Dynamic Hollow Fiber Liquid-phase Microextraction Research Articles

Sample treatment platform for automated integration of microextraction techniques and liquid chromatography analysis

Abstract Sample preparation performance influences the quality of every chemical analysis. Since it is the most labor-intensive stage in the nearly all-analytical protocols, sample preparation automation would be desirable, to increase the analytical throughput, maintaining precision and accuracy, while preventing risks of human exposure to chemical or biological agents. Among different lab-automation strategies, robots have long been an important prospect. Nevertheless, widespread adoption of dedicate “robot-chemist” with analytical purposes continues being limited. Open resources that enable non-specialist analysts and researchers to make their own prototypes are still necessary. We have assembled an open-source innovative platform, able to guarantee the online hyphenation of the sample preparation microtechniques with liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry or any other detection system. It is a multi-purpose cartesian robot, programmed to perform sample clean-up operations, allowing the automated pre-concentration of analytes through the performance of solid and liquid phase microextraction protocols, actuating a microextraction syringe driver, and equipped with an in-syringe-stirring mechanism and an adapted interface for online coupling with liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry analysis. The entire sample preparation procedure can be performed by the developed prototype and the enriched extract automatically injected into the separation and detection system. The analytical performance of the developed prototype was assessed for the extraction of polyaromatic hydrocarbons from sewage water, by headspace dynamic single drop microextraction (SDME), dynamic hollow-fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) and microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS). The developed prototype displayed excellent precision and accuracy for the execution of the microextraction protocols, proving to be a promising and competitive open source analytical tool able to extend the state-of-the-art of sample preparation microtechniques.

Analysis of Paraben Preservatives in Cosmetic Samples: Comparison of Three Different Dynamic Hollow Fiber Liquid-Phase Microextraction Methods

This study focused on a comparison of three different dynamic hollow fiber-based liquid-phase microextraction (DHF-LPME) methods for extraction and preconcentration of parabens from wastewater, toothpaste, cream, and shampoo samples. The first method is two-phase DHF-LPME, in which n-octanol was used as the extraction solvent. The second is three-phase DHF-LPME, in which n-octanol and basic aqueous solution were used as the extraction solvent and acceptor phase, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC–UV) was applied for determination of the parabens in both methods. The third method is a recently introduced method; three-phase DHF-LPME based on two immiscible organic solvents (n-dodecane as organic solvent and acetonitrile as an acceptor phase). The quantitative analyses were performed by the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) after injection port derivatization. The effect of different extraction conditions (i.e., extraction solvent, pH, ionic strength, stirring rate, and dynamic and extraction times) on the extraction efficiency of the parabens was investigated and optimized. All the three procedures provide similar working parameters characterized by high repeatability (3.9–6.3 %) and good linearity (correlation coefficient ranging from 0.989 to 0.998). Results of real sample analyses obtained by these three methods were highly correlated. Although all methods provide compatible alternatives for paraben analysis, the three-phase DHF-LPME based on two immiscible organic solvents may be a more appropriate technique due to its higher extraction efficiency and thus lower limits of detection (LODs). LODs for all the parabens ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 μg L−1 using the two first methods combined with HPLC–UV. An improvement in sensitivity of several orders of magnitude was achieved using three-phase DHF-LPME based on two immiscible organic solvents followed by single-ion monitoring GC–MS analyses (0.01–0.2 μg L−1) due to compatibility of this technique with GC instrument.

Analysis of trace amounts of chlorobenzenes in water samples: An approach towards the automation of dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction

We have combined dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction with GC and electron capture detection for the quantitative determination of five chlorobenzenes in water samples. Extraction is based on an automated dynamic extraction device called TT-tube extractor which consists of a polypropylene hollow fiber mounted inside a stainless steel tube. Toluene is used as the extraction solvent that fills the lumen and pores of the hydrophobic fiber and flows through the lumen of the fiber using a programmable syringe pump. The type of organic solvent, ionic strength, diameter of the TT-tube, sample volume, and the times for extraction and dwelling were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the method gives limits of detection as low as 10–100 ng L−1, a linear dynamic range of 0.05–100 μg L−1, and relative standard deviations of <7% (n = 6). The preconcentration factor can be as large as 562–973. In an example for a practical application, the chlorobenzenes were successfully determined in environmental aqueous samples. The hollow fiber membrane can be used at least 20 times without any carry-over or loss in extraction efficiency. The system is inexpensive and convenient, and requires minimal manual handling.

Combination of dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction with HPLC analysis for the determination of UV filters in cosmetic products

A simple method based on hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was successfully developed for the determination of UV filters in cosmetic products. A canular extractor was assembled by mounting a hollow fiber inside an external tube with a tee-connector. The organic solvent was immobilized into the fiber to form a liquid membrane as the acceptor phase. The sample was continuously injected into the extractor and the UV filters were extracted from the aqueous sample into organic acceptor phase. The main parameters affecting HF-LPME including extraction solvent, sample volume, sample flow rate, pH values and ionic strength were investigated. Toluene has been verified to be suitable as the acceptor phase. Under the optimized HF-LPME conditions, the enrichment factors of five UV filters varying from 24 to 57 were achieved. The limits of detection for the five UV filters were in the range of 1–100 μg L−1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of HF-LPME and HPLC analysis were lower than 5.2%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of the varied cosmetic products.

A novel approach to automation of dynamic hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction

An automated dynamic two-phase hollow fiber microextraction apparatus combined with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed for extraction and determination of chlorophenoxy acid (CPA) herbicides from environmental samples. The extraction device, called TT-extractor, consists of a polypropylene hollow fiber mounted inside a stainless steel tube by means of two tee-connectors in flow system. An organic solvent, which fills the lumen and the pores of the hydrophobic fiber, is pumped through the fiber repeatedly and the sample is pumped along the outer side of the fiber. The factors affecting the dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (DHF-LPME) of target analytes were investigated and the optimal extraction conditions were established. To test the applicability of the designed instrument, CPAs were extracted from environmental aqueous samples. The limits of detection (LODs) as low as 0.5 μg/L, linear dynamic range in the range of 1-100 μg/L and the relative standard deviations of <7% were obtained. The developed method can provide perconcentration factors as large as 230. A hollow fiber membrane can be used at least 20 times with neither loss in the efficiency nor carryover of the analytes between runs. The system is cheap and convenient and requires minimal manual handling.

Application of dynamic liquid-phase microextraction and injection port derivatization combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to the determination of acidic pharmaceutically active compounds in water samples

A method has been established for the determination of four pharmaceutically active compounds (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and clofibric acid) in water samples using dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF/LPME) followed by gas chromatography (GC) injection port derivatization and GC–mass spectrometric (MS) determination. Dynamic HF/LPME is a novel approach to microextraction that involves the use of a programmable syringe pump to move the liquid phases participating in the extraction so as to facilitate the process. Trimethylanilinium hydroxide (TMAH) was used as derivatization reagent for the analytes to increase their volatility and improve chromatographic separation. Parameters that affect extraction efficiency (selection of organic solvent, volume of organic solvent, agitation in the donor phase, plunger movement and extraction time) were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method provided good enrichment factors up to 251, reproducibility ranging from 3.26% to 10.61%, and good linearity from 0.2 to 50 μg/L. The limits of detection ranged between 0.01 and 0.05 μg/L ( S/ N = 3) using selective ion monitoring. This method was applied to the determination of the four pharmaceutically active compounds in tap water and wastewater collected from a drain in the vicinity of a hospital.

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in water using dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The application of dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (dynamic HF-LPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the determination of trace amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water was investigated. The experimental parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the concentration enrichment factors for PCBs were from 718-fold to 840-fold. The calibration curves were linear over a range of 0.05–90 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient ( r 2) of 0.9957–0.9979. The relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 3.4% to 5.8% for intra-day variation and from 4.1% to 7.3% for inter-day variation. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N = 3:1) were in the range of 13–41 ng/L. The recoveries for spiked water samples ranged from 85.9% to 92.0%.

Determination of haloethers in water with dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction using GC-FID and GC-ECD

Dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) coupled with gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-electron capture detecion (GC-ECD) was used for quantification of toxic haloethers in lake water. The analytes were extracted from 5 ml of aqueous sample using 4 μl of organic solvent through a porous polypropylene hollow fiber. The effects on extraction performance of solvent selection, agitation rate, extraction time, extraction temperature, concentration of salt added and volumes of solvent for extraction and injection were optimized. The proposed method provided a good average enrichment factor of up to 231-fold, reasonable reproducibility ranging from 9 to 12% ( n = 3), and good linearity ( R 2 ≧ 0.9973) for spiked water samples. Method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 0.55 to 4.30 μg/l for FID and 0.11–0.34 μg/l for ECD ( n = 7).

Simultaneous derivatization and extraction of primary amines in river water with dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric detection

A one-step derivatization and extraction technique for the determination of primary amines in river water by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) is presented. In this method the primary amines are derivatized with pentafluorobenzaldehyde (PFBAY) in aqueous solution and extracted by dynamic hollow fiber-protected-LPME (HF-LPME) simultaneously. The effects of solvent selection, sample agitation, extraction time, extraction temperature and salt concentration on the extraction performance are investigated. High enrichments (172–244-fold) and good repeatabilities (RSD less than 7.2%) were obtained. Linearity in this developed method was ranging from 1 to 500 ng/ml, and the correlation coefficients ( R 2) were between 0.992 and 0.998. Comparisons of sensitivity and precision between dynamic HF-LPME and single-drop liquid-phase microextraction (SDME) were also made.

Analysis of organochlorine pesticides in wine by solvent bar microextraction coupled with gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection

A solvent bar microextraction (SBME) technique combined with gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS), for the determination of selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in wine samples, is described. In this work the OCPs were extracted and dissolved in a 2-microL aliquot of organic extraction solvent (n-tetradecane) confined within a 1.7-cm length of hollow fiber. Both ends of the hollow fiber (solvent bar) were sealed, and it was placed in an aqueous sample solution for extraction. The effects of solvent selection, sample agitation, extraction time, extraction temperature, and salt concentration on the SBME performance were optimized. The influence of aqueous sample/organic solvent phase ratio was further investigated in detail. High enrichments (1900-7100-fold) could be obtained at an aqueous sample/organic solvent volume ratio of 20 mL/2 microL in this study. Good extraction reproducibility was obtained with relative standard deviation (RSD) values below 12.6%. Comparisons of sensitivity and precision between SBME and dynamic hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction were also investigated.