Enantioseparation and determination of triazole fungicides in fruit juice by aqueous biphasic system coupled with HPLC-MS/MS

Green Pre-Treatment Strategy Using Ionic Liquid-Based Aqueous Two-Phase Systems for Pesticide Determination in Strawberry Samples

Pesticides used in agriculture can contaminate foods like fruits and vegetables, posing health risks to consumers and highlighting the need for effective residue monitoring. This study explores aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) comprising phosphonium or ammonium ionic liquids (ILs) combined with ammonium sulfate as an alternative pre-treatment method for extracting and concentrating the pesticides clomazone, pyraclostrobin, and deltamethrin from strawberry samples. Liquid-liquid equilibrium measurements for each ATPS were conducted, followed by extraction experiments to determine the most efficient systems for pesticide extraction. Results showed that all three pesticides migrated effectively to the IL-rich phase across the tested ATPSs. For the most promising system, tetrabutylphosphonium salicylate ([TBP][Sal]) with ammonium sulfate, extraction efficiencies for each pesticide exceeded 98% under optimized conditions for parameters such as pH, temperature, and ATPS composition. Application of this ATPS to strawberries resulted in significant pesticide preconcentration, reaching mg/L levels suitable for detection by liquid chromatography. The method's sustainability was supported by green chemistry metrics, with AGREEprep and AGREE scores of 0.68 and 0.55, respectively, underscoring its alignment with eco-friendly practices.

Aqueous two-phase systems - versatile and advanced (bio)process engineering tools

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS), also known as Aqueous Biphasic Systems (ABS), have been extensively studied as platforms for the separation and purification of biomolecules and other valuable compounds. These liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) systems have been a tool for biotechnology since its origin (Albertsson, 1950's), recently expanding to exciting fields such as health, biomedicine and material sciences. Due to their biocompatibility, amenability, flexibility, and versatility, ATPS have been applied across various research areas, addressing many challenges associated with conventional methodologies. In this feature article, we first discuss the fundamentals of ATPS and the molecular mechanisms that govern their formation and are crucial for their application. We then explore the most prominent and innovative applications of these systems in downstream processing. Additionally, we provide insights into the design of in situ upstream-downstream integrated platforms, and their use as pre-treatment and analytical tools. The latest advancements in ATPS applications within disruptive bioengineering and biotechnology fields are presented, along with their pioneering use in emerging scientific areas, such as the formation of all-aqueous (water-in-water) emulsions, microfluidic systems, and membrane-free batteries. Overall, this work underscores the transformative potential of ATPS in various branches of science, pinpointing directions for future research to fully explore and maximize ATPS capabilities, overcome existing hurdles, and drive innovation forward.

Easy and fast synthesis of MnCo-LDH yolk-shell spheres porous composites applied electrospinning nanofibers highly effective for extracting triazole fungicides

Today, the wide utilization of triazole fungicides due to environmental damage and its side effects has raised global concern. Thus, in this investigation, polyacrylonitrile/MnCo-layered double hydroxides nanofiber was synthesized and applied as an effective and novel adsorbent at thin-film solid-phase micro-extraction technique for the quick and concurrent extraction of five triazole fungicides in fruit and vegetable samples before quantitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet. The incorporation of MnCo-layered double hydroxides with porous structure and abundant functional groups in a polymer medium improves the extraction efficiency of nanofibers owing to hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions formed between analytes and synthesized nano-adsorbent. Various important elements that affect the extraction efficiency of the intended analytes were optimized using a time-variable approach. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection and quantification range from 0.1 to 0.15 and 0.3-0.5 ng mL-1, respectively.

Vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based ferrofluid for extraction and detection of myclobutanil

A vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-DLLME) procedure using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based ferrofluid (HDES-FF) as an extractant was established. The developed sample preparation method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was applied to the pretreatment and determination of myclobutanil (MYC) in fruit juice. Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent, synthesized by n-decanoic acid and DL-menthol, was as a carrier and combined with magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@OA) to form HDES-FF as an extractant with high extraction capacity. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Parameters affecting extraction efficiency were optimized using single-factor experiments and Box-Behnken design via response surface methodology (BBD-RSM). Parallel tests were performed three times under the optimal conditions predicted by the model, yielding an actual mean recovery of 94.77% with RSD of 2.7% (n = 3) and an enrichment factor of 41.8 ± 0.98 (mean value ± SD, n = 3). Under the optimal conditions, the linear range was 1.0-100.0 µg·mL-1; the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.25 and 0.80 µg·mL-1, respectively. The average spiked recoveries in the samples ranged from 98.2 to 100.5% with intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.2-3.5% (n = 3) and inter-day RSDs of 1.1-3.8% (n = 3). Finally, the method was successfully applied to the determination of MYC antimicrobial agent in different fruit juice samples. The proposed HDES-FF-VA-DLLME/HPLC-DAD method was verified to widely apply to the extraction of triazole fungicides.