Solid‐phase microextraction for the human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals: Current applications and future perspectives

Sample preparation is one of the crucial steps in the analytical chemistry including human biomonitoring studies. Although there are several traditional approaches available, solid‐phase microextraction is emerged as one of the pioneering techniques due to its simplicity, rapidness, wide applicability, and miniaturization of traditional sample preparation (e.g., use of less or no organic solvents). There are few earlier review articles available on the advancements in solid‐phase microextraction and its use for the measurement of environmental chemicals in various types of environmental samples. However, a collective information on applicability and current usage of solid‐phase microextraction for the human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals are scarce, nonetheless, rising demands on innovative analytical approaches for human biomonitoring studies. Hence, in this review article, we covered the application of solid‐phase microextraction as extraction/purification methods for more than 15 classes of environmental chemicals to assess their respective exposure levels and associated health outcomes in various human population reported across the globe. Further, a detailed discussion on various types of matrix used, nature of coupled analytical instrumentations, and limitations and future perspectives of solid‐phase microextraction for human biomonitoring studies is presented in this review.     

Development of an Innovative Nitrite Sensing Platform Based on the Construction of an Electrochemical Composite Sensor of Polymer Coated CNTs and Decorated with Magnetite Nanoparticles

Electrochemical determination of nitrite in real water samples is achieved using simple and efficient electrochemical sensor. The sensor is fabricated by electrodeposition of a thin layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) sandwiched by drop-casting two thin layers of CNTs and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) over a GC electrode surface. Voltammetry determination of nitrite in tap water and wastewater samples in the concentration range (0.5–150 μM) is successfully achieved with detection limits of 22 and 24 nM, respectively. Practical application of the GC/CNT/PEDOT/Fe₃O₄ sensor is efficiently assessed in real water samples for nitrite determination with acceptable recoveries, excellent anti-interference ability and long-term stability.     

Micro Salting-Out Assisted Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion: A Simple and Fast Sample Preparation Method for the Analysis of Bisphenol Contaminants in Bee Pollen

In the present work, a novel sample preparation method, micro salting-out assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (μ-SOA-MSPD), was developed for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol B (BPB) contaminants in bee pollen. The proposed method was designed to combine two classical sample preparation methodologies, matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and homogenous liquid-liquid extraction (HLLE), to simplify and speed-up the preparation process. Parameters of μ-SOA-MSPD were systematically investigated, and results indicated the significant effect of salt and ACN-H₂O extractant on the signal response of analytes. In addition, excellent clean-up ability in removing matrix components was observed when primary secondary amine (PSA) sorbent was introduced into the blending operation. The developed method was fully validated, and the limits of detection for BPA and BPB were 20 μg/kg and 30 μg/kg, respectively. Average recoveries and precisions were ranged from 83.03% to 94.64% and 1.76% to 5.45%, respectively. This is the first report on the analysis of bisphenol contaminants in bee pollen sample, and also on the combination of MSPD and HLLE. The present method might provide a new strategy for simple and fast sample preparation of solid and semi-solid samples.     

A 1-Hydroxy-2,4-Diformylnaphthalene-Based Fluorescent Probe and Its Detection of Sulfites/Bisulfite

A novel 1-hydroxy-2,4-diformylnaphthalene-based fluorescent probe L was synthesized by a Knoevenagel reaction and exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards sulfite ions (SO₃²⁻) and bisulfite ions (HSO₃⁻). The detection limits of the probe L were 0.24 μM using UV-Vis spectroscopy and 9.93 nM using fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. Furthermore, the fluorescent probe L could be utilized for detection in real water samples with satisfactory recoveries in the range 99.20%~104.30% in lake water and 100.00%~104.80% in tap water by UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, and in the range 100.50%~108.60% in lake water and 102.70%~103.80% in tap water by fluorescence spectrophotometry.     

A New Method Based on Time-Varying Filtering Intrinsic Time-Scale Decomposition and General Refined Composite Multiscale Sample Entropy for Rolling-Bearing Feature Extraction

The early fault diagnosis of rolling bearings has always been a difficult problem due to the interference of strong noise. This paper proposes a new method of early fault diagnosis for rolling bearings with entropy participation. First, a new signal decomposition method is proposed in this paper: intrinsic time-scale decomposition based on time-varying filtering. It is introduced into the framework of complete ensemble intrinsic time-scale decomposition with adaptive noise (CEITDAN). Compared with traditional intrinsic time-scale decomposition, intrinsic time-scale decomposition based on time-varying filtering can improve frequency-separation performance. It has strong robustness in the presence of noise interference. However, decomposition parameters (the bandwidth threshold and B-spline order) have significant impacts on the decomposition results of this method, and they need to be artificially set. Aiming to address this problem, this paper proposes rolling-bearing fault diagnosis optimization based on an improved coyote optimization algorithm (COA). First, the minimal generalized refined composite multiscale sample entropy parameter was used as the objective function. Through the improved COA algorithm, optimal intrinsic time-scale decomposition parameters based on time-varying filtering that match the input signal are obtained. By analyzing generalized refined composite multiscale sample entropy (GRCMSE), whether the mode component is dominated by the fault signal is determined. The signal is reconstructed and decomposed again. Finally, the mode component with the highest energy in the central frequency band is selected for envelope spectrum variation for fault diagnosis. Lastly, simulated and experimental signals were used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Empirical Mode Decomposition-Derived Entropy Features Are Beneficial to Distinguish Elderly People with a Falling History on a Force Plate Signal

Fall risk prediction is an important issue for the elderly. A center of pressure signal, derived from a force plate, is useful for the estimation of body calibration. However, it is still difficult to distinguish elderly people’s fall history by using a force plate signal. In this study, older adults with and without a history of falls were recruited to stand still for 60 s on a force plate. Forces in the x, y and z directions (Fx, Fy, and Fz) and center of pressure in the anteroposterior (COPx) and mediolateral directions (COPy) were derived. There were 49 subjects in the non-fall group, with an average age of 71.67 (standard derivation: 6.56). There were also 27 subjects in the fall group, with an average age of 70.66 (standard derivation: 6.38). Five signal series—forces in x, y, z (Fx, Fy, Fz), COPX, and COPy directions—were used. These five signals were further decomposed with empirical mode decomposition (EMD) with seven intrinsic mode functions. Time domain features (mean, standard derivation and coefficient of variations) and entropy features (approximate entropy and sample entropy) of the original signals and EMD-derived signals were extracted. Results showed that features extracted from the raw COP data did not differ significantly between the fall and non-fall groups. There were 10 features extracted using EMD, with significant differences observed among fall and non-fall groups. These included four features from COPx and two features from COPy, Fx and Fz.     

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation after Total Knee Replacement Surgery Using Sample Entropy and Classical Measures of Body Balance

Exercises in virtual reality (VR) have recently become a popular form of rehabilitation and are reported to be more effective than a standard rehabilitation protocol alone. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of adjunct VR training in improving postural control in patients after total knee replacement surgery (TKR). Forty-two patients within 7–14 days of TKR were enrolled and divided into a VR group and a control group (C). The C group underwent standard postoperative rehabilitation. The VR group additionally attended twelve 30-min exercise sessions using the Virtual Balance Clinic prototype system. Balance was assessed on the AMTI plate in bipedal standing with and without visual feedback before and after the four-week rehabilitation. Linear measures and sample entropy of CoP data were analyzed. After four weeks of rehabilitation, a significant reduction in parameters in the sagittal plane and ellipse area was noted while the eyes remained open. Regression analysis showed that sample entropy depended on sex, body weight, visual feedback and age. Based on the sample entropy results, it was concluded that the complexity of the body reaction had not improved. The standing-with-eyes-closed test activates automatic balance mechanisms and offers better possibilities as a diagnostic tool.     

Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2纳米片的简易制备及光催化氧化NO机理的原位漫反射红外光谱研究(英文)

BiOBr因具有合适的能带结构和独特的层状纳米结构而广泛应用于可见光催化领域,但其低的可见光利用率和高的光生电子-空穴对复合率,限制了其实际应用.最近,非整比BiOBr纳米材料表现出了良好的可见光催化性能.本课题组分别采用简易水热法和常温法制备得Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2纳米片,并表现出良好的可见光催化性能.然而,对于Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2的可见光催化氧化NO的转化路径及反应机理还不清楚.基于此,本文采用射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)、电子自旋共振(ESR)、电子顺磁共振(EPR)和比表面积-孔结构(BET-BJH)等手段研究了Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2的理化性能,通过原位红外光谱(in situ DRIFTS)研究了Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2的可见光催化氧化NO的转化路径及反应机理.XRD结果表明,在常温碱性环境下,OH~-离子逐步取代BiOBr中的Br-离子制备得单斜晶相Bi_4O_5Br_2;在水热碱性环境下,OH-离子进一步取代Bi_4O_5Br_2中的Br-离子制备得四方晶相Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2.SEM和TEM结果表明,Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2是由不规则纳米片堆叠形成的紧密且厚实的层状结构,Bi_4O_5Br_2是由纳米片和纳米颗粒无序堆积形成的多孔疏松结构.BET-BJH测试结果显示,Bi_4O_5Br_2的比表面积和孔容(37.2 m~2/g,0.215 cm~3/g)显著高于Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2(8.7 m~2/g,0.04 cm~3/g).UV-Vis DRS测试结果显示,Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2均显示了良好的可见光吸收能力.可见光催化去除NO的测试结果表明,Bi_4O_5Br_2(41.8%)的光催化活性明显高于Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2(28.3%).并且,在5次可见光催化循环实验后,Bi_4O_5Br_2(41.1%)表现出良好可见光催化稳定性.ESR测试结果表明,Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2参与反应的主要活性物种均为·OH自由基,Bi_4O_5Br_2产生·OH自由基明显强于Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2.EPR测试结果表明,Bi_4O_5Br_2的氧空位明显多于Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2,丰富的氧空位更有利于NO的有效吸附.由此可见,Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2表现出不同的理化特性.可见光催化氧化NO的原位红外光谱表明,只在Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2光催化氧化NO的转化路径中会生成中间产物N2O3,表明Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2和Bi_4O_5Br_2具有不同的NO光催化转化路径.结合上述表征结果认为,Bi_4O_5Br_2比Bi_(12)O_(17)Br_2表现出更优异可见光催化性能的主要原因有以下四个方面为:(1)Bi_4O_5Br_2拥有更高的比表面积和更大的孔容,有利于NO的吸附、反应中间产物的转移和提供更多的活性位点参与光催化反应;(2)Bi_4O_5Br_2可以生成更多的·OH自由基和拥有更强的价带空穴氧化能力;(3)NO中的O原子可以与Bi_4O_5Br_2的氧空位结合,从而提供更多的反应位点;(4)Bi_4O_5Br_2的光催化反应中可以生成中间产物N_2O_3,可以降低NO转化成NO_3~-的反应活化能.     

Supramolecular-based solvent microextraction of carbaryl in water samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography determination

In this study, a simple, rapid, low cost, sensitive and environmentally friendly technique, supramolecular solvent microextraction (SM-SME) followed by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet has been proposed to extract carbaryl from water samples. Parameters, affecting the SM-SME performance such as the weight of decanoic acid (DeA), volume of tetrahydrofuran (THF), pH and salt concentration, were studied and optimised. The effect of the pH on the extraction efficiency was evaluated by one–factor-at-a-time methodology, but the other variables were optimised by a face-centred cube central composite design methodology. Optimum extraction conditions were obtained: DeA: 70 mg; THF: 650 µL; salt concentration: 10% (w/v) NaCl and pH = 2–4), and the performance of the proposed method was evaluated. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity (1.0–500 µg L^?1, r² = 0.9994) was obtained. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.3–1.0 µg L^?1, respectively. Also, the recoveries of the carbaryl were obtained in the ranged from 96% to 105%. Finally, proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the carbaryl in the water samples of farms run-off and rivers and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Determination of lipoic acid in human urine by capillary zone electrophoresis

Fast, simple, and accurate CE method enabling determination of lipoic acid (LA) in human urine has been developed and validated. LA is a disulfide‐containing natural compound absorbed from the organism's diet. Due to powerful antioxidant activity, LA has been used for prevention and treatment of various diseases and disorders, e.g. cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. The proposed analytical procedure consists of liquid–liquid sample extraction, reduction of LA with tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine, derivatization with 1‐benzyl‐2‐chloropyridinium bromide (BCPB) followed by field amplified sample injection stacking, capillary zone electrophoresis separation, and ultraviolet‐absorbance detection of LA‐BCPB derivative at 322 nm. Effective baseline electrophoretic separation was achieved within 6 min under the separation voltage of 20 kV (∼80 μA) using a standard fused‐silica capillary (effective length 51.5 cm, 75 μm id) and BGE consisted of 0.05 mol/L borate buffer adjusted to pH 9. The experimentally determined limit of detection for LA in urine was 1.2 μmol/L. The calibration curve obtained for LA in urine showed linearity in the range 2.5–80 μmol/L, with R ² 0.9998. The relative standard deviation of the points of the calibration curve was lower than 10%. The analytical procedure was successfully applied to analysis of real urine samples from seven healthy volunteers who received single 100 mg dose of LA.