Liquid-liquid-liquid phase microextraction of aromatic amines in water using crown ethers by high-performance liquid chromatography with monolithic column

Liquid-liquid-liquid phase microextraction (LLLME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of some aromatic amines is described. These compounds were extracted from 4.0 mL aqueous sample that adjusted to pH 13 with, NaOH-NaCl buffer solution (donor phase, P₁) into an organic phase (P₂) 150 μl benzyl alcohol and ethyl acetate (2:1) and then back extracted into a microdrop of aqueous acceptor phase (P₃), adjusted at pH 2, with Na₂HPO₄-H₃PO₄ buffer solution. The extraction time, T₁ (from P₁ to P₂) was 20 min and T₂ (from P₂ to P₃) was 1 min. Different crown ethers as complexing agents for amines were added to the acceptor phase to improve the extraction time. Factors such as organic solvents, extraction times, and addition of crown ethers to acceptor phase and stirring rate were optimised. The method was applied for determination of aromatic amines in wastewater samples. Enrichment factors ranged from 184.5 to 389.7. The linearity range was from 3 to 1000 ng/ml and the detection limits varied from 0.8 to 1.80 ng/ml. Relative standard deviations (%, n = 5) were found (at S/N 3) in the range of 1.9 to 10.1. All experiments were carried out at room temperature, 22 ± 0.5 °C.     

Three-component synthesis of N-sulfonylformamidines in the presence of magnetic cellulose supported N-heterocyclic carbene-copper complex,as an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst

A cellulose based magnetic nanocomposite possessing NHC-Cu Complex has been synthesized and characterized. It was then applied as a highly active catalyst in one-pot three-component reaction of sulfonyl azides, secondary amines and triethylamine to afford N-sulfonylformamidines. Copper catalyzed oxidative transformation of C-N bond of triethylamine is a key step to give desired products. In contrast with the good reactivity of the conventional secondary amines, aromatic amines and NH containing heteroaromatics had no activity in these reactions. Moreover, the used nanocatalyst which could be recovered by external magnet, showed reasonable catalytic activity for several times.     

Determination of chlorophenols in environmental water samples using directly suspended droplet liquid-liquid-liquid phase microextraction prior to high-performance liquid chromatography

A new sample preparation method named directly suspended droplet liquid-liquid-liquid phase microextraction was used in this research for determination of three chlorophenols in environmental water samples. The analytes (2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol) were extracted from 4.5?mL acidic donor phase, (pH 2, P1) into an organic phase, 350?µL?of benzene/1-octanol (90?:?10 v/v, P2) and then were back-extracted into a 7?µL droplet of an basic (pH 13) aqueous solution (acceptor phase, P3). In this method, contrary to the ordinary single drop liquid-phase microextraction technique, an aqueous large droplet is freely suspended on the surface of the organic solvent, without using a microsyringe as supporting device. This aqueous microdroplet is delivered at the top-centre position of an immiscible organic solvent which is laid over the aqueous donor sample solution while the solution is being agitated. Then, the acceptor phase containing chlorophenols was withdrawn back into a HPLC microsyringe and neutralised by adding of 7?µL HCl 0.1?M. The total amount was eventually injected into the HPLC system with UV detection at 225?nm for further analysis. Parameters such as the organic solvent, phases volumes, extraction and back-extraction times, stirring rate and pH values were optimised. The calibration graphs are linear in the range of 10–2000?µg?L^?1 with r?≥?0.9973. The enrichment factors were ranged from 115 to 170, and the limit of detection (LOD, n?=?7) varied from 5 to 10?µg?L^?1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n?=?5) were found 6.8 to 7.4 at S/N?=?3. All experiments were carried out at room temperature, (22?±?0.5°C).     

Application of Sol–Gel Based Poly(ethylene glycol)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Coated Fiber for SPME of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether in Environmental Water Samples

In this research, the sol–gel technology was applied for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction fibers for extracting of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from environmental water samples. For this purpose, two different polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and combination of PEG and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using sol–gel technology as coating procedure for the fibers. The pre-concentration process followed by GC–FID determination was used and the results evidenced that pre-concentration factor for PEG/CNTs fiber was approximately five times higher than PEG. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as temperature, extraction time, stirring speed and salt effect for each fiber were investigated and optimized. On the optimal conditions, the linear range for MTBE with PEG and PEG/CNT fibers were 10–3,000 and 1–1,000 ng mL^?1 and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were 1.0 and 0.3 ng mL^?1, respectively. The sol–gel PEG/CNTs fiber has good performance and therefore relatively better figures of merit and experimental results such as thermal stability (up to 320 °C), average of life time (over 150 times) and repeatability (RSD < 4) in comparison to conventional PDMS/Carboxen fiber, which was already reported for determination of MTBE.     

Synthesis and application of a novel solid-phase microextraction adsorbent: hollow fiber supported carbon nanotube reinforced sol-gel for determination of phenobarbital

The present study reports the development, validation and application of a new green liquid chromatographic method for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in vegetable samples. In this work we introduce—for the first time—ethyl propiolate (EP) as an advantageous post-column derivatization reagent for thiolic compounds. GSH (t_R = 6.60 min) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC, internal standard) (t_R = 11.80 min) were separated efficiently from matrix endogenous compounds by using a 100% aqueous mobile phase (0.1%, v/v CH₃COOH in 1 mmol L⁻¹ EDTA, Q_V = 0.5 mL min⁻¹) and a Prevail^® reversed phase column that offers the advantage of stable packing material in aqueous mobile phases. The parameters of the post-column reaction (pH, amount concentration of the reagent, flow rates, length of the reaction coil and temperature) were studied. The linear determination range for GSH was 1–200 μmol L⁻¹ and the LOD was 0.1 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). Total endogenous GSH was determined in broccoli, potato, asparagus and Brussels sprouts using the standards addition approach. The accuracy was evaluated by both recovery experiments (R = 91–110%) and comparison to an o-phthalaldehyde/glycine corroborative post-column derivatization fluorimetric method.     

Ionic liquid mediated sol-gel sorbents for hollow fiber solid-phase microextraction of pesticide residues in water and hair samples

An ionic liquid mediated sol-gel sorbents for hollow fiber solid-phase microextraction (HF-SPME) was developed for extraction of the pesticides: diazinon, fenitrothion, malathion, fenvalerate, phosalone and tridemorph from human hair and water samples. The analytes were subsequently analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography and diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Preliminary experiments were carried out in order to study experimental conditions for pesticides' extraction from spiked hair and water samples with HF-SPME using hollow fiber-supported ionic liquid mediated sol-gel sorbent. The sol-gel nanocomposites were reinforced with nanoparticles such as carboxylic functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs), amino functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH(2)-MWCNTs), nano SiO(2), nano TiO(2) and nano MgO comparatively to promote extraction efficiency. In this device, the innovative solid sorbents were developed by the sol-gel method via the reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) with 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-propane-1,3-diol (TRIS). In the basic condition (pH 10-11), the gel growth process in the presence of ionic liquid and nanoparticles was initiated. Then, the sol was injected into a polypropylene hollow fiber segment for in situ gelation process. Parameters affecting the efficiency of HF-SPME were thoroughly investigated. Linearity was observed over a range of 0.01-25,000 ng/mL with detection limits between 0.004 and 0.095 ng/mL for the pesticides in the aqueous matrices and 0.003-0.080 ng/mL in the hair matrices. The relative recoveries in the real samples ranged from 82.0% to 94.0% for the pesticides store seller's hair and the work researchers' hair. Results are showing the great possibilities of HF-SPME-HPLC-PDA for analysis of pesticides in biological and environmental samples.     

Synthesis and application of a novel solid-phase microextraction adsorbent: Hollow fiber supported carbon nanotube reinforced sol–gel for determination of phenobarbital

A novel solid-phase microextraction technique using a hollow fiber-supported sol–gel combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes was employed in the determination of phenobarbital in wastewater. In this new technique, a silica-based, organic–inorganic polymer containing functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was prepared with sol–gel technology via the reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) with an acidic catalyst (HCl). This sol was injected into a polypropylene hollow fiber segment for in situ gelation. This device operated in direct immersion sampling mode. The experimental setup is simple and affordable, and the device is disposable, so there is no risk of cross-contamination or carry-over. Parameters affecting extraction such as pH of the aqueous solution, ageing and extraction times, aqueous sample volume, agitation speed and carbon nanotube amount were optimized. Linearity was observed over a range of 0.50–5000 ng mL⁻¹, with an estimation coefficient (r²) higher than 0.982. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.32 ng mL⁻¹ (n = 5), and repeatability (RSD% = 2.9) was from the average of three levels of analyte concentrations (1, 1000 and 4500 ng mL⁻¹) with three replicates for each within a single day. Finally, a pre-concentration factor of 2100 was obtained for phenobarbital.     

An unbreakable on-line approach towards sol-gel capillary microextraction

In this work a novel unbreakable sol-gel-based in-tube device for on-line solid phase microextraction (SPME) was developed. The inner surface of a copper tube, intended to be used as a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) loop, was electrodeposited by metallic Cu followed by the self assembled monolayers (SAM) of 3-(mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (3MPTMOS). Then, poly (ethyleneglycol) (PEG) was chemically bonded to the -OH sites of the SAM already covering the inner surface of the copper loop using sol-gel technology. The homogeneity and the porous surface structure of the SAM and sol-gel coatings were examined using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adsorption/desorption porosimetry (BET). The prepared loop was used for online in-tube SPME (capillary microextraction) of some selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as model compounds, from the aquatic media. After extraction, the HPLC mobile phase was used for on-line desorption and elution of the extracted analytes from the loop to the HPLC column. Major parameters affecting the extraction efficiency including the sample flow rate through the copper tube, loading time, desorption time and sample volume were optimized. For investigating the sorbent efficiency, four loops based on the copper tube itself, the copper tube after electrodeposition with Cu and the tubes with the SAMs and SAMs-sol-gel coating were made and compared. The SAMs-sol-gel coated loop clearly shows a prominently lead of at least 20-100 times of higher efficiency. The linearity for the analytes was in the range of 0.01-500 μg L(-1). Limit of detection (LOD) was in the range of 0.005-0.5 μg L(-1) and the RSD% values (n=5) were all below 8.3% at the 5 μg L(-1) level. The developed method was successfully applied to real water samples while the relative recovery percentages obtained for the spiked water samples were from 90 to 104%. The prepared loop exhibited long life time due to its remarkable solvent and mechanical stability. Different solvents such as methanol, acetonitrile and acetone were passed through the loop for many days and it was also used for more than 100 extractions/desorption of the selected analytes and no decrease in the peak areas was observed.     

Determination of brilliant green from fish pond water using carbon nanotube assisted pseudo-stir bar solid/liquid microextraction combined with UV-vis spectroscopy-diode array detection

This paper describes the development of a new design of hollow fiber solid/liquid phase microextraction (HF-SLPME) for determination of brilliant green (BG) residues in water fish ponds. This method consists of an aqueous donor phase and carbon nanotube reinforced organic solvent (acceptor phase) operated in direct immersion sampling mode. The multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersed in the organic solvent is held in the pores and lumen of a porous polypropylene hollow fiber. It is in contact directly with the aqueous donor phase. In this method the solid/liquid extractor phase is supported using a polypropylene hollow fiber membrane. Both ends of the hollow fiber segment are sealed with magnetic stoppers. This device is placed inside the donor solution and plays the rule of a pseudo-stir bar. It is disposable, so single use of the fiber reduces the risk of carry-over problems. Brilliant green (BG) after extraction from the aqueous samples with mentioned HF-SLPME device was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy with diode array detection (UV-vis/DAD). The absorption wavelength was set to 625 nm (λ(max)). The effect of different variables on the extraction was evaluated and optimized to enhance the sensitivity and extraction efficiency of the proposed method. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 1.00-10,000 μg L(-1) of BG in the initial solution with R(2)=0.979. Detection limit, based on three times the standard deviation of the blank, was 0.55 μg L(-1). All experiments were carried out at room temperature (25±0.5°C).     

Criteria for the solubility of finite groups by their centralizers

For any group G, let C(G){\mathcal{C}(G)} denote the set of centralizers of G. We say that a group G has n centralizers (G is a C_n{\mathcal{C}_n}-group) if |C(G)| = n{|\mathcal{C}(G)| = n}. In this note, we show that the derived length of a soluble C_n{\mathcal{C}_n}-group (not necessarily finite) is bounded by a function of n.