Development of organic solvents-free mode of solidification of floating organic droplet-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples before their determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In this study, a green mode of solidification of floating organic droplet-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction has been developed for the extraction of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples before their determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In this method, an appropriate volume of menthol:decanoic acid deep eutectic solvent (as an extraction solvent) is added on a sugar cube (as a disperser agent). In the following, the cube is released into the diluted honey sample placed in a tube. After manual shaking a cloudy state is obtained as a result of dispersing the extraction solvent droplets throughout the sample solution and the analytes are extracted into them. After placing the tube in an ice bath, the droplet of the extractant is solidified on the top of the solution. This drop is taken and after dissolving in acetonitrile, an aliquot of the solution is injected into the separation system. Under optimum conditions, the suggested approach had high extraction recoveries (76-93%) and enrichment factors (380-465), low limits of detection (14-52 ng/kg) and quantification (47-173 ng/kg), and satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation ≤ 9%).

Determination of Two Antiepileptic Drugs in Urine by Homogenous Liquid-Liquid Extraction Performed in A Narrow Tube Combined with Dispersive Liquid-liquid Microextraction Followed by Gas Chromatography-flame Ionization Detection.

A simple and efficient homogenous liquid-liquid extraction method performed in a narrow tube combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method has been presented for the simultaneous determination of two antiepileptic drugs in urine followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In this method, a mixture of acetonitrile and urine sample (homogenous solution) is loaded into a column partially filled with solid sodium chloride. By passing the homogenous solution through the salt layer, acetonitrile is separated from the aqueous solution as the fine droplets and collected on top of the column as a separated phase. The obtained organic phase is removed and mixed with an extraction solvent, and then the resulting mixture is rapidly injected into an alkaline solution. Various experimental parameters affecting performance of the proposed method such as type and volume of extraction solvent, pH, and flow rate in homogenous liquid-liquid extraction step, and type and volume of extraction solvent and ionic strength in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction step were investigated. The relative standard deviation of the proposed method was <8% (n = 6, C = 1 µg L-1 of each analyte). The limits of detection for phenobarbital and carbamazepine were 0.017 and 0.010 µg L-1 and the limits of quantification were 0.056 and 0.033 µg mL-1, respectively.

Determination of valproic acid and 3-heptanone in plasma using air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction with the assistance of vortex: Application in the real samples.

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Adverse effects of VPA were studied in many reports, however, a dose-response relationship between VPA and its metabolites in epilepsy patients are extremely limited. In this paper, a high efficient method was developed for the preconcentration and determination of VPA and its main metabolite in plasma. Methods: For the extraction and preconcentration of the selected analytes, a volume of an extractant was placed at the bottom of the microtube containing pretreated plasma. The mixture was repeatedly withdrawn from the microtube and pushed-out into it using a 1.0-mL glass syringe and resulted in a cloudy mixture. For further turbidity, the mixture was shaken on a vortex agitator. This procedure was used to analyze the plasma samples of patients with epilepsy (n = 70). Results: The results revealed that in most patients with a low level of VPA relative to its expected level, 3-heptanone concentrations were high. The limits of quantification of 3-heptanone and VPA were 0.04 mg L-1 and 0.2 mg L-1, respectively. A suitable precision at a concentration of 2 mg L-1 for each analyte was obtained (relative standard deviation ≤ 9%). Conclusion: The obtained results indicated that this procedure is easy, sensitive, and reliable, and can be used for the analysis of the selected analytes in the plasma samples of patients with epilepsy.

Successive pH- and heat-induced homogenous liquid-liquid extraction.

A simple and efficient analytical method known as pH- and heat-induced homogenous liquid-liquid extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography has been successfully developed for the extraction and determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in aqueous samples. In this method, a few mL of a water-miscible basic extraction solvent is mixed with a high volume of an aqueous phase containing the analytes and passed through a tube which a portion of the tube is filled with sodium carbonate as a separating agent. By passing the solution, salt is dissolved and the fine droplets of the extraction solvent are formed. The produced droplets go up through the remained solution and collect as a separated layer. In the following, the collected organic phase is removed and placed into a micro tube. Then it is heated in a water bath to form two phases. Several experimental parameters that influence extraction efficiency such as type and volume of extraction solvent, type of phase separation agent, temperature, and extraction time were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the extraction recoveries and enrichment factors ranged between 51 and 81% and 680 and 1080, respectively. Calibration curves showed a high-level of linearity for all target analytes with coefficients of determination ranging between 0.997 and 0.999. The repeatability of the proposed method expressed as relative standard deviation varied between 3 and 5% (n=6, C=50µgL(-1)), and the detection limits were in the range of 0.52-1.0µgL(-1). Finally, the performance of the method was evaluated by analyzing the selected pesticides in different fruit juice and vegetable samples.

Development of a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method with a new sequence of steps and its comparison with a conventional method.

In this paper, a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method with a new sequence of steps from the view of salt addition has been developed for the extraction and preconcentration of some organophosphorous pesticides from aqueous samples before analysis by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In this method, an appropriate mixture of extraction and disperser solvents is rapidly injected by a syringe into the aqueous sample. Then, sodium chloride is added into the solution to increase its ionic strength. The obtained results by the proposed method are compared with those of the conventional dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction in which the salt is added into the aqueous phase before dispersion of the extraction solvent. Some effective parameters on the method efficiency including type and volume of extraction and disperser solvents, type and percent of salt, etc. are investigated. Under the optimal conditions, limits of detection and quantification of the proposed method compared to conventional one were improved by a factor between 1.4-2.2 and 1.3-2.3, respectively. Extraction recoveries and enrichment factors of the proposed method with respect to conventional one enhanced from 43-60 to 72-99% and 1433-2000 to 2404-3285, respectively.

Development of continuous dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction performed in home-made device for extraction and preconcentration of aryloxyphenoxy-propionate herbicides from aqueous samples followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection.

In this study, a rapid, simple, and efficient sample preparation method based on continuous dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction has been developed for the extraction and preconcentration of aryloxyphenoxy-propionate herbicides from aqueous samples prior to their analysis by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. In this method, two parallel glass tubes with different diameters are connected with a teflon stopcock and used as an extraction device. A mixture of disperser and extraction solvents is transferred into one side (narrow tube) of the extraction device and an aqueous phase containing the analytes is filled into the other side (wide tube). Then the stopcock is opened and the mixture of disperser and extraction solvents mixes with the aqueous phase. By this action, the extraction solvent is dispersed continuously as fine droplets into the aqueous sample and the target analytes are extracted into the fine droplets of the extraction solvent. The fine droplets move up through the aqueous phase due to its low density compared to aqueous phase and collect on the surface of the aqueous phase as an organic layer. Finally an aliquot of the organic phase is removed and injected into the separation system for analysis. Several parameters that can affect extraction efficiency including type and volume of extraction and disperser solvents, sample pH, and ionic strength were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the extraction recoveries and enrichment factors ranged from 49 to 74% and 1633 to 2466, respectively. Relative standard deviations were in the ranges of 3-6% (n = 6, C = 30 µg L(-1)) for intra-day and 4-7% (n = 4, C = 30 µg L(-1)) for inter-day precisions. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.20-0.86 µg L(-1). Finally the proposed method was successfully applied to determine the target herbicides in fruit juice and vegetable samples.

Development of a new extraction method based on counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction: Application for the extraction and preconcentration of widely used pesticides from fruit juices.

In this paper, a new extraction method based on counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction (CCSHLLE) followed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed for the extraction and preconcentration of widely used pesticides in fruit juice samples prior to their analysis by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). In this method, initially, sodium chloride as a separation reagent is filled into a small column and a mixture of water (or fruit juice) and acetonitrile is passed through the column. By passing the mixture sodium chloride is dissolved and the fine droplets of acetonitrile are formed due to salting-out effect. The produced droplets go up through the remained mixture and collect as a separated layer. Then, the collected organic phase (acetonitrile) is removed with a syringe and mixed with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (extraction solvent at µL level). In the second step, for further enrichment of the analytes the above mixture is injected into 5 mL de-ionized water placed in a test tube with conical bottom in order to dissolve acetonitrile into water and to achieve a sedimented phase at µL-level volume containing the enriched analytes. Under the optimal extraction conditions (extraction solvent, 1.5 mL acetonitrile; pH, 7; flow rate, 0.5 mL min(-1); preconcentration solvent, 20 µL 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; NaCl concentration; 5%, w/w; and centrifugation rate and time, 5000 rpm and 5 min, respectively), the extraction recoveries and enrichment factors ranged from 87% to 96% and 544 to 600, respectively. Repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviations, ranged from 2% to 6% for intra-day (n=6, C=250 or 500 µg L(-1)) and inter-days (n=4, C=250 or 500 µg L(-1)) precisions. Limits of detection are obtained between 2 and 12 µg L(-1). Finally, the proposed method is applied for the determination of the target pesticide residues in the juice samples.

Development of counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction for isolation and preconcentration of some pesticides from aqueous samples.

In this paper, a new version of salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction based on counter current mode combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction has been developed for the extraction and preconcentration of some pesticides from aqueous samples and their determination by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. In order to perform the method, aqueous solution of the analytes containing acetonitrile and 1,2-dibromoethane is transferred into a narrow bore tube which is filled partially with NaCl. During passing the solution through the tube, fine droplets of the organic phase are produced at the interface of solution and salt which go up through the tube and form a separated layer on the aqueous phase. The collected organic phase is removed and injected into de-ionized water for more enrichment of the analytes. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method shows broad linear ranges for the target analytes. Enrichment factors and limits of detection for the selected pesticides are obtained in the ranges of 3480-3800 and 0.1-5µgL(-1), respectively. Relative standard deviations are in the range of 2-7% (n=6, C=50 or 100µgL(-1), each analyte). Finally, some aqueous samples were successfully analyzed using the developed method.

Determination of triazole pesticide residues in edible oils using air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection.

In the present study, a rapid, simple, and highly efficient sample preparation method based on air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of five triazole pesticides (penconazole, hexaconazole, diniconazole, tebuconazole, and triticonazole) in edible oils. Initially, the oil samples were diluted with hexane and a few microliter of a less soluble organic solvent (extraction solvent) in hexane was added. To form fine and dispersed extraction solvent droplets, the mixture of oil sample solution and extraction solvent is repeatedly aspirated and dispersed with a syringe. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method showed low limits of detection and quantification between 2.2-6.1 and 7.3-20 µg/L, respectively. Enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were in the ranges of 71-96 and 71-96%, respectively. The relative standard deviations for the extraction of 100 and 250 µg/L of each pesticide were less than 5% for intraday (n = 6) and interday (n = 3) precisions. Finally edible oil samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method, and hexaconazole was found in grape seed oil.

Extraction and enrichment of triazole and triazine pesticides from honey using air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction.

UNLABELLED: In the present work, an easy, fast, and effective approach is developed for the extraction and enrichment of triazole and triazine pesticides in honey by air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Initially, honey is dissolved in an acetonitrile: water mixture and after that a few microliter of a less soluble organic solvent in aqueous phase is added. In order to form a cloudy solution, the extractant mixed with aqueous phase is repeatedly sucked and expelled by a syringe needle into a glass tube. After centrifugation, the sedimented phase (1 mL) is removed with a syringe and injected into de-ionized water. By this action, the settled phase volume is reduced to 10 µL and the analytes are concentrated, too. Under optimum extraction conditions, limits of detection and quantitation for the studied pesticides are in the ranges of 2 to 5 and 6 to 17 ng/g, respectively. Extraction recoveries and enrichment factors are from 61% to 95% and 61 to 95, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The proposed approach can be applied for determination of pesticide in honey and may be developed to other complex matrices.