Ionic Liquid-Based Dispersive Extraction and Separation of Phenolic Acids from Salicornia Herbacea L.

This study reports the application of a dispersive extraction method for the extraction and separation of phenolic acids from Salicornia Herbacea L. using silica-confined ionic liquids as the sorbent. A suitable sorbent for phenolic acid extraction and separation was first identified based on the adsorption behavior of phenolic acids on different silica-confined ionic liquids. The sample was then mixed with the optimized sorbent and solvent to achieve dispersive extraction. After transferring the supernatant to an empty cartridge, a solid phase extraction process was used to separate the three organic acids from other interferences. Through systematical optimization, the optimal conditions were obtained with high recovery rates of protocatechuic acid (98.1%), caffeic acid (89.4%), and ferulic acid (92.2%). Overall, the proposed method expected to have wide applicability.     

Preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of low concentrations of malachite green and leuco-malachite green in water samples by high performance solid phase extraction using maghemite nanoparticles

A novel and sensitive extraction procedure using maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe₂O₃) modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), as an efficient solid phase, was developed for removal, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of malachite green (MG) and leuco-malachite green (LMG). Combination of nanoparticle adsorption and easily magnetic separation was used to extraction and desorption of MG and LMG. The adsorption capacity was evaluated using both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Maghemite nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method and their surfaces were modified by SDS. The size and properties of the produced maghemite nanoparticles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET analysis. MG and LMG became adsorbed at pH 3.0. LMG was oxidized to MG by adsorption on maghemite nanoparticles. The adsorbed MG was then desorbed and determined spectrophotometrically. The calibration graph was linear in the range 0.50-250.00 ng mL⁻¹ of MG and LMG with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991. The detection limit of the method for determination of MG was 0.28 ng mL⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 10.00 and 50.00 ng mL⁻¹ of malachite green was 1.60% (n = 3) and 0.86% (n = 5), respectively. A preconcentration factor of 50 was achieved in this method. The Langmuir adsorption capacity (q_max) was found to be 227.3 mg g⁻¹ of the adsorbent. The method was applied to the determination of MG in fish farming water samples.     

A novel polythiophene – ionic liquid modified clay composite solid phase microextraction fiber: Preparation,characterization and application to pesticide analysis

This report comprises the novel usage of polythiophene – ionic liquid modified clay surfaces for solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber production to improve the analysis of pesticides in fruit juice samples. Montmorillonite (Mmt) clay intercalated with ionic liquids (IL) was co-deposited with polythiophene (PTh) polymer coated electrochemically on an SPME fiber. The surface of the fibers were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Operational parameters effecting the extraction efficiency namely; the sample volume and pH, adsorption temperature and time, desorption temperature and time, stirring rate and salt amount were optimized. In order to reveal the major effects, these eight factors were selected and Plackett–Burman Design was constructed. The significant parameters detected; adsorption and temperature along with the stirring rate, were further investigated by Box–Behnken design. Under optimized conditions, calibration graphs were plotted and detection limits were calculated in the range of 0.002–0.667 ng mL⁻¹. Relative standard deviations were no higher than 18%. Overall results have indicated that this novel PTh-IL-Mmt SPME surface developed by the aid of electrochemical deposition could offer a selective and sensitive head space analysis for the selected pesticide residues.     

Use of amidoximated hydrogel for removal and recovery of U(VI) ion from water samples

Poly(acrylamidoxime-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMSA) hydrogel was prepared by copolymerization of acrylonitrile and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid as monomer, N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) as crosslinking agent and potassium peroxodisulfate as initiator. Amidoximated copolymer network was prepared by the reaction of copolymer network with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. A batch procedure was used for the determination of the characteristics of the U(VI) solid phase extraction from the amidoximated hydrogel. The determination of U(VI) was performed by spectrophotometric method using arsenazo-III as complexing agent. Optimal pH value for the quantitative preconcentration was 3, and full desorption was achieved with 3 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄. The adsorption process can be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the equilibrium adsorption isotherm was closely fitted with the Langmuir model. A preconcentration factor of 20 and the three sigma detection limit of 2.8 μg L⁻¹ (n = 20) were achieved for uranium(VI) ions. The PAMSA hydrogel was used for separating and preconcentrating the uranyl ion existing in sea water samples, thermal spring water samples and the certified reference materials (TMDA 64; fortified lake water sample).     

Analysis of isoproturon at trace level by solid phase competitive fluoroimmunosensing after enrichment in a sol-gel immunosorbent

Isoproturon was extracted selectively from environmental materials (water samples) using an immunosorbent column containing anti-isoproturon antibodies encapsulated in a silica matrix by a sol-gel process. A phosphate buffered saline (PBS) conditioned immunosorbent column was used to on-line preconcentrate 5 ml well and tap water containing 0.05 μg l⁻¹ of isoproturon, which were desorbed with 75 μl of citric acid and determined with a solid phase competitive fluoroimmunoassay. The solid phase of the immunosensor, consisting of a sol-gel glass doped with anti-isoproturon monoclonal antibody, was placed on the flow-cell of the spectrofluorometer. Free isoproturon in solution competed with a fluorescent conjugated isoproturon and reduced the support bonded fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner. The on-line method has a detection limit of 9.7 ng l⁻¹, relative standard deviation of 4 and 3% for 0.05 and 0.5 μg l⁻¹, respectively, and recoveries higher than 90% for tap and well water. For comparison the off-line extraction and clean up using a C18 cartridge is also reported.     

Molecularly imprinted nano particles combined with miniaturized homogenous liquid–liquid extraction for the selective extraction of loratadine in plasma and urine samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection

In this work a molecularly imprinted polymer was developed as a selective sorbent for extraction of loratadine (as a model) in complex matrices followed by miniaturized homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (MHLLE) for the first time. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) which is based on loratadine as the template was synthesized successfully by precipitation polymerization and was used as a selective sorbent. This technique was applied for preconcentration, sample preparation, and determination of loratadine using high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection (HPLC-PDA). Optimization of various parameters affecting molecular imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE), such as pH of adsorption, composition and volume of eluent, adsorption and desorption times were investigated. Besides, in the subsequent stage (MHLLE) the type and volume of extraction solvent, sodium hydroxide amount, surfactant concentration, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal condition, maximum enrichment capacity and Langmuir constant were 91 mg g⁻¹ and 0.014 L mg⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, enrichment factor and extraction recovery of MIP-MHLLE method were 30 and 90%, respectively. The LOD of the proposed method was 0.2 μg L⁻¹ and a linear dynamic range of 1–1000 μg L⁻¹ was obtained with correlation coefficient of greater than 0.998. The present method was applied for extraction and determination of loratadine in plasma and urine samples in μg L⁻¹ levels and satisfactory results were achieved (RSD <8% based on three replicate measurements).     

Ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction of rutin from Chinese medicinal plants

An ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction (ILMAE) method has been developed for the effective extraction of rutin from Chinese medicinal plants including Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Bail. (S. chinensis) and Flos Sophorae. A series of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different anions were investigated. The results indicated that the characteristics of anions have remarkable effects on the extraction efficiency of rutin and among the investigated ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim]Br) aqueous solution was the best. In addition, the ILMAE procedures for the two kinds of medicinal herbs were also optimized by means of a series of single factor experiments and an L₉ (3⁴) orthogonal design. Compared with the optimal ionic liquid-based heating extraction (ILHE), marinated extraction (ILME), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (ILUAE), the optimized approach of ILMAE gained higher extraction efficiency which is 4.879 mg/g in S. chinensis with RSD 1.33% and 171.82 mg/g in Flos Sophorae with RSD 1.47% within the shortest extraction time. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with ultraviolet detection was employed for the analysis of rutin in Chinese medicinal plants. Under the optimum conditions, the average recoveries of rutin from S. chinensis and Flos Sophorae were 101.23% and 99.62% with RSD lower than 3%, respectively. The developed approach is linear at concentrations from 42 to 252 mg L⁻¹ of rutin solution, with the regression coefficient (r) at 0.99917. Moreover, the extraction mechanism of ILMAE and the microstructures and chemical structures of the two researched samples before and after extraction were also investigated. With the help of LC-MS, it was future demonstrated that the two researched herbs do contain active ingredient of rutin and ionic liquids would not influence the structure of rutin.     

Partition coefficients of organic compounds in new imidazolium based ionic liquids using inverse gas chromatography

Partition coefficients of organic compounds in four ionic liquids: 1-ethanol-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, 1-ethanol-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate were measured using inverse gas chromatography from 303.3 to 332.55 K. The influence of gas–liquid and gas–solid interfacial adsorption of different solutes on ionic liquids was also studied. Most of the polar solutes were retained largely by partition while light hydrocarbons were retained predominantly by interfacial adsorption on the ionic liquids studied in this work. The solvation characteristics of the ionic liquids were evaluated using the Abraham solvation parameter model.     

Extraction and high performance liquid chromatographic determination of 3-indole butyric acid in pea plants by using imidazolium-based ionic liquids as extractant

In this paper, imidazolium-based ionic liquids [C₄mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][PF₆], [C₈mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][BF₄] and [C₈mim][BF₄] were tested as extracting solvents for removal of 3-indole butyric acid (IBA) from aqueous media with subsequent determination using HPLC. Percent extraction of IBA was strongly affected by pH of aqueous phases and the chemical structures of ionic liquids (ILs). Extraction of IBA was quantitative in the pH values lower than pK_a of IBA. Considering both extraction and stripping efficiencies of IBA, [C₄mim][PF₆] was found to act more efficient than other studied ILs. Capacity of [C₄mim][PF₆] was 17.6 × 10⁻⁴ mmol IBA per 1.0 mL of IL. Ionic strength of aqueous phase and temperature had shown no serious effects on extraction efficiency of IBA. A preconcentration factor of 100 and a relative standard deviation of 1.16% were obtained. It was found that ionic liquid phase was reusable almost five times for extraction/stripping purposes. 3-Indole acetic acid showed interferential effect in the extraction step. In order to assess the applicability of the method, extraction and stripping of IBA from pea plants and some other samples were studied.     

Determination of parabens in cosmetic products using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as solid phase extraction sorbent and corona-charged aerosol detection system

The potential of carbon nanotubes for the solid phase extraction of parabens in cosmetic products and the detection using a corona-charged aerosol detector (C-CAD) is presented in this work. The analytical procedure is based on a conventional solid phase extraction step for which 20 mg of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were packed in a 3-mL commercial SPE cartridge. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben were thus isolated and preconcentrated from the pre-treated samples and subsequently separated on a RP-C18 column using acetonitrile:water, 50:50 (v/v) as mobile phase. The analytical signals for the individual parabens were obtained using C-CAD. The experimental variables affecting the extraction procedure and the instrumental detection have been deeply studied. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.5–2.1 mg L⁻¹, while the linear range was extended up to 400 mg L⁻¹. The average precision of the method varied between 3.3–3.8% (repeatability) and 4.3–7.6% (reproducibility). Finally, the optimized procedure was applied to the determination of the target preservatives in a variety of cosmetic products with satisfactory results.     

Determination of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates by ion-pair solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

In this paper, the potential use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as solid phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent was evaluated for preconcentration of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) using ion-pair (IP)-SPE with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH). The LAS homologues present in the aqueous sample were ion-paired with TBAH and the solution was passed through the MWCNT cartridges. The analytes retained in the cartridge were eluted with methanol and the concentrated methanol extract was analysed by HPLC-UV. In order to obtain the satisfactory recovery of LAS homologues, various parameters including the type and amount of the ion-pair reagents, the desorption and enrichment conditions such as the effect of eluent and its volume, pH, the flow rate, the ultrasonic time of sample, and the volume of sample solution were systematically optimized. Under the optimal conditions, LAS homologues could be easily extracted by the proposed SPE cartridge. The favorable limits of detection (LOD) for LAS homologues were in the range from 0.02 to 0.03 μg L⁻¹, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.55-2.54% for 10 μg L⁻¹ LAS (n = 6). The proposed method has been successfully applied for the analysis of LAS homologues in aqueous environmental samples. A comparison study with ion-pair solid extraction on MWCNTs, C8 and C18 as adsorbents for LAS demonstrated that ion pair-based solid extraction on MWCNTs adsorbent was advantageous over C8 and C18, the widely used traditional adsorbents.     

Ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from burdock leaves

The ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (IL-UMAE) technique was first proposed and applied to isolate compounds. The ionic liquids comprising a range of four anions, five 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium derivatives were designed and prepared. The results suggested that varying the anion and cation both had apparent effects on the extraction of phenolics. The results also showed that irradiation power, time and solid–liquid ratio significantly affected the yields. The yields of caffeic acid and quercetin obtained by IL-UMAE were higher than those by regular UMAE. Compared with conventional heat-reflux extraction (HRE), the proposed approach exhibited higher efficiency (8–17% enhanced) and shorter extraction time (from 5 h to 30 s). The results indicated ILUMAE to be a fast and efficient extraction technique. Moreover, the proposed method was validated by the reproducibility and recovery experiments. The ILUMAE method provided good recoveries (from 96.1% to 105.3%) with RSD lower than 5.2%, which indicated that the proposed method was credible. Based on the designable nature of ionic liquids, and the rapid and highly efficient performance of the proposed approach, ILUMAE provided a new alternative for preparation of various useful substances from solid samples.     

Generation and characterization of polyclonal antibodies against microcystins-Application to immunoassays and immunoaffinity sample preparation prior to analysis by liquid chromatography and UV detection

Polyclonal antibodies against microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a cyclic heptapeptide toxin, were generated in rabbits using MC-LR-BSA. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the characterization of the antibodies and their potential use for analytical purposes. The concentration of MC-LR that inhibits 50% of antibody-antigen binding (IC₅₀) was 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for the indirect ELISA format and 0.9 μg L⁻¹ for the direct ELISA, using MC-LR-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The limit of detection corresponding to IC₈₀ was found to be 0.06 μg L⁻¹, well below the Word Health Organization level for drinking water of 1 μg L⁻¹. The direct competitive ELISA was applied to water samples and was shown useful for screening purposes. The developed anti-microcystin antibodies were immobilized on solid supports for use in selective solid phase extraction (SPE) systems, prior to liquid chromatography (LC) quantification. An immunoaffinity cartridge (IAC), a Sepharose^®-based cartridge incorporating 2 mg of antibodies allowed the selective and quantitative recovery of a mixture of 0.2 μg of MCs showing potential use in sample preparation of real matrices. When applied to water and green algae samples, average recoveries from Sepharose^®-based cartridges were in the range of 86-113% for water samples and 85-92% for blue-green algae samples. Selectivity of the IAC clean-up was proven by comparison with non-specific solid phase extraction using octadecylsilica (ODS) sorbent. Results obtained using LC/UV after IAC clean-up agreed well with results obtained using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry detection (LC/MS and LC/MS/MS) after SPE-C18 clean-up, allowing therefore to validate the resulting technique.     

A simple microextraction and preconcentration approach based on a mixed matrix membrane

A simple adsorption/desorption procedure using a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) as extraction medium is demonstrated as a new miniaturized sample pretreatment and preconcentration technique. Reversed-phase particles namely polymeric bonded octadecyl (C₁₈) was incorporated through dispersion in a cellulose triacetate (CTA) polymer matrix to form a C₁₈-MMM. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) namely diclofenac, mefenamic acid and ibuprofen present in the environmental water samples were selected as targeted model analytes. The extraction setup is simple by dipping a small piece of C₁₈-MMM (7 mm × 7 mm) in a stirred 10 mL sample solution for analyte adsorption process. The entrapped analyte within the membrane was then desorbed into 100 μL of methanol by ultrasonication prior to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Each membrane was discarded after single use to avoid any analyte carry-over effect. Several important parameters, such as effect of sample pH, salting-out effect, sample volume, extraction time, desorption solvent and desorption time were comprehensively optimized. The C₁₈-MMM demonstrated high affinity for NSAIDs spiked in tap and river water with relative recoveries ranging from 92 to 100% and good reproducibility with relative standard deviations between 1.1 and 5.5% (n = 9). The overall results obtained were found comparable against conventional solid phase extraction (SPE) using cartridge packed with identical C₁₈ adsorbent.     

A novel multiwalled carbon nanotubes bonded fused-silica fiber for solid phase microextraction-gas chromatographic analysis of phenols in water samples

The present work reports on the synthesis of chemically bonded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/fused-silica fibers and their use in solid phase microextraction of seven phenols from water samples coupled with gas chromatography (GC). The synthetic strategy was verified by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Adsorption factors (pH, ionic strength, stirring rate, adsorption time and temperature) and desorption factors (time and temperature) of the fibers were systematically investigated. Detection limits to seven phenols were less than 0.05 μg L⁻¹, and their calibration curves were all linear (R² ≥ 0.9984) in the range from 0.05 to 5000 μg L⁻¹. This method was then utilized to analyze two real water samples from Yellow River and sanitary wastewater, resulting in satisfactory results. Compared with normal solid phase materials, this MWCNTs-bonded fused-silica fibers showed a number of advantages: wide linear range and low detection limit for extracting phenols couple with GC, and good stability in acid, alkali, organic solvents and at high temperature.     

Effectively designed molecularly imprinted polymers for selective isolation of the antidiabetic drug metformin and its transformation product guanylurea from aqueous media

In the present study, two novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with remarkable recognition properties for metformin and its transformation product, guanylurea, have been prepared for their selective, enrichment, isolation and removal from aqueous media. The prepared adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and swelling experiments. The performance of the prepared MIPs was evaluated by various parameters including the influence of pH, contact time, temperature and initial compound concentration. The effects on the adsorption behavior of the removal process parameters were studied and the equilibrium data were fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Due to the imprinting effect, adsorption performance of MIPs was always superior to its corresponding NIP (non-imprinted polymer), with maximum adsorption capacity ∼80 mg g⁻¹ for both MIPs. Stability and reusability of the MIPs up to the 5th cycle meant that they could be applied repeatedly without losing substantial removal ability. In the next step, the prepared MIP nanoparticles were evaluated as sorbents in a dispersive solid phase extraction (D-SPE) configuration for selective enrichment and determination of metformin and guanylurea in different aqueous matrices. Under the working extraction conditions, the D-SPE method showed good linearity in the range of 50–1000 ng L⁻¹, repeatability of the extractions (RSD 2.1–5.1%, n = 3), and low limits of detection (1.5–3.4 ng L⁻¹). The expanded uncertainty of the data obtained was estimated following a bottom-up approach. The proposed method combined the advantages of MIPs and D-SPE, and it could become an alternative tool for analyzing the residues of METF and its transformation product GUA in complex water matrices, such as wastewaters.     

Separation of U and Pu in spent nuclear fuel sample using anion-exchange-group-introduced porous polymer sheet for ICP-MS determination

Anion-exchange porous sheets were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization and subsequent chemical modifications. A diethylamino (DEA) group as an anion-exchange group was introduced into the polymer chain grafted onto a porous sheet. The DEA group-introduced porous sheet was cut into disks 13 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness to fit an empty cylindrical cartridge (DEA cartridge). The DEA sheet had a DEA group of 3.4 mol/kg of the DEA-group-containing porous sheet and a linear velocity of 46 m/h at a permeation pressure of 0.1 MPa at 298 K. The adsorption capacity of the DEA cartridge for FeCl₄⁻ as a model ion in equilibrium with 1 g-Fe(III)/L in 10 M HCl was 0.17 mmol-Fe(III)/DEA cartridge. No Pu leakage during the permeation of 5 mL of 10 M HCl-0.1 M HNO₃ containing Pu ionic species through the DEA cartridge was observed irrespective of the permeation rate ranging from 0.3 to 80 mL/min. A solution containing known amounts of ²³³U, ²⁴⁰Pu, and ²⁴¹Am in 10 M HCl-0.1 M HNO₃ was loaded onto the DEA cartridge. U and Pu were retained on the DEA cartridge, while Am was allowed to pass through the DEA cartridge. Subsequently, 7 M HNO₃ and 1 M HCl as eluents were permeated to elute U and Pu from the DEA cartridge, respectively. The decontamination factor of U in a Pu fraction, defined by dividing the activity of U in the feed solution by that of U in the Pu fraction, was 2.7 × 10⁵, which is desirable for the highly accurate ICP-MS determination of Pu for samples containing both U and Pu. The method using the DEA cartridge was validated by measuring isotopic compositions and quantities of U and Pu in a spent nuclear fuel sample by double-focusing magnetic sector ICP-MS.     

Preparation of novel ionic‐liquid‐modified magnetic nanoparticles by a microwave‐assisted method for sulfonylurea herbicides extraction

Ionic liquids immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by an efficient microwave‐assisted synthesis method, and the properties of the ionic liquids were tuned based on the aromatic functional modification of its anion through a simple metathesis reaction. The novel as‐synthesized magnetic materials were characterized by various instrumental techniques. The magnetic nanoparticles have been utilized as adsorbents for the extraction of four sulfonylurea herbicides in tea samples, in combination with high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. Significant extraction parameters, including type and volume of desorption solvent, extraction time, amount of adsorbent, and ionic strength were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 1–150 μg/L for metsulfuron‐methyl and bensulfuron‐methyl, and 3–150 μg/L for sulfometuron‐methyl and chlorimuron‐ethyl, with correlation coefficients R² > 0.9987. Low limits of detection were obtained ranging from 0.13 to 0.81 μg/L. The relative standard deviations were 1.8–3.9%. Comparisons of extraction efficiency with conventional solid‐phase extraction equipped with a commercial C₁₈ cartridge were performed. Results indicated that magnetic solid‐phase extraction is simple, time‐saving, efficient and inexpensive with the reusability of adsorbents. The proposed method has been successfully used to determine sulfonylurea herbicides from tea samples with satisfactory recoveries of 80.5–104.2%.     

Adsorption of arsenic(III) into modified lamellar Na-magadiite in aqueous medium—Thermodynamic of adsorption process

Synthetic Na-magadiite sample was used for organofunctionalization process with N-propyldiethylenetrimethoxysilane and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide, after expanding the interlayer distance with polar organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The resulted materials were submitted to process of adsorption with arsenic solution at pH 2.0 and 298±1 K. The adsorption isotherms were adjusted using a modified Langmuir equation with regression nonlinear; the net thermal effects obtained from calorimetric titration measurements were adjusted to a modified Langmuir equation. The adsorption process was exothermic (Δ_intH=−4.15-5.98 kJ mol⁻¹) accompanied by increase in entropy (Δ_intS=41.32-62.20 J k⁻¹ mol⁻¹) and Gibbs energy (Δ_intG=−22.44−24.56 kJ mol⁻¹). The favorable values corroborate with the arsenic (III)/basic reactive centers interaction at the solid-liquid interface in the spontaneous process.     

Humic acid-divalent cation interactions

The adsorption behavior of divalent cations M²⁺ (Cu, Ni, Co and Zn) with commercial humic acid (HAAl) and also with an extracted fraction of peat soil (HAPs) was followed in aqueous solution. The series of adsorption isotherms were fitted to a modified Langmuir equation. The maximum number of moles adsorbed gave: 0.55±0.02, 0.66±0.02, 0.54±0.02, 0.40±0.02 mmol per gram for HAAl and 0.63±0.03, 0.61±0.06, 0.55±0.02, 0.54±0.03 mmol/g for solid HAPs, for copper, nickel, zinc and cobalt, respectively. The same interaction followed calorimetrically gave endothermic values: 2.4±1.0, 8.4±0.9, 18.3±0.9, 10.6±0.9 kJ mol⁻¹ and 18.4±1.2, 15.9±1.4, 15.4±1.2, 15.0±1.2 kJ mol⁻¹ for HAAl and HAPs, respectively, for the same sequence. Because all Gibbs free energies were negative. Complexation must be accompanied by an increase in entropy.