Fast isolation of hydrophobic organic environmental contaminants from exposed semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) prior to GC analysis

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) represent a passive sampling technology that is becoming widely used for monitoring of surface waters pollution. While "classic" procedures employ dialysis to recover target compounds from exposed SPMDs, in the present study analytes were isolated from cut membrane together with sequestering medium (triolein) using hexane as an extraction solvent. This approach allowed us to reduce the time needed for accomplishment of isolation step from 48 h to only 1 h. Automated gel permeation chromatography (GPC) clean-up is employed in the following step to separate triolein from analytes fraction. Musk compounds (MCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and several other persistent organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in the respective fraction by GC method employing selective detectors (MSD, ECD). As shown in a series of analyses of SPMDs deployed in various aquatic ecosystems, high recoveries and good repeatability of results together with a possibility to obtain the information on the pollution of sampling site at the day of sample arrival to laboratory make this newly implemented procedure an interesting alternative to time consuming dialysis.     

A comparative study of two polymorphs of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate

Alkanolamines have been known for their high CO₂ absorption for over 60 years and are used widely in the natural gas industry for reversible CO₂ capture. In an attempt to crystallize a salt of (RS)‐2‐(3‐benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with 2‐amino‐2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol, we obtained instead a polymorph (denoted polymorph II) of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate, 2C₄H₁₂NO⁺·CO₃²⁻, (I), suggesting that the amine group of the former compound captured CO₂ from the atmosphere forming the aminium carbonate salt. This new polymorph was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis at low temperature (100 K). The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group C2/c, Z = 4), while a previously reported form of the same salt (denoted polymorph I) crystallizes in the triclinic system (space group P, Z = 2) [Barzagli et al. (2012). ChemSusChem, 5 , 1724–1731]. The asymmetric unit of polymorph II contains one 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cation and half a carbonate anion, located on a twofold axis, while the asymmetric unit of polymorph I contains two cations and one anion. These polymorphs exhibit similar structural features in their three‐dimensional packing. Indeed, similar layers of an alternating cation–anion–cation neutral structure are observed in their molecular arrangements. Within each layer, carbonate anions and 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cations form planes bound to each other through N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds. In both polymorphs, the layers are linked to each other via van der Waals interactions and C—H…O contacts. In polymorph II, a highly directional C—H…O contact (C—H…O = 156°) shows as a hydrogen‐bonding interaction. Periodic theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that both polymorphs present very similar stabilities.     

Metal–organic framework MIL‐125(Ti) for efficient adsorptive removal of Rhodamine B from aqueous solution

A metal–organic framework material, MIL‐125(Ti), was solvothermally prepared and characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface area measurements. MIL‐125(Ti) was then used as an adsorbent for Rhodamine B (RhB) removal in aqueous solution. The adsorption kinetics, adsorption mechanism, adsorption isotherm, activation energy and various thermodynamic parameters were studied in detail. The maximum adsorption capacity of MIL‐125(Ti) for RhB was 59.92 mg g^?1. MIL‐125(Ti) appears to be a promising material for RhB adsorption from aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photochemical degradation of natural organic sulfur compounds (CHOS) from iron‐rich mine pit lake pore waters – an initial understanding from evaluation of single‐elemental formulae using ultra‐high‐resolution mass spectrometry

In order to better understand the chemical diversity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in iron‐rich mine waters, a variety of sediment pore waters was analysed by means of ultra‐high‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS). A considerable number of the DOM elemental formulae were found to contain sulfur. In a rather simplified experiment, DOM was exposed to sunlight in the presence of dissolved ferric iron, which is common in the oxygenated acidified epilimnetic waters of mine pit lakes. The photochemical alteration of the CHOS (carbon‐, hydrogen‐, oxygen‐ and sulfur‐containing) compounds was then categorised by following the changes in signal intensity of mass peaks. Nearly 20 000 elemental compositions were identified and sorted into the following categories: totally degraded, partially degraded, not significantly degraded, minor new photoproducts, and newly formed photoproducts. A large proportion of the CHOS compounds were found to be entirely degraded; the degradation ratios exceeded those of the CHO compounds. The pools of totally degraded compounds and those of newly formed products were contrasted with respect to photochemically relevant mass differences. These results indicate that photochemical loss of sulfur‐containing low molecular weight compounds can be considered likely. One feasible explanation is the photodegradation of sulfonic acids within the CHOS pool eventually leading to the release of sulfate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Yolk–shell microspheres assembled from Preyssler‐type NaP5W30O11014− polyoxometalate and MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework: A new inorganic–organic nanohybrid for fast and selective removal of cationic organic dyes from aqueous media

Novel inorganic–organic yolk–shell microspheres based on Preyssler‐type NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀^14? polyoxometalate and MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework (P₅W₃₀/MIL‐101(Cr)) were synthesized by reaction of K_12.5Na_1.5[NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀], Cr(NO₃)₃·9H₂O and terephthalic acid under hydrothermal conditions at 200°C for 24 h. The as‐prepared yolk–shell microspheres were fully characterized using various techniques. All analyses confirmed the incorporation of the Preyssler‐type NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀^14? polyoxometalate into the three‐dimensional porous MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework. The results revealed that P₅W₃₀/MIL‐101(Cr) demonstrated rapid adsorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) with ultrahigh efficiency and capacity, as well as achieving rapid and highly selective adsorption of MB from MB/MO (MO = methyl orange), MB/RhB and MB/RhB/MO mixtures. The P₅W₃₀/MIL‐101(Cr) adsorbent not only exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 212 mg g^?1, but also could quickly remove 100% of MB from a dye solution of 50 mg l^?1 within 8 min. The effects of some key parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and initial pH on dye adsorption were investigated in detail. The equilibrium adsorption data were better fitted by the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetics was well modelled using a pseudo‐second‐order model. Also, the inorganic–organic hybrid yolk–shell microspheres could be easily separated from the reaction system and reused up to four times without any change in structure or adsorption ability. The stability and robustness of the adsorbent were confirmed using various techniques.     

Kinetic parameter estimation of solvent‐free reactions monitored by 13C NMR spectroscopy,a case study: Mono‐ and di‐(hydroxy)ethylation of aniline with ethylene carbonate

The kinetics of solvent‐free reactions can be followed in situ by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, provided that the reaction mixture can be maintained liquid at the monitoring temperature. The pros and cons of the technique and the correct translation of the signal intensities into concentrations are discussed. A good model for this investigation is the reaction of ethylene carbonate ( 1 ) with aniline ( 2 ) at 140°C, two alkylation products of N‐mono‐ and N, N‐bis‐(2‐hydroxy)ethylation of aniline form (compounds 3 and 4 , respectively). The overall reaction occurs with heavy volume shrinking, so that the physical as well as the chemical features evolve during the course of the process. The chemical evolution is described by the kinetic constants k₁ and k₂ of the two N‐alkylation steps, the physical evolution by the time‐dependent activity coefficients α(t). Two complementary procedures are utilized for the determination of these parameters. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 154–160, 2011     

High‐resolution MALDI‐TOF MS study on analysis of low‐molecular‐weight products from photo‐oxidation of poly(3‐hexylthiophene)

High‐resolution matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) was used for the analysis of the low‐molecular‐weight products from the photo‐oxidation of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in solution and thin film. Eight new peak series were observed in the low‐mass range of the mass spectra of the products degraded in solution, and the formulas of the eight components were determined from the accurate mass. From SEC/MALDI‐TOF MS, two components were identified as the degraded products, and the other six components were derived from the fragmentation of the degraded products during the MALDI process. A mechanism for the formation of these components was proposed on the basis of the results of MALDI‐TOF MS. For the thin film degradation, a part of products in the solution degradation were observed, which supports that the oxidation of P3HT in solution and thin film proceeded in the same mechanism. This study shows that high‐resolution MALDI‐TOF MS is effective for the analysis of the low‐molecular‐weight products from P3HT photo‐oxidation and expected to be feasible for the degradation analyses of other polymers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One‐step synthesized magnetic MIL‐101(Cr) for effective extraction of triazine herbicides from rice prior to determination by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

The magnetic metal‐organic framework MIL‐101(Cr) material‐based solid‐phase extraction method coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was applied to extract seven triazine herbicides in rices. Fe₃O₄/MIL‐101(Cr) was synthesized using reduction‐precipitation method, in which steps including pre‐synthesis and modification of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were by‐passed. Various parameters including extraction solvent type and volume, ultrasonic extraction time, amount of Fe₃O₄/MIL‐101(Cr) microspheres, adsorption time, desorption volume and time were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method had the limit of detection (S/N = 3) and the limit of quantification (S/N = 10) of 1.08–18.10 and 3.60–60.20 pg/g, respectively. Relative standard deviations calculated for all herbicides with concentrations of 2 and 20 ng/g were in the range of 0.5 to 13% (n = 3). In addition, at the two above‐mentioned concentrations, the method achieved relative recoveries percentages of 79.3 to 116.7% when applied to determine the triazine herbicides in real samples spiked. This rapid, green, non‐polluting, pre‐concentrated extraction method was successfully developed and applied to analyze herbicides in rice samples.     

A three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework constructed from manganese(II) with S‐carboxymethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l‐cysteine and 4,4′‐bipyridine

In the chiral polymeric title compound, poly[aqua(4,4′‐bipyridine)[μ₃‐S‐carboxylatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinato]manganese(II)], [Mn(C₁₂H₁₃NO₆S₂)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]_n, the Mn^II ion is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by one water molecule, three carboxylate O atoms from three S‐carboxyatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinate (Ts‐cmc) ligands and two N atoms from two 4,4′‐bipyridine molecules. Each Ts‐cmc ligand behaves as a chiral μ₃‐linker connecting three Mn^II ions. The two‐dimensional frameworks thus formed are further connected by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands into a three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework. This is a rare case of a homochiral metal–organic framework with a flexible chiral ligand as linker, and this result demonstrates the important role of noncovalent interactions in stabilizing such assemblies.