Comparison of C18 silica and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes as the adsorbents for the solid‐phase extraction of Chlorpyrifos and Phosalone in water samples using HPLC

A comparison between C₁₈ silica and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the extraction of Chlorpyrifos and Phosalone in environmental water samples was carried out using HPLC. Parameters affecting the extraction were type and volume of elution solvent, pH and flow rate of sample through the adsorbent. The optimum conditions obtained by C₁₈ cartridge for adsorption of these pesticides were 4 mL dichloromethane as elution solvent, sample pH of 5, flow rate of 1 mL/min, and those for MWCNT cartridge were 3 mL dichloromethane, pH of 5 and flow rate of 10 mL/min, respectively. Optimized mobile phase for separation and determination of these compounds by HPLC was methanol/water (80:20 v/v) with pH=5 (adjusted with phosphate buffer). Under optimal chromatographic and SPE conditions, LOD, linear range and precision (RSD n=8) were 3.03×10^?3, 0.01–5.00 μg/mL and 2.7% for Chlorpyrifos and 4.03×10^?4, 0.01–5.00 μg/mL and 2.3% for Phosalone, in C₁₈ cartridge, respectively. These values for MWCNT were 4.02×10^?6, 0.001–0.500 μg/mL and 1.8% for Chlorpyrifos and 1.02×10^?6, 0.001–0.500 μg/mL and 1.5% for Phosalone, respectively.     

Determination of pesticide residues in complex matrices using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as reversed-dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbent

A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a reversed-dispersive solid-phase extraction (r-DSPE) material combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of 14 pesticides in complex matrices. Four vegetables (leek, onion, ginger and garlic) were selected as the complex matrices for validating this new method. This technique involved the acetonitrile-based sample preparation and MWCNTs were used as the r-DSPE material in the cleanup step. Two important parameters influencing the MWCNTs efficiency, the external diameters and the amount of MWCNTs used, were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, recoveries of 78-110% were obtained for the target analytes in the complex matrices at two concentration levels of 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg. In addition, the RSD values ranged from 1 to 13%. LOQs and LODs for 14 pesticides ranged from 2 to 20 μg/kg and from 1 to 6 μg/kg, respectively.     

Determination of phthalates in beverages using multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersive solid‐phase extraction before HPLC–MS

A microdispersive solid‐phase extraction method has been developed using multiwalled carbon nanotubes of 110–170 nm diameter and 5–9 μm length for the extraction of a group of nine phthalic acid esters (i.e., bis(2‐methoxyethyl) phthalate, bis‐2‐ethoxyethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, bis‐2‐n‐butoxyethyl phthalate, bis‐isopentyl phthalate, bis‐n‐pentyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, and di‐n‐octyl phthalate) from tap water as well as from different beverages commercialized in plastic bottles (mineral water, lemon‐ and apple‐flavored mineral water, and an isotonic drink). Determination was carried out by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The extraction procedure was optimized following a step‐by‐step approach, being the optimum extraction conditions: 50 mL of each sample at pH 6.0, 80 mg of sorbent, and 25 mL of acetonitrile as elution solvent. To validate the methodology, matrix‐matched calibration and a recovery study were developed, obtaining determination coefficients >0.9906 and absolute recovery values between 70 and 117% (with relative standard deviations < 17%) in all cases. The limits of quantification of the method were between 0.173 and 1.45 μg/L. After the evaluation of the matrix effects, real samples were also analyzed, finding butylbenzyl phthalate in all samples (except in apple‐flavored mineral water), though at concentrations below its limit of quantification of the method.     

Determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products by dispersive solid‐phase extraction with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products. The targets are N‐nitrosodimethylamine, N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, N‐nitrosomorpholine, N‐nitrosoethylmethylamine, N‐nitrosodiethylamine, N‐nitrosodipropylamine, N‐nitrosobuylmethylmine, and N‐nitrosodibutylamine. The samples were treated by dispersive solid‐phase extraction using 1 g of primary secondary amine and 0.5 g of carbon and then analyzed by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with an electron impact ion source. The recoveries for the targets ranged from 84 to 118%, with <16% relative standard deviations at three spiking levels of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 ng/g. The limits of detection ranged from 0.03 to 0.15 ng/g. With the use of the proposed method, we detected the presence of six nitrosamines in the range of 0.4–30.7 ng/g. The study demonstrated that the method could be used as a rapid, convenient, and high‐throughput method for N‐nitrosamines analysis in tobacco matrix.     

Determination of haloacetic acids in water using layered double hydroxides as a sorbent in dispersive solid‐phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

In the present study, highly efficient and simple dispersive solid‐phase extraction procedure for the determination of haloacetic acids in water samples has been established. Three different types of layered double hydroxides were synthesized and used as a sorbent in dispersive solid‐phase extraction. Due to the interesting behavior of layered double hydroxides in an acidic medium (pH?4), the analyte elution step was not needed; the layered double hydroxides are simply dissolved in acid immediately after extraction to release the analytes which are then directly introduced into a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry system for analysis. Several dispersive solid‐phase extraction parameters were optimized to increase the extraction efficiency of haloacetic acids such as temperature, extraction time and pH. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was achieved over the concentration range of 0.05–100 μg/L with detection limits in the range of 0.006–0.05 μg/L. The relative standard deviations were 0.33–3.64% (n = 6). The proposed method was applied to different water samples collected from a drinking water plant to determine the concentrations of haloacetic acids.     

Multiresidue analysis of 16 pesticides in jujube using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry with multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a sorbent

Although jujube is a minor crop and very few pesticides are registered on it, the application of pesticides during the growth stage of jujube is inevitable to control the pests or diseases. This situation has led to pesticide misuse. A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method using a novel sorbent, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, as a dispersive solid‐phase extraction sorbent combined with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, was developed for the determination of 16 pesticides in jujube. Under the optimized conditions, recoveries of 76.7–112.4% were obtained for the target analytes at three spiked concentration levels. The relative standard deviations ranged from 1.2 to 12.3%. Limits of detection and limits of quantification for 16 pesticides ranged from 1 to 10 and 3 to 30 μg/kg, respectively. The residues of chlorpyrifos, hexaconazole, tebuconazole, and cyhalothrin were detected from samples obtained from the market.     

Magnetic solid‐phase extraction based on carbon nanotubes for the determination of polyether antibiotic and s‐triazine drug residues in animal food with LC–MS/MS

Carbon nanotubes‐magnetic nanoparticles, comprising ferroferric oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, were prepared through a simple one‐step synthesis method and subsequently applied to magnetic solid‐phase extraction for the determination of polyether antibiotic and s‐triazine drug residues in animal food coupled with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The components within the nanocomposites endowed the material with high extraction performance and manipulative convenience. Compared with carbon nanotubes, the as‐prepared carbon nanotubes‐magnetic nanoparticles showed better extraction and separation efficiencies for polyether antibiotics and s‐triazine drugs thanks to the contribution of the iron‐containing magnetic nanoparticles. Various experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency had been investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the good linearity ranging from 1 to 200 μg/kg for diclazuril, toltrazuril, toltrazuril sulfone, lasalocid, monensin, salinomycin, narasin, nanchangmycin, and maduramicin, low limits of detection ranging from 1 to 5 μg/kg, and satisfactory spiked recoveries (77.1–91.2%, with the inter relative standard deviation values from 4.0 to 12.2%) were shown. It was confirmed that this novel method was an efficient pretreatment and enrichment procedure and could be successfully applied for extraction and determination of polyether and s‐triazine drug residues in complex matrices.     

Solid phase extraction of polyhalogenated pollutants from freshwater using chemically modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and their determination by gas chromatography

This paper describes the application of pristine and chemically modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as packing materials for the preconcentration and determination of various polyhalogenated organic pollutants, pentachlorophenol, 2,4,5‐trichlorophenol, 3,3′,4,4′‐tetrachlorobiphenyl, and 2,2′,5,5′‐tetrabromobiphenyl from real water samples based on solid‐phase extraction. MWCNTs were chemically modified by octadecyl amine and polyethylene glycol, separately, and the resulting nano materials were used as packing materials for solid phase extraction. Method development, applicability, and suitability of the above mentioned adsorbents for the solid phase extraction were studied. Method development showed great reproducibility and sensitivity, and low limits of detection within a considerable linear range. The regeneration and reusability of the SPE cartridges were studied using Rideau River (Ottawa, Canada) surface water samples and the results showed that cartridges could be used for three cycles of adsorption/desorption with no loss of efficiency. In general, the results suggested that modification of MWCNTs affords a novel class of adsorbents, which could be used for the SPE of various analytes from aqueous solutions with great efficiency, recovery, reproducibility, sensitivity, and precision, within a wide range of analyte concentrations.     

Applications of solid‐phase micro‐extraction with mass spectrometry in pesticide analysis

Pesticides, widely applied in agriculture, can produce a variety of transformation products and their continuous use causes deleterious effects to ecosystem. Efficient and sensitive analytical techniques for enrichment and analysis of pesticides samples are highly required. Compared with other extraction methods, solid‐phase micro extraction is a solvent free, cost effective, robust, versatile, and high throughput sample preparation technique, especially for the analysis of pesticides from complicated matrices. Coupling of solid‐phase micro extraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry has been extensively applied in pesticide analysis. On the other hand, in recent years, combination of fast separation using solid‐phase micro extraction and rapid detection using ambient mass spectrometry is providing highly efficient pesticide screening. This article summarizes the applications of solid‐phase micro extraction coupled to mass spectrometry for pesticides analysis.     

Determination of ultraviolet filter compounds in environmental water samples using membrane‐protected micro‐solid‐phase extraction

A method based on membrane‐protected micro‐solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of six ultraviolet filter compounds in various aqueous media. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as the sorbent were encapsulated in a sealed polypropylene membrane packet and immersed in the sample to extract the analytes, and then dichloromethane was used for desorption purpose. The method was sensitive enough for quantitative analysis of the target analytes, with limits of quantification between 0.01 and 0.06 μg/L, and produced a linear response (R² > 0.991) over the calibration range (0.05–6 μg/L). The obtained reproducibility was practically suitable with relative standard deviation values of less than 14% in pure water (spiked at 0.20/μg L) and less than 15% in real samples. The optimized method was applied for the analysis of real water samples with varying matrix complexity: tap, river, and dam water; geothermal spa; and sewage treatment plant effluent. Various levels and patterns of contamination were observed in the examined samples, while the sample from spa was the most contaminated, regarding the target analytes. Matrix spikes and matrix spike replicates were also analyzed to validate the technique for analysis of real aqueous samples, and satisfactory results were achieved.     

Multi‐walled carbon nanotube modified dummy‐template magnetic molecularly imprinted microspheres as solid‐phase extraction material for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in fish

Novel multi‐walled carbon nanotube modified dummy‐template molecularly imprinted microspheres (MWCNTs@DMMIPs) were successfully synthesized as adsorbents for six kinds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). MWCNTs@DMMIPs were prepared by a surface molecular imprinting technique. Core–shell Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles were employed as magnetic support. 3,4‐Dichlorobenzene acetic acid was used as a dummy template instead of PCBs, methacrylic acid was used as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was used as the cross‐linker. The resulting absorbent was characterized by various methods. The adsorbent was employed for extracting PCBs and exhibited good selectivity and high adsorption efficiency. Furthermore, it was reusable and capable of magnetic separation. Adsorption kinetics fit well with a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic equation and also exhibited a three‐stage intra‐particle diffusion model. The Freundlich model was used to describe the adsorption isotherms. The materials were successfully applied to the magnetic dispersive solid‐phase extraction of six kinds of PCBs followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry determination in fish samples, the limit of detection of six kinds of PCBs were 0.0028–0.0068 μg/L and spiked recoveries ranged between 73.41 and 114.21%. The prepared adsorbent was expected to be a new material for the removal and recovery of PCBs from contaminated foods.     

Determination of Diuretics in Urine Using Immobilized Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Hollow Fiber Liquid‐Phase Microextraction Combined with Liquid Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A novel technique utilizing the adsorptive potential of immobilized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (I‐MWCNT) in hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction (HF‐LPME) was developed for the determination of diuretics in urine. In this study, the potential of carbon nanotubes as a sorbent for three‐phase liquid‐phase microextraction of diuretics from urine samples was evaluated. Analysis was performed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). A novel method was applied to detect acetazolamide (AAA), chlorothiazide (CTA), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), hydroflumethiazide (HFT), clopamide (CA), trichlormethiazide (TCM), althiazide (AT) and bendroflumethiazide (BFT) in urine. Two‐step extractions using different times and temperatures for each step were adopted. Parameters influencing the extraction efficiency, including the extraction solvent, sample pH, salt concentration, extraction time and extraction temperature were systematically optimized. Under the resulting optimal extraction conditions, this method showed good linearity over an analytes concentration range of 1 to 1000 ng/mL, high extraction repeatability with relative standard deviations of less than 6%, and low detection limits (0.09 to 0.51 ng/mL). The application of the methods to the determination of diuretics in real samples was tested by analyzing urine samples of patient.     

Hypercrosslinked particles for the extraction of sweeteners using dispersive solid‐phase extraction from environmental samples

This work presents a new extraction material, namely, Q‐100, based on hypercrosslinked magnetic particles, which was tested in dispersive solid‐phase extraction for a group of sweeteners from environmental samples. The hypercrosslinked Q‐100 magnetic particles had the advantage of suitable pore size distribution and high surface area, and showed good retention behavior toward sweeteners. Different dispersive solid‐phase extraction parameters such as amount of magnetic particles or extraction time were optimized. Under optimum conditions, Q‐100 showed suitable apparent recovery, ranging in the case of river water sample from 21 to 88% for all the sweeteners, except for alitame (12%). The validated method based on dispersive solid‐phase extraction using Q‐100 followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry provided good linearity and limits of quantification between 0.01 and 0.1 μg/L. The method was applied to analyze samples from river water and effluent wastewater, and four sweeteners (acesulfame, saccharin, cyclamate, and sucralose) were found in both types of sample.     

Magnetic octadecyl‐based matrix solid‐phase dispersion coupled with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in a proof‐of‐concept determination of multi‐class pesticide residues in carrots

A novel procedure is put forward based on the combination of the well‐established matrix solid‐phase dispersion and the magnetic and sorption properties of magnetic octadecyl in the presence of n‐octanol and was employed in a proof‐of‐concept sample preparation and determination of several classes of pesticide residues in carrots. The procedure does not require the transfer of blend to cartridge and subsequent packing, nor any co‐sorbent for extract clean up. The hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles utilized as a sorbent, can be retrieved by n‐octanol under the application of a magnetic field due to hydrophobic interactions. Elution of pesticide residues is then carried out with an organic solvent. A total of 26 pesticides were included in this procedure and the target compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode. The average extraction recoveries obtained from carrot samples fortified at three different concentrations (20, 50, and 500 μg/kg) were 77–107%. The estimated limits of quantitation for most target analytes were in the low μg/kg level. The study demonstrates that the proposed extraction procedure is simple and effective, avoiding a clean‐up step for the sample preparation of vegetable.     

Analysis of pesticide residues in tobacco with online size exclusion chromatography with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

An ultrasensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of pesticides residues in tobacco was developed with online size exclusion chromatography with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Tobacco samples were extracted with the solvent mixture of cyclohexane and acetone (7:3, v/v) and centrifuged. Then, the supernatant liquors were injected directly into the online size exclusion chromatography with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry without any other purification procedures after being filtered with a 0.22 μm organic phase filter. The matrix interferences were effectively removed and recoveries of most pesticides were in the range of 72–121%. Especially, for chlorothalonil, the analysis efficiency of this method was much more favorable than that of the general method, in which dispersive solid‐phase extraction was used as an additional purified procedure. In addition, the limits of quantitation of this method were from 1 to 50 μg/kg. Therefore, a rapid, cost‐effective, labor‐saving method was proposed in the present work, which was suitable for the analysis of 41 pesticide residues in tobacco.     

Multiresidue determination of 114 multiclass pesticides in flue‐cured tobacco by solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and robust multiresidue method for the simultaneous analysis of 114 pesticides in tobacco was developed based on solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. In this strategy, tobacco samples were extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up with a multilayer solid‐phase extraction cartridge Cleanert TPT using acetonitrile/toluene (3:1) as the elution solvent. Two internal standards of different polarity were used to meet simultaneous pesticides quantification demands in the tobacco matrix. Satisfactory linearity in the range of 10–500 ng/mL was obtained for all 114 pesticides with linear regression coefficients higher than 0.994. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values were 0.02–5.27 and 0.06–17.6 ng/g, respectively. For most of the pesticides, acceptable recoveries in the range of 70–120% and repeatabilities (relative standard deviation) of <11% were achieved at spiking levels of 20, 100, and 400 ng/g. Compared with the reported multiresidue analytical method, the proposed method provided a cleaner test solution with smaller amounts of pigments, fatty acids as well as other undesirable interferences. The development and validation of the high sensitivity, high selectivity, easy automation, and high‐throughput analytical method meant that it could be successfully used for the determination of pesticides in tobacco samples.     

Determination of macrolide antibiotics residues in pork using molecularly imprinted dispersive solid‐phase extraction coupled with LC–MS/MS

A class‐specific macrolide molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by precipitation polymerization using tulathromycin as the template and methacrylic acid as the functional monomer. The polymers revealed different specific adsorption and imprinting factor for macrolides with different spatial arrangement of side chains as well as lactonic ring size. And the molecularly imprinted polymer possessed maximum adsorption capacity (54.1 mg/g) and highest imprinting factor (2.4) toward 15‐membered ring azithromycin. On the basis of molecularly imprinted polymer dispersive solid‐phase extraction, a rapid, selective, and reproducible method for simultaneous determination of seven macrolide antibiotics residues in pork was established by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. At spiking levels of 5, 10, 25, and 100 μg/kg, average recoveries of seven macrolides ranged from 68.6 to 95.5% with intraday and interday relative standard deviations below 8%. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 0.2–0.5 and 0.5–2.0 μg/kg, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of 106 pesticides in nuts by LC–MS/MS using freeze‐out combined with dispersive solid‐phase extraction purification

As a result of the low water content and high fat matrices in nuts, it is very difficult to simultaneously determine multi‐pesticides in trace levels. Here, a sample pretreatment method was developed in which, microwave‐assisted solvent extraction was firstly used to extract pesticides, and then a two‐step cleanup method was conducted combining freeze‐out with dispersive solid‐phase extraction to remove the lipidic matrix. By this way, 106 pesticides were simultaneously determined in the complicated nut sample by using an ultra‐high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer. Average recoveries were 75.3–119.3% with relative standard deviations < 14% at three concentration levels. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.3–3.0 and 1.0–10.0 μg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the determination of pesticides in 180 commercial nut samples.     

Preparation of novel curcumin‐imprinted polymers based on magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes for the rapid extraction of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl‐modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes was synthesized using curcumin as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross‐linker. The phenyl groups contained in the magnetic imprinted polymers acted as the assisting functional monomer. The magnetic imprinted polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Adsorption studies demonstrated that the magnetic imprinted polymers possessed excellent selectivity toward curcumin with a maximum capacity of 16.80 mg/g. Combining magnetic extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography technology, the magnetic imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl‐modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes was applied for the rapid separation and enrichment of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root successfully.