The Determination of Cannabinoids in Urine Samples Using Microextraction by Packed Sorbent and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Cannabis is the most consumed illicit drug worldwide, and its legal status is a source of concern. This study proposes a rapid procedure for the simultaneous quantification of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) in urine samples. Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was used to pre-concentrate the analytes, which were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The procedure was previously optimized, and the final conditions were: conditioning with 50 µL methanol and 50 µL of water, sample load with two draw–eject cycles, and washing with 310 µL of 0.1% formic acid in water with 5% isopropanol; the elution was made with 35 µL of 0.1% ammonium hydroxide in methanol. This fast extraction procedure allowed quantification in the ranges of 1–400 ng/mL for THC and CBD, 5–400 ng/mL for CBN and 11-OH-THC, and 10–400 ng/mL for THC-COOH with coefficients of determination higher than 0.99. The limits of quantification and detection were between 1 and 10 ng/mL using 0.25 mL of sample. The extraction efficiencies varied between 26 and 85%. This analytical method is the first allowing the for determination of cannabinoids in urine samples using MEPS, a fast, simple, and low-cost alternative to conventional techniques.     

A novel composite derived from a metal organic framework immobilized within electrospun nanofibrous polymers: An efficient methane adsorbent

In this study, tantalum(V) metal organic framework (Ta-MOF) nanostructure was incorporated within polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers to prepare an electrospun porous composite as a novel CH₄ adsorbent. The crystallinity, thermodynamic behavior, and textural properties of the products were investigated using instrumental analyses techniques. The results confirmed that the developed PVA/Ta-MOF electrospun nanofibrous composite exhibits higher thermal stability, considerable porosity, and larger surface area compared to the parent Ta-MOF. A 2^k factorial design was used for systematic study of the adsorption process. The results of response surface methodology (RSM) optimization indicated that the highest methane adsorption can be achieved at 24.40 °C and 3.70 bar in 23.60 min. These nano pore sorbents showed a significant potential for CH₄ adsorption due to the presence of Ta-MOF at the surface of nanofibrous composite compared to many other conventional sorbents that have been already used. This study introduces a novel biocompatible/biodegradable nanofibrous composite material with high methane adsorption performance and potentials for other applications.     

Study of interlayer water on the active sites of mineral sorbent: Thermal analysis

The programmed heating of montmorillonite samples is accompanied by their dehydration and dehydroxilation, this being registered by means of Derivatograph. The form of the endothermal effects within the 80–250°C interval can be of simple or double character depending on the nature of exchange cations. Though this phenomenon has been known for a long time, no satisfactory explanation has been provided so far. The herewith paper contains the results of bound water researches at various forms (Na, Ca, Al, Fe) of montmorillonite by means of thermal analysis as well as other physico-chemical methods. It has been found that the form of dehydration endoeffects depends on the state of the active centers of the mineral. In certain conditions, by means of thermal analysis one can determine corresponding quantities of bound water that are in agreement with various kinds of active centers of the mineral sorbent.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rapid assays of clozapine and its metabolites in dried blood spots by liquid chromatography and microextraction by packed sorbent procedure

A novel analytical approach has been developed for the determination of clozapine and its metabolites in dried blood spots on filter paper, using a chromatographic method coupled with a microextraction by packed sorbent procedure. The analytes were separated on a RP-C18 column using a mobile phase composed of 20% methanol, 16% acetonitrile and 64% aqueous phosphate buffer. Coulometric detection was used, setting the guard cell at +0.050 V, the first analytical cell at -0.200 V and the second analytical cell at +0.500 V. Clozapine and its metabolites were extracted from dried blood spots with phosphate buffer and, then, a microextraction by packed sorbent procedure for the sample clean-up was implemented obtaining good extraction yields. The calibration curve was linear over the 2.5-1000 ng mL(-1) blood concentration ranges for all the analytes. The method validation gave satisfactory results in terms of sensitivity, precision, selectivity and accuracy. The analytical method was successfully applied to dried blood spots from several psychiatric patients for therapeutic drug monitoring purpose.     

Optimization of an immunoassay of 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) and development of regenerative surfaces by immunosorbent modification with newly synthesised BAM hapten library

Dichlobenil is an extensively used herbicide worldwide which is transformed to the mobile 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) in soil. BAM has been found in many European groundwater resources that are exploited for drinking water. Currently, immunoassay based monitoring technique (plate based ELISA) is being employed to quantitatively detect BAM in water samples. In this work, as a starting step of developing immunoassay based on-site monitoring systems for pesticide analysis, the heterogeneous BAM immunoassay is optimised in terms of surface (polymer) regeneration. We have synthesised a small library of BAM haptens which are slightly different in chemical structures, immobilised them on surfaces and compared the affinity constants of the monoclonal antibody HYB 273 towards them. By using ELISA technology, we also have checked the regeneration potentials of the haptens, correlated these results to the affinity constants and found that BAM hapten with an intermediate affinity has better regeneration potential.     

生物油水溶性组分的水蒸气催化重整制氢实验研究

利用固定床反应器对生物油水溶性组分重整制氢反应进行了考察,研究了温度、吸收剂的加入对反应过程的影响。结果表明,在常压条件下生物油水溶性组分的最佳重整温度为800℃,此时H2体积分数为60%、CO体积分数为10%。加入CO₂吸收剂后,H₂体积分数提高了25%,H₂产率提高了10%。在常压条件下,以CaO作为吸收剂时,最佳的反应温度为600℃,此时H₂体积分数最高可达85%。650℃时CaO对CO₂的吸收能力减弱导致其对生成H₂反应的促进作用急剧降低。     

新型交联甲壳糖吸附树脂对胆红素的吸附性能研究

以天然甲壳素为原料合成了珠状高分子吸附剂，研究了吸附剂在磷酸二氢钠和磷酸氢二钠缓冲溶液中对非结合型胆红素的吸附性能，实验结果表明：交联甲壳糖吸附树脂对非结合型胆红素很好的吸附效果。     

Bench-Scale Testing of Zinc Ferrite Sorbent for Hot Gas Clean-up

Advanced integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power generation systems require the development of high-temperature, regenerable desulfurization sorbents, which are capable of removing hydrogen sulfide from coal gasifier gas to very low levels. In this paper, zinc ferrites prepared by co-precipitation were identified as a novel coal gas desulfurization sorbent at high temperature. Preparation of zinc ferrite and effects of binders on pore volume, strength and desulfurization efficiency of zinc ferrite desulfurizer were studied. Moreover, the behavior of zinc ferrite sorbent during desulfurization and regeneration under the temperature range of 350-400℃are investigated. Effects of binders on the pore volume, mechanical strength and desulfurization efficiency of zinc ferrite sorbents indicated that the addition of kaolinite to zinc ferrite desulfurizer seems to be superior to other binders under the experimental conditions.     

A new porous polymer for off-line preconcentration of chlorophenols from water

Summary A new porous polymer obtained by the copolymerization of two cross-linking agents: 1,4-di(methacryloyloxymethyl) naphthalene and divinylbenzene was used for the off-line preconcentration of chlorophenols from water solutions by solid-phase extraction. In order to establish its applicability to preconcentration the recoveries and breakthrough volumes of phenol, 2-; 3-chlorophenols; 2,3-; 2,4-dichlorophenols and 2,4,6-trichlorophenols were studied. The recoveries of the studied compounds were compared with those obtained for chemically bonded phases containing hexyl and octadecyl groups.     

Influence of solvent effects on retention for a porous polymer sorbent in reversed phase liquid chromatography

Summary The influence of acetonitrile, methanol and isopropanol as retention selectivily modifiers in reversed phase liquid chromatography on a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) macroporous polymer sorbent (PLRP-S) is evaluated using the solvation parameter model. Retention results from a combination of adsorption and partitioning and is influenced by the equilibrium absorption of organic solvent by the polymer from the mobile phase. The sorption of solutes is dominated by the ease of cavity formation in or on the solvated sorbent, with a small contribution from lone pair-lone pair electron interactions. All polar interactions, such as dipole-type and hydrogenbond formation, are more favorable in the mobile phase and reduce retention. Changes in the uptake of organic solvent from the mobile phase affect kinetic properties of the column such as band broadening and porosity as well as retention. The PLRP-S solvated sorbent is suitable for solid-phase extraction and is more retentive than typical silica-based, bonded phase sorbents for extraction from water. As a surrogate system for estimating solute lipophilicity and biological activity through retention-property correlations it provides a poor fit for hydrogen-bond acid solutes and is too dipolar/polarizable to fit some models.