An on-line cloud point extraction system for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace manganese in food samples

Analytical application of flower-shaped nickel nanomaterial for the preconcentration of manganese in domestic wastewater samples

In this study, detection sensitivity of the conventional flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) for the determination of manganese (Mn2+) was enhanced by employing a preconcentration method from wastewater samples. Flower-shaped Ni(OH)2 nanomaterials were synthesized and used as sorbent material in preconcentration procedure. With the aim of attaining optimum experimental conditions, effective parameters of extraction method were optimized and these included pH of buffer solution, desorption solvent concentration and volume, mixing type and period, nanoflower amount, and sample volume. The detection limit of the optimized method was determined to be 2.2 μg L-1, and this correlated to about 41-fold enhancement in detection power relative to direct FAAS measurement. Domestic wastewater was used to test the feasibility of the proposed method to real samples by performing spike recovery experiments. The wastewater sample was spiked at four different concentrations of manganese, and the percent recoveries determined were in the range of 95-120%.

Carboxymethyl chitosan crosslinked ꞵ-cyclodextrin containing hydrogen bonded NC QDs nanocomposites to design fluorescence probes for manganese ion (II) sensing

The direct determination Mn²⁺ using carboxymethyl chitosan crosslinked with cyclodextrin containing hydrogen-bonded NC QDs (NC QD/CCSCD nanocomposites). The probable mechanism of the NC QD/CCSCD nanocomposites' fluorescence was quenched by Mn²⁺ could be interpreted as acyclic crown ether chelation. Mn²⁺ induced the NC QD/CCSCD clusters assembly to form large aggregates, which resulted in aggregation-caused quenching. The linear detection (I = 479.93-15.94C (R² = 0.9954)) can be established at Mn²⁺ concentrations from 0 to 21.11 × 10^-6 mol/L. Common metal ions, except iron and magnesium, showed minimal effect on detection. It could satisfy the standard range of Mn²⁺ in actual water samples. The method which using chelating assembly mechanism to build a novel sensor would provide a new model for the application of polymer materials in this field, but the precise assembly of polymer is an unsolved challenge.

The SPE-assisted europium (III) based complex fluorometric assay for the highly selective and sensitive detection of manganese (II) in water

Detection of trace manganese (Ⅱ) ion (Mn²⁺) is crucial to water safety. Here, commercially available PS-DVB microspheres were sulfonated and then filled into the SPE column in order to separate Mn²⁺ from complex matrices. Meanwhile, europium (III) complex was prepared with a simple "one pot" method, and its fluorescence intensity was quenched gradually with the increase of Mn²⁺ concentration. Europium (III) complex combined with home-made SPE column was utilized for highly selective and sensitive measurement of Mn²⁺. The detectable concentrations of Mn²⁺ can be low as 0.2 μM, which was less than the drinking water guidelines. Consequently, this new method is promising to assess the content of Mn²⁺ rapidly and accurately in real-world water samples.

Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Nickel and Cobalt in Milk-Based Samples by Ultrasound-Assisted Cloud Point Extraction Coupled with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

In this study, ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction (UA-CPE) method was developed for the determination of Ni(II) and Co(II) in milk-based products. After extraction and preconcentration, the Ni(II) and Co(II) contents of samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). After their complexation with hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) in the presence of cationic surfactant, CTAB at pH 4.0, the Ni(II) and Co(II) were taken within the micellar phase of nonionic surfactant, TX-114. The micellar phase containing the analytes were diluted to a volume of 0.7 mL with 1.0-mol/L HNO₃ in ethanol to reduce its viscosity and to facilitate sample treatment and then was analyzed by FAAS. The various analytical parameters affecting UA-CPE efficiency were investigated. The analytical features obtained after optimization are as follows: limits of detection are 0.56 and 0.78 μg/L; sensitivity enhancement factors are 48.6 and 53.9; the calibration curves were linear 3-180 and 2-160 μg/L for Co(II) and Ni(II), respectively, after preconcentration of 50-fold. The precision (as RSD%) between 1.8-3.6% and 2.2-3.8% (25 and 100 μg/L, n = 5) for Ni(II) and Co(II), respectively. The accuracy was statistically verified by analysis of two certified reference material samples (CRMs), including recovery studies after spiking. The method was applied to the analysis of milk-based samples with satisfied results.

Fluorescence probe based carboxymethyl cellulose/Tb(III) nanocomposites for detection of Mn2+ with simpleness, rapidness and high sensitivity

A novel, rapid, high selective and sensitive probe, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/Tb(III) with green fluorescence, for detecting Mn²⁺ in aqueous solution during pH = 4-10 was proposed in this work. The probe's synthesis had benefits of mild reaction condition, organic solvent-free and facile operation. A linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of CMC/Tb(III) probe at 544 nm with 0.046 μM detection limitation and the concentration of Mn²⁺ in the range of 0.1-100 μM was obtained. The probe was also used to detected Mn²⁺ in tap water and the recoveries were between 97.10% and 101.61%, and the relative standard deviations (RSD, n = 5) of all samples were less than 2.04%. The results by UV absorption spectrum and fluorescence quenching suggested that there might be a dynamic quenching occurred to the fluorescence of CMC/Tb(III) probe when Mn²⁺ was involved.

A fast method for the determination of lead in honey samples using stabilizer-free silver nanoparticles

A sensitive, rapid and robust method based on the use of stabilizer-free silver nanoparticles was developed for lead detection in honey. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized without the presence of any stabilizers using silver nitrate and sodium borohydride as precursors where the latter was applied as reducing agent. The optimization of the experimental variables (AgNO₃ and NaBH₄) for the formation of the nanoparticles was carried out using varying volumes of these solutions. Spectrophotometric measurements at 393nm showed a linear working range between 0.0500 and 0.167mgL^-1 lead (R=0.994), with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.0135 and 0.0451mgL^-1, respectively. The proposed method proved to be a significantly sensitive mechanism for lead detection in honey samples.

Sequential determination of nickel and cadmium in tobacco, molasses and refill solutions for e-cigarettes samples by molecular fluorescence

In this work, a new procedure was developed for separation and preconcentration of nickel(II) and cadmium(II) in several and varied tobacco samples. Tobacco samples were selected considering the main products consumed by segments of the population, in particular the age (youth) and lifestyle of the consumer. To guarantee representative samples, a randomized strategy of sampling was used. In the first step, a chemofiltration on nylon membrane is carried out employing eosin (Eo) and carbon nanotubes dispersed in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) solution (phosphate buffer pH 7). In this condition, Ni(II) was selectively retained on the solid support. After that, the filtrate liquid with Cd(II) was re-conditioned with acetic acid /acetate buffer solution (pH 5) and followed by detection. A spectrofluorimetric determination of both metals was carried out, on the solid support and the filtered aqueous solution, for Ni(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The solid surface fluorescence (SSF) determination was performed at λem = 545nm (λex = 515nm) for Ni(II)-Eo complex and the fluorescence of Cd(II)-Eo was quantified in aqueous solution using λem = 565nm (λex = 540nm). The calibration graphs resulted linear in a range of 0.058-29.35μgL-1 for Ni(II) and 0.124-56.20μgL-1 for Cd(II), with detection limits of 0.019 and 0.041μgL-1 (S/N = 3). The developed methodology shows good sensitivity and adequate selectivity, and it was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of nickel and cadmium present in tobacco samples (refill solutions for e-cigarettes, snuff used in narguille (molasses) and traditional tobacco) with satisfactory results. The new methodology was validated by ICP-MS with adequate agreement. The proposed methodology represents a novel fluorescence application to Ni(II) and Cd(II) quantification with sensitivity and accuracy similar to atomic spectroscopies, introducing for the first time the quenching effect on SSF.

Highly Simple Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of Manganese in Vegetable Samples Prior to Its ICP-OES Analysis

In the present work, simple and sensitive extraction methods for selective determination of manganese have been successfully developed. The methods were based on solubilization of manganese in deep eutectic solvent medium. Three deep eutectic solvents with choline chloride (vitamin B4) and tartaric/oxalic/citric acids have been prepared. Extraction parameters were optimized with using standard reference material (1573a tomato leaves). The quantitative recovery values were obtained with 1.25 g/L sample to deep eutectic solvent (DES) volume, at 95 °C for 2 h. The limit of detection was found as 0.50, 0.34, and 1.23 μg/L for DES/tartaric, DES/oxalic, and DES/citric acid, respectively. At optimum conditions, the analytical signal was linear for the range of 10-3000 μg/L for all studied DESs with the correlation coefficient >0.99. The extraction methods were applied to different real samples such as basil herb, spinach, dill, and cucumber barks. The known amount of manganese was spiked to samples, and good recovery results were obtained.

Cloud point extraction, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of trace amount of manganese(II) in water and food samples

A new cloud point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 to extract manganese(II) from aqueous solution was investigated. The method is based on the complexation reaction of manganese(II) with 1,2,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione (quinalizarin) in the presence of borate buffer at pH 8.5 and micelle-mediated extraction of the complex. The enriched analyte in the surfactant-rich phase was determined by spectrophotometry at 528nm. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g. pH, reagent and surfactant concentrations, temperature and centrifugation times) were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection (LOD), linear range, preconcentration and improvement factors) were obtained. The proposed CPE method showed linear calibration within the range 5.0-200ngmL(-1) of manganese(II) and the limit of detection of the method was 0.8ngmL(-1) with an preconcentration factor of ∼50 when 25mL of sample solution was preconcentrated to 0.5mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) and relative error were found to be 1.35% and 1.42%, respectively (CMn(II)=150ngmL(-1), n=6) for pure standard solutions. The interference effect of some cations and anions was also studied. In the presence of foreign ions, no significant interference was observed. The method was applied to the determination of manganese(II) in water and food samples with a recovery for the spiked samples in the range of 95.87-102.5%.

A novel method applied in determination and assessment of trace amount of lead and cadmium in rice from four provinces, China

Heavy metal contamination of soils or water can lead to excessive lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in rice. As cumulative poisons, consumption of Pb and Cd in contaminated rice may cause many toxic effects in humans. In the present study, Pb and Cd levels in rice samples from Hubei, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, and Guangdong provinces in China were analyzed by cloud point extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The heavy metals in the rice samples were reacted with 8-quinolinol to form a complex at pH 9.0 and 40°C. Analytes were quantitatively extracted to a surfactant-rich phase (Triton X-45) after centrifugation and analyzed by GFAAS. The effects of experimental conditions, including pH, concentration of reagents, and equilibration time and temperature, on cloud point extraction were optimized efficiently using Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken experimental designs. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was observed in the concentration ranges of 0.5-5 µg/L for Pb and 0.05-0.50 µg/L for Cd. The limits of detection were 0.043 µg/L for Pb with a concentration factor of 24.2 in a 10 mL sample and 0.018 µg/L for Cd with a concentration factor of 18.4 in a 10 mL sample. Twenty rice samples from four provinces were analyzed successfully, and the mean levels of Pb and Cd in the rice were all below their maximum allowable concentrations in China. Comparing the tolerable daily intakes given by FAO/WHO with the mean estimated daily intakes; Pb and Cd mean daily intake through rice consumption were 0.84 µg/kg bw/day and 0.40 µg/kg bw/day, which were lower than the tolerable daily intakes.

Comparison of rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction and ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction for trace selenium coupled with spectrophotometric determination

In this work, rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE) and ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction (UA-CPE) were firstly compared and coupled with spectrophotometer for selenium preconcentration and detection. The established RS-CPE pretreatment was simple, rapid and high effective. The extraction time was only 1min without heating process. Under the effect of ultrasound, UA-CPE accomplished extraction efficiently although the extraction procedure was relatively time-consuming. In this study, RS-CPE and UA-CPE were firstly applied for selenium preconcentration and coupled with conventional spectrophotometer. Their applications were expanded and the analytical performance of spectrophotometric determination for selenium was considerably improved. The influence factors relevant to RS-CPE and UA-CPE were studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) for selenium were respectively 0.2μgL(-1) of RS-CPE and 0.3μgL(-1) of UA-CPE with sensitivity enhancement factors (EFs) of 124 and 103. The developed methods were applied to the determination of trace selenium in real water samples with satisfactory analytical results.

Complex-forming organic ligands in cloud-point extraction of metal ions: a review

Cloud-point extraction (CPE), an easy, safe, environmentally friendly, rapid and inexpensive methodology for preconcentration and separation of trace metals from aqueous solutions has recently become an attractive area of research and an alternative to liquid-liquid extraction. Moreover, it provides results comparable to those obtained with other separation techniques and has a greater potential to be explored in improving detection limits and other analytical characteristics over other methods. A few reviews have been published covering different aspects of the CPE procedure and its relevant applications, such as the phenomenon of clouding, the application in the extraction of trace inorganic and organic materials, as well as pesticides and protein substrates from different sources, or incorporation of CPE into an FIA system. This review focuses on general properties of the most frequently used organic ligands in cloud-point extraction and on literature data (from 2000 to 2012) concerning the use of modern techniques in determination of metal ions' content in various materials. The article is divided according to the class of organic ligands to be used in CPE.

A green preconcentration method for determination of cobalt and lead in fresh surface and waste water samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the preconcentration and simultaneous determination of cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) in fresh and wastewater samples. The extraction of analytes from aqueous samples was performed in the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as a chelating agent and Triton X-114 as a nonionic surfactant. Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of different chemical variables such as pH, amounts of reagents (oxine and Triton X-114), temperature, incubation time, and sample volume. After phase separation, based on the cloud point, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with acidic ethanol prior to its analysis by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The enhancement factors 70 and 50 with detection limits of 0.26 μg L(-1) and 0.44 μg L(-1) were obtained for Co and Pb, respectively. In order to validate the developed method, a certified reference material (SRM 1643e) was analyzed and the determined values obtained were in a good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of Co and Pb in a fresh surface and waste water sample.

Investigation of novel rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction pattern for bismuth in water and geological samples coupling with flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination

Rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE) greatly simplified and accelerated the procedure of traditional cloud point extraction (CPE). In order to expand the application of RS-CPE, this work was carried out after the establishment of the improved extraction technique. The new established extraction method was firstly applied for bismuth extraction and determination coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in this work. The improved RS-CPE was accomplished in the room temperature in 1 min. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) was used as extractant. Octanol worked as cloud point revulsant and synergic reagent. TX-100 has a relatively high cloud point temperature (CPT), which limited its application in CPE. In this work, TX-100 accomplished the RS-CPE procedure in room temperature successfully. The factors influencing RS-CPE, such as concentrations of reagents, pH, conditions of phase separation, effect of environmental temperatures, salt effect and instrumental conditions, were studied systematically. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for bismuth was 4.0 μg L(-1), with sensitivity enhancement factor (EF) of 43. The proposed method greatly improved the sensitivity of FAAS for the determination of bismuth and was applied to the determination of trace bismuth in real and certified samples with satisfactory analytical results. The proposed method was rapid, simple, and sensitive.

Investigation of analytical performance for rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction of trace amounts of copper combined with spectrophotometric determination

In this work, an improved preconcentration method named as rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE) was established for copper preconcentration and determination. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) was used as extractant. Octanol worked as cloud point revulsant and synergic reagent, which successfully decreased the cloud point temperature (CPT) of TX-100 to realize the room temperature (about 20°C) CPE without heating. The established RS-CPE pretreatment was simple, rapid and effective. Compared with traditional CPE (about 40 min for heating, incubation and cooling), the extraction time of the proposed method was very short (1 min). The improved extraction technique RS-CPE was combined with traditional spectrophotometer to improve the analytical performance and expand the application of spectrophotometric determination. The influence factors relevant to RS-CPE, such as concentrations of TX-100 and octanol, concentration of chelating agent, pH, conditions of phase separation, salt effect, environmental temperature and instrumental conditions, were studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for copper was 0.4 μg L(-1), with sensitivity enhancement factor (EF) of 18. The proposed method was applied to the determination of trace copper in real samples and certified samples with satisfactory analytical results.

Old and New Flavors of Flame (Furnace) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper presents some recent applications of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) to different matrices and samples. The time window selected was from 2006 up to March, 2011, and several aspects related to food, biological fluids, environmental, and technological samples analyses were reported and discussed. In addition, the chemometrics application for FAAS methods development was also taken into account, as well as the use of metal tube atomizers in air/acetylene flame. Preconcentration methods coupled to FAAS were discussed, and several approaches related to speciation, flotation, ionic liquids, among others were discussed. This paper can be interesting for researchers and FAAS users in order to see the state of the art of this technique.

Cloud point extraction for determination of lead in blood samples of children, using different ligands prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry: a multivariate study

The phase-separation phenomenon of non-ionic surfactants occurring in aqueous solution was used for the extraction of lead (Pb(2+)) from digested blood samples after simultaneous complexation with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) separately. The complexed analyte was quantitatively extracted with octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114). The multivariate strategy was applied to estimate the optimum values of experimental factors. Acidic ethanol was added to the surfactant-rich phase prior to its analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). The detection limit value of Pb(2+) for the preconcentration of 10 mL of acid digested blood sample was 1.14 μg L(-1). The accuracy of the proposed methods was assessed by analyzing certified reference material (whole blood). Under the optimized conditions of both CPE methods, 10 mL of Pb(2+) standards (10 μg L(-1)) complexed with APDC and DDTC, permitted the enhancement factors of 56 and 42, respectively. The proposed method was used for determination of Pb(2+) in blood samples of children with kidney disorders and healthy controls.

Clouding behaviour in surfactant systems

A study on the phenomenon of clouding and the applications of cloud point technology has been thoroughly discussed. The phase behaviour of clouding and various methods adopted for the determination of cloud point of various surfactant systems have been elucidated. The systems containing anionic, cationic, nonionic surfactants as well as microemulsions have been reviewed with respect to their clouding phenomena and the effects of structural variation in the surfactant systems have been incorporated. Additives of various natures control the clouding of surfactants. Electrolytes, nonelectrolytes, organic substances as well as ionic surfactants, when present in the surfactant solutions, play a major role in the clouding phenomena. The review includes the morphological study of clouds and their applications in the extraction of trace inorganic, organic materials as well as pesticides and protein substrates from different sources.

Preconcentration and determination of iron and copper in spice samples by cloud point extraction and flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A flow injection (FI) cloud point extraction (CPE) method for the determination of iron and copper by flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) has been improved. The analytes were complexed with 3-amino-7-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine (Neutral Red, NR) and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114)wasadded as a surfactant. The micellar solutionwasheated above 50 degrees C and loaded through a column packed with cotton for phase separation. Then the surfactant-rich phase was eluted using 0.05 mol L(-1) H2SO4 and the analytes were determined by FAAS. Chemical and flow variables influencing the instrumental and extraction conditions were optimized. Under optimized conditions for 25 mL of preconcentrated solution, the enrichment factors were 98 and 69, the limits of detection (3s) were 0.7 and 0.3 ng mL(-1), the limits of quantification (10s) were 2.2 and 1.0 ng mL(-1) for iron and copper, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for ten replicate measurements of 10 ng mL(-1) iron and copper were 2.1% and 1.8%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of iron and copper in spice samples.