Solid phase extraction of trace amounts of uranium(VI) from water samples using 8-hydroxyquinoline immobilized on surfactant-coated alumina

A simple and reliable method has been developed for the determination of uranium(VI). The method is based on the separation and preconcentration of uranium(VI) using a column packed with 8-hydroxyquinoline immobilized on surfactant coated alumina prior to its spectrophotometric determination with arsenazo III. The effect of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution conditions, and foreign ions on the sorption of uranium(VI) has been investigated. A preconcentration factor of 200 was achieved by passing 1000 mL of sample through the column. The relative standard deviation for 10 replicate analyses at the 100 ng/mL level of uranium(VI) was 2.1% and the detection limit was 0.12 ng/mL. The method was success-fully applied to the determination of uranium in natural water samples. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments and the analysis of a certified reference material.     

Solid phase extraction of trace amounts of uranium(VI) from water samples using 8-hydroxyquinoline immobilized on surfactant-coated alumina

A simple and reliable method has been developed for the determination of uranium(VI). The method is based on the separation and preconcentration of uranium(VI) using a column packed with 8-hydroxyquinoline immobilized on surfactant coated alumina prior to its spectrophotometry determination with Arsenazo III. The effect of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution conditions, and foreign ions on the sorption of uranium(VI) has been investigated. A preconcentration factor of 200 was achieved by passing 1000 mL of sample through the column. The relative standard deviation for 10 replicate analyses at the 100 ng/mL level of uranium(VI) was 2.1% and the detection limit was 0.12 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to the determination of uranium in natural water samples. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments and the analysis of a certified reference material.     

Ionic imprinted polymer for nickel recognition by using the bi-functionalized 5-vinyl-8-hydroxyquinoline as a monomer: Application as a new solid phase extraction support

A new ionic imprinted polymer (IIP) for Ni(II) recognition/pre-concentration was prepared via precipitation polymerization using 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DEM) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a crosslinking agent in the presence of nickel(II) and 5-vynil-8-hydroxyquinoline (5-VHQ) as a bi-functionalized ligand. An important increase on the selectivity of the synthesised IIP for nickel(II) ions was obtained when comparing to the use of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) as a ligand. The synthesised IIP was used as a new support for solid phase extraction (SPE) of nickel(II) from seawater before inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) detection. Variables affecting the SPE process, such as pH, load and elution flow rates, and concentration and volume of the eluting solution, were fully evaluated. The optimised procedure consists of a sample loading (100 mL of seawater at a pH of 9.0 ± 0.1) through IIP-SPE cartridges containing 300 mg of the synthesised IIP at a flow rate of 3.0 mL min^{− 1}. Elution was performed by passing 2.5 mL of 2.0 M nitric acid at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min^{− 1}, which gave a pre-concentration factor of 40. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method was 0.26 µg L^{− 1}, while the relative standard deviation (RSD) for eleven replicated measurements was 3%. Accuracy of the method was assessed by analyzing SLEW-3 (estuarine water) and TM-23.3 (lake water) certified reference materials. In addition to the selectivity of the synthesised material for nickel(II) ions against other transition metal ions and major alkaline and alkaline-earth metals (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) in seawater, it can be stated that the salt matrix is efficiently removed by using the proposed IIP-SPE procedure.     

Effective extraction of triazines from environmental water samples using magnetism-enhanced monolith-based in-tube solid phase microextraction

This article reports on the effective extraction of triazines from environmental water samples using magnetism-enhanced monolith-based in-tube solid phase microextraction (ME-MB/IT-SPME). Firstly, monolithic poly (octyl methacrylate-co-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) capillary column doped with magnetic nanoparticles was synthesized inside a fused silica. After that, the monolithic capillary column was placed inside a magnetic coil that allowed the exertion of a variable magnetic field during adsorption and desorption steps. The effects of intensity of magnetic field, adsorption and desorption flow rate, volume of sample and desorption solvent, pH value and ionic strength in sample matrix on the performance of ME-MB/IT-SPME for triazines were investigated in details. Under the optimized conditions, the developed ME-MB/IT-SPME showed satisfactory quantitative extraction efficiencies of the target analytes between 64.8% and 99.7%. At the same time, the ME-MB/IT-SPME was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection to detect six triazines in water samples. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) and limits of quantification (S/N = 10) were in the ranges of 0.074–0.23 μg/L and 0.24–0.68 μg/L, respectively. The precision of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of intra- and inter-assay variability calculated as relative standard deviation, and it was found that the values were all below 10%. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied for environmental water samples such as farmland, lake and river water with spiked recoveries in the range of 70.7–119%.     

Selective solid phase extraction and preconcentration of ultra-trace inorganic mercury in water samples using 2,6-dimethyl-morpholine dithiocarbamate

A sensitive and selective solid-phase spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of Hg(II) cation in water is described. A complex was created with Hg(II) using 2,6-dimethyl-morpholine dithiocarbamate (DMMDTC) to form Hg(II)–(DMMDTC) and this complex was adsorbed onto microcrystalline naphthalene (MN) and then eluted with 5% acetic acid (in ethanol) solution. A preconcentration factor of 187 and a recovery of 95% were observed at pH of 5.0 and for 10 min. of extraction. The separated Hg(II) ions were quantified by using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer at 490.0 nm by creating a colored complex with dithizone in Triton X-100 surfactant media. Molar absorptivity and sandell’s sensitivity for the Hg(II)-dithizone were determined as 4.96 × 10⁵ Lmol^?1cm^?1 and 0.4032 µg cm^?2, respectively. The detection limit (LOD) was 1.7 μg L^?1 under the optimized conditions of the analytical method.     

Dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction using octadecyl coated silica magnetite nanoparticles for the extraction of tetracyclines in water samples

Magnetite nanoparticles coated with silica and hydrophobic octadecyl layers were successfully synthesized and used in magnetic solid phase extraction of tetracyclines from water samples. The magnetite nanoparticles facilitated a convenient magnetic separation of sorbent from an aqueous sample, the octadecyl layer helped to enhance the adsorption ability and the silica layer helped to prevent the aggregation of the magnetite nanoparticles. The effect of various parameters on the extraction efficiency were optimized including the amount of sorbent, sample pH, stirring rate, extraction time and desorption conditions. Under the optimum conditions, the recoveries were in the range of 82 to 88%, the calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.002 to 1.0 μg/mL for oxytetracycline and 0.01 to 1.0 μg/mL for tetracycline and chlortetracycline, respectively. The developed method had several advantages such as simplicity, convenience, cost-effectiveness and high extraction efficiency.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of vanadium in petroleum oils and mineral ore samples using 2-acetylpyridne-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone as derivatizing reagent

Liquid chromatographic method has been developed, based on precolumn derivatization of vanadium(V) with 2-acetylpyridine-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (APPT). The complex is extracted in chloroform together with palladium(II), tin(II) and iron(III) and eluted and separated completely from Kromasil 100 C-18, 10 μm (25 cm × 4.6 mm i.d.) column with methanol:water:acetonitrile (60:30:10, v/v/v) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. UV detection was at 260 nm. Linear calibration curve was obtained with 1-12.5 μg/ml vanadium(V) with detection limit of 8 ng/injection (20 μl). A number of metal ions tested did not affect the determination of vanadium. The test mixtures were analyzed for vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) contents and relative% error was obtained ±1-8%. The method was applied for the determination of vanadium in petroleum oils and mineral ore samples with vanadium contents of 0.32-2.3 and 121.7-717.3 μg/g with R.S.D. of 1.5-4.5 and 0.38-4.7%, respectively. The results correlated with reported values and by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.     

Cloud point extraction, preconcentration and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nickel and cobalt in water samples

Cloud point extraction has been used for the preconcentration and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nickel and cobalt after the formation of a complex with 2-amino-cyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid (ACDA), and latter analysis by spectrophotometer using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The parameters affecting the separation phase and detection process were optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions (i.e. pH=5, 0.07 mM ACDA, Triton X-114=0.25% (w/v)), calibration graphs were linear in the range of 20-500 and 20-200 microg l(-1) with detection limits of 10 and 7.5 microg l(-1) for Ni and Co, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Ni and Co in natural and waste water samples with satisfactory results.     

Selective determination of total vanadium in water samples by cloud point extraction of its ternary complex

A highly sensitive micelle-mediated extraction methodology for the preconcentration of trace levels of vanadium as a prior step to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been developed. Vanadium was complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium (0.2 mol L⁻¹ phosphoric acid) using Triton X-100 as surfactant and quantitatively extracted into a small volume of the surfactant-rich phase after centrifugation. The color reaction of vanadium ions with hydrogen peroxide and PAN in phosphoric acid medium is highly selective. The chemical variables affecting cloud point extraction (CPE) were evaluated and optimized. The R.S.D. for 5 replicate determinations at the 20 μg L⁻¹ V level was 3.6%. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for vanadium was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 0.6 μg L⁻¹. The method has good sensitivity and selectivity and was applied to the determination of trace amounts of vanadium in water samples with satisfactory result. The proposed method is a rare application of CPE-atomic spectrometry to vanadium assay, and is superior to most other similar methods, because its useful pH range is in the moderately acidic range achieved with phosphoric acid. At this pH, many potential interferents are not chelated with PAN, and iron(III) as the major interferent is bound in a stable phosphate complex.     

Determination of 90Sr in environmental samples using solid phase extraction chromatography

The p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene thiophenol derivative was successfully synthesized with reflux condition and was characterized by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR. This work mainly adopted the method of controlling variables. The results showed that the optimum pH value, temperature and extraction time were respectively 4.5, 25 °C and 90 min. By calculating the data of the enthalpy change and gibbs free energy, indicating that the process of reaction was an exothermic and spontaneous process, and it demonstrated a close agreement with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It is also found that the coexisting cations on the extraction of uranium had greater influence.

     

Xylenol orange adsorbed on silica surface as a solid phase reagent for lead determination using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

The solid-phase reagents on the base of xylenol orange and its complex with Fe(III) immobilized on silica surface were obtained. The interaction of Pb(II) with developed reagents was studied. The conditions of quantitative recovery of Pb(II) from diluted solutions, such as acidity of aqueous phase, the amount of the sorbent, the volume of solutions and the time of equilibrium reaching, were examined. The tolerance limits of metal ions in the sorption of Pb(II) at pH 4.5-5.5 are reported. The capabilities of immobilized xylenol orange for Pb(II) pre-concentration prior to its diffusion reflectance spectroscopic detection was evaluated. The detection limit was 2 mug l(-1). The developed method was applied to Pb(II) determination in natural water and foodstuffs.     

Determination of atrazine in environmental and biological samples using solid phase extraction and spectrophotometry

An analytical method employing a combination of solid phase extraction and spectrophotometry is proposed for the determination of a widely used herbicide atrazine. This combination is very simple and cheaper than chromatography and mass spectrometry based methods. The proposed method also reduced the use of toxic solvents. The method is based on the reaction of atrazine with pyridine to form a quaternary halide, which forms a carbinol base in the presence of alkali. Carbinol undergoes cleavage of heterocyclic ring to form glutaconic aldehyde that is subsequently coupled with sulphanilic acid to give a yellow orange dye which is measured spectrophotometrically at 460 nm. Beer’s law is obeyed in the range 0.07–0.7 μg/mL of atrazine. Molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity were found to be 2.2 × 10⁵ L/mol cm and 0.0009 μg/cm², respectively. Breakthrough volume is found to be more than 100 mL. The use of solid phase extraction increases the sensitivity ten times. The proposed method is sensitive and found to be free from the interference of a large number of foreign species and other pesticides. The developed method was applied to spiked environmental and biological samples, the recovery was in the range from 95.2 to 99.2% with RSD of 0.36%. The article is published in the original.     

A solid phase extraction using a chelate resin immobilizing carboxymethylated pentaethylenehexamine for separation and preconcentration of trace elements in water samples

A chelate resin immobilizing carboxymethylated pentaethylenehexamine (CM-PEHA resin) was prepared, and the potential for the separation and preconcentration of trace elements in water samples was evaluated through the adsorption/elution test for 62 elements. The CM-PEHA resin could quantitatively recover various elements, including Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Ti, U, and Zn, and rare earth elements over a wide pH range, and also Mn at pH above 5 and V and Mo at pH below 7. This resin could also effectively remove major elements, such as alkali and alkaline earth elements, under acidic and neutral conditions. Solid phase extraction using the CM-PEHA resin was applicable to the determination of 10 trace elements, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn, in certified reference materials (EnviroMAT EU-L-1 wastewater and ES-L-1 ground water) and treated wastewater and all elements except for Mn in surface seawater using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The detection limits, defined as 3 times the standard deviation for the procedural blank using 500 mL of purified water (50-fold preconcentration, n = 8), ranged from 0.003 μg L⁻¹ (Mn) to 0.28 μg L⁻¹ (Zn) as the concentration in 500 mL of solution.     

Determination of vanadium in water by electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction with 8-hydroxyquinoline in isobutyl methyl ketone

A sensitive method for the determination of vanadium in water by electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is described. The vanadium is chelated with 8-hydroxyquinoline in isobutyl methyl ketone and determined by ETAAS after pre-heating the pyrolytic graphite coated graphite tube of a graphite furnace atomiser before injection. The effects of the pH and amount of reagent required for the extraction were studied. The precision, accuracy and interferences of the method were also investigated. The proposed method allows concentrations of vanadium of 0.16 microgram l-1 to be detected.     

DABTZ as a new reagent for solid phase extraction and spectrophotometric determination of trace amount of Hg(II) in water sample

A novel sensitive and simple method for rapid and selective extraction, preconcentration and determination of mercury as its 2,2' diamino-4,4' bithiazole (DABTZ) complex by using octadecylsilica cartridges and spectrophotometry is presented. Extraction efficiency and the influence of flow rates of sample solution and eluent, pH, amount of DABTZ, type and least amount of eluent for elution of mercury complex from cartridges, break through volume and limit of detection were evaluated. Also the effects of various cationic and anionic interferences on percent recovery of mercury were studied. Average extraction efficiency > 90% was obtained by elution of the cartridge with minimal amount of solvent in the presence of interferences. A preconcentration factor of 152 and a detection limit of 10.92 ng mL(-1) were obtained. The method was applied to the recovery and determination of mercury in different water samples.     

Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid phase extraction sorbent for preconcentration of trace copper in water samples

The adsorption behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) toward copper has been investigated systemically, and a new method has been developed for the determination of trace copper in water samples based on preconcentration with a microcolumn packed with MWNTs prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of copper, such as pH of the sample, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions, have been investigated. Copper can be quantitatively retained by MWNTs in the pH range 5-8, and then eluted completely with 0.5 M HNO3. The detection limit of this method for Cu was 0.42 ng/mL, and the RSD was 3.5% at the 10 ng/mL Cu level. The method was validated using a certified reference material, and has been successfully applied for the determination of trace copper in water samples.     

Estimation of platinum in environmental water samples with solid phase extraction technique using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A solid phase extraction technique for the determination of platinum(IV) at trace levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectromA solid phase extraction technique for the determination of platinum(IV) at trace levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed. The method was based on retention of platinum in a sample on silica gel modified with aminepropyl groups. The retention of platinum(IV) from the sample solution and the recovery of platinum with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ thiourea solution were quantitative. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was calculated as 5% (n = 7) at the 10 ng L⁻¹ level. The enrichment factor was found to be (50-fold) for 250 mL of water sample. Under optimum conditions, the method detection limit (MDL) was found to be 1 ng L⁻¹ for platinum in water matrices. Recoveries of Pt from spike addition to atmospheric water samples were quantitative (80–95%). The present method was used for the determination of platinum in precipitation, throughfall and runoff water samples.      

Analysis of anatoxin-a in biological samples using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after solid phase extraction and solid phase microextraction

Anatoxin-a is a naturally occurring, potent neurotoxin produced by some species of cyanobacteria in freshwaters. This toxin, which is a potential health hazard, especially to animals, has been determined in different biological matrices such as several cyanobacterial cultures and water samples and carps and mussels tissue using a sensitive High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence detection method. Sonication was the technique selected for the extraction of intracellular anatoxin-a and solid phase extraction using weak cation exchange was used for the concentration and purification of the samples. 4-Fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) was used to convert anatoxin into a highly fluorescent derivative. Recovery experiments were performed for each type of matrix used in this work, and adequate values were obtained (71-87%). Limits of detection for anatoxin-a were estimated to be in the ng/L and ng/g level for water and cyanobacterial samples, respectively. The results obtained were also compared with those obtained after using solid phase microextraction, as an alternative for the extraction and purification of the samples. Advantages and disadvantages regarding to the efficiency for impurities removal, simplicity and rapidity and the potential for concentration enhancement of using both methodologies have been also discussed.     

Preconcentration speciation method for mercury compounds in water samples using solid phase extraction followed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid method for in situ preconcentration of inorganic and organic mercury compounds in water samples, based on solid phase extraction using dithizone immobilised on a reversed-phase C18 cartridge, has been developed. The adsorbed complexes were stable on the cartridge for at least 2 weeks. The speciation analysis of methylmercury (MeHg), phenylmercury (PhHg) and inorganic mercury (Hg (II)) were done by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The calibration graphs of MeHg, PhHg and Hg (II) were linear (r>0.999) from the detection limits (0.58, 0.66 and 0.54 ng) to 38, 25 and 26 ng of Hg, respectively. The average recoveries of MeHg, PhHg and Hg (II) from spiked samples (0.3-48.0 mug l(-1) Hg) were 98+/-3, 99+/-1 and 100+/-7%, respectively. By applying SPE procedure a 200-fold concentration of the sample was obtained.     

Cloud point extraction and spectrophotometric determination of codeine in pharmaceutical and biological samples

Cloud point extraction process using non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-114, to extract codeine from aqueous solution was investigated. The method was based on the extraction of codeine and bromothymol blue from acetate buffer media to surfactantrich phase and formed a charge transfer-ion pair complex. The extracted surfactant-rich phase was diluted with ethanol and its absorbance was measured at 430 nm. The effect of different variables such as pH, Triton X-114 concentration, cloud point temperature and time was established. The calibration graph was linear in a wide range of 100–700 ng ml^?1 of codeine with r = 0.998 (n = 7). The detection limit based on three times standard deviation of the blank (3s) was 4.6 ng ml^?1 and relative standard deviation (R.S.D) is 2.15% for 500 ng ml^?1 codeine (n = 5). The proposed method was applied to the determination of codeine in acetaminophen codeine tablets and blood samples.