Electrochemical Determination of Dopamine Using a Graphene–Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode with Magnetic Solid-Phase Microextraction

A magnetically separable Fe₃O₄@Diaion HP-2MG composite was prepared using the coprecipitation method and the resulting magnetic Fe₃O₄@Diaion HP-2MG composites were used for the separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of dopamine. For the detection stage, square wave voltammetry on a disposable graphene–screen-printed carbon electrode was successfully used for the determination of dopamine. The graphene–screen-printed carbon electrode exhibited excellent electroanalytical performance for dopamine. The linear concentration range was from 0.8 to 80?µM and a detection limit of 50?nM for dopamine was obtained. In combination with the magnetic solid-phase extraction method, the sensor response was linearly proportional to the concentration of dopamine in the range of 0.01–6.0?µM with a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.9992. The detection limit of the sensor was found to be 5.0?nM by square wave voltammetry. The combined methodology was successfully applied to determine dopamine in urine samples with good recoveries ranging from 95 to 98%.     

Determination of BTEX Compounds by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction with GC–FID

Rapid, inexpensive, and efficient sample-preparation by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) then gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) have been used for extraction and analysis of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in water samples. In this extraction method, a mixture of 25.0 μL carbon disulfide (extraction solvent) and 1.00 mL acetonitrile (disperser solvent) is rapidly injected, by means of a syringe, into a 5.00-mL water sample in a conical test tube. A cloudy solution is formed by dispersion of fine droplets of carbon disulfide in the sample solution. During subsequent centrifugation (5,000 rpm for 2.0 min) the fine droplets of carbon disulfide settle at the bottom of the tube. The effect of several conditions (type and volume of disperser solvent, type of extraction solvent, extraction time, etc.) on the performance of the sample-preparation step was carefully evaluated. Under the optimum conditions the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were high, and ranged from 122–311 to 24.5–66.7%, respectively. A good linear range (0.2–100 μg L⁻¹, i.e., three orders of magnitude; r ² = 0.9991–0.9999) and good limits of detection (0.1–0.2 μg L⁻¹) were obtained for most of the analytes. Relative standard deviations (RSD, %) for analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ BTEX compounds in water were in the range 0.9–6.4% (n = 5). Relative recovery from well and wastewater at spiked levels of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ was 89–101% and 76–98%, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully used for preconcentration and analysis of BTEX compounds in different real water samples.

     

Determination of Phthalate Esters in Wine Using Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction and Gas Chromatography

A simple and rapid efficient method was developed for the determination of phthalate esters using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. A mixture of isopropanol (0.75 mL, dispersant) and carbon tetrachloride (30 µL, extractant) with sodium chloride (1%, w/v) was used for extraction. Under optimum conditions, the method provided linear calibration curves between 0.5 and 200 µg L^?1 for dibutyl phthalate, and 1.0 and 200 µg L^?1 for butyl benzyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and diisooctyl phthalate. The relative standard deviations for intra-day and inter-day analyses were less than 5.8% and 6.9%, respectively, with enrichment factors between 229 and 424. Two wine samples were analyzed with recoveries between 70.1% and 119.3%.     

Determination of α-Tocopherol in Olive Oil by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Olive oil has great human health benefits and is an important component of the Mediterranean diet. Its quality, sensory attributes, and oxidative stability are linked to the presence of minor compounds. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is a key component in these properties. In this work, solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for the determination of α-tocopherol in olive oil. The analytical performance of the method has been assessed in fortified olive oil with negligible vitamin E concentrations. The calibration curve was linear from 0.020 to 0.500?mg/g. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.006 and 0.021?mg/g, respectively. Intraday and interday relative standard deviations were 3.2 and 10.0, respectively, and were concentration independent. The method was used for the determination of α-tocopherol in virgin and extra virgin olive oil, reporting average concentrations of 0.044?±?0.03 and 0.200?±?0.05?mg/g, respectively. Overall, the method is simple, sensitive, rapid, and solvent free, and provided high recoveries of 97.7?±?3.1%. In addition, vitamin E stability in extra-virgin olive oil was characterized by a shelf-life study.     

Determination of Phthalate Esters in Textiles by Solid Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

A sensitive and rapid method was developed for the determination of seven phthalate esters in baby waterproof fabrics, decorated waterproof tarpaulins, and printed textiles by solid phase extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The method showed good linearity with correlation coefficients between 0.9958 and 0.9999 and limits of quantification and detection from 23 to 274 micrograms per liter and 7 to 82 micrograms per liter, respectively. The maximum recoveries were between 96.2 and 100.9 percent with relative standard deviations from 1.06 to 6.87 percent. The protocol was applied to the determination of phthalate esters in textiles: the samples contained more than 0.1 percent phthalate esters, which exceed relevant standards.     

Determination of Pentachloronitrobenzene and Its Metabolites in Ginseng by Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion and GC–MS–MS

A rapid method was developed for the determination of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and its metabolites pentachloroaniline, pentachlorothioanisole residues in ginseng. Extraction and clean-up were carried out in a single step and analysis was accomplished by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring. The main parameters affecting extraction yield and selectivity, such as type and amount of dispersant material, clean-up co-sorbent and extraction solvent were evaluated. The best results were obtained using 1 g ginseng, 2 g florisil as dispersant sorbent, 0.5 g neutral alumina as clean-up co-sorbent, and subsequent extraction with 10 mL acetone–n-hexane (5:5, v/v) with assisted sonication and repeated with another 5 mL of the same solvent mixture. The method was validated by analysis of ginseng samples fortified at different concentration levels (0.01–0.10 mg kg^?1). Average recoveries (n = 5) ranged from 85 to 95% with relative standard deviation between 2.5 and 11.2%. Spiked blank samples were used as standards to counteract the matrix effect observed in the chromatographic determination. The detection limits ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 µg kg^?1 in ginseng. The method was applied to the analysis of PCNB and its metabolite residues in commercial ginseng samples.     

Determination of Lysozyme by Graphene Oxide–Polyethylene Glycol-Based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

The surface of graphene oxide was modified by bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated polyethylene glycol to produce a composite graphene–polyethylene glycol. The graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol maximum absorption peak in the ultraviolet–visible spectrum was redshifted, and transmission electron microscope images showed that graphene oxide was cleaved into small nanosheets to form graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol. The dispersibility of graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol in physiological solution was higher than for graphene oxide. The optimum composite of graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol was used as a quencher in a fluorescence resonance energy transfer aptasensor for the determination of lysozyme detection. The results showed that graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol rapidly and efficiently quenched the fluorescence of the dye-labeled aptamer. The fluorescence was recovered by adding lysozyme to the system. The aptamer fluorescence intensity exhibited a strong linear dependence on the lysozyme concentration from 50 to 300?nM, and the lysozyme detection limit was approximately 11?nM. This method was used for the determination of lysozyme in egg whites, demonstrating that this approach is a promising alternative for the determination of lysozyme.     

Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Via Flotation Assistance (HLLME-FA) Method for the Pretreatment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Aqueous Samples and Determination by GC–MS

This work proposes a new, rapid and simple homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction via flotation assistance technique for the analysis of six organochlorine pesticides in water samples. A special extraction cell was used to facilitate collection of the low-density solvent extract. No centrifugation was required in this procedure. Determination was carried using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The water sample solution was then added into the extraction cell containing appropriate mixture of extract and homogeneous solvents. In the first step, a homogeneous solution and then with the continuation of water sample injection, a cloudy solution was formed. Using air flotation, the organic solution was collected at the conical part of the designed cell. The optimized levels of effective parameters were found based on response surface methodology approach. Applying the optimized conditions to the system understudy, the limits of detection of all target analytes were obtained in the range of 1.4–7 ng mL⁻¹, while the precisions were found to be in the range of 11.08–14.87 (RSD, n = 3). The linearity of the method lay in the range of 10–150 ng mL⁻¹ with the coefficients of correlation (r ²) ranging from 0.998 to 0.999.

     

Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Via Flotation Assistance (HLLME-FA) Method for the Pretreatment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Aqueous Samples and Determination by GC–MS

This work proposes a new, rapid and simple homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction via flotation assistance technique for the analysis of six organochlorine pesticides in water samples. A special extraction cell was used to facilitate collection of the low-density solvent extract. No centrifugation was required in this procedure. Determination was carried using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The water sample solution was then added into the extraction cell containing appropriate mixture of extract and homogeneous solvents. In the first step, a homogeneous solution and then with the continuation of water sample injection, a cloudy solution was formed. Using air flotation, the organic solution was collected at the conical part of the designed cell. The optimized levels of effective parameters were found based on response surface methodology approach. Applying the optimized conditions to the system understudy, the limits of detection of all target analytes were obtained in the range of 1.4–7 ng mL^?1, while the precisions were found to be in the range of 11.08–14.87 (RSD, n = 3). The linearity of the method lay in the range of 10–150 ng mL^?1 with the coefficients of correlation (r ² ) ranging from 0.998 to 0.999.     

Magnetic Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion with Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for the Determination of Ultra Trace Bisphenol A in Water Samples

Magnetic nanoparticle-assisted solid-phase dispersion (MMSPD) combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) prior to high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC–FLU) is presented for determination of ultra trace Bisphenol A (BPA) in water. Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) were synthesized for the adsorption of BPA in water. Ultra trace BPA in water was transferred into the elute solvent by the MMSPD and further concentrated into trace volume extraction solvent by the DLLME. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.003 and 0.01 µg L^?1, respectively. Good linearity of BPA was found, ranging from 0.01 to 10 µg L^?1, with good squared regression coefficient (R ²) of 0.9999. Additionally, relative recoveries were 83.1 and 95.9% for two environmental water samples spiked with 0.20 µg L^?1 BPA, respectively. All results showed that the MMWCNTs nanoparticle-assisted MMSPD–DLLME–HPLC–FLU method was simple and reliable for the determination of ultra trace BPA in environmental water.     

Inside-Needle Extraction Method Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Solid-Phase Dynamic Extraction and Preconcentration of Triazine Herbicides Followed by GC–FID Determination

An inside-needle extraction method was developed through thermal polymerization of atrazine-molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on the internal surface of a stainless steel hollow needle, which was oxidized and silylated. The fabricated coating (MIP layer) for the needle was durable and showed very good chemical and thermal stability. It could be mounted on a glass syringe and be directly coupled with gas chromatographic (GC) systems. The parameters being effective on the coating and extraction processes, namely nature of oxidizing agent, silylation time, nature and amount of porogen, template-to-MIP components ratio, polymerization time and temperature, sample volume, flow rate, pH and ionic strength of the sample were investigated and optimized. The extraction needle showed high selectivity as well as a great extraction capacity for triazines. The extraction of atrazine, simazine, cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn and terbutryn using the fabricated extraction needle and followed by GC analysis resulted in detection limits of 2.6, 21, 24, 32, 38 and 42 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The fabricated needle proved to be applicable to the analysis of real samples by comparing the results obtained for non-spiked and spiked samples of grape juice, tap water and groundwater.

     

Solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and headspace derivatization of clenbuterol followed by GC–FID and GC–SIMMS quantification

Solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and on-fiber derivatization followed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) or Selected Ion Monitoring Mass Spectrometry (GC-SIMMS) allows for simple yet sensitive quantification for the hexamethyldisilazane derivative of the beta-agonist clenbuterol. Using an 85- micro m polyacrylate fiber, the analysis method is optimized with respect to extraction time, derivatization time and temperature, and solution pH. In addition, the use of a rapid temperature ramping injection port allows for optimization of fiber desorption conditions. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the hexamethyldisilazane derivative of clenbuterol are 1.1 ppb by FID and 0.20 ppb by SIMMS.     

Determination of Trace Levels of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Aviation Fuel by GC × GC–FID and Comparison with the Reference GC–MS Method

Due to the negative impact of the presence of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene for the aviation industry, in this work a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography method with flame ionization detector for the determination of trace levels of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene was developed. It is based on the use of a first dimension polar column and a second dimension non-polar column. Identification of fatty acid methyl esters is based on retention times and the external standard calibration is used for quantitation. Results were compared with those obtained from the GC–MS reference method; good recoveries, close to 100 %, and limit of detection in a range from 3 to 6 μg kg⁻¹ were found without requiring a specific detector.

     

Determination of Herbicides in Soil by Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction,Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction,and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A method for determination of five herbicides (i.e., quinclorac, metsulfuron-methyl, bensulfuron-methyl, atrazine, prometryn) in soil was developed by dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography. The analytes were removed from the soil by liquid partitioning with acetonitrile/5% acetic acid, purified using a octadecylsilane sorbent, and subsequently extracted before chromatographic analysis. Under the optimized conditions, the linear dynamic range was from 10.0 to 300 ng g^?1 with correlation coefficients (r) between 0.9971 and 0.9985. The limits of detection were between 1.5 and 3.1 ng g^?1, with relative standard deviations from 3.8% to 6.7% (n = 5). The recovery of the herbicides from soil at fortification levels of 20.0 and 100.0 ng g^?1 were between 71.5% and 94.3%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in soil.     

Determination of Antimony(III) and Total Antimony in Aqueous Samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry After Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction (DLLME)

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) technique combined with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) was proposed for determination of antimony(III) and total antimony at very low concentrations in water samples. The N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) was used as a chelating agent, and chloroform and ethanol were used as extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. The effect of various experimental parameters on the extraction and determination was investigated. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.005 μg L^?1 for Sb(III) and 0.008 μg L^?1 for total Sb. The developed method was applied successfully to the determination of Sb(III) and total Sb in natural water samples.     

Comparative Study of the Use of Flow-Through Systems with and without Air Segmentation for Determination of Phenols by Solid-Phase Microextraction–Gas Chromatography

Two procedures have been evaluated for SPME of phenols from liquids—flow-through extraction and a system based on flow-through extraction in which the sample stream is segmented with air bubbles. For testing the segmented flow-through procedure, free and derivatized phenols were absorbed directly from an aqueous solution by means of an 80-m polyacrylate fiber and a 100-m polydimethylsiloxane fiber, respectively. The amounts of analytes absorbed by the fibers, and the precision achieved, were compared for the two procedures. The results indicated extraction, including that of the more volatile phenols, was better when the air-segmented flow-through extraction cell was used.     

Analysis of Codeine in Urine and Opiate Sample by Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography——Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

The growth of the illegal heroin use has stimulated widespread testing for its abuse. However, since the heroin metabolizes quickly in the human body and not reliably detected in urine,its metabolites are by necessity the analytical targets for the detection of its intake. Of the metabolites of street heroin,codeine is important one. Thus,the analysis of codeine in urine also become an important application for the detection of street heroin intake. There are extensive literature on the determination of codeine in biological samples using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS). In those methods,the analytes were isolated by liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction from the urine. Such procedure suffers from the requirement of high purity solvent and time consuming.