Solid-phase microextraction coatings based on the metal-organic framework ZIF-8: Ensuring stable and reusable fibers.

Chemical vapor deposition of MOFs (MOF-CVD) has been used to coat solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers with ZIF-8, by exposing ZnO layers to the linker vapor (2-methylimidazole). This ZIF-8 coating has been used as a seed layer in a following solvothermal MOF growth step in order to increase the ZIF-8 thickness. The combined MOF-CVD and solvothermal growth of ZIF-8 on the fibers result in a thickness of ~3 µm, with adequate thermal stability, and mechanical integrity when tested with methanol and acetonitrile ultrasonic treatments. The fibers have been evaluated in direct immersion mode using gas chromatography and flame ionization detection (GC-FID), for a group of target analytes including three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and five personal care products (PCPs). The optimized conditions of the SPME-GC-FID methods include low amount of aqueous sample (5 mL), stirring for 45 min at 35 °C, and desorption at 280 °C for 5 min. The method presents limits of detection down to 0.6 µg L-1; intra-day, inter-day and inter-batch relative standard deviation values lower than 16%, 19%, and 23%, respectively; and a lifetime higher than 70 cycles.

Core-shell microparticles formed by the metal-organic framework CIM-80(Al) (Silica@CIM-80(Al)) as sorbent material in miniaturized dispersive solid-phase extraction.

Core-shell SiO2@CIM-80(Al) microspheres were synthesized, characterized, and used as novel sorbent in a dispersive miniaturized solid-phase extraction (D-µSPE) method for the determination of fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewaters by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector (UHPLC-FD). A Doehlert experimental design permitted to optimize the main parameters affecting the microextraction procedure, intending the obtaining of a simple approach. Optimized extraction conditions include 13 mg of SiO2@CIM-80(Al) microparticles (~2 mg CIM-80(Al)), 2.5 min of extraction time, 0.125 mL of acetonitrile (ACN) as desorption solvent and 0.5 min of desorption time. The entire method showed adequate analytical performance with limits of detection down to 5 ng L-1, and inter-day precision lower than 14.1% for a concentration level of 0.5 µg L-1. The extraction capability of SiO2@CIM-80(Al) microspheres was compared to that obtained with commercially available silica microspheres and the neat MOF CIM-80(Al), demonstrating the advantages of the use of MOF core-shell sorbents in D-µSPE.

Silver nanoparticles supported onto a stainless steel wire for direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons prior to their determination by GC-FID.

The authors describe a new coating for use in solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by using gallic acid or glucose as the reducing agents, and then supported onto a stainless steel wire that was previously coated with a silver mirror. Coating with AgNPs was performed by a layer-by-layer approach of up to eight cycles of consecutive deposition of AgNPs and the thiol linker 1,8-octanedithiol. This procedure allows proper control of the coating thickness. Thicknesses are 3.2 µm and 3.5 µm with AgNPs obtained with gallic acid and glucose, respectively. This is in agreement with theoretical estimations (3.8 µm). The fibers were used in the direct-immersion SPME-GC-FID determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from different waters. The performance of the method was compared to the one using polydimethylsiloxane fibers (100 µm), which is the most suitable commercial SPME fiber for PAHs. Despite the low thickness of the AgNP coatings (compared to PDMS), the analytical features of the method using the most adequate coating (AgNPs prepared with gallic acid) include: (a) limits of detection down to 0.6 ng·mL-1; (b) intra-day, inter-day, and inter-fiber precisions (expressed as RSDs) lower than 22, 26 and 25%, respectively; and (c) an operational lifetime of ~150 extractions/desorption cycles. The analysis of various spiked environmental waters using these fibers resulted in adequate analytical performance. Graphical abstract Silver nanoparticle based coatings for solid-phase microextraction fibers were prepared by a layer-by-layer approach. They were used for determination of 16 PAHs in waters by gas chromatography. Limits of detection are < 14 µg·L-1 and intra-day, inter-day, and inter-fiber precisions are <26%.

Gold nanoparticles based solid-phase microextraction coatings for determining organochlorine pesticides in aqueous environmental samples.

The use of solid-phase microextraction coatings based on gold nanoparticles was investigated, focusing the attention on the preparation of nanoparticles with nonclassical reduction agents of HAuCl4 such as gallic acid and H2 O2 , rather than the conventional sodium citrate. All nanoparticles were characterized by diode array spectroscopy, whereas novel nanoparticles prepared with gallic acid and H2 O2 were also characterized by microscopic techniques. Solid-phase microextraction coatings were prepared with a layer-by-layer approach. Gallic acid permitted the preparation of stable nanoparticles with milder experimental conditions (1 min, room temperature) and provided the most uniform coatings (thickness ∼3 µm). Seven organochlorine pesticides were determined in different environmental waters using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Despite the low thickness of the coatings, limits of detection of the entire method down to 0.13 µg/L were obtained. A comparison with the commercial polyacrylate in terms of the partition coefficients of the analytes to the coatings gave logarithm of the partition coefficient values two times higher with gallic acid than polyacrylate (although the commercial fiber is 28 times thicker). Interfiber relative standard deviation values ranged from 8.67 to 21.3%. Optimum fibers also presented an adequate lifetime (>100 extractions).