Speciation of chromium in water samples using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel method for preconcentration is described for chromium speciation at microgram per liter to sub-microgram per liter levels. It is based on selective complex formation of both Cr(VI) and Cr(III) followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and determination by microsample introduction-flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Effects influencing complex formation and extraction (such as pH, temperature, time, solvent, salinity and the amount of chelating agent) have been optimized. Enrichment factors up to 275 and 262 were obtained for Cr(VI) and total Cr, respectively. The calibration graph is linear from 0.3 to 20 µg L^?1, and detection limits are 0.07 and 0.08 µg L^?1 for Cr(VI) and total Cr, respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were obtained to be 2.0% for Cr(VI) and 2.6% for total Cr (n?=?7).     

Sequential injection ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for thallium preconcentration and determination with flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel, automatic on-line sequential injection dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (SI-DLLME) method, based on 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Hmim][PF(6)]) ionic liquid as an extractant solvent was developed and demonstrated for trace thallium determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The ionic liquid was on-line fully dispersed into the aqueous solution in a continuous flow format while the TlBr(4)(-) complex was easily migrated into the fine droplets of the extractant due to the huge contact area of them with the aqueous phase. Furthermore, the extractant was simply retained onto the surface of polyurethane foam packed into a microcolumn. No specific conditions like low temperature are required for extractant isolation. All analytical parameters of the proposed method were investigated and optimized. For 15 mL of sample solution, an enhancement factor of 290, a detection limit of 0.86 μg L(-1) and a precision (RSD) of 2.7% at 20.0 μg L(-1) Tl(I) concentration level, was obtained. The developed method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference materials while good recoveries from environmental and biological samples proved that present method was competitive in practical applications.     

On-line micro-volume introduction system developed for lower density than water extraction solvent and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and fast preconcentration/separation dispersive liquid–liquid micro extraction (DLLME) method for metal determination based on the use of extraction solvent with lower density than water has been developed. For this purpose a novel micro-volume introduction system was developed enabling the on-line injection of the organic solvent into flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed system were demonstrated for lead and copper preconcentration in environmental water samples using di-isobutyl ketone (DBIK) as extraction solvent. Under the optimum conditions the enhancement factor for lead and copper was 187 and 310 respectively. For a sample volume of 10 mL, the detection limit (3 s) and the relative standard deviation were 1.2 μg L⁻¹ and 3.3% for lead and 0.12 μg L⁻¹ and 2.9% for copper respectively. The developed method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference material and it was applied successfully to the analysis of environmental water samples.     

Trace determination of EDTA from water samples using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with HPLC-DAD

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) in conjunction with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) has been applied to the extraction and determination of EDTA in sediments and water samples. The effect of extraction, nature and volume of disperser solvent, pH value of sample solution, extraction time and extraction temperature were investigated. Under the optimal conditions the analytical range of EDTA was from 3.0 to 50.0 μg L^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9982 and a detection limit of 1.7 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 5.4% (n?=?5), and the recovery values were in the range of 89–95%. The simplicity, high enrichment, high recovery and good repeatability are the main advantages of the method presented. The DLLME-HPLC-DAD method was successfully applied to the analysis of EDTA in aqueous samples.     

Ionic liquids versus ionic liquid-based surfactants in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for determining copper in water by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

This work compares the performance of dispersive liquid–liquid method (DLLME) as a prior step for determining copper by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), when using the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (C₄MIm-PF₆) or the IL-based surfactant 1-hexadecyl-3-butylimidazolium bromide (C₁₆C₄Im-Br) as extractant solvents. For the water-insoluble C₄MIm-PF₆, the most conventional DLLME mode using acetonitrile as dispersive solvent was employed. For the water-soluble C₁₆C₄Im-Br, the in situ DLLME mode with lithium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]imide (Li-NTf₂) as metathesis reagent was employed. In both approaches, some effective parameters such as volumes of extractant and dispersive solvents, concentration of complexing agent, pH of sample solution, salting-out effect and final diluting solvent to ensure compatibility with FAAS, were properly optimised. The optimum conditions for the IL-DLLME method using C₄MIm-PF₆ were: 100 μL of neat C₄MIm-PF₆, 1 mL of acetonitrile, 10 mL of water, no control of pH for environmental waters, NaCl content of 23 g L^?1, diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDTC) as complexing agent at 10 mg L^?1 and final dilution of the micro-droplet with acetonitrile up to 70 µL. The optimum conditions for the in situ IL-DLLME method using C₁₆C₄Im-Br were: 0.8 mL of acetonitrile, 10 mL of water containing C₁₆C₄Im-Br at 25.2 mmol L^?1, final dilution step of the micro-droplet with 200 µL of acetonitrile and remaining conditions as those of C₄MIm-PF₆. The analytical performance of both methods was similar, being slightly better for the IL-DLLME method using C₄MIm-PF₆, with limits of detection (LOD) of 3.3 µg L^?1 (versus 5.1 µg L^?1 when using C₁₆C₄Im-Br), precision values as intraday relative standard deviation (RSD in %) lower than 8.8% (being of 10% for the C₁₆C₄Im-Br method) and an enrichment factor of 54 (being 27 when using C₁₆C₄Im-Br). The DLLME-FAAS method with C₄MIm-PF₆ was used in the analysis of environmental waters with successful performance, with relative recoveries of 110% and 105%, and interday precision with RSD values of 21% and 7.4% for spiked levels of 60 and 160 µg L^?1, respectively. The results obtained when analysing an urban wastewater sample coming from an inter-laboratory exercise was comparable to those obtained for other 93 laboratories. The method was also valid for the determination of Cu²⁺ in presence of foreign ions commonly found in natural waters.     

Trace determination of malachite green in water samples using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection

A simple and reliable method has been developed for the rapid analysis of trace levels of malachite green from water samples using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. Factors relevant to the microextraction efficiency, such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, nature and volume of the disperser solvent, the effect of salt, sample solution temperature and the extraction time were investigated and optimised. Under the optimal conditions the linear dynamic range of malachite green was from 0.2 to 100.0?µg?L^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9962. The detection limit and limit of quantification were 0.1?µg?L^?1 and 0.3?µg?L^?1, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 2.6% (n?=?5) and the recoveries of malachite green (5.0?µg?L^?1) from water samples were in the range of 99.2?±?1.7%. Finally the proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of malachite green from fish farming water samples.     

Solvent-based de-emulsification dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for determination of trace organochlorine pesticides in environmental water samples

In this work, we propose solvent-based de-emulsification dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (SD-DLLME) as a simple, rapid and efficient sample pretreatment technique for the extraction and preconcentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from environmental water samples. Separation and analysis of fifteen OCPs was carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were systematically investigated. The detection limits were in the range of 2–50 ng L⁻¹ using selective ion monitoring (SIM). The precision of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 3.5 and 10.2% (n = 5). Results from the analysis of spiked environmental water samples at the low-ppb level met the acceptance criteria set by the EPA.     

Determination of ultra traces of lead in water samples after combined solid-phase extraction–dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A solid-phase extraction coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of ultra trace amounts of lead in water samples. Variables affecting the performance of both steps were thoroughly investigated. Under optimized conditions, 100 mL of lead solution were first concentrated using a solid phase sorbent. The extracts were collected in 1.50 mL of THF and 18 μL of carbon tetrachloride was dissolved in the collecting solvent. Then 5.0 mL pure water was injected rapidly into the mixture of THF and carbon tetrachloride for DLLME, followed by GFAAS determination of lead. The analytical figures of merit of method developed were determined. With an enrichment factor of 1,800, a linear calibration of 3–60 ng L^?1 and a limit of detection of 1.0 ng L^?1 were obtained. The relative standard deviation for seven replicate measurements of 30 ng L^?1 of lead was 5.2 %. The relative recoveries of lead in mineral, tap, well, and river water samples at spiking level of 10 and 20 ng L^?1 are in the range 94–106 %.     

Rapid determination of amide herbicides in environmental water samples with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction prior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

This paper describes a novel, simple and environmentally friendly method for rapid determination of the amide herbicides metoalchlor, acetochlor, and butachlor. It is based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Factors that may influence the enrichment efficiency, such as type and volume of extraction solvent, type and volume of dispersive solvent, extraction time, and content of NaCl, were investigated and optimized in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection of metoalchlor, acetochlor, and butachlor were 0.02, 0.04, and 0.003 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The experimental results indicated that there was linearity over the range 0.1–50 μg L⁻¹ and good reproducibility with relative standard deviations over the range 1.6–3.0% (n = 5). The proposed method has been applied for the analysis of real-world water samples, and satisfactory results were achieved. Average recoveries of spiked herbicides were in the range 80.3–108.8%. All of these indicated that the developed method would be an efficient method for simultaneous determination of the three herbicides in environmental water samples.     

Syringe-to-syringe-dispersive liquid–phase microextraction combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry for pre-concentration and determination of cobalt with the aid of experimental design

A rapid and selective technique has been proposed for the extraction, pre-concentration and determination of trace amounts of cobalt in water and pharmaceutical samples by syringe-to-syringe-dispersive liquid–phase microextraction (SS-DLPME) combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In the developed method, 1-nitroso-2-naphthol was used as a selective complexing agent and 1-octanol was selected as the extraction solvent. Factors such as pH of the sample solution, concentration of the complexing agent, volume of the extraction solvent, number of injections and centrifugation time affecting the extraction efficiency were screened using a Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and optimised using a Box–Behnken design (BBD). Under optimum conditions, a dynamic linear range of 2.5–650 μg L^?1 with the coefficient of determination r² = 0.997 was obtained. The resultant limit of detection (LOD) was 0.68 μg L^?1, whereas the enrichment factor (EF), intraday precision and inter-day precision were 281, 1.43% and 1.93%, respectively. This method was used successfully for pre-concentration and determination of the analyte in environmental water and drug samples.     

Preconcentration and determination of low amounts of cobalt in black tea,paprika and marjoram using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method for separation/preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of Co(II) and its determination with FAAS was developed. The DLLME behavior of Co(II) using Aliquat 336-chloride as ion pairing agent was systematically investigated. The factors influencing the ion pair formation and extraction by DLLME method were optimized. Under the optimized conditions for 150 µL of extraction solvent (carbon tetrachloride), 1.5 mL disperser solvent (acetonitrile) and 5 mL of sample, the enrichment factor was 30. The detection limit was 5.6 µg L^?1 and the RSD for replicate measurements of 1 mg L^?1 was 1.32 %. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for cobalt was linear from 40 to 400 µg L^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of cobalt in black tea, paprika and marjoram real samples.     

In-syringe demulsified dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for the determination of trace fungicides in environmental water samples

An in-syringe demulsified dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (ISD–DLLME) technique was developed using low-density extraction solvents for the highly sensitive determination of the three trace fungicides (azoxystrobin, diethofencarb and pyrimethanil) in water samples by high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry chromatography–diode array detector/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. In the proposed technique, a 5-mL syringe was used as an extraction, separation and preconcentration container. The emulsion was obtained after the mixture of toluene (extraction solvent) and methanol (dispersive solvent) was injected into the aqueous bulk of the syringe. The obtained emulsion cleared into two phases without centrifugation, when an aliquot of methanol was introduced as a demulsifier. The separated floating organic extraction solvent was impelled and collected into a pipette tip fitted to the tip of the syringe. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors for azoxystrobin, diethofencarb and pyrimethanil were 239, 200, 195, respectively. The limits of detection, calculated as three times the signal-to-noise ratio (S N⁻¹), were 0.026 μg L⁻¹ for azoxystrobin, 0.071 μg L⁻¹ for diethofencarb and 0.040 μg L⁻¹ for pyrimethanil. The repeatability study was carried out by extracting the spiked water samples at concentration levels of 0.02 μg mL⁻¹ for all the three fungicides. The relative standard deviations varied between 4.9 and 8.2% (n = 5). The recoveries of all the three fungicides from tap, lake and rain water samples at spiking levels of 0.2, 1, 5 μg L⁻¹ were in the range of 90.0–105.0%, 86.0–114.0% and 88.6–110.0%, respectively. The proposed ISD–DLLME technique was demonstrated to be simple, practical and efficient for the determination of different kinds of fungicide residues in real water samples.     

Low-density magnetofluid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the fast determination of organochlorine pesticides in water samples by GC-ECD

A new micro-extraction technique named low-density magnetofluid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (LMF-DMMLE) has been developed, which permits a wider range of solvents and can be combined with various detection methods. Comparing with the existing low density solvents micro-extraction methods, no special devices and complicated operations were required during the whole extraction process. Dispersion of the low-density magnetofluid into the aqueous sample is achieved by using vortex mixing, so disperser solvent was unnecessary. The extraction solvent was collected conveniently with an external magnetic field placed outside the extraction container after dispersing. Then, the magnetic nanoparticles were easily removed by adding precipitation reagent under the magnetic field. In order to evaluate the validity of this method, ten organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were chosen as the analytes. Parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as extraction solvents, volume of extraction solvents, extraction time, and ionic strength were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, this method showed high extraction efficiency with low limits of detection of 1.8–8.4 ng L⁻¹, good linearity in the range of 0.05–10.00 μg L⁻¹ and the precisions were in the range of 1.3–9.6% (RSD, n = 5). Finally, this method was successfully applied in the determination of OCPs in real water samples.     

Low-density extraction solvent-based solvent terminated dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of carbamate pesticides in water samples

A simple and fast method of low-density extraction solvent-based solvent terminated dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (ST-DLLME) was developed for the highly sensitive determination of carbamate pesticides in the water samples by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS). After dispersing, the obtained emulsion cleared into two phases quickly when an aliquot of acetonitrile was introduced as a chemical demulsifier into the aqueous bulk. Therefore, the developed procedure does not need centrifugation to achieve phase separation. It was convenient for the usage of low-density extraction solvents in DLLME. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection for all target carbamate pesticides were in range of 0.001–0.50 ng mL⁻¹ and the precisions were in the range of 2.3–6.8% (RSDs, 2 ng mL⁻¹, n = 5). The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples and good spiked recoveries over the range of 94.5–104% were obtained.