Nanosorbent-based solid phase microextraction techniques for the monitoring of emerging organic contaminants in water and wastewater samples.

This review (including 127 refs) summarizes applications of nanosorbent-based solid phase microextraction (SPME) for the cleanup, extraction, and quantification of Emerging Organic Contaminants (EOCs). SPME is the most widely used technique for the analysis of EOCs from water samples. The selection of sorbent material plays a key role in SPME applications. Here, we have collected information about recent developments in the application of nanosorbents in the SPME technique used for the extraction of EOCs from water and wastewater samples. In this review, the preparation, properties, advantages, and limitations of nanosorbents used in SPME applications are evaluated and discussed. Besides, the applications of these nanosorbents in SPME-based extraction techniques and their analytical characteristics for the determination of EOCs are reviewed. Graphical abstract.

Applications of three-dimensional graphenes for preconcentration, extraction, and sorption of chemical species: a review.

This review (with 115 refs) summarizes applications of 3-dimensional graphene (3DGs) and its derivatives in the fields of preconcentration, extraction, and sorption. Following an introduction into the field (including a definition of the materials treated here), the properties and synthetic strategies for 3DGs are described. The next section covers applications of 3DG-based adsorbents in solid phase extraction of organic species including drugs, phthalate esters, chlorophenols, aflatoxins, insecticides, and pesticides. Another section treats applications of 3DGs in solid phase microextraction of species such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, and pesticides. We also describe how the efficiency of assays may be improved by using these materials as a sorbent. A final section covers conclusions and perspectives. Graphical abstract Graphical abstract contains poor quality and small text inside the artwork. Please do not re-use the file that we have rejected or attempt to increase its resolution and re-save. It is originally poor, therefore, increasing the resolution will not solve the quality problem. We suggest that you provide us the original format. We prefer replacement figures containing vector/editable objects rather than embedded images. Preferred file formats are eps, ai, tiff and pdf.Tiff file of graphical abstract was attached. Schematic presentation of synthesis of three-dimensional graphene (3DG) from two-dimensional graphene (2DG) with self-assembly, template-assisted and direct deposition methods. Application of 3DG-based nanoadsorbents in direct immersion-solid phase microextraction (DI-SPME), headspace-SPME (HS-SPME), magnetic-solid phase extraction (Magnetic-SPE), dispersive-SPE, and magnetic sheet-SPE.

Coupling of homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the extraction and preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous samples followed by GC with flame ionization detection.

In the present study, a simple and rapid method for the extraction and preconcentration of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples has been developed. In this method, two sample preparation methods were combined to obtain high extraction recoveries and enrichment factors for sensitive analysis of the selected analytes. In the first stage of the method, a homogeneous solution containing an aqueous solution and cyclohexyl amine is broken by the addition of a salt. After centrifugation, the upper collected phase containing the extracted analytes is subjected to the following dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method. Rapid injection of the mixture of cyclohexyl amine resulted from the first stage and 1,1,2-trichloroethane (as an extraction solvent) into an acetic acid solution is led to form a cloudy solution. After centrifuging, the fine droplets of the extraction solvent are settled down in the bottom of the test tube, and an aliquot of it is analyzed by gas chromatography. Under the optimum extraction conditions, enrichment factors and limits of detection for the studied analytes were obtained in the ranges of 616-752 and 0.08-0.20 µg/L, respectively. The simplicity, high extraction efficiency, short sample preparation time, low cost, and safety demonstrated the efficiency of this method relative to other approaches.

Simultaneous determination of atorvastatin and valsartan in human plasma by solid-based disperser liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection.

A simple, sensitive, and efficient method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of valsartan and atorvastatin in human plasma by combination of solid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. In the proposed method, 1,2-dibromoethane (extraction solvent) is added on a sugar cube (as a solid disperser) and it is introduced into plasma sample containing the analytes. After manual shaking and centrifugation, the resultant sedimented phase is subjected to back extraction into a small volume of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution using air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction. Then the cloudy solution is centrifuged and the obtained aqueous phase is transferred into a microtube and analyzed by the separation system. Under the optimal conditions, extraction recoveries are obtained in the range of 81-90%. Calibration curves plotted in drug-free plasma sample are linear in the ranges of 5-5000µgL(-1) for valsartan and 10-5000µgL(-1) for atorvastatin with the coefficients of determination higher than 0.997. Limits of detection and quantification of the studied analytes in plasma sample are 0.30-2.6 and 1.0-8.2µgL(-1), respectively. Intra-day (n=6) and inter-days (n=4) precisions of the method are satisfactory with relative standard deviations less than 7.4% (at three levels of 10, 500, and 2000µgL(-1), each analyte). These data suggest that the method can be successfully applied to determine trace amounts of valsartan and atorvastatin in human plasma samples.

Simultaneous derivatization and solid-based disperser liquid-liquid microextraction for extraction and preconcentration of some antidepressants and an antiarrhythmic agent in urine and plasma samples followed by GC-FID.

The present work is based on a one-step method including derivatization and solid-based disperser liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for the determination of four antidepressants (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, tranylcypromine, and nortriptyline) and an antiarrhythmic agent (mexiletine) in human urine and plasma samples. In this method, a mixture of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (extraction solvent) and butylchloroformate (derivatizing reagent) is added on a sugar cube (solid disperser) and it is introduced into an aqueous sample containing the analytes and a catalyst, e.g. 3-methylpyridine (picoline). During dissolving the sugar cube by manual shaking, the extractant and derivatization agent are gradually released into the sample as very fine droplets. Then the resulted cloudy solution is centrifuged and the sedimented phase is analyzed by GC-FID. The influence of several variables on the efficiency of derivatization/microextraction procedure such as kind and volume of extraction solvent, type and amount of disperser, amount of derivatization agent, and catalyst volume are optimized. Under the optimum conditions the calibration curves are linear in the range of 8-100,000µgL(-1) (coefficient of determination ≥0.994). The relative standard deviations are obtained in the range of 3.0-6.0% for all compounds. Moreover, the detection limits and enrichment factors of the target analytes are obtained in the ranges 1-15µgL(-1) and 228-268, respectively, for both plasma and urine samples. The relative recoveries obtained for the spiked plasma and urine samples are between 70 and 91%. The results show that the proposed method is simple, reliable, low cost, and applicable to determine trace amounts of the studied drugs in biological samples.

Solid-based disperser liquid-liquid microextraction for the preconcentration of phthalate esters and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry.

A new approach for the development of a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by GC with flame ionization detection was proposed for the determination of phthalate esters and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in aqueous samples. In the proposed method, solid and liquid phases were used as the disperser and extractant, respectively, providing a simple and fast mode for the extraction of the analytes into a small volume of an organic solvent. In this method, microliter levels of an extraction solvent was added onto a sugar cube and it was transferred into the aqueous phase containing the analytes. By manual shaking, the sugar was dissolved and the extractant was released into the aqueous phase as very tiny droplets to provide a cloudy solution. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good precision (RSD less than 5.2%), high enrichment factors (266-556), and low LODs (0.09-0.25 µg/L). The method was successfully applied for the determination of the target analytes in different samples, and good recoveries (71-103%) were achieved for the spiked samples. No need for a disperser solvent and higher enrichment factors compared with conventional dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and low cost and short sample preparation time are other advantages of the method.

Simultaneous derivatization and air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction of some parabens in personal care products and their determination by GC with flame ionization detection.

A simultaneous derivatization/air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction technique has been developed for the sample pretreatment of some parabens in aqueous samples. The analytes were derivatized and extracted simultaneously by a fast reaction/extraction with butylchloroformate (derivatization agent/extraction solvent) from the aqueous samples and then analyzed by GC with flame ionization detection. The effect of catalyst type and volume, derivatization agent/extraction solvent volume, ionic strength of aqueous solution, pH, numbers of extraction, aqueous sample volume, etc. on the method efficiency was investigated. Calibration graphs were linear in the range of 2-5000 µg/L with squared correlation coefficients >0.990. Enhancement factors and enrichment factors ranged from 1535 to 1941 and 268 to 343, respectively. Detection limits were obtained in the range of 0.41-0.62 µg/L. The RSDs for the extraction and determination of 250 µg/L of each paraben were <4.9% (n = 6). In this method, the derivatization agent and extraction solvent were the same and there is no need for a dispersive solvent, which is common in a traditional dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique. Furthermore, the sample preparation time is very short.

Salting-out homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction in narrow-bore tube: extraction and preconcentration of phthalate esters from water.

In this study a simple and rapid sample preparation technique, homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction based on phase separation in the presence of a salt performed in a narrow-bore tube, followed by GC-flame ionization detection has been developed. In this work, sodium chloride and ACN were used as the salting-out agent and water-soluble extraction solvent, respectively. The homogeneous solution of water and ACN was broken by addition of the salt. Small volume of ACN was collected on top of the tube and the extracted analytes in the collected phase were determined. It has been successfully used for the analysis of five phthalate esters as model compounds in aqueous sample. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as kind and volume of the water-soluble organic solvent, length and diameter of the tube, and pH of the sample solution were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs were between 0.02 and 0.7 µg/L and enrichment factors were in the range of 172-309. In addition, good linearity (between 1 and 5000 µg/L) and high precision on the base of RSD (<8%, C = 600 µg/L, n = 6) were achieved.

Development of a new dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method in a narrow-bore tube for preconcentration of triazole pesticides from aqueous samples.

In the present work a new, simple, rapid and environmentally friendly dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method has been developed for extraction/preconcentration of some triazole pesticides in aqueous samples and in grape juice. The extract was analyzed with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The DLLME method was performed in a narrow-bore tube containing aqueous sample. Acetonitrile and a mixture of n-hexanol and n-hexane (75:25, v/v) were used as disperser and extraction solvents, respectively. The effect of several factors that influence performance of the method, including the chemical nature and volume of the disperser and extraction solvents, number of extraction, pH and salt addition, were investigated and optimized. Figures of merit such as linearity (r(2)>0.995), enrichment factors (EFs) (263-380), limits of detection (0.3-5 µg L(-1)) and quantification (0.9-16.7 µg L(-1)), and relative standard deviations (3.2-5%) of the proposed method were satisfactory for determination of the model analytes. The method was successfully applied for determination of target pesticides in grape juice and good recoveries (74-99%) were achieved for spiked samples. As compared with the conventional DLLME, the proposed DLLME method showed higher EFs and less environmental hazards with no need for centrifuging.

Development of a new microextraction method based on a dynamic single drop in a narrow-bore tube: application in extraction and preconcentration of some organic pollutants in well water and grape juice samples.

A novel sample preparation technique, the microextraction method based on a dynamic single drop in a narrow-bore tube, coupled with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) is presented in this paper. The most important features of this method are simplicity and high enrichment factors. In this method, a microdrop of an extraction solvent assisted by an air bubble was repeatedly passed through a narrow-bore closed end tube containing aqueous sample. It has been successfully used for the analysis of some pesticides as model analytes in aqueous samples. Parameters affecting the method's performance such as selection of extraction solvent type and volume, number of extractions, volume of aqueous sample (tube length), and salt effect were studied and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors (EFs) for triazole pesticides were in the range of 141-214 and the limits of detection (LODs) were between 2 and 112 µg L(-1). The relative standard deviations (C=1000 µg L(-1), n=6) were obtained in the range of 2.9-4.5%. The recoveries obtained for the spiked well water and grape juice samples were between 71 and 106%. Low cost, relatively short sample preparation time and less solvent consumption are other advantages of the proposed method.