Despite organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) benefits in controlling vector-borne diseases and noxious insects, the bioaccumulation and persistence in the soil system may metamorphose into new substances which could pose a serious threat to the ecosystems and human health. The generally low levels of OPPs residues and often the complexity of the soil matrix are the issues that researcher must deal with. Thus, it is essential to isolate and preconcentrate the OPPs from the matrix to reduce interference effects to obtain a reliable detection. Researchers have reported sample preparation techniques as a promising approach to improve analytical measurement of merits including recovery, precision, linearity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification. Under the selected conditions, limits of detection range between 0.001 and 143 ng/mL, and extraction recovery range between 5 and 154% were obtained. This review evaluates the challenges and opportunities, emphasizes the prospects of sampling techniques and various (micro)extraction coupled with chromatographic methods in different soil samples. Based on the finding, the extraction efficiency depended largely on the interaction between OPPs and extraction media. The fate, migration, toxicity impact, sampling procedure, and storage which influenced the sample preparation were comprehensively discussed.
In this study, caged calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersive microsolid phase extraction was described for the first time for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples prior to gas chromatographic analysis. Fluorene, phenanthrene and fluoranthene were selected as model compounds. The caged calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetry analyses. The effective parameters namely desorption solvent, solvent volume, extraction time, desorption time, the mass of adsorbent and sample volume were optimized. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the developed method showed good linearity in the range of 0.5-50 ng mL-1 (R2 ≥ 0.996), low limits of detection and quantification (0.42-0.22 ng mL-1) (0.73-1.38 ng mL-1) respectively, good relative recoveries (71.2-104.2%) and reproducibility (RSD 1.8-12.4%, n = 3) for the studied PAHs in water sample. With high enrichment factor (1,000), short extraction time (<30 min), low amounts of adsorbent (100 mg) and low amounts of solvent (0.1 mol) have proven that the microsolid phase extraction method based on calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes are environmentally friendly and convenient extraction method to use as an alternative adsorbent in the simultaneous preconcentration of PAHs from environmental water samples.
An alternative environmentally benign support was prepared from chitosan-chitin nanowhiskers (CS/CNWs) for covalent immobilization of Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML) to increase the operational stability and recyclability of RML in synthesizing eugenyl benzoate. The CS/CNWs support and RML-CS/CNWs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, fluorescent microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Efficiency of the RML-CS/CNWs was compared to the free RML to synthesize eugenyl benzoate for parameters: reaction temperature, stirring rate, reusability, and thermal stability. Under optimal experimental conditions (50°C, 250 rpm, catalyst loading 3 mg/mL), a twofold increase in yield of eugenyl benzoate was observed for RML-CS/CNWs as compared to free RML, with the former achieving maximum yield of the ester at 62.1% after 5 hr. Results demonstrated that the strategy adopted to prepare RML-CS/CNWs was useful, producing an improved and prospectively greener biocatalyst that supported a sustainable process to prepare eugenyl benzoate. Moreover, RML-CS/CNWs are biodegradable and perform esterification reactions under ambient conditions as compared to the less eco-friendly conventional acid catalyst. This research provides a facile and promising approach for improving activity of RML in which the resultant RML-CS/CNWs demonstrated good operational stability for up to eight successive esterification cycles to synthesize eugenyl benzoate.
Kinetic resolution of (R,S)-atenolol is a faster strategy to produce (S)-atenolol. Since this racemate is a less soluble compound, resolution of its ester offers high concentrations in the process. A good analytical method is required to observe the enantiomer concentrations. This paper described application of ultra-fast liquid chromatography on the atenolol ester separation using different resolution media and analytical procedures. Chiralcel OD column resolved the ester. The chromatograms indicated different characteristics of the process. The enantiomers could be recognized by the column in less than 1 (one) hour. Symmetrical peaks were obtained, but several procedures produced peaks with wide bases and slanted baselines. Efficient enantioresolution was obtained at high mobile phase flow rate, decreased concentration of amine-type modifier, but increased alcohol content in the mobile phase. High UV detection wavelength was required. At 1.0 mL/min, the (90/10/0.5) composition resulted α = 1.46 and RS = 0.9998 that were good separation.
As the (R)-enantiomer of racemic atenolol has no β-blocking activity and no lack of side effects, switching from the racemate to the (S)-atenolol is more favorable. Transesterification of racemic atenolol using free enzymes investigated as a resource to resolve the racemate via this method is limited. Screenings of enzyme, medium, and acetyl donor were conducted first to give Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase, tetrahydrofuran, and vinyl acetate. A statistical design of the experiment was then developed using Central Composite Design on some operational factors, which resulted in the conversions of 11.70-61.91% and substrate enantiomeric excess (ee) of 7.31-100%. The quadratic models are acceptable with R2 of 95.13% (conversion) and 89.63% (ee). The predicted values match the observed values reasonably well. Temperature, agitation speed, and substrate molar ratio factor have low effects on conversion and ee, but enzyme loading affects the responses highly. The interaction of temperature-agitation speed and temperature-substrate molar ratio show significant effects on conversion, while temperature-agitation speed, temperature-substrate molar ratio, and agitation speed-substrate molar ratio affect ee highly. Optimum conditions for the use of Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase, tetrahydrofuran, and vinyl acetate were found at 45°C, 175 rpm, 2000 U, and 1:3.6 substrate molar ratio.
The ionic liquids (ILs) are salts with melting points below 100°C. These are called as ionic fluids, ionic melts, liquid electrolytes, fused salts, liquid salts, ionic glasses, designer solvents, green solvents and solvents of the future. These have a wide range of applications, including medical, pharmaceutical and chemical sciences. Nowadays, their use is increasing greatly in separation science, especially in chromatography and capillary electrophoresis due to their remarkable properties. The present article describes the importance of ILs in high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Efforts were also made to highlight the future expectations of ILs.
A molecular docking study, using molecular mechanics calculations with AutoDock and semi-empirical PM3 calculations, was used to predict the enantiodiscrimination of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TMβCD) and ketoconazole (KTZ) enantiomers. A Density Functional Theory (DFT) single-point calculation at the level of B3LYP/6-311G (d,p) was performed for the PM3-optimized complexes to obtain more accurate binding energy and the electronic structures of the complexes. The difference in energies of the inclusion complexes between the KTZ enantiomers and TMβCD is probably a measure of chiral discrimination, which results in the separation of the enantiomers as observed in the experimental studies.
A new mesoporous silica based on the sol-gel material cyanopropyltriethoxysilane (CNPrTEOS) was successfully synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation of CNPrTEOS in the presence of ammonium solution as catalyst and methanol as solvent. It was used as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the simultaneous extraction of three organophosphorus pesticides, namely, polar dicrotophos and non-polar diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. CNPrTEOS was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen gas adsorption. The surface area and average pore diameter of the optimum sol-gel CNPrTEOS are 379 m(2) /g and 4.7 nm (mesoporous), respectively. The proposed solid-phase extraction based on CNPrTEOS exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.8-100 μg/L, satisfactory precision (1.15-3.82%), high enrichment factor (800) and low limit of detection (0.072-0.091 μg/L). The limits of detection obtained using the proposed solid-phase extraction method are well below the maximum residue limit set by European Union and are also lower (13.6-48.5×) than that obtained by using a commercial CN-SPE cartridge (0.98-4.41 μg/L). The new mesoporous sol-gel CNPrTEOS showed promising alternative as SPE sorbent material for the simultaneous extraction of polar and non-polar organophosphorus pesticides.
In view of several disadvantages as well as adverse effects associated with the use of chemical processes for producing esters, alternative techniques such as the utilization of enzymes on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been suggested. In this study, the oxidative MWCNTs prepared using a mixture of HNO3 and H2SO4 (1:3 v/v) were used as a supportive material for the immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) through physical adsorption process. The resulting CRL-MWCNTs biocatalysts were utilized for synthesizing geranyl propionate, an important ester for flavoring agent as well as in fragrances. Enzymatic esterification of geraniol with propionic acid was carried out using heptane as a solvent and the efficiency of CRL-MWCNTs as a biocatalyst was compared with the free CRL, considering the incubation time, temperature, molar ratio of acid:alcohol, presence of desiccant as well as its reusability. It was found that the CRL-MWCNTs resulted in a 2-fold improvement in the percentage of conversion of geranyl propionate when compared with the free CRL, demonstrating the highest yield of geranyl propionate at 6h at 55°C, molar ratio acid: alcohol of 1:5 and with the presence of 1.0g desiccant. It was evident that the CRL-MWCNTs biocatalyst could be reused for up to 6 times before a 50% reduction in catalytic efficiency was observed. Hence, it appears that the facile physical adsorption of CRL onto F-MWCNTs has improved the activity and stability of CRL as well as served as an alternative method for the synthesis of geranyl propionate.
This work aimed to develop a chiral separation method of ketoconazole enantiomers using electrokinetic chromatography. The separation was achieved using heptakis (2, 3, 6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TMβCD), a commonly used chiral selector (CS), as it is relatively inexpensive and has a low UV absorbance in addition to an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The influence of TMβCD concentration, phosphate buffer concentration, SDS concentration, buffer pH, and applied voltage were investigated. The optimum conditions for chiral separation of ketoconazole was achieved using 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing 20 mM TMβCD, 5 mM SDS, and 1.0% (v/v) methanol with an applied voltage of 25 kV at 25 °C with a 5-s injection time (hydrodynamic injection). The four ketoconazole stereoisomers were successfully resolved for the first time within 17 min (total analysis time was 28 min including capillary conditioning). The migration time precision of this method was examined to give repeatability and reproducibility with RSDs ≤5.80% (n =3) and RSDs ≤8.88% (n =9), respectively.
Recently, a simple, rapid, high-efficiency, selective, and sensitive method for isolation, preconcentration, and enrichment of analytes has been developed. This new method of sample handling is based on ferum oxides as magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and has been used for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of various analytes from various matrices. This review focuses on the applications of modified ferum oxides, especially modified Fe3O4 MNPs, as MSPE adsorbent for pesticide isolation from various matrices. Further perspectives on MSPE based on modified Fe3O4 for inorganic metal ions, organic compounds, and biological species from water samples are also presented. Ferum(III) oxide MNPs (Fe2O3) are also highlighted.
The progress of novel sorbents and their function in preconcentration techniques for determination of trace elements is a topic of great importance. This review discusses numerous analytical approaches including the preparation and practice of unique modification of solid-phase materials. The performance and main features of ion-imprinting polymers, carbon nanotubes, biosorbents, and nanoparticles are described, covering the period 2007-2012. The perspective and future developments in the use of these materials are illustrated.
Cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) method was developed for simultaneous enantioseparation of three imidazole drugs namely tioconazole, isoconazole and fenticonazole. Three easily available and inexpensive cyclodextrins namely 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD) were evaluated to discriminate the six stereoisomers of the drugs. However, none of the three CDs gave a complete enantioseparation of the drugs. Effective enantioseparation of tioconazole, isoconazole and fenticonazole was achieved using a combination of 35 mM HP-γ-CD and 10 mM DM-β-CD as chiral selectors. The best separation using both HP-γ-CD and DM-β-CD (35 mM:10 mM) as chiral selectors were accomplished in background electrolyte (BGE) containing 35 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 15% (v/v) acetonitrile at 27 kV and 30 °C with all peaks resolved in less than 15 min with resolutions, Rs 1.90-27.22 and peak efficiencies, N > 180 000. The developed method was linear over the concentration range of 25-200 mg l(-1) (r(2) > 0.998) and the detection limits (S/N = 3) of the three imidazole drugs were found to be 2.7-7.7 mg l(-1). The CD-MEKC method was successfully applied to the determination of the three imidazole drugs in spiked human urine sample and commercial cream formulation of tioconazole and isoconazole with good recovery (93.6-106.2%) and good RSDs ranging from 2.30-6.8%.
In this work, a two-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) method combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is developed to provide a rapid, selective and sensitive analytical method to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fresh milk. The standard addition method is used to construct calibration curves and to determine the residue levels for the target analytes, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, thus eliminating sample pre-treatment steps such as pH adjustment. The HF-LPME method shows dynamic linearity from 5 to 500 µg/L for all target analytes with R(2) ranging from 0.9978 to 0.9999. Under optimized conditions, the established detection limits range from 0.07 to 1.4 µg/L based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Average relative recoveries for the determination of PAHs studied at 100 µg/L spiking levels are in the range of 85 to 110%. The relative recoveries are slightly higher than those obtained by conventional solvent extraction, which requires saponification steps for fluorene and phenanthrene, which are more volatile and heat sensitive. The HF-LPME method proves to be simple and rapid, and requires minimal amounts of organic solvent that supports green analysis.
Capillary electrophoresis coupled with a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C(4)D) has been employed for the determination of the β-blocker drugs (atenolol and amiloride) in pharmaceutical formulations. 150 mM acetic acid was used as background electrolyte. The influence of several factors (detector excitation voltage and frequency, buffer concentration, applied voltage, capillary temperature, and injection time) was studied. Non-UV absorbing L-valine was used as an internal standard; the analytes were all separated in less than 7 min. The separation was carried out in normal polarity mode at 28 °C, 25 kV, and using hydrodynamic injection (25 s). The separation was effected in a bare fused-silica capillary 75 μm × 52 cm. The CE-C(4)D method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision, and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 5-250 μg mL(-1) for the studied analytes. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day precisions of migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 6.0%. The method showed good precision and accuracy and was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the β-blocker drugs in different pharmaceutical tablets.
Because chiral liquid chromatography (LC) could become a powerful tool to estimate racemic atenolol quantity, excellent enantiomeric separation should be produced during data acquisition for satisfactory observation of atenolol concentrations throughout the racemic resolution processes. Selection of chiral LC column and analytical protocol that fulfill demands of the ultra fast LC analysis is essential. This article describes the characteristics of atenolol chromatographic separation that resulted from different resolution media and analytical protocols with the use of a Chiralcel® OD column. The chromatograms showed quite different characteristics of the separation process. The single enantiomer and racemic atenolol could be recognized by the Chiralcel® OD column in less than 20 min. Symmetrical peaks were obtained; however, several protocols produced peaks with wide bases and slanted baselines. Observations showed that efficient enantioresolution of racemic atenolol was obtained at slow mobile phase flow rate, decreased concentration of amine-type modifier but increased alcohol content in mobile phase and highest ultraviolet detection wavelength were required. The optimal ultra fast LC protocol enables to reduce and eliminate the peaks of either the atenolol solvent or the buffers and provided the highest peak intensities of both atenolol enantiomers.
A cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) technique has been developed for enantioseparation of vinpocetine using an inexpensive 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HP-β-CD) as the chiral selector (CS). The best chiral separation was achieved using 40 mM HP-β-CD as the CS in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) consisting of 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at a separation temperature and separation voltage of 25°C and 25 kV, respectively. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first CD-MEKC study able to successfully separate the four stereoisomer of vinpocetine in separation time of 9.5 min and resolution of 1.04-3.87.
A micellar electrokinetic chromatography method for the determination of sumatriptan succinate in pharmaceutical formulations was developed. The effects of several factors such as pH, surfactant and buffer concentration, applied voltage, capillary temperature, and injection time were investigated. Separation took about 5 min using phenobarbital as internal standard. The separation was carried out in reversed polarity mode at 20 °C, 26 kV and using hydrodynamic injection for 10s. Separation was achieved using a bare fused-silica capillary 50 μm×40 cm and background electrolyte of 25 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate-adjusted with concentrated phosphoric acid to pH 2.2, containing 125 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and detection was at 226 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, limits of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision and selectivity. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 100-2000 μg mL(-1). The relative standard deviations of intra-day and inter-day precision for migration time, peak area, corrected peak area, ratio of corrected peak area and ratio of peak area were less than 0.68, 3.48, 3.28, 2.97 and 2.83% and 2.01, 5.50, 4.46, 4.92 and 4.07%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determinations of the analyte in tablet. Forced degradation studies were conducted by introducing a sample of sumatriptan succinate standard solution to different forced degradation conditions using neutral (water), basic (0.1 M NaOH), acidic (0.1 M HCl), oxidative (10% H(2)O(2)) and photolytic (exposure to UV light at 254 nm for 2 h). It is concluded that the stability-indicating method for sumatriptan succinate can be used for the analysis of the drug in various samples.
A cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) method with hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (HP-gamma-CD) as chiral selector for the enantiomeric separation of econazole is reported. Enantioseparation of econazole was successfully achieved by the optimized CD-MEKC system containing 40mM HP-gamma-CD, 50mM SDS and 20mM phosphate buffer (pH 8) solution with an analysis time of less than 9min. Calibration curves were linear for the two stereoisomers of econazole (r(2)>0.998). Good repeatabilities in the migration time, peak area and peak height were obtained in terms of RSD% ranging from 0.30 to 7.67%. Combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using diol column and the CD-MEKC method was successfully applied to the determination of econazole in a formulated cream sample.
Binding constants for the enantiomers of modafinil with the negatively charged chiral selector sulfated-β-CD (S-β-CD) using CE technique is presented. The calculations of the binding constants employing three different linearization plots (double reciprocal, X-reciprocal and Y-reciprocal) were performed from the electrophoretic mobility values of modafinil enantiomers at different concentrations of S-β-CD in the BGE. The highest inclusion affinity of the modafinil enantiomers were observed for the S-enantiomer-S-β-CD complex, in agreement with the computational calculations performed previously. Binding constants for each enantiomer-S-β-CD complex at different temperatures, as well as thermodynamic parameters for binding, were calculated. Host-guest binding constants using the double reciprocal fit showed better linearity (r(2)>0.99) at all temperatures studied (15-30°C) and compared with the other two fit methods. The linear van't Hoff (15-30°C) plot obtained indicated that the thermodynamic parameters of complexation were temperature dependent for the enantiomers.