Ultra-trace determination of cadmium in water and food samples by a thin-film microextraction using a supported liquid membrane combined with smartphone-based colorimetric detection.

A mixture of n-octanol and dithizone was introduced as an effective and novel extraction agent in a thin-film microextraction technique for the pre-concentration of cadmium ions. The extraction agent was immobilized on small pieces of porous polypropylene flat membrane as a supported liquid membrane. The analyte extraction was performed by immersing the modified film in the sample solution, and via a complex formation between the immobilized dithizone on the film and cadmium ions. After the thin-film microextraction process, the colored cadmium-dithizone complex was directly measured by a smartphone colorimetric analysis. Under optimized conditions, the linear dynamic range, the limit of detection, and the limit of quantification were 0.5-300.0, 0.1, and 0.4 µg L-1, respectively. The developed technique was successfully employed to quantify cadmium ions in water and food samples. The high relative recovery values (95.0-103.0%) along with relative standard deviations of less than 2.5% were obtained for the spiked samples.

CoFe2O4 nano-particles functionalized with 8-hydroxyquinoline for dispersive solid-phase micro-extraction and direct fluorometric monitoring of aluminum in human serum and water samples.

A simple dispersive solid-phase micro-extraction method based on CoFe2O4 nano-particles (NPs) functionalized with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) with the aid of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was developed for separation of Al(III) ions from aqueous solutions. Al(III) ions are separated at pH 7 via complex formation with 8-HQ using the functionalized CoFe2O4 nano-particles sol solution as a dispersed solid-phase extractor. The separated analyte is directly quantified by a spectrofluorometric method at 370nm excitation and 506nm emission wavelengths. A comparison of the fluorescence of Al(III)-8-HQ complex in bulk solution and that of Al(III) ion interacted with 8-HQ/SDS/CoFe2O4 NPs revealed a nearly 5-fold improvement in intensity. The experimental factors influencing the separation and in situ monitoring of the analyte were optimized. Under these conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.1-300ngmL(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9986. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.03ngmL(-1) and 0.10ngmL(-1), respectively. The inter-day and intra-day relative standard deviations for six replicate determinations of 150ngmL(-1) Al(III) ion were 2.8% and 1.7%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to direct determine Al(III) ion in various human serum and water samples.

D-penicillamine capped cadmium telluride quantum dots as a novel fluorometric sensor of copper(II).

D-penicillamine-capped cadmium telluride quantum dots (DPA-capped CdTe QDs) were synthesized as the new fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystal in aqueous solution. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used for characterization of the QDs. Based on the quenching effect of Cu(2+) ions on the fluorescence intensity of DPA-capped CdTe QDs, a new fluorometric sensor for copper(II) detection was developed that showed good linearity over the concentration range 5 × 10(-9)-3 × 10(-6) M with the detection limit 0.4 × 10(-9) M. Owing to the strong affinity of the DPA to copper(II), the sensor showed appropriate selectivity for copper(II) compared with conventional QDs. The DPA-capped CdTe QDs was successfully applied for determination of Cu(2+) concentration in river, well and tap waters with satisfactory results.

Determination of selenium in serum samples of preterm newborn infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia using a validated hydride generation system.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease, is one of the most challenging complications in premature newborn infants. Selenium plays a role in antioxidant system by protecting cell membranes and neutralizing the deleterious effects of free radicals. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between selenium concentration and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia using a validated analytical method. Umbilical cord blood and blood samples 30 days after the birth were collected from 38 preterm newborn infants with gestation age of 32 weeks or less, and the separated serums were kept at -70°C until analysis time. Selenium concentration of serum was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The method was validated on the basis of standard validation techniques. The analytical method was linear in the range of 1 to 500 µg/L with the limit of detection of 0.4 µg/L. Samples were collected from 38 infants whose gestation age was 32 weeks or less. The blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord blood at birth in 19 cases. In 25 cases, blood samples were collected 1 month after birth. Of the 15 patients diagnosed with BPD, 10 were boys (p = 0.02). The mean serum selenium concentration was not different at birth between patients with and without BPD, but it was significantly lower at 30 days after birth in patients with BPD (38.5 ± 14.1vs. 45.4 ± 18.7 µg/L, p = 0.02). Preterm newborn infants with BPD had lower serum selenium concentrations 1 month after birth.

Ultratrace determination of cadmium by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration with a simplified cloud point extraction methodology.

A simplified micelle-mediated extraction methodology for the preconcentration of ultratrace levels of cadmium as a prior step to its determination by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) has been developed. The methodology is based on the cloud point extraction (CPE) of cadmium at pH 8 by using the non-ionic surfactant polyethyleneglycolmono-p-nonylphenylether (PONPE 7.5) without adding any chelating agent. Cadmium cold vapor was generated from 2ml of the extracted surfactant-rich phase by means of sodium tetrahydroborate (3%, w/v) as a reducing agent and hydrochloric acid (0.2mol l(-1)) as a carrier solution. Several important variables that affect the cloud point extraction and cold vapor cadmium generation efficiency were investigated and optimized. The preconcentration of only 50ml of solution in the presence of 0.06% (v/v) PONPE 7.5 gives an enhancement factor of 62. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system was linear in the range of 4-100ng l(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. Detection limit (3s) obtained in the optimal conditions was 0.56ng l(-1). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for six replicate determinations at 20ng l(-1) Cd level was 3.2%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the ultratrace determination of cadmium in water samples.