Electromembrane extraction of levamisole from human biological fluids

Electromembrane extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) detection was developed for the determination of levamisole in some human biological fluids. Levamisole migrated from 4 mL of different acidized biological matrices, through a thin layer of 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether containing 5% tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate immobilized in the pores of a porous hollow fiber, into a 20-μL acidic aqueous acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the fiber. The parameters influencing electromigration were investigated and optimized. Within 15 min of operation at 200 V, levamisole was extracted from different biological fluid samples with recoveries in the range of 59-65%, which corresponded to preconcentration factors in the range of 118-130. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range of 0.5-10, 0.2-10 and 0.1-10 μg/mL for plasma, urine and saliva, respectively. Limits of detection of 0.1, 0.07 and 0.05 μg/mL and limits of quantification of 0.5, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/mL were obtained for plasma, urine and saliva, respectively. The relative standard deviations of the analysis were found to be in the range of 5.6-9.7% (n = 3). Electromembrane extraction was successfully processed for determination of levamisole in plasma, urine and saliva samples.     

A new strategy to simultaneous microextraction of acidic and basic compounds

The simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic pollutants from water samples is an interesting and debatable work in sample preparation techniques. A novel and efficient method named ion pair based surfactant assisted microextraction (IP-SAME) was applied for extraction and preconcentration of five selected acidic and basic aromatic species as model compounds in water samples, followed by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. A mixture including 1 mL of ultra-pure water (containing ionic surfactant as emulsifier agent) and 60 μL 1-octanol (as extraction solvent) was rapidly injected using a syringe into a 10.0 mL water sample which formed an emulsified solution. IP-SAME mechanism can be interpreted by two types of molecular mass transfer into the organic solvent (partitioning and ion pairing for non-ionized and ionized compounds, respectively) during emulsification process. The effective parameters on the extraction efficiency such as the extraction solvent type and its volume, type of the surfactant and its concentration, sample pH and ionic strength of the sample were optimized. Under the optimum conditions (60 μL of 1-octanol; 1.5 mmol L(-1) cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as emulsifier agent and sample pH 10.0), the preconcentration factors (PFs), detection limits and linear dynamic ranges (LDRs) were obtained in the range of 87-348, 0.07-0.6 μg L(-1) and 0.1-200 μg L(-1) respectively. All of natural water samples were successfully analyzed by the proposed method.     

Development of a new and environment friendly hollow fiber-supported liquid phase microextraction using vesicular aggregate-based supramolecular solvent

Hollow fiber-based liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) using conventional solvents is limited by their relative instability and high volatility. The use of supramolecular solvents as a liquid membrane phase could overcome these inconveniences due to their negligible vapour pressure and high viscosity. In the present study, a novel and highly flexible method was developed based on supramolecular solvents constructed of vesicles of decanoic acid, which were used for the first time as a solvent in HF-LPME. This solvent is produced from the coacervation of decanoic acid aqueous vesicles by the action of tetrabutylammonium (Bu(4)N(+)). In this work, halogenated anilines as model compounds were extracted from water samples into a supramolecular solvent impregnated in the pores and also filled inside the porous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane. The extracted anilines were separated and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The technique requires minimal sample preparation time and toxic organic solvent consumption, and provides a significant advantage over conventional analytical methods. The important parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were studied and optimized utilizing two different optimization methods: one variable at a time and the Box-Behnken design. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration factors were in the range of 74 to 203. Linearity of the method was obtained in the range of 1.0-100 μg L(-1) with the correlation coefficients of determination (R(2)) ranging from 0.9901 to 0.9986. The limits of detection for the target anilines were 0.5-1.0 μg L(-1). The relative standard deviations varied from 3.9% to 6.0%. The relative recoveries of the three halogenated anilines from water samples at a spiking level of 20.0 μg L(-1) were in the range of 90.4-107.4%.     

Polyaniline-coated Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles: An anion exchange magnetic sorbent for solid-phase extraction

In this study, the capability of the prepared polyaniline-coated Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles for magnetic solid-phase extraction of three parabens from environmental wastewater, cream, and toothpaste samples is presented. Synthesized Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles were coated with sulfate-doped polyaniline via polymerization of aniline in the presence of Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles and sulfuric acid. Here, polyaniline-coated Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles are presented as anion exchange sorbent, which extract anionic form of parabens via anion exchange with dopant of polyaniline. The experimental conditions affecting extraction efficiency were further studied and optimized. The experimental results showed that maximum extraction efficiency can be obtained at 70 mL sample solution of pH 8, extraction and desorption times of 2 and 1 min, respectively, 100 μL of 3% (v/v) acetic acid in acetonitrile as eluent, and 100 mg of the adsorbent. Under these conditions, the linear dynamic ranges were 0.5-100 μg/L with good correlation coefficients (0.998-0.999). The detection limits were in the range of 0.3-0.4 μg/L and the relative standard deviations were less than 2.4 (n = 5) for the three parabens. Finally, this fast and efficient method was further employed for determination of target analytes in cream, toothpaste, and environmental wastewater samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Interactions between photodegradation components

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The interactions of p-cresol photocatalytic degradation components were studied by response surface methodology. The study was designed by central composite design using the irradiation time, pH, the amount of photocatalyst and the p-cresol concentration as variables. The design was performed to obtain photodegradation % as actual responses. The actual responses were fitted with linear, two factor interactions, cubic and [left-to-right mark] quadratic model to select an appropriate model. The selected model was validated by analysis of variance which provided evidences such as high F-value (845.09), very low P-value (<.0.0001), non-significant lack of fit, the coefficient of R-squared (R2 = 0.999), adjusted R-squared (Radj2 = 0.998), predicted R-squared (Rpred2 = 0.994) and the adequate precision (95.94). RESULTS: From the validated model demonstrated that the component had interaction with irradiation time under 180 min of the time while the interaction with pH was above pH 9. Moreover, photocatalyst and p-cresol had interaction at minimal amount of photocatalyst (< 0.8 g/L) and 100 mg/L p-cresol. CONCLUSION: These variables are interdependent and should be simultaneously considered during the photodegradation process, which is one of the advantages of the response surface methodology over the traditional laboratory method.     

On-line solid phase extraction coupled to ICP-OES for simultaneous preconcentration and determination of some transition elements

An on-line solid phase extraction method coupled to ICP-OES was developed for the simultaneous determination of Ce(III), La(III), Sm(III), Y(III), Yb(III), Dy(III), Hf(IV), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) ions in aqueous samples. The ions forming hydrophobic complexes with 3,5,7,2?,4?-pentahydroxy flavone (morin) and were retained on an octadecyl silica (C₁₈) minicolumn. The adsorbed chelates were subsequently eluted from the column and directly transferred into the plasma with 80% (v/v) propanol:H₂O solution for the simultaneous determination of the metal ions. Different parameters affecting the ICP-OES signal intensities and extraction efficiency including pH of the solution, concentration of the chelating agent, flow rate and type of the eluent, loading rate and ionic strength were evaluated and optimized. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.2–100 μg L^?1 and limit of detections for the extraction and determination of the ions in the aqueous sample (25 mL) were in the range 0.10–0.46 μg L^?1. The enhancement factors of the method for the metal ions obtained were in the range of 23 to 242 (V _Sample?=?25 mL) and the precision expressed as relative standard deviations (RSD %) was below 6.9%. Finally, the method was successfully applied to determine the target analytes in natural water samples.     

Surface and bulk modification of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer elastomer: Adhesion to polyurethane and mechanical properties

Effect of adding millable polyurethane as adhesion promoter to the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer as well as to the terpolymer modified by grafting of maleic anhydride on the adhesion between the terpolymer and polyurethane coating was studied. The results of peel test and water contact angle measurements showed that surface and bulk modification of terpolymer cause a significant improvement in its adhesion properties. The effect of the composition of the polymer blends on the loss tangent was studied to evaluate the extent of polymer compatibility and damping characteristics. Results demonstrated that modification of terpolymer with maleic anhydride can improve its compatibility with polyurethane, which was further confirmed by the results of the mechanical and morphological study.     

Densities,excess molar volumes,and partial molar volumes for binary mixtures of water with monoethanolamine,diethanolamine, and triethanolamine from 25 to 80°C

We have measured densities of binary mixtures of water with monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) over the full range of compositions and over the temperature range from 25 to 80°C. Results of these measurements have been used in calculating excess molar volumes and partial molar volumes. Knowledge of the volumetric properties of these mixtures is useful in connection with industrial treatment of acidic gases; derived excess molar volumes and partial molar volumes can be used as a basis for understanding some of the molecular interactions in water-organic mixtures.Presented at the Symposium, 76^th CSC Congress, Sherbrooke, Quebec, May 30–June 3, 1993, honoring Professor Donald Patterson on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.