Rotating-disk sorptive extraction for the determination of sex hormones and triclosan in urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Clean-up integrated steps and improved derivatization

Enhanced microextraction kinetics: Sorptive-dispersive vs. conventional techniques on rotating disks

BACKGROUND

A new approach based on Stir Bar Sorptive Dispersive Microextraction (SBSDME), termed Rotating Disk Sorptive Dispersive Extraction (RDSDE), was developed to confirm and quantify the kinetic advantages of sorbent-based dispersive techniques compared to their non-dispersive counterparts. Among non-dispersive techniques, Rotating Disk Sorptive Extraction (RDSE) allows for a direct comparison with its dispersive counterpart, as the sorbent phase in RDSE can be confined within the disk cavity using the exact same amount as in the dispersive mode. This comparison is not feasible in stir bar sorptive extraction.

RESULTS

The advantages of RDSE combined with the dispersion of magnetic sorbent materials were explored using RDSDE technology. Magnetic activated carbon (MAC) derived from avocado seeds was used as the sorbent, with triclosan (TCS), bisphenol A (BPA), ibuprofen (IBU), and 1-hydroxy-ibuprofen (1-OH-IBU) as representative analytes. The RDSDE method was optimized for efficiency and speed. Optimal conditions were: 10 mg of MAC, 20 min extraction at pH 2, acetone as desorption solvent and 10 min desorption. These parameters provided the best analytical response with minimal time and resource use. The method was then validated, and a kinetic comparison was performed. The results demonstrated that RDSDE reaches extraction equilibrium in approximately 20 min, significantly faster than RDSE. The initial extraction velocities were between 12 times higher for BPA and 43 times higher for IBU in the dispersive mode.

SIGNIFICANCE

The kinetic comparison clearly shows that RDSDE is a more efficient extraction technique due to its rapid extraction equilibrium. The dispersive mechanism plays a crucial role in accelerating analyte extraction, as evidenced by the steeper extraction profiles of RDSDE compared to RDSE. Importantly, this study presents the first direct kinetic comparison between RDSDE and conventional RDSE, highlighting the novelty of the approach. This underscores the potential of RDSDE as a faster and more efficient method for extracting target compounds from aqueous samples, offering significant advantages in analytical performance and operational efficiency.

User-Friendly and Responsive Electrochemical Detection Approach for Triclosan by Nano-Metal-Organic Framework

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant challenge to public health, and is worsened by the widespread misuse of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan (TCS) in personal care and household products. Leveraging the electrochemical reactivity of TCS's phenolic hydroxyl group, this study investigates the electrochemical behavior of TCS on a Cu-based nano-metal-organic framework (Cu-BTC) surface. The synthesis of Cu-BTC via a room temperature solvent method, with triethylamine as a regulator, ensures uniform nanoparticle formation. The electrochemical properties of Cu-BTC and the signal enhancement mechanism are comprehensively examined. Utilizing the signal amplification effect of Cu-BTC, an electrochemical sensor for TCS detection is developed and optimized using response surface methodology. The resulting method offers a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive detection of TCS, with a linear range of 25-10,000 nM and a detection limit of 25 nM. This research highlights the potential of Cu-BTC as a promising material for electrochemical sensing applications, contributing to advancements in environmental monitoring and public health protection.

Subppb level monitoring and UV degradation of triclosan pollutants using ZnO multipod and Ag nanocomposites

A unique nanomaterial platform was developed for trace detection and efficient degradation of triclosan (TCS). A facile spectroscopic technique for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-supported identification and ultraviolet (UV) degradation of TCS using a SERS template based on silver spherical nanoparticle (AgNP)-modified ZnO multipods (ZnO@Ag) is reported. Core-shell composite materials of ZnO multipods with a dimension of around 3 μm and AgNPs with an average diameter of ∼27 nm was designed not only as a substrate for TCS degradation up to ∼92% upon UV irradiation (λ = 365 mm, 300 μW/cm²) but also as a monitoring platform sensitive to TCS at a detection limit as low as 10^-9 M (≈0.3 ppb). Herein, the first investigation into ZnO@Ag bimetallic composites is established for both the SERS-based detection and UV-assisted degradation of environmental TCS pollutants. The calibration curve was estimated to be linear at R² > 0.97. The validated technology was successfully used to determine the antibacterial agent and TCS in distilled or river water. The advantages of the ZnO@Ag template are highlighted over conventional detection and excellent degradation.

A thin biofilm of chitosan as a sorptive phase in the rotating disk sorptive extraction of triclosan and methyl triclosan from water samples

The features and nature of the sorptive phase may be the stage that determines the scope of microextraction techniques. In search of new alternatives, materials of natural origin have recently been explored to establish greener analytical strategies. Based on that search, this research proposes the use of chitosan as a sorptive phase, which was assessed in the rotating disk sorptive extraction of emerging contaminants from aqueous systems. Chitosan is a biopolymer of animal origin that is usually found in the shells of crustaceans. The main characteristic of this material is the presence of a high number of nitrogenous groups, which gives it high reactivity, but its main disadvantage is associated with its high swelling capacity. In this research, chitosan was crosslinked with a low concentration of glutaraldehyde to form thin films that were easily immobilized on the surface of the rotating disk. The main advantage of this modification is the considerable decrease in the swelling capacity, which prevents loss and rupture of the sorbent during high rotation of the disk. In addition, it not only improved the physical characteristics of chitosan but also increased its extraction capacity. With regard to its use as a sorptive phase, all the variables associated with the microextraction of the analytes were studied, and optimal variables were found to be: pH 4, 20% NaCl (salting out effect), 30-45 min as equilibrium time and elution of analytes with a mixture of methanol:ethyl acetate (1:1). Validation of the methodology for the determination of methyl triclosan and triclosan was carried out, and relative recoveries between 89 and 96% and relative standard deviations less than 14% were found. The detection limits were 0.11 and 0.20 μg L^-1, respectively. Through its application in real samples (natural and residual waters), triclosan was quantified between 0.7 and 1.3 μg L^-1. Finally, the "green" properties of the phase were evaluated, demonstrating that it is reusable for at least three cycles and biodegradable. Compared to its efficiency with a commercial phase (in this case, the styrene divinyl benzene phase), the proposed biosorbent provided a similar and even higher sorptive capacity (depending on the analyte).

Smartphone-based colorimetric determination of triclosan in aqueoussamples after ultrasound assisted-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction under optimized response surface method conditions

In the present study, a simple and low cost methodology based on ultrasonic assisted-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) followed by smartphone-based colorimetric measurement was introduced for the separation and determination of Triclosan (TCS) from contaminated waters. This method is based on the formation of an azo compound from the alkaline reaction of TCS with a diazonium ion, resulting from the reaction of sodium nitrite and p-sulfanilic acid in an acidic medium. The orange-brown color product was extracted into a low volume of organic phase by UA-DLLME method and RGB values were recorded with free Android app Color Grab. The effective parameters in this procedure, namely solution pH, p-sulfanilic acid and nitrite concentration, reaction time and volume of the extraction solvent were investigated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box-Behnken design (BBD) model. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 3.0 and 200 μg L^-1 of TCS. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.8 and 2.7 μg L^-1, respectively. The proposed method was successfullyused for the analyses of triclosan in several water and wastewater samples and satisfactory results were obtained.

Simultaneous determination of nine estrogens in bullfrogs using filtered solid phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

建立了基于通过型固相萃取小柱净化的超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱联用(UPLC-MS/MS)同时快速准确测定牛蛙中9种雌激素(雌三醇(E3)、17β-雌二醇(β-E)、17α-雌二醇(α-E)、17α-炔二雌醇(EE2)、雌酮(EI)、己烯雌酚(DES)、己二烯雌酚(DE)、己烷雌酚(HEX)、醋酸双烯雌酚(DD))残留的检测方法。样品经乙腈提取,经PRiME HLB固相萃取柱净化,Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)分离,以0.5 mmol/L氟化铵水溶液-乙腈体系为流动相梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,采用电喷雾正负离子切换模式(ESI⁺/ESI^-)和多反应监测(MRM)扫描方式检测,基质匹配外标法定量分析。该研究优化了液相色谱条件,相比于乙酸铵水溶液-乙腈体系和氨水溶液-乙腈体系,0.5 mmol/L氟化铵水溶液-乙腈体系作为流动相时9种雌激素普遍具有更佳的灵敏度。相比于甲醇和乙酸乙酯,乙腈作为提取溶剂时9种雌激素的提取率提高15%~40%。考察了HLB、C₁₈、Silica、PRiME HLB共4种不同类型的固相萃取小柱的基质净化效应,结果表明,PRiME HLB柱具有更好的基质净化能力。经PRiME HLB净化后,所有化合物的回收率均在70%~125%之间。DD的回收率从47%提高到74%, DES的回收率从180%降低到123%,有效减弱了基质效应。在最佳的实验条件下,E3、β-E、α-E、EI、DE、HEX、DD的线性范围为0.5~100.0 μg/L, EE2和DES的线性范围为1.0~100.0 μg/L, 9种雌激素在各自的线性范围内均有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9953~0.9994,方法检出限为0.17~0.33 μg/kg,方法定量限为0.5~1.0 μg/kg,在2.0、10.0、80.0 μg/kg 3个加标水平下,9种雌激素的加标回收率为65.1%~128.2%,相对标准偏差为1.9%~17.6%。该方法操作简便、快速、灵敏,重复性好,可用于大批量样品的同时快速准确检测。

Recent Advances in Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for Analysis of Hormones

Steroid hormones are active substances that are necessary in the normal functioning of all physiological activities in the body, such as sexual characteristics, metabolism, and mood control. They are also widely used as exogenous chemicals in medical and pharmaceutical applications as treatments and at times growth promoters in animal farming. The vast application of steroid hormones has resulted in them being found in different matrices, such as food, environmental, and biological samples. The presence of hormones in such matrices means that they can easily come into contact with humans and animals as exogenous compounds, resulting in abnormal concentrations that can lead to endocrine disruption. This makes their determination in different matrices a vital part of pollutant management and control. Although advances in analytical instruments are constant, it has been determined that these instruments still require some sample preparation steps to be able to determine the occurrence of pollutants in the complex matrices in which they occur. Advances are still being made in sample preparation to ensure easier, selective, and sensitive analysis of complex matrices. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been termed as advanced solid-phase (SPE) materials for the selective extraction and preconcentration of hormones in complex matrices. This review explores the preparation and application of MIPs for the determination of steroid hormones in different sample types.