to preconcentration by CPE. The As in digested samples was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC), and the resultant As-PDC complex was extracted by a nonionic surfactant, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114). After centrifugation, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with 0.1 M HNO3 in methanol and analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The experimental parameters, i.e., amount of APDC, concentration of Triton X-114, equilibrium temperature and time, were optimized. For validation of the proposed method, a certified reference material (CRM) of human hair (BCR 397) was used. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between the experimental results and certified values of the CRM (paired t-test). The LOD and LOQ obtained under the optimal conditions were 0.025 and 0.083 microg/kg, respectively. The developed method was applied for the determination of As in scalp hair samples from male and female subjects of two villages of Khairpur Mir's, Pakistan.     

An approach to the application of microwave-assisted micellar extraction and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection to the extraction and determination of organophosphorus pesticides in tomato samples

Microwave-assisted micellar extraction methodology was applied to extract a mixture of 8 organophosphorus pesticides from the cuticle of tomato samples prior to analysis by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. This technique provided very good results and was simple, fast, and environmentally friendly. The pesticides under study were extracted using the nonionic surfactants polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) and oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080). The optimal extraction variables to be applied were determined for each surfactant and then compared. POLE proved to be the most suitable for the extraction, with recoveries over 70% in the majority and relative standard deviation values under 4.8%. After validation using a tomato sample enriched with a certified mixture, the proposed method was applied to the analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in lettuce and pepper samples.     

Determination of trace vanadium in sea cucumbers by ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

An ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure was used for preconcentration and determination of vanadium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The vanadyl(IV) complex with ascorbic acid form a hydrophobic complex with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) in a micelle medium, which is stable under our working conditions, and followed by its extraction into Triton X-100 surfactant-rich phase. The main factors affecting CPE efficiency, such as pH, concentrations of PAR, ascorbic acid and Triton X-100, incubation temperature, frequency and equilibration time of ultrasonic bath were investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration of 10 mL sample gave a preconcentration factor of 36.4 and a detection limit of 4.0 µg kg^?1. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of vanadium in sea cucumbers with satisfactory results.     

Cloud point extraction–thermospray flame quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for determination of ultratrace cadmium in water and urine

A simple, low cost and highly sensitive method based on cloud point extraction (CPE) for separation/preconcentration and thermospray flame quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was proposed for the determination of ultratrace cadmium in water and urine samples. The analytical procedure involved the formation of analyte-entrapped surfactant micelles by mixing the analyte solution with an ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) solution and a Triton X-114 solution. When the temperature of the system was higher than the cloud point of Triton X-114, the complex of cadmium-PDC entered the surfactant-rich phase and thus separation of the analyte from the matrix was achieved. Under optimal chemical and instrumental conditions, the limit of detection was 0.04 μg/L for cadmium with a sample volume of 10 mL. The analytical results of cadmium in water and urine samples agreed well with those by ICP-MS.     

Cloud point extraction and spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in saturated saline solutions using 4-ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide

4-Ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide (HEPTS) has been used as a new complexing agent in cloud point extraction (CPE) for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of copper in saturated saline medium. The chemical variables affecting the separation and determination processes were optimized. Copper(II) is preconcentrated using 0.05% (w/v) Triton X-114 and 10⁻⁴ M HEPTS at pH 6. The surfactant rich phase containing the complex was dissolved in 2 mL MeOH and determined spectrophotometrically. The calibration curve is linear in the 0.1–25 ng/mL copper range. The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of copper in water and saturated saline samples. The reaction between CuSO₄ and HEPTS yields a deep-blue solid complex which is characterized by analytical and spectroscopic analyses.     

Highly selective cloud point extraction and preconcentration of trace amounts of silver in water samples using synthesized Schiff’s base followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination

A simple and useful method employing cloud point extraction is proposed for the preconcentration and separation of silver in water samples. The silver cation reacts with bis(2-mercaptoanil) acetylacetone (BMAA) at pH 6. The resulting compound is subsequently entrapped in the Triton X-114 micelles. After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, a preconcentration factor of 50 was obtained (volume of initial sample was 10 mL). As an analytical example, trace amounts of Ag were determined, after preconcentration, in a complex aqueous matrix such as seawater using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The calibration curve was linear in the range 2–200 ng/mL and the limit of detection was 0.43 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation was lower than 2.4%. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Cloud-point extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of carbamate insecticide residues in fruits

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) method using Triton X-114 non-ionic surfactant was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of carbamate insecticide residues (i.e., methomyl, propoxur, carbofuran, carbaryl, isoprocarb, and promecarb) in fruit samples. The optimum conditions of CPE were 1.5% (w/v) Triton X-114, 7.0% (w/v) NaCl and 20 min equilibrated at 45 °C. The surfactant-rich phase was then analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 270 nm, under gradient separation using methanol and 0.1% (v/v) acetic acid. Under the study conditions, six carbamate insecticides were successfully separated within 27 min. Good reproducibility was obtained with the relative standard deviation of <3% for retention time and <9% for peak area. Limits of detection in the studied fruit samples were in the range of 0.1–1.0 mg kg⁻¹. No carbamate insecticides were detected in the studied fruit samples. The high recoveries of the spiked fruit samples were obtained in the range 80.0–107%. The CPE method has been shown to be a potential useful methodology for the preconcentration of the target analytes, with a preconcentration factor of 14. Moreover, the method is simple, has high sensitivity, consumes much less solvent than traditional methods, and is environmental friendly.     

Determination of Ultratrace Amounts of Copper(Ⅱ) in Water Samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry After Cloud Point Extraction

A novel approach was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of copper in water samples by using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) after cloud point extraction (CPE). 1-( 2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol was used as the chelating reagent and Triton X-114 as the micellar-forming surfactant. CPE was conducted in a pH 8.0 medium at 40 ℃ for 10 min. After the separation of the phases by centrifugation, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with 1 mL of a methanol solution of 0. 1 mol/L HNO3. Then 20 μL of the diluted surfactant-rich phase was injected into the graphite furnace for atomization in the absence of any matrix modifier. Various experimental conditions that affect the extraction and atomization processes were optimized. A detection limit of 5 ng/L was obtained after preconcentration. The linear dynamic range of the copper mass concentration was found to be 0-2.0ng/mL, and the relative standard deviation was found to be less than 3.1% for a sample containing 1.0 ng/mL Cu(Ⅱ). This developed method was successfully applied to the determination of ultratrace amounts of Cu in drinking water, tap water, and seawater samples.     

Development of a cloud point extraction and preconcentration method for determination of trace aluminum in mineral waters by FAAS

A cloud point extraction (CPE) method has been developed for the preconcentration of trace aluminum prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The CPE method is based on the complex of Al(III) with Xylidyl Blue (XB) and then entrapped in non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114. The main factors affecting CPE efficiency, such as pH of sample solution, concentration of XB and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and time, were investigated in detail. An enrichment factor of 50 was obtained for the preconcentration of Al(III) with 50 mL solution. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of this method for Al(III) is 1.43 μg L^− 1, and the relative standard deviation is 2.7% at determination of 100 μg L^− 1 Al(III). The proposed method has been applied for determination of trace amount of aluminum in mineral water samples with satisfactory results. Also, the proposed method was applied to the certified reference materials. The results obtained were in good agreement with certified values.     

In situ synthesis and preconcentration of cetylpyridinium complexed hexaiodo platinum nanoparticles from spent automobile catalytic converter leachate using cloud point extraction

In the present study, a green chemistry based cloud point extraction (CPE) method has been developed for the in situ synthesis and preconcentration of cetylpyridinium complexed hexaiodo platinum nanoparticles (Pt-I NP) from the leachate of spent automobile catalytic converter using potassium iodide (KI) and assisted by a combination of cationic and non-ionic surfactants; cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) and Triton X-114, respectively. The process parameters such as concentrations of hydrochloric acid, platinum, KI, sodium chloride, CPB, Triton X-114; incubation temperature and complexation time on CPE were optimized. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential techniques. The formation of Pt-I NP was followed with UV–vis. The XRD pattern established the tetragonal crystal structure of the produced nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape and the particle size obtained with TEM was about 5.6 nm. Further, the preconcentrated nanoparticles were quantified by continuum source electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) and a preconcentration factor of 25 was obtained for a reaction volume of 25 mL. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by analyzing the certified reference materials such as CCRMP PTM-1a (copper-nickel sulphide matte) and CCRMP PTC-1a (copper-nickel sulphide concentrate). The current CPE protocol demonstrates advantages such as simultaneous synthesis and preconcentration; synthesis at micromolar concentration from metal scrap, higher nanoparticle recovery; biodegradability and biocompatibility of the employed surfactants and dual solubility of the synthesized Pt-I NP. Thus, the developed method can be applied for the separation, large scale synthesis and preconcentration of Pt-I NP from various environmental and industrial wastes, in a single pot.     

Determination of ultra trace arsenic species in water samples by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

Cloud point extraction (CPE) methodology has successfully been employed for the preconcentration of ultra-trace arsenic species in aqueous samples prior to hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS). As(III) has formed an ion-pairing complex with Pyronine B in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at pH 10.0 and extracted into the non-ionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114). After phase separation, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with 2 mL of 1 M HCl and 0.5 mL of 3.0% (w/v) Antifoam A. Under the optimized conditions, a preconcentration factor of 60 and a detection limit of 0.008 μg L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9918 was obtained with a calibration curve in the range of 0.03–4.00 μg L⁻¹. The proposed preconcentration procedure was successfully applied to the determination of As(III) ions in certified standard water samples (TMDA-53.3 and NIST 1643e, a low level fortified standard for trace elements) and some real samples including natural drinking water and tap water samples.