Acid‐induced homogenous liquid‐phase microextraction: Application of medium‐chain carboxylic acid as extraction phase

In this research, a novel homogeneous liquid‐phase microextraction method was successfully developed based on applying octanoic acid as low‐density extraction solvent. The method was applied for extraction and determination of chlorophenols (CPs) as model compounds. Twelve milliliter of the sample solution was poured into a home‐designed glass vial. Sixty microliter of octanoic acid was solved in water sample by adjusting pH and ionic strength. By rapid addition of 75 μL of concentrated HCl (6 M), a cloudy solution was obtained. Phase separation occurred at 5000 rpm for 5 min. After that, 20 μL of the collected phase (approximately 26 μL) was injected into the HPLC‐UV instrument for analysis. The effect of some parameters such as the volume of concentrated HCl (phase separation reagent), ionic strength, extraction time, centrifugation time, and the volume of extracting phase on the extraction efficiency of the CPs were investigated and optimized. The preconcentration factors in a range of 159–218 were obtained under the optimal conditions. The linear range, detection limits (S/N = 3), and precision (n = 3) were 1– 200, 0.3–0.5 μg/L, and 4.6–5.1%, respectively. Tap water, seawater, and river water samples were successfully analyzed for the existence of CPs using the proposed method and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Ultrapreconcentration and determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water by solid‐phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography

Solid‐phase extraction coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was developed as an ultra‐preconcentration method for the determination of four organophosphorus pesticides (isocarbophos, parathion‐methyl, triazophos and fenitrothion) in water samples. The analytes considered in this study were rapidly extracted and concentrated from large volumes of aqueous solutions (100 mL) by solid‐phase extraction coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and then analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Experimental variables including type and volume of elution solvent, volume and flow rate of sample solution, salt concentration, type and volume of extraction solvent and sample solution pH were investigated for the solid‐phase extraction coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with these analytes, and the best results were obtained using methanol as eluent and ethylene chloride as extraction solvent. Under the optimal conditions, an exhaustive extraction for four analytes (recoveries >86.9%) and high enrichment factors were attained. The limits of detection were between 0.021 and 0.15 μg/L. The relative standard deviations for 0.5 μg/L of the pesticides in water were in the range of 1.9–6.8% (n = 5). The proposed strategy offered the advantages of simple operation, high enrichment factor and sensitivity and was successfully applied to the determination of four organophosphorus pesticides in water samples.     

Binary–solvent–based ionic–liquid–assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification microextraction for the determination of four fungicides in apple juice and apple vinegar

A binary–solvent–based ionic–liquid–assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification microextraction method was developed for the separation/preconcentration and determination of four fungicides (pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, cyprodynil, pyraclostrobin) in apple juice and apple vinegar. A nonchlorinated solvent amyl acetate, which has a lower density than water, was used as the extraction solvent, and an ionic liquid 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, which has a high density and low toxicity, was used as a secondary solvent mixed with the extraction solvent. After centrifugation, the binary solvent drop with a relatively high density was deposited on the bottom of the tube. Some parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of analytes such as type of extraction solvent, ratio of ionic liquid, volume of mixed solvent, type and concentration of surfactant, sample pH, NaCl concentration, and vortex time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method provided a good linearity in the range of 5–200 μg/L. The limits of quantification of the method were in the range of 2–5 μg/L. The relative standard deviations for interday assays were 1.7–11.9%. The method was applied to the determination of pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, cyprodynil, and pyraclostrobin in apple juice and apple vinegar samples, and the accuracy was evaluated through recovery experiments.     

Nano‐structured gemini‐based supramolecular solvent for the microextraction of cyhalothrin and fenvalerate

A novel supramolecular solvent‐based microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method has been developed for the extraction and determination of two pyrethroid analytes, cyhalothrin and fenvalerate, in water and soil samples. The liquid–liquid‐phase separation of surfactants has been used in analytical extraction. The surfactant‐rich phase is a nano‐structured liquid, recently named as a supramolecular solvent, generated from the amphiphiles. The alkyl carboxylic acid based supramolecular solvents were introduced before. Coacervates made up of gemini surfactant, consisting of two amphiphilic moieties, were first used as solvent. The effective parameters on extraction (i.e., type of organic solvent, the amount of surfactant and volume of tetrahydrofuran, sample solution pH, salt addition, ultrasonic and centrifugation time) were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration factors of 110 and 145 were obtained for the analytes. The linearity was 0.5–200.0 μg/L with the correlation of determination of (R²) ≥ 0.9984. The limit of detection of the method was (S/N = 3) 0.2 μg/L, and precisions in the range of 6.3–10.3% (RSDs, n = 5) were obtained. This method has been successfully applied to analyze real samples, and good recoveries in the range of 101.2–108.8% were obtained.     

Surfactant‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of nitrazepam and lorazepam from plasma and urine samples followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV analysis

Surfactant‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection has been developed for the simultaneous preconcentration and determination of lorazepam and nitrazepam in biological fluids. In this study, an ionic surfactant (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) was used as an emulsifier. The predominant parameters affecting extraction efficiency such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, the type and concentration of surfactant, sample pH, and the concentration of salt added to the sample were investigated and opted. Under the optimum conditions (extraction solvent and its volume, 1‐octanol, 70 μL; surfactant and its concentration, 1 mL of ultra‐pure water containing 2 mmol L^?1 cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide; sample pH = 9 and salt content of 10% NaCl w/v), the preconcentration factors were obtained in the range of 202–241 and 246–265 for nitrazepam and lorazepam, respectively. The limits of quantification for both drugs were 5 μg L^?1 in water sample and 10 μg L^?1 in biological fluids with R² values higher than 0.993. The suitability of the proposed method was successfully confirmed by the extraction and determination of the target drugs in human urine and plasma samples in the range of microgram per liter.     

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction using a low‐toxicity solvent for the determination of five organophosphorus pesticides in water samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was applied to determine Isocarbophos, Parathion‐methyl, Triazophos, Phoxim and Chlorpyrifos‐methyl in water samples. 1‐Bromobutane was used as the extraction solvent, which has a higher density than water and low toxicity. Centrifugation and disperser solvent were not required in this microextraction procedure. The optimum extraction conditions for 15 mL water sample were: pH of the sample solution, 5; volume of the extraction solvent, 80 μL; vortex time, 2 min; salt addition, 0.5 g. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors ranging from 196 to 237 and limits of detection below 0.38 μg/L were obtained for the determination of target pesticides in water. Good linearities (r > 0.9992) were obtained within the range of 1–500 μg/L for all the compounds. The relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.62–2.86% and the recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 89.80 to 104.20%. The whole proposed methodology is simple, rapid, sensitive and environmentally friendly for determining traces of organophosphorus pesticides in the water samples.     

Comparison of solidification of floating drop and homogenous liquid–liquid microextractions for the extraction of two plasticizers from the water kept in PET‐bottles

Two approaches based on solidification of floating drop microextraction (SFDME) and homogenous liquid–liquid microextraction (HLLE) were compared for the extraction and preconcentration of di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) from the mineral water samples. In SFDME, a floated drop of the mixture of acetophenone/1‐undecanol (1:8) was exposed on the surface of the aqueous solution and extraction was permitted to occur. In HLLE, a homogenous ternary solvent system was used by water/methanol/chloroform and the phase separation phenomenon occurred by salt addition. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs for the two target plasticizers (DEHA and DEHP), obtained by SFDME–GC‐FID and HLLE–GC‐FID, were ranged from 0.03 to 0.01 μg/L and 0.02 to 0.01 μg/L, respectively. HLLE provided higher preconcentration factors (472.5‐ and 551.2‐fold) within the shorter extraction time as well as better RSDs (4.5–6.9%). While, in SFDME, high preconcentration factors in the range of 162–198 and good RSDs in the range of 5.2–9.6% were obtained. Both methods were applied for the analysis of two plasticizers in different water samples and two target plasticizers were found in the bottled mineral water after the expiring time and the boiling water was exposed to a polyethylene vial.     

Determination of anti‐malaria agent chloroquine using single drop liquid‐liquid‐liquid microextraction

A simple, sensitive, and inexpensive single drop liquid‐liquid‐liquid microextraction combined with isocratic RP‐HPLC and UV detection was developed for the determination of anti‐malaria drug, chloroquine. The target compound was extracted from alkaline aqueous sample solution (adjusted to 0.5 mol/L sodium hydroxide) through a thin layer of organic solvent membrane and back‐extracted to an acidic acceptor drop (adjusted to 0.02 mol/L phosphoric acid) suspended on the tip of a 25 μL HPLC syringe in the organic layer. This syringe was also used for direct injection after extraction. The linear range was 1–200 μg/L. The LOD and LOQ were 0.3 and 1.0 μg/L, respectively. Intra‐and inter‐day precisions were less than 2.0 and 2.3%, respectively. The real samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method. The recoveries of spiked samples were more than 94.6%.     

Homogeneous liquid‐phase microextraction followed by filtration‐based phase separation coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography

A simple homogenous liquid‐phase microextraction methodology applying octanoic acid as the extraction phase was introduced for determination of chlorobenzenes. In this approach, phase separation phenomenon occurred by changing pH of the solution. The extraction phase was isolated based on filtration of emulsion instead of centrifugation and it was introduced to the high‐performance liquid chromatography instrument as an on‐line procedure. This method was used for extraction and determination of five chlorobenzenes in different samples. Experimental design and response surface methodology were used for the optimization of various parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of the method. Under optimal conditions, chlorobenzenes were effectively extracted, and preconcentration factors of 255–294 were obtained. The calibration curves were investigated in the concentration range of 1–200 μg/L and good linearity was achieved with coefficient of determinations better than 0.997. Limits of detection of 0.1 and 0.3 μg/L and suitable precision with relative standard deviations better than 5.1% (n = 5) were attained. Finally, the proposed method was applied to determine the concentration of chlorobenzenes in different samples and acceptable recoveries were gained.     

Temperature‐controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid‐phase microextraction for the sensitive determination of triclosan and triclocarban in environmental water samples prior to HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS

A novel dispersive liquid‐phase microextraction method without dispersive solvents has been developed for the enrichment and sensitive determination of triclosan and triclocarban in environmental water samples prior to HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS. This method used only green solvent 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as extraction solvent and overcame the demerits of the use of toxic solvents and the instability of the suspending drop in single drop liquid‐phase microextraction. Important factors that may influence the enrichment efficiencies, such as volume of ionic liquid, pH of solutions, extraction time, centrifuging time and temperature, were systematically investigated and optimized. Under optimum conditions, linearity of the method was observed in the range of 0.1–20 μg/L for triclocarban and 0.5–100 μg/L for triclosan, respectively, with adequate correlation coefficients (R>0.9990). The proposed method has been found to have excellent detection sensitivity with LODs of 0.04 and 0.3 μg/L, and precisions of 4.7 and 6.0% (RSDs, n=5) for triclocarban and triclosan, respectively. This method has been successfully applied to analyze real water samples and satisfactory results were achieved.     

Development of air‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction‐based supramolecular solvent‐mediated Fe3O4@Cu–Fe–LDH for the determination of tramadol in biological samples

A simple method, air‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction‐based supramolecular solvent was developed for the preconcentration of tramadol in biological samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. A new type of carrier liquid, supramolecular solvent based on a mixture of 1‐dodecanol and tetrahydrofuran was combined with layered double hydroxide coated on a magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH). The supramolecular solvent was injected into the solution containing Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH in order to provide high stability and dispersion of the sorbent without any stabilizer agent. Air assisted was applied to enhance the dispersion of the sorbent and solvent. A number of analytical techniques such as Fourier transform‐infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction measurements were applied to assess the surface chemical characteristics of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH nanoparticles. The effects of important parameters on the extraction recovery were also investigated. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the range of 0.9–2.4 and 2.7–7.5 μg L^?1 with preconcentration factors in the range of 450–472 in biological samples. This method was used for the determination of tramadol in biological samples (plasma, urine and saliva samples) with good recoveries.     

Low‐density solvent‐based vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction and its application

For the first time, the low‐density solvent‐based vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction, followed by GC‐flame photometric detection has been developed for the determination of eight organophosphorus pesticides in aqueous samples. A small volume of organic extraction solvent (toluene) was dispersed into the aqueous samples by the assistance of surfactant and vortex agitator. The extraction was performed in a special disposable polyethylene pipette, allowing using the reagents with lower density than water as extraction solvents. The influence parameters were systemically investigated and optimized: toluene (30 μL) and Triton X‐100 (0.2 mmol/L) were used as the extraction solvent and the surfactant, respectively, and the extraction was performed for 1 min under room temperature without adding sodium chloride. Under the optimum conditions, the validation parameters such as the RSD (n = 6; 2.1–11.3%), LOD (0.005 and 0.05 μg/L), and linear range (0.1–50.0 μg/L with correlation coefficients (0.9958–0.9992) showed the method was satisfying. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of the organophosphorus pesticides in real samples with recoveries between 82.8 and 100.2%.     

Temperature‐controlled liquid–liquid microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the simultaneous determination of diazinon and fenitrothion in water and fruit juice samples

A simple, environmentally benign, and rapid method based on temperature‐controlled liquid–liquid microextraction using a deep eutectic solvent was developed for the simultaneous extraction/preconcentration of diazinon and fenitrothion. The method involved the addition of deep eutectic solvent to the aqueous sample followed by heating the mixture in a 75°C water bath until the solvent was completely dissolved in the aqueous phase. Then, the resultant solution was cooled in an ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed. Afterward, the mixture was centrifuged and the enriched deep eutectic solvent phase was analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection for quantification of the analytes. The factors affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the limits of detection for diazinon and fenitrothion were 0.3 and 0.15 μg/L, respectively. The calibration curves for diazinon and fenitrothion exhibited linearity in the concentration range of 1–100 and 0.5–100 μg/L, respectively. The relative standard deviations for five replicate measurements at 10.0 μg/L level of analytes were less than 2.8 and 4.5% for intra‐ and interday assays, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of diazinon and fenitrothion in water and fruit juice samples.     

Determination of triazole pesticide residues in edible oils using air‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection

In the present study, a rapid, simple, and highly efficient sample preparation method based on air‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of five triazole pesticides (penconazole, hexaconazole, diniconazole, tebuconazole, and triticonazole) in edible oils. Initially, the oil samples were diluted with hexane and a few microliter of a less soluble organic solvent (extraction solvent) in hexane was added. To form fine and dispersed extraction solvent droplets, the mixture of oil sample solution and extraction solvent is repeatedly aspirated and dispersed with a syringe. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method showed low limits of detection and quantification between 2.2–6.1 and 7.3–20 μg/L, respectively. Enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were in the ranges of 71–96 and 71–96%, respectively. The relative standard deviations for the extraction of 100 and 250 μg/L of each pesticide were less than 5% for intraday (n = 6) and interday (n = 3) precisions. Finally edible oil samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method, and hexaconazole was found in grape seed oil.     

Polydopamine‐coated cotton fibers as the adsorbent for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

Polydopamine was coated onto cotton fibers as the adsorbent to improve the extraction efficiency. Polydopamine‐coated cotton fibers were placed into a polyetheretherketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. To develop an online analysis system, the extraction tube was connected with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The tube was evaluated with five estrogenic analytes, and the extraction and desorption conditions were optimized to get high extraction efficiency. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors of five analytes were 143–1745. An online analysis method was established, it had large linear ranges (0.10–40 and 0.16–40 μg/L), low limits of detection (0.03, 0.05 μg/L) and satisfactory repeatability (≤3.2%). The analysis method was applied to detect targets in the real samples like as hot water in new plastic cup and tap water. The relative recoveries spiked at 1 and 5 μg/L in these samples were investigated and the results were in the range of 83.7–109%.     

Miniaturized pipette‐tip‐based electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers for the micro‐solid‐phase extraction of nitro‐based explosive compounds

In this study, a self‐assembly of miniaturized pipette‐tip‐based solid‐phase extraction for the simultaneous extraction of nitroaromatic compounds was developed, with electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers used as sorbents. The electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR analysis and surface area analysis. Good linearities for the four nitroaromatic compounds (2,6‐dinitrotoluene, 2‐nitrotoluene, 3‐nitrotoluene, and 4‐nitrotoluene) were obtained in a range of 250–1000 μg/L with coefficients of determination > 0.99. The limits of detection of these analytes were between 21 and 38 μg/L. The results showed that the pipette‐tip‐based solid‐phase extraction was effective in extracting nitrotoluenes in the pH regime of environmental interest (≈ 6). The investigation also revealed that the optimum mass of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers sorbent was 15 mg and 20 aspirating/dispensing cycles gave the maximum recovery of nitrotoluenes with 200 μL acetonitrile as the best eluting solvent. Moreover, the performance of the present method was studied for the extraction and determination of nitroaromatic compounds in real environmental water samples and good recoveries ranging from 70 to 115% were found, and respective relative standard deviations of <12% were obtained.     

Hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction combined with capillary HPLC for the selective determination of six sulfonylurea herbicides in environmental waters

A three‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction combined with a capillary LC method using diode array detection was proposed for the determination of six sulfonylurea herbicides, triasulfuron, metsulfuron‐methyl, chlorsulfuron, flazasulfuron, chlorimuron‐ethyl, and primisulfuron‐methyl, in environmental water samples. Different factors that can affect the extraction process such as extraction solvent, acidity of the donor phase, composition and pH of the acceptor phase, salt addition, stirring speed, and extraction time were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, detection and quantitation limits between 0.1 – 1.7 and 0.3 – 5.7 μg/L, respectively, and enrichment factors ranging from 71 to 548 were obtained. The calibration curves were linear within the range of 0.3 – 40 μg/L. Intra‐ and interday RSDs were <6.3 and 8.4%, respectively. The relative recoveries of the spiked ground and river water samples were in the range of 69.4 – 119.2 and 77.4 – 111.7%, respectively. The results of the study revealed that the developed methodology involves an efficient sample pretreatment allowing the preconcentration of analytes, combined with the use of a miniaturized separation technique, suitable for the accurate determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in water.     

Magnetic nanocomposite of self‐doped polyaniline–graphene as a novel sorbent for solid‐phase extraction

This work is the first study on the extraction efficiency of self‐doped polyaniline that is immobilized on the graphene‐modified magnetic nanoparticles. The new material was used as a sorbent for the magnetic solid‐phase extraction of methyl‐, propyl‐, and butylparabens. The use of graphene provides a high surface area and prevents aggregation of the nanoparticles. The self‐doped polyaniline also provides multifunctionality, high extraction capacity, and chemical stability even in the basic medium. The parabens were acetylated for determination by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The effects of monomer ratio, extraction solvent, sorbent amount, sample volume, desorption solvent volume, adsorption and desorption times, and sample ionic strength were optimized. Preconcentration factors obtained were from 190 to 310. The detection limits of the method were <2.8 μg/L. Linear ranges of the method were 5–2000 μg/L for propyl and butyl parabens, and 10–2000 μg/L for methyl paraben. The method was applied for the determination of the parabens in cosmetic products and extraction recoveries were 89–101% with RSDs ≤7.9%.     

Switchable‐hydrophilicity solvent‐based microextraction combined with gas chromatography for the determination of nitroaromatic compounds in water samples

A simple, fast, sensitive, and low‐cost method was developed for the quantification of nitroaromatic compounds in water samples based on CO₂‐assisted liquid‐phase microextraction using a switchable‐hydrophilicity solvent followed by gas chromatography detection. Dipropylamine was used as extraction solvent with switchable hydrophilicity that can be miscible or immiscible upon the addition or removal of CO₂ as a reagent. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as the volume of acceptor phase, the volume of donor phase, pH of donor phase, ionic strength, and extraction time were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, detection limits and preconcentration factors were obtained in the ranges of 0.9–1.8 μg/L and 132–138, respectively. Also, the extraction recoveries of water samples were above 88%. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of nitroaromatic compounds in real water samples.     

Determination of phthalate esters in liquor samples by vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced‐emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction followed by GC–MS

A novel method using vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced‐emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction has been developed for the extraction of phthalate esters (PAEs) in Chinese liquor samples prior to analysis by GC–MS. In the proposed method, a high‐density extraction solvent (carbon tetrachloride) was dispersed into samples with the aid of a surfactant (Triton X‐100) and vortex agitation, resulting in a short extraction equilibrium (30 s). After centrifugation, a single microdrop of solvent was easily collected for GC–MS analysis. Key factors that affected the extraction efficiency were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, linearity was found in the range from 0.05 to 50 μg/L. Coefficients of determination varied from 0.9938 to 0.9971. LODs, based on an S/N of 3, ranged from 4.9 to 13 ng/L. Enrichment factors varied from 140 to 184. Reproducibility and recoveries were assessed by testing a series of three liquor samples that were spiked with different concentration levels. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of PAEs in 16 Chinese liquor samples. In this work, high‐density‐solvent vortex‐assisted surfactant‐enhanced‐emulsification liquid–liquid microextraction was applied for the first time for the extraction of PAEs in Chinese liquor samples and was proved to be simple, rapid, and sensitive.