Collection of trace metals with cationic surfactant-silica particles followed by flotation with an anionic surfactant for seawater analysis.

The analysis of seawater for trace metals is important for pollution monitoring and better understanding of marine systems. The present paper describes an efficient preconcentration method for the determination of trace metals in seawater. Trace metals [Ni(II), Cu(II), Ga(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Bi(III)] in 1,000 mL of seawater sample were complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and sorbed onto silica particles covered with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride. After the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the particles were floated to the solution surface by bubbling and then collected by suction. The trace metals were desorbed with dilute nitric acid and determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The rapid 200-fold preconcentration was demonstrated with certified seawater samples.

Phosphoester hydrolysis by cerium(IV)-thiacalix[4]arene complexes and its application to immunoassay.

Thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate was treated with Ce(IV) in water at pH 9.5 to give novel phosphoester-hydrolyzing complexes. The dinuclear Ce(IV) complex promoted the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate with a turnover frequency of 6.8 h(-1) at 50 degrees C, showing fourfold higher activity than the mononuclear complex. The dinuclear complex was readily immobilized onto an antibody by simply mixing them in water, hence its phosphatase-like activity was applied to the color-developing reaction in immunoassay. The model assay using an antibody labeled with the dinuclear complex allowed the detection of as little as 10 ng mL(-1) of a tumor marker, Bence-Jones protein, in a 96-well microtiter plate format. Analysis of urine for Bence-Jones protein was performed by the proposed method.

Concentration of chlorophenols in water to dialkyated catinonic surfactant-silica gel admicelles.

Chlorophenols including monochlorophenol, dichlorophenol, trichlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol in water were extracted into dialkylated cationic surfactant-silica gel admicelles. The dialkylated cationic surfactants such as didecyldimethylammonium bromide (DC10) and didodedyldimethylammonium bromide (DC12) sorbed on silica gel surfaces to form admicelles at pH 9. Approximately 200mg of DC10 was quantitatively sorbed on 1g of silica gel. The sorption further increased by further addition of DC10. This is in contrast to the fact that the maximum sorption of mono-alkylated cetyltrimethyammonium chloride (CTAC) was only ca. 100mg. Based on the fluorescent spectra of a molecular probe, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, DC10- and DC12-silica gel admicelles were more hydrophobic than CTAC-silica gel admicelles. The extents of the extraction of chlorophenols into DC10-silica gel admicelles were greater than those into CTAC-silica gel admicelles. However, the extractions to DC12-silica gel admicelles were insufficient due to leakage of DC12 vesicles. Consequently, DC10-silica gel admicelles were the most adequate for concentrating chlorophenols in water. An admicelle column was prepared by passing aqueous buffer solution of DC10 through a Bond Elut Jr. silica gel solid-phase extraction cartridge. It was successfully applied to the 500-fold concentration of chlorophenols including hydrophilic mono-substituted chlorophenol in water samples prior to their HPLC analysis.

Polymer-mediated extraction of the fluorescent compounds derived by Hantzsch reaction with dimedone for the sensitive determination of aliphatic aldehydes in air.

An extraction method based on the thermo-responsive precipitation of a water-soluble polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAAm], was applied to the concentration of dimedone (5,5-dimethylcycrohexane-1,3-dion) derivatives for the highly sensitive determination of aldehydes in air. Aliphatic aldehydes including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, 1-butanal, 1-heptanal, and 1-hexanal in air were well solubilized into the aqueous solution of dimedone and ammonium acetate by mixing the solution and air sample in a polyvinyl fluoride bag. Fluorescent derivatives of aldehydes that had formed by the Hantzsch reaction with dimedone were concentrated by polymer-mediated extraction. The recoveries of the fluorescent compounds increased with increasing the carbon number of aldehyde and were more than 80% for the derivatives from aldehydes having more than three carbon atoms under the optimal conditions. Microgram per m3 (sub-ppb) levels of the aliphatic aldehydes, propanal, 1-butanal, 1-heptanal, and 1-hexanal, in ambient air were successfully determined by HPLC separation with fluorometric detection. The sampling volume and time required were only 1l and 20 s, respectively.

Concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in water to sodium dodecyl sulfate-gamma-alumina admicelle.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water were concentrated into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gamma-alumina and di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Aerosol-OT, AOT)-gamma-alumina admicelles. The comparison of the binding constants (Kad[={adsorbed concentration of the solute (mol/g surfactant)}/{the concentration in the bulk aqueous phase (mol/ml)}] indicated almost the same extraction abilities of the both admicelles. However, better and more reproducible recovery was obtained in the concentration of PAHs into the SDS-gamma-alumina admicelle. PAHs in tobacco smoke that were trapped in water were successfully concentrated into SDS-gamma-alumina admicelle for the HPLC analysis.

Solid phase extraction of some precious metals from hydrochloric acid to polystyrene-divinylbenzene porous resin impregnated with polyoxyethylene-type nonionic surfactant.

The solid phase extraction of gold(III), platinum(II), and palladium(II) to surfactant-impregnated polystyrene-divinylbenzene porous resin (XAD-4) was studied. The extracting media could be prepared just by mixing the resin in aqueous surfactant solutions. XAD-4 impregnated with a nonionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol monooleyl ether, was useful for extracting gold(III) from hydrochloric acid. The extractions of platinum(II) and palladium(II) were improved in the use of XAD-4 impregnated with a nitrogen-containing nonionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol stearyl amine. On the other hand, base metals such as copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II), were hardly extracted.

Laser ablation and low-pressure helium-ICP-MS for the analysis of alumina powder dispersed in glycerol.

A combined method of laser ablation (LA) and ICP-MS has gained much attention as a direct analytical method for solid samples. The determination of some elements, however, is seriously disturbed by isobaric interferences, mainly caused by argon and ambient air constituents. The use of low-pressure helium-ICP is a promising solution of the problem. A 1:1 mixture of alumina powder and glycerol was deaerated and irradiated with a pulsed laser beam (150 mJ) for 10 s. The sample aerosol was transported to the ICP with a stream of helium. Indium was used as an internal standard for correcting the ablated sample amount. Calibration curves were prepared from glycerol containing high-purity alumina, trace metals and indium. The detection limits for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu approached the fractional ppm levels. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of different alumina samples (99 - 99.995% purity).

Concentration of chlorophenols in water with sodium dodecylsulfate-gamma-alumina admicelles for high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis.

Chlorophenols in water were sorbed onto sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)-alumina (gamma-form) admicelles. The extent of sorption increased with increasing amount of SDS and decreasing solution pH. Conditions for good recovery were obtained when 100 mg SDS and 1.5 g alumina was used at pH 2. However, the yield decreased with a further increase in the SDS concentration due to the formation of normal SDS micelles. The extent of sorption also increased with increasing hydrophobicity of the chlorophenol, indicating that hydrophobic interactions predominate for the collection of analytes. When a cartridge column filled with admicelles was used, >90% of tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol in 200 ml of water samples were rapidly recovered. The sorbed analytes were eluted with 1 ml acetonitrile. The accuracy and precision of the present method were demonstrated for the HPLC analysis with ultraviolet (290 nm) detection of microg l(-1) levels of tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol in river water samples.

Protein separation with surfactant-coated octadecylsilyl silica involving Cibacron blue 3GA-conjugated nonionic surfactant.

A novel medium for protein separation, namely affinity admicelle, was prepared by mixing of octadecylsilyl (ODS) silica gels, a polyoxyethylene-type nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100), and a surfactant-conjugated substrate (affinity ligand) in an aqueous solution. The ligand was synthesized by mixing a triazine dye (Cibacron Blue 3GA, CB) and a polyethylene glycol monooleyl ether (C18EO7, C18EO10, or C18EO20) having different length of polyoxyethylene moiety in weakly alkaline solutions. The amount of Triton X-100 sorbed on 1 g of ODS silica was 0.2 mmol. Affinity ligands having highly hydrophobic oleyl group were predominantly sorbed on ODS silica. The losses of Triton X-100 and affinity ligand were within 0.3% and negligible by washing the admicelles were with a 25-fold volume of 1 mM Tris-HCl solution (pH 7.4). The coating ODS silica with Triton X-100 was effective to prevent the irreversible sorption of albumin (bovine, serum). An NADH-dependent enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, yeast), was successfully collected on the admicelles involving CB-conjugated ligands (CB-C18EO20). The maximum collection of ADH to 90 mg/ml of affinity admicelles was 68+/-4%. However, CB-C18EO7 and CB-C18EO10 having shorter polyoxyethylene unit were not available, suggesting the requirement of the spacer moiety in the affinity ligand. The recovery and purification factor based on the ratio of activity (unit)/protein (mg) from Whatman DE52-treated yeast extract was 27% and 12, respectively.

Protein separation with surfactant-coated polystyrene involving Cibacron Blue 3GA-conjugated triton X-100.

Through mixing of porous polystyrene particles (Amberlite XAD-4), non-ionic surfactants, and surfactant-conjugated substrates (affinity ligand) in an aqueous solution led to the formation of a novel medium (affinity admicelle) for protein separation. The ligand (CB-Triton) was synthesized by mixing a triazine dye (Cibacron Blue 3GA (CB)) and a polyoxyethylene-type non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100) in weakly alkaline solutions. Triton X-100 and CB-Triton were competitively sorbed onto XAD-4. Albumin (bovine serum), alcohol dehydrogenase (yeast), and lysozyme (chicken egg) having specific interaction to CB were collected onto the affinity admicelle. On the other hand, the collection of ovalubmin (chicken egg white), having no binding ability to CB, was negligibly small. Lysozyme in 100 microl of chicken egg white, diluted with 900 microl of 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), was successfully collected on 18 mg of CB-Triton admicelles and, then, it was eluted with 1 ml of aqueous solution of 100 mM phosphate (pH 7.4). The recovery based on the activity for the lysis of micrococcus and the concentration factor were 60% and 40 (n = 3), respectively.

Aerosol-OT-gamma-alumina admicelles for the concentration of hydrophobic organic compounds in water.

A novel admicelle composing of a dialkylated anionic surfactant, di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Aerosol-OT, AOT) and gamma-alumina was prepared by mixing them in acidic aqueous solution. The amount of the maximum sorption of AOT on 1 g of alumina at pH 2 was ca. 130 mg. By comparing the fluorescence spectra of N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine in different solvents, the solvent property of AOT-gamma-alumina admicelles was corresponding to that of toluene or diethyl ether. Thus, the AOT-gamma-alumina admicelles had greater hydrophobicity than SDS-gamma-alumina admicelles having similar hydrophobicity to 1-octanol or ethyl acetate. Hydrophobic organic compounds, chlorophenols having more than three chloro substituents, octylphenol, nonylphenol, dibutyl phthalate was almost quantitatively (98% or more) collected onto AOT admicelles composing of 1.5 g gamma-alumina and 150 mg AOT. The greater collection yields rather than those in SDS-admicellar system were ascribable to greater hydrophobicity and stability of AOT admicelles. After the 500-fold concentration, traces (nM) of organic contaminants in water samples were successfully detected with an HPLC having a photometric detector.

Ultrafiltration and alumina adsorption of micelles for the preconcentration of copper(II) in water.

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration was considered from the viewpoint of trace analysis, by taking copper(II) as an example. Copper(II) cations were collected electrostatically on micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and separated from the mother liquor by ultrafiltration. However, the final solution contained a large amount of surfactant, which caused serious interference in the determination. This problem was overcome by using alumina adsorption, where negatively charged micelles were adsorbed on positively charged alumina particles and then recovered by conventional filtration. The copper was leached from the micelles with 4 mol l(-1) nitric acid, leaving the surfactant on the alumina. The proposed method was successfully applied to an analysis of certified reference water samples.

Simultaneous determination of trace elements in minute samples by electrothermal-vaporization/low-pressure helium-ICP-MS.

Electrothermal vaporization with two filaments was studied for low-pressure helium-ICP-MS. A 10-microl volume of sample was dried and vaporized, and then introduced to the ICP. With this technique, four elements were simultaneously determined with the acceptable precisions (RSD ca. 10%). The detection limit based on 3sigma of background signals approached the fractional ppb range. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the certified reference material for human hair.

Ionic liquid-based extraction followed by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace heavy metals in high-purity iron metal.

The analysis of high-purity materials for trace impurities is an important and challenging task. The present paper describes a facile and sensitive method for the determination of trace heavy metals in high-purity iron metal. Trace heavy metals in an iron sample solution were rapidly and selectively preconcentrated by the extraction into a tiny volume of an ionic liquid [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] for the determination by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A nitrogen-donating neutral ligand, 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TPTZ), was found to be effective in the ionic liquid-based selective extraction, allowing the nearly complete (~99.8%) elimination of the iron matrix. The combination with the optimized GFAAS was successful. The detectability reached sub-µg g(-1) levels in iron metal. The novel use of TPTZ in ionic liquid-based extraction followed by GFAAS was successfully applied to the determination of traces of Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb in certified reference materials for high-purity iron metal.

Separation of Gd-humic complexes and Gd-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent in river water with QAE-Sephadex A-25 for the fractionation analysis.

Gadolinium complexed with naturally occurring, negatively charged humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) was collected from 500 mL of sample solution onto a column packed with 150 mg of a strongly basic anion-exchanger (QAE-Sephadex A-25). A Gd-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent (diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N″,N″-pentaacetato aquo gadolinium(III), Gd-DTPA(2-)) was simultaneously collected on the same column. The Gd-DTPA complex was desorbed by anion-exchange with 50mM tetramethylammonium sulfate, leaving the Gd-humic complexes on the column. The Gd-humic complexes were subsequently dissociated with 1M nitric acid to desorb the humic fraction of Gd. The two-step desorption with small volumes of the eluting agents allowed the 100-fold preconcentration for the fractionation analysis of Gd at low ng L(-1) levels by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). On the other hand, Gd(III) neither complexed with humic substances nor DTPA, i.e., free species, was not sorbed on the column. The free Gd in the effluent was preconcentrated 100-fold by a conventional solid-phase extraction with an iminodiacetic acid-type chelating resin and determined by ICP-MS. The proposed analytical fractionation method was applied to river water samples.

Effective collection of hydrophobic organic pollutants in water with aluminum hydroxide and hydrophobically modified polyacrylic acid.

Polyacrylic acid was hydrophobically modified with dodecylamine and used as a coagulant for coprecipitation of hydrophobic organic pollutants from water. The polymer coagulant induced effective aggregation of aluminum hydroxide having hydrophobic regions which are essential for the incorporation of hydrophobic organic pollutants. Recoveries of the organic pollutants increased with increasing the dodecylamine content, which indicated that the dodecylamine moiety played an important role in the formation of hydrophobic area on the precipitate. Different hydrophobic organic pollutants that had hardly been removed by the conventional coprecipitation were successfully collected by the proposed method.

Surfactant-coated aluminum hydroxide for the rapid removal and biodegradation of hydrophobic organic pollutants in water.

The removal of hydrophobic organic pollutants in water to surfactant-coated aluminum hydroxide [surfactant-Al(OH)(3)] was investigated. Anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT), and sodium oleate were sorbed on positively charged aluminum hydroxide at pH 7 and formed hydrophobic aggregates that can incorporate hydrophobic organic pollutants in water. Because of the hydrophobic interaction and decrease in the positive charge, surfactant-Al(OH)(3) was coagulated into precipitates that can readily be separated from water. Hydrophobic organic pollutants such as alkylphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, estrogens, chlorinated antifungals, and pesticides were well collected to the precipitates and thus efficiently removed from water. The collection of hydrophobic organic pollutants was correlated to their aqueous-octanol distribution coefficient. The decomposition of hydrophobic organic pollutants was examined using a bacterial agent (Bacillus subtilis). Hydrophobic organic compounds collected to AOT-Al(OH)(3) or sodium oleate-Al(OH)(3) were insufficiently decomposed. On the other hand, nonylphenol, octylphenol, and pendimethalin collected to SDS-Al(OH)(3) were decomposed within 1 week. The decomposition was accelerated by the collection to SDS-Al(OH)(3).

Removal of phenols in water using chitosan-conjugated thermo-responsive polymers.

A chitosan-conjugated thermo-responsive polymer containing 15% chitosan, PNIPAAm-15CS, was used for the removal of different phenols in water. The polymer was synthesized by a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide-mediated condensation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and chitosan in the aqueous solution (pH 6). At 30 °C, phenol, 4-methylphenol, 4-methoxyphenol, and 4-chlorophenol were converted to dark brown oxidized compounds by the tyrosinase-induced enzymatic reaction and subsequently bound to the amino moiety of PNIPAAm-15CS. In the presence of 1.0 g L(-1) PNIPAAm-15 CS and 50 k UL(-1) tyrosinase, phenols (20 mg L(-1)) decreased to undetectable levels (<0.01 mg L(-1)) within 2h. By the vigorous mixing of the solution at 40 °C, the polymer deposited and became a small coagulate that can be easily taken up from water. Accompanying the polymer deposition, the oxidized compounds were completely (>98%) removed. The proposed method was successfully applied to the removal of phenols from wastewaters.