Lidia M. Ravelo-Pérez

Carbon nanotubes: Solid-phase extraction

Since the first report in 1991, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great possibilities for a wide variety of processes and applications, which include their use as electrodes, sensors (gas, enzymatic, etc.), nanoprobes, electronic materials, field emitters, etc. The combination of structures, dimensions and topologies has provided physical and chemical attractive properties that are unparalleled by most known materials. Their applications have also reached the Analytical Chemistry field in which CNTs are being used as matrices in matrix assisted laser desorption ionization, stationary phases in either gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrochromatography, also as pseudostationary phases in capillary electrophoresis, etc. as well as new solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials. Concerning this last application the number of works has considerably increased in the last five years. This review article pretends to focus on the most important features and different applications of SPE using CNTs (including matrix solid-phase dispersion and solid-phase microextraction) covering articles published since their introduction up to now (September 2009).

Ionic liquid based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction of pesticides from bananas

This paper describes a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) procedure using room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection capable of quantifying trace amounts of eight pesticides (i.e. thiophanate-methyl, carbofuran, carbaryl, tebuconazole, iprodione, oxyfluorfen, hexythiazox and fenazaquin) in bananas. Fruit samples were first homogenized and extracted (1g) with acetonitrile and after suitable evaporation and reconstitution of the extract in 10 mL of water, a DLLME procedure using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C(6)MIM][PF(6)]) as extraction solvent was used. Experimental conditions affecting the DLLME procedure (sample pH, sodium chloride percentage, ionic liquid amount and volume of disperser solvent) were optimized by means of an experimental design. In order to determine the presence of a matrix effect, calibration curves for standards and fortified banana extracts (matrix matched calibration) were studied. Mean recovery values of the extraction of the pesticides from banana samples were in the range of 69-97% (except for thiophanate-methyl and carbofuran, which were 53-63%) with a relative standard deviation lower than 8.7% in all cases. Limits of detection achieved (0.320-4.66 microg/kg) were below the harmonized maximum residue limits established by the European Union (EU). The proposed method, was also applied to the analysis of this group of pesticides in nine banana samples taken from the local markets of the Canary Islands (Spain). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of RTILs as extraction solvents for DLLME of pesticides from samples different than water.

Liquid phase microextraction applications in food analysis

Over the last years, liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) in its different application modes (single drop microextraction, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and hollow fiber-LPME) has been increasingly applied for the extraction of both inorganic and organic analytes from different matrices. Its advantages over conventional extraction procedures (simplicity, effectiveness, rapidity and low consumption of organic solvents) has also attracted its application in the complex food analysis field, in which it has clearly provided good and challenging results. A comprehensive review dealing with those articles published since its introduction till the end of March 2011 is presented, offering also a critical vision of the analytical potential of LPME for the analysis of foods.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes as efficient solid-phase extraction materials of organophosphorus pesticides from apple, grape, orange and pineapple fruit juices

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been used for the first time as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for the extraction of eight organophosphorus pesticides (i.e. ethoprophos, diazinon, chlorpyriphos-methyl, fenitrothion, malathion, chlorpyriphos, fenamiphos and buprofezin) from different commercial fruit juices (i.e. apple, grape, orange and pineapple). The developed method, which involves SPE and direct gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection analysis, is very fast, simple and cheap: only 1:1 dilution with Milli-Q water and pH adjustment to 6.0 of 10 mL of juice is necessary prior to a quick MWCNTs-SPE procedure that used only 40 mg of stationary phase (MWCNTs of 10-15 nm o.d., 2-6 nm i.d. and 0.1-10 microm length). Mean recovery values were above 73% for all the pesticides and fruit juices (between 77 and 101% for apple juice, 75 and 103% for grape juice, 73 and 103% for orange juice and 73 and 93% for pineapple juice) with a relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 8.5% in all cases. Matrix matched calibration was carried out for each sample matrix since statistical differences between the calibration curves constructed is pure solvent and in the reconstructed juice extracts were found. Limits of detection ranged between 1.85 and 7.32 microg/L (which also represents LODs between 1.85 and 7.34 microg/kg) well below the European Union maximum residue limits for the raw fruits. The proposed method, which is demonstrated to be quick, cheap, accurate and highly selective, was also applied to the analysis of this group of pesticides in several commercial juices in which none of the selected pesticides were found.

Oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the dispersive solid-phase extraction of quinolone antibiotics from water samples using capillary electrophoresis and large volume sample stacking with polarity switching

In this work, a new method for the determination of eleven quinolone antibiotics (moxifloxacin, lomefloxacin, danofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, marbofloxacin, enrofloxacin, difloxacin, pefloxacin, oxolinic acid and flumequine) in different water samples using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) and capillary zone electrophoresis with diode-array detection was developed. Oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (o-MWCNTs) were used for the first time as stationary phases for the off-line preconcentration by dSPE of the antibiotics. A 65 mM phosphate buffer at pH 8.5 was found adequate for analyte separation while large volume sample stacking with polarity switching of the analytes dissolved in water containing 10% (v/v) of acetonitrile was carried out in order to improve the sensitivity. dSPE parameters, such as sample volume and pH, o-MWCNT amount, volume and type of eluent in dSPE were optimized. Application of the developed method to the analysis of spiked Milli-Q, mineral, tap, and wastewater samples resulted in good recoveries values ranging from 62.3 to 116% with relative standard deviation values lower than 7.7% in all cases. Limits of detection were in the range of 28-94 ng/L. The proposed method is very fast, simple, repeatable, accurate and highly selective.

Pesticide analysis in tomatoes by solid-phase microextraction and micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The analysis of a group of seven pesticides (i.e. six fungicides: pyrimethanil, procymidone, nuarimol, fenarimol, benalaxyl and penconazole and one insecticide: pirimicarb) in tomato samples by micellar electrokinetic chromatography is investigated. For this purpose, reversed electrode polarity stacking mode and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) have been used as on-line and off-line preconcentration procedures, respectively. Tomato samples were first homogenized and extracted with acetone. After suitable evaporation and reconstitution of the extract in water, a SPME procedure using poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene fibers was used. Due to the strong influence of the sample matrix in the extraction, a matrix matched calibration of spiked tomato samples was developed. The method was found to be linear between 0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg. Limits of detection achieved are below the maximum residue limits established by the European Union and Spain legislation as well as by the Codex Alimentarius (except for penconazole). The potential of the method was demonstrated by analyzing 12 tomato samples (of ecological and non-ecological production) taken from regional cultivars. No residues of the selected pesticides were detected in any of the samples.

Simultaneous determination of seven pesticides in waters using multi-walled carbon nanotube SPE and NACE

In this work, NACE with UV detection is combined with SPE using multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as stationary phase to determine a group of seven pesticides (pirimicarb, pyrifenox, penconazol, carbendazim, cyromazine, pyrimethanil and cyprodinil) in mineral water samples using ametryn as internal standard. The optimized BGE, consisting of a mixture of MeOH and ACN (1:2 v/v) with 90 mM SDS and 20.5 mM HClO4, was satisfactory to get a good resolution of the seven compounds in less than 13 min. On‐line preconcentration was carried out by electrokinetic injection of the sample dissolved in 78:22 v/v MeOH/ACN, 1.11 mM HClO4. Repeatability was studied for the same day (n=4), for nine different days (n=36) and for four different capillaries. RSD values were appropriate in all cases, i.e. in the range 4.3–9.4% between different capillaries. MWCNT of 10–15 nm od, 2–6 nm id and 0.1–10 μm length were used as SPE materials for the preconcentration of these pesticides from water samples. SPE parameters influencing the enrichment were optimized and the most favorable conditions were as follows: the amount of stationary phase, eluent, sample pH and sample volume were 40 mg MWCNT, 10 mL ACN and 10 mL dichloromethane containing 5% v/v formic acid, pH 8.0, and 750 mL, respectively. Mean recovery values ranged between 53 and 94% for Milli‐Q water and between 47 and 93% for mineral waters (RSD values were in the range 2–16%). The method allowed the determination of these pesticides at concentrations below the maximum residue limits established by the European Union legislation (LOD in the range 27–58 ng/L). When the cost, amount and type of the carbon nanotubes used in this work are compared with those carbon nanotubes previously used in the literature it is clear that the proposed materials can be used as economical stationary phases, even cheaper than conventional SPE cartridges.

Recent food safety and food quality applications of CE-MS.

The first on‐line coupling of CE with MS detection more than 20 years ago provided a very powerful technique with a wide variety of applications, among which food analysis is of special interest, especially that dealing with food safety and food quality applications, the major topics of public interest nowadays. With this review article, we would like to show the most recent applications of CE‐MS in both fields by recompiling and commenting articles published between January 2004 and October 2008. Although both applications are difficult to separate from each other, we have included in this work two main sections dealing with each specific field. Future trends will also be discussed.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid‐phase extraction materials for the gas chromatographic determination of organophosphorus pesticides in waters

In the present work, a GC method with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD) was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) residues (i.e., ethoprofos, diazinon, chlorpyrifos-methyl, fenitrothion, malathion, chlorpyrifos, fenamiphos, and buprofezin) in water samples. Preconcentration of the water samples was carried out using an SPE procedure with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of 10-15 nm od, 2-6 nm id, and 0.1-10 microm length as stationary phase. Extraction parameters, such as the amount of MWCNTs, sample volume, pH, and type and amount of the eluent were optimized. The most favorable conditions were as follows: 40 mg MWCNTs, 800 mL water, pH 6.0, and 20 mL dichloromethane, respectively. The MWCNTs-SPE-GC-NPD method was applied to the determination of these pesticides in real water samples: mineral and ground water as well as run-off water from an agricultural area collected shortly before opening out onto the sea. A recovery study was developed with five consecutive extractions of the three types of water spiked at three concentration levels (n = 15). Mean recovery values were in the range of 75-116% for mineral water (RSD < 6.3%), 67-119% for ground water (RSD < 5.8%), and 57-81% for run-off waters (RSDs < 6.9%), except for fenamiphos (mean recovery values between 40 and 84% for the three types of waters, RSDs < 8.9%). LODs were in the low ng/L level (i.e., levels below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU) legislation for these compounds in waters). The proposed method was also applied to the analysis of six water samples (two of each type: mineral, ground, and run-off waters) in which no residues of the selected pesticides were found. Results show that the MWCNTs used in this work have a high adsorbability of the pesticides under study. The main advantage of the use of these MWCNTs is their low cost when compared with those MWCNTs previously used in the literature and with conventional SPE cartridges.

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of pesticides and metabolites from soils using 1,3-dipentylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid as an alternative extraction solvent

In this work, the use of the ionic liquid (IL) 1,3‐dipentylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([PPIm][PF6]) as an alternative extractant for IL dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL‐DLLME) of a group of pesticides and metabolites (2‐aminobenzimidazole, carbendazim/benomyl, thiabendazole, fuberidazole, carbaryl, 1‐naphthol, and triazophos) from soils is described. After performing an initial ultrasound‐assisted extraction (USE), the IL‐DLLME procedure was applied for the extraction of these organic analytes from soil extracts. Separation and quantification was achieved by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FD). Calibration, precision, and accuracy of the described USE‐IL‐DLLME‐HPLC‐FD method using [PPIm][PF6] as an alternative extractant was evaluated with two soils of different physicochemical properties. Accuracy percentages were in the range 93–118% with RSD values below 20%. A comparison of the performance of [PPIm][PF6] versus that of the so‐common 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIm][PF6]) was accomplished. Results indicate a comparable extraction efficiency with both ILs, being slightly higher with [HMIm][PF6] for the metabolite 2‐aminobenzimidazole, and slightly higher with [PPIm][PF6] for triazophos. In all cases, LODs were in the low ng/g range (0.02–14.2 ng/g for [HMIm][PF6] and 0.02–60.5 ng/g for [PPIm][PF6]). As a result, the current work constitutes a starting point for the use of the IL [PPIm][PF6] for further analytical approaches.