Pai-Shan Chen

Determination of ethoprop, diazinon, disulfoton and fenthion using dynamic hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A technique for the analysis of organophosphorus pesticides (ethoprop, diazinon, disulfoton, fenthion) in aqueous sample using liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed. A small section of a hollow fiber inserted into the needle of GC syringe and filled with the 3.5mul of organic solvent was used to extract pesticides from a 20ml aqueous sample. The limits of detection (LOD) with the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode varied from 0.2 to 0.006mug/l. The calibration curves were linear over three orders of magnitude with R(2)>/=0.996. The relative standard deviations of the analysis (inter- and intra-day) were 5-8%, and the relative recoveries from the lake water sample were greater than 83%. The results were compared with results obtained using solid-phase microextraction (SPME/GC/MS).

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in water using dynamic hook-type liquid-phase microextraction.

We developed a simple and efficient headspace liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) technique named dynamic hook-type liquid-phase microextraction (DHT-LPME) and used it in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and an electron capture detector (ECD). Aqueous specimens of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were used as model compounds to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique. In the present study, the calibration curves were linear over at least 2 orders of magnitude with R(2) values of 0.997. The method detection limits (MDLs) varied from 2 to 44.0 ngL(-1). The precision of DHT-LPME ranged from 6.5 to 14.4%. The relative recoveries of OCPs in rainwater were more than 84.2%. Enrichment factors (EF) in the range 275-1127 were obtained using DHT-LPME.

Dynamic headspace time-extended helix liquid-phase microextraction

Liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) has been proved to be a fast, inexpensive and effective sample pre-treatment technique for the analyses of pesticides and many other compounds. In this investigation, a new headspace microextraction technique, dynamic headspace time-extended helix liquid-phase microextraction (DHS-TEH-LPME), is presented. In this work, use of a solvent cooling system, permits the temperature of the extraction solvent to be lowered. Lowering the temperature of the extraction solvent not only reduces solvent loss but also extends the feasible extraction time, thereby improving extraction efficiency. Use of a larger volume of the solvent not only extends the feasible extraction time but also, after extraction, leaves a larger volume to be directly injected into the gas chromatography (GC) to increase extraction efficiency and instrument signal. The DHS-TEH-LPME technique was used to extract six organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from 110ml water samples that had been spiked with the analytes at ng/l levels, and stirred for 60min. The proposed method attained enrichments up to 2121 fold. The effects of extraction solvent identity, sample agitation, extraction time, extraction temperature, and salt concentration on extraction performance were also investigated. The method detection limits (MDLs) varied from 0.2 to 25ng/l. The calibration curves were linear for at least 2 orders of magnitude with R(2)>==0.996. Relative recoveries in river water were more than 86%.

Determination of volatile organic compounds in water using headspace knotted hollow fiber microextraction.

An efficient and effective headspace microextraction technique named static headspace knotted hollow fiber microextraction (HS-K-HFME) has been developed for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water samples. The knot-shaped hollow fiber is filled with 25μL of the extraction solvent. The excess solvent forms a large droplet (13μL) and is held in the center of the knot. Even after 20min of extraction time at high temperature (95°C) without cooling, there was still enough volume of extraction solvent for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, which extends the choice of solvents for headspace LPME. Moreover, the knot-shaped fiber has a larger extraction contact interface, which increases the rate of mass transfer between the headspace and extraction solvent film attached to the fiber, thus improving the extraction efficiency. The effects of extraction solvent, temperature, stirring rate, salt concentration and extraction time on extraction performance were optimized. The calibration curves exhibited coefficients of determination (R(2)) ranging from 0.9957 to 0.9999 and the limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.2 to 10μgL(-1). Relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 4.5% to 11.6% for intraday measurements (n=5). Interday (n=15) values were between 2.2% and 12.9%. The relative recoveries (RRs) ranged from 90.3% to 106.0% for river water and 95.9% to 103.6% for wastewater.

Up-and-down-shaker-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of fungicides in wine.

An up-and-down-shaker-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UDSA-DLLME) method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of fungicides (cyprodinil, procymidone, fludioxonil, flusilazole, benalaxyl, and tebuconazole) in wine. The developed method requires 11 μL of 1-octanol without the need for dispersive solvents. The total extraction time was approximately 3 min. Under optimum conditions, the linear range of the method was 0.05-100 μg L(-1) for all fungicides and the limit of detection was 0.007-0.025 μg L(-1). The absolute and relative recoveries were 31-83% and 83-107% for white wine, respectively, and 32-85% and 83-108% for red wine, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision were 0.5-7.5% and 0.7-6.1%, respectively. Our developed method had good sensitivity and high extraction efficiency. UDSA-DLLME is a desirable method in terms of performance and speed.

Non-cytotoxic nanomaterials enhance antimicrobial activities of cefmetazole against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has led to difficulties in treating patients, and novel strategies to prevent and treat this infection are urgently needed. Here, we examined 21 different nanomaterials for their potential activity against N. gonorrhoeae (ATCC 49226). Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, 120 nm) showed the greatest potency for reducing N. gonorrhoeae colony formation (MIC: 12.5 µg/ml) and possessed the dominant influence on the antibacterial activity with their properties of the nanoparticles within a concentration range that did not induce cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts or epithelial cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the Ag NPs significantly reduced bacterial cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, the use of clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae showed that combined treatment with 120 nm Ag NPs and cefmetazole produced additive effects. This is the first report to screen the effectiveness of nanomaterials against N. gonorrhoeae, and our results indicate that 120 nm Ag NPs deliver low levels of toxicity to human epithelial cells and could be used as an adjuvant with antibiotic therapy, either for topical use or as a coating for biomaterials, to prevent or treat multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.

SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ARSENIC, MERCURY, ANTIMONY AND SELENIUM IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS WITH PRIOR COLLECTION OF GASEOUS PRODUCTS FOLLOWED BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

A method combining prior collection of gaseous products with subsequent neutron activation analysis has been developed for simultaneous determination of traces of arsenic, mercury, antimony and selenium in biological materials. The generation of hydrides of arsenic, antimony and selenium and cold vapor of mercury in the vapor generaion and collection system was investigated by the use of radiotracers of the respective elements. The result indicates that selenium and mercury can be completely evaporated from the digested sample solution in 5M HCl with the addition of 5% sodium tetrahydroborate solution, while additional reduction proces by potassium iodide and ascorbic acid is needed for complete evaporation of arsenic and antimony. The gaseous products were collected in a quartz tube for neutron irradiation. The detection limits of these elements were fount to be in the range of 10−7 to 10−8 g under the present experimental conditions. The reliability was checked with NBS standard reference materials.

Effects of Gender on the Association of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites with Thyroid Hormones in Children: A Prospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Phthalates are considered endocrine disruptors. Our study assessed the gender-specific effects of phthalate exposure on thyroid function in children. In total, 189 Taiwanese children were enrolled in the study. One-spot urine and blood samples were collected for analyzing 12 phthalate metabolites in urine and thyroid hormones. The association between urinary phthalate metabolites and serum thyroid hormones was determined using a generalized linear model with a log link function; the children were categorized into groups for analysis according to the 33rd and 66th percentiles. The data were stratified according to gender and adjusted for a priori defined covariates. In girls, a positive association existed between urinary di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate) and free thyroxine (T4). In boys, urinary dibutyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites (mono-i-butyl phthalate and mono-n-butyl phthalate) were positively associated with free triiodothyronine (T3). After categorizing each exposure into three groups, urinary DEHP metabolites were positively associated with free T3 levels in boys. Our results suggested that DEHP is associated with free T4 in girls and that DBP is associated with free T3 in boys. Higher DEHP metabolite concentrations exerted larger effects on free T3 in boys. These results reveal the gender-specific relationships between phthalate metabolites and thyroid hormones.

Analytical characterization of CuInS2 semiconductor material

Abstract Systematic analytical procedures have been developed for determination of the stoichiometry of CuInS2 and estimation of trace elements, including dopants and impurities, in the material. Samples of CuInS2 are digested in an oxidizing acid to ensure completely transformation into Cu2+, In3+ and SO42− ions. The stoichiometry determination is made sequentially by controlled potential electro-deposition of copper, followed by its EDTA titration, titrimetric determination of indium and gravimetric determination of sulphate, in a single sample solution. The relative errors for the determination of Cu and In are found to be −0.08% and +0.11% respectively, fulfilling the requirement for accurate stoichiometry assessment; that for S is −0.66%, which though rather high is still acceptable. For the determination of trace elements in CuInS2, multistage combined procedures are employed. Cu in the sample solution is removed by electro-deposition and In by extraction of HInBr4 with isopropyl ether, then most of the trace elements are finally determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry, and the rest by neutron-activation analysis. All the steps involved in the procedures have been optimized by using radioisotopes as tracers. By the procedures developed, a wide range of trace elements in CuInS2, down to submicrogram level, can be determined.

Water with low concentration of surfactant in dispersed solvent-assisted emulsion dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of fungicides in wine.

A sample preparation method, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction assisted by an emulsion with low concentration of a surfactant in water and dispersed solvent coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was developed for the analysis of the fungicides cyprodinil, procymidone, fludioxonil, flusilazole, benalaxyl, and tebuconazole in wine. A microsyringe was used to withdraw and discharge a mixture of extraction solvent and 240 μL of an aqueous solution of Triton X-100 (the dispersed agent) four times within 10 s to form a cloudy emulsion in the syringe. This emulsion was then injected into a 5 mL wine sample spiked with all of the above fungicides. The total extraction time was approximately 0.5 min. Under optimum conditions using 1-octanol (12 μL) as extraction solvent, the linear range of the method in analysis of all six fungicides was 0.05-100 μg L(-1), and the limit of detection ranged from 0.013 to 0.155 μg L(-1). The absolute recoveries (n = 3) and relative recoveries (n = 3) were 30-83 and 81-108% for white wine at 0.5, 5, and 5 μg L(-1), and 30-92 and 81-110% for red wine, respectively. The intraday (n = 7) and interday (n = 6) relative standard deviations ranged from 4.4 to 8.8% and from 4.3 to 11.2% at 0.5 μg L(-1), respectively. The method achieved high enrichment factors. It is an alternative sample preparation technique with good performance.