High Extraction Efficiency Research Articles (Page 1)

The objective of this study was to optimize the extraction of essential oil from Baeckea frutescens leaves using microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (MAHD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM). This approach aimed to improve extraction efficiency and maximize essential oil yield. The chemical composition of the extracted oil was subsequently analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify its principal constituents. The optimal extraction conditions were determined to be a microwave power of 550 W, an extraction time of 89 min and a liquid-to-material ratio of 9.5:1. Under these conditions, the essential oil yield was 3.96 ± 0.02 % (w/w), which represents a high extraction efficiency. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major constituents of the essential oil were α-thujene (26.81 %), α-humulene (15.35 %), trans-caryophyllene (12.29 %) and 3-carene (10.20 %). In addition, biological activity assays indicated that the essential oil exhibited notable antibacterial and antioxidant activities. It significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) below 100 µg/mL. These findings suggest that Baeckea frutescens essential oil has strong potential as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, supporting its application in pharmaceutical and industrial products.

Okadaic acid （OA） is a fatty acid polyether biotoxin that poses risks to human health and the ecological environment. Determining the concentrations of OA in seawater not only allows for early warnings of potential toxin accumulation in marine organisms， but also helps clarify the actual impacts of OA on marine ecosystems. However， OA exists in seawater at extremely low concentrations， and the matrix has a high salt content. Thus， adequate sample pretreatment is necessary prior to high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （HPLC-MS/MS） analysis. Film-based solid-phase extraction （F-SPE） has attracted considerable attention in sample pretreatment. Unlike conventional solid-phase extraction （SPE）， which relies on large quantities of adsorbent particles， F-SPE uses a thin film， thereby addressing common issues in SPE applications such as high column pressure， column clogging， and adsorbent leakage. Currently， most such films are prepared by modifying polymer film skeletons with a certain amount of adsorbent particles. Nonetheless， these adsorbent particles have inherent limitations， including insufficient adsorption capacity or irreversible adsorption， leading to poor extraction performance for specific targets. Therefore， developing new types of films with high extraction efficiency is highly significant， as it can facilitate the wider application and popularization of this technology. Covalent organic frameworks （COFs） are porous crystalline materials with adjustable pore size， high specific surface area， and excellent stability. COF films can not only inherit the high permeability of films， but also possess strong COF adsorption capacity. In this work， a COF film （TPB-BTCA） was synthesized through the liquid-liquid interface synthesis method under mild reaction conditions， and characterized in detail. The Fourier-transform infrared （FT-IR） spectrum， X-ray diffraction （XRD） pattern， and X-ray photoelectron （XPS） spectrum verify the successful preparation of the TPB-BTCA film using a Schiff base reaction. The scanning electron microscopy （SEM） images and water contact angle testing show the prepared TPB-BTCA film is a hydrophilic heterogeneous film with specific morphologies， which is beneficial to a more thorough and rapid contact between the film and the sample solution. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiment demonstrates the TPB-BTCA film has a high surface area （1 261.6 m2/g） and porosity （0.6 cm3/g）， providing sufficient and easily accessible sites to adsorb these OA molecules. Subsequently， the TPB-BTCA film-based F-SPE method was used for the extraction of OA in seawater. At the same time， the influence of potential factors on the extraction efficiency was also investigated， including the sample loading volume， the pumping speed for loading， the eluent type， the volume of the eluent， the pumping speed for elution， and the salt concentration. Under the optimal conditions， the TPB-BTCA film exhibited excellent extraction performance for OA. Finally， a new method for the detection and analysis of OA was established by combining F-SPE technology with HPLC-MS/MS instrument. The developed method has a wide linear range （0.8-500.0 pg/mL） with good linearity （r=0.999 0）， low limit of detection （0.2 pg/mL） and satisfactory precision （RSDs≤6.4%， n=5）. Meanwhile， seven seawater samples were used to evaluate the feasibility of the developed method for detecting OA in actual samples. Ultra-trace amounts of OA were detected in two seawater samples with concentrations of 5.4 pg/mL and 61.8 pg/mL， respectively. Compared with the reported HPLC-MS/MS methods， the developed method only requires a single layer of film to process large-volume （100 mL） seawater samples and achieve the lowest detection limit. This may be due to the advantages of the TPB-BTCA film， such as high permeability， high porosity， and high specific surface area， which enable it to efficiently extract OA from seawater. In conclusion， this study not only provides an effective analytical method for detecting ultra-trace OA in seawater， but also demonstrates the application potential of COF films in sample pretreatment.

Comparability of different analytical workflows for steroid esters detection in doping control field.

The main purpose in the extraction of dimension stone is the efficient detachment and preservation of large, intact rock blocks from the active working in quarries. Achieving high extraction efficiency requires a comprehensive understanding of the structural discontinuities within the geological massif. The characterization of fracture networks and the assessment of rock mass integrity at depth are critical for optimizing natural resource utilization. To increase yield, improve operational efficiency, and minimize losses of non-renewable resources, geophysical survey was conducted at quarry for extraction of igneous rocks – rhyolite. The main method used in the study was Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), a non-invasive geophysical technique for mapping the subsurface geological structure. This method enables the spatial analysis of electrical resistivity variations within rock formations, providing high-resolution data on lithological composition, fracturing patterns, and groundwater saturation, all of which are essential for informed decision-making in quarrying operations The study confirms the effectiveness of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) as a geophysical exploration method for quarrying igneous rock blocks, specifically rhyolites. The obtained data can serve as a valuable resource for future extraction planning of the quarries and geological assessments of the area.

Uranium extraction from seawater offers a promising route to secure sustainable nuclear fuel and mitigate environmental issues from fossil fuel consumption, yet it remains hindered by low extraction efficiency and severe biofouling. Herein, we report a self-adaptative adsorbent—cyclized polyacrylonitrile–polyethyleneimine (CPAP)—which undergoes conformation expansion in alkaline seawater to enhance uranium uptake and contracts in acidic solution to facilitate uranium desorption. CPAP exhibits a high adsorption capacity of 22.3 mg g-1, outperforming all reported fiber-based adsorbents. Its excellent photothermal effect combined with quaternary ammonium functionalities effectively suppresses biological adhesion. Mechanistic studies reveal that electrostatic repulsion and hydrogen bonding drive pH-responsive structural transitions. Furthermore, a self-designed flow-type extraction device demonstrates high uranium extraction efficiency (1.91 mg g-1d-1) and excellent cycling stability, underscoring the practical scalability of this strategy. Overall, This work introduces a self-adaptative concept materials for enhancing seawater uranium harvesting, opening the door to fundamental research on designing intelligent adsorbent.

ABSTRACT Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is one of the most promising renewable technologies of the twenty-first century. The rapid expansion of PV installations is expected to generate a large volume of end-of-life solar modules that pose significant environmental challenges if landfilled. Simultaneously, these modules contain secondary resources such as silicon, aluminium, silver, copper etc. Efficient recycling strategies are therefore essential to mitigate environmental impacts. This study proposes a novel, hybrid hydrometallurgical process at ambient temperatures for the sequential recovery of silicon and silver by achieving high extraction efficiency and purity from crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar PV cells. The approach involves mechanical pulverisation of the PV cells followed by selective leaching and purification of metal constituents. Using 4M nitric acid, 99% leaching of silver and aluminium was achieved, while isolating high-purity (99.67%) silicon. Recovery of silver from leach liquor was further enhanced through cementation with copper using response surface methodology (RSM), enabling its selective precipitation as silver chloride with a purity of 90%. Additionally, solvent extraction was employed to separate aluminium and copper from the cementation filtrate. Overall, the process yielded high recovery rates for both silver and silicon, underscoring its scalability and industrial potential as a sustainable recycling approach.

多氯联苯（PCBs）是目前国际上关注的常见持久性有机污染物之一，对自然环境和人类健康具有极大危害。本研究以碳纳米管复合微球（MWCNT@PS）为固相微萃取法（SPME）涂层材料，与气相色谱-串联质谱法（GC-MS/MS）相结合，建立了一种检测环境水样中痕量PCBs的分析方法。该涂层材料拥有良好的稳定性，对PCBs具有高效的萃取效果。本研究选择6种多氯联苯作为目标分析物，采用单因素优化法对影响萃取效果的重要因素进行了优化，获得了最优萃取条件（吸附时间为50 min，搅拌速率为600 r/min，pH值为6，NaCl浓度为1.5 mol/L，解吸温度为280 ℃，解吸时间为4 min）。采用气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱联用技术对水样品中多氯联苯进行定量分析，样品经TG-5 SILMS色谱柱（30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm）分离，采用电子轰击离子源和质谱多反应监测模式，实现了环境水样中6种多氯联苯的快速定性和定量分析。在优化条件下，所建立的分析方法具有线性范围宽（0.03~1 000 ng/L）、检出限低（0.01~0.03 ng/L）和重复性良好（相对标准偏差RSD≤9.38%，n=3）等优点。选择2 ng/L 的6种多氯联苯进行重复性实验，日内和日间RSD为1.64%~8.16%和2.83%~8.41%。将方法成功应用于桶装饮用水、雨水和河水3种实际环境水样中多氯联苯的检测，在低、中、高3个水平下，6种多氯联苯的加标回收率为82.4%~113.2%，实验结果表明，所建立的分析方法适用于环境中PCBs的富集与检测。本方法成功应用于实际环境水样中多氯联苯的定量分析，为快速、灵敏地检测环境水样中痕量多氯联苯提供了良好的思路。

Sample preparation, particularly lipid extraction, plays a critical role in lipidomics workflows and strongly influences analytical outcomes. In biomedical research, the most commonly used lipid extraction protocols rely on chloroform due to its favorable physicochemical properties, including the ability to dissolve both polar and apolar lipids, as well as its high volatility. Although well-established chloroform-based methods enable high recovery of a broad range of lipids, concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of chloroform necessitate the development of more sustainable alternatives. In this study, a combined computational and experimental strategy was employed to identify and validate greener solvents suitable for lipid extraction in lipidomics applications. Solvent selection was guided by Hansen solubility parameters, Abraham solvation descriptors, and principal component analysis, yielding five candidate solvents as potential chloroform alternatives. Evaluation of solvent sustainability and human health risk was conducted using CHEM21 criteria and supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. Initial validation of extraction efficiency for identified candidates was performed using synthetic lipid standards in the absence of a biological matrix, followed by testing lipid extraction from human plasma using both monophasic and biphasic extraction protocols. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved using a single-phase extraction method based on cyclopentyl methyl ether, which exhibited comparable and even superior performance to the conventional chloroform-based Folch protocol. Overall, this study highlights the feasibility of replacing chloroform with less hazardous solvents in lipidomics workflows without compromising analytical performance, and provides a comparative assessment of computational solvent prediction approaches for green chemistry applications.

ABSTRACTVitexin has various pharmacological activities, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, anti‐tumor effects, blood glucose lowering, blood pressure reduction, bacteriostasis, and anti‐inflammatory and analgesic properties. This study established an extraction and purification process for the rapid preparation of vitexin from Odontosoria chinensis. The content of vitexin in the extract of O. chinensis was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extraction process of vitexin from O. chinensis was optimized by single‐factor combined with response surface methodology, taking the concentration of hydrochloric acid, extraction temperature, extraction time, ethanol concentration, and solid‐liquid ratio as the factors. The experimental data were fitted into a second‐order polynomial equation through multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance, and a mathematical model for the optimization experiment was established. The purification process of vitexin was optimized by D101 macroporous resin and preparative LC. The results showed that the optimal extraction process of vitexin was as follows: extraction temperature of 80°C, solid‐liquid ratio of 1:25, hydrochloric acid concentration of 2.5 mol/L, extraction time of 180 min, and ethanol concentration of 60%. Under these conditions, the extraction amount of vitexin was 4.07 mg/g, which was in good agreement with the predicted value of 4.15 mg/g by the model. The purification process was as follows: the volume ratio of D101 macroporous resin column to sample solution was 1:1, the elution gradient was 30% ethanol, and the elution volume was 14 Bed Volumes; the elution conditions of preparative LC were 40% methanol. Under these conditions, the purity of vitexin was ≥95%. This method has high extraction efficiency, a simple purification process, and high purity of vitexin, which is suitable for large‐scale industrial production.

Microfluidic process enhancement in liquid-liquid extraction: efficient extraction and recovery of valuable metals.

This study systematically investigates the solvent-dependence of copper(II) extraction using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) across a range of polar and non-polar diluents, including chloroform, dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, 1-octanol, and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Through analysis of extraction constants and distribution coefficients at varying pH levels, it was demonstrated that solvent polarity and dipole moment critically influenced the coordination geometry and extraction efficiency of the Cu(II)-D2EHPA complex. Notably, the highest extraction efficiencies were exhibited by 1-octanol and cyclohexane. A solvent-dependent structural transition was revealed by Ultraviolet–Visible (UV) spectroscopic evidence: tetrahedral coordination was dominated in polar media, while square planar geometries prevailed in non-polar environments. These findings establish a direct correlation between diluent properties and the extractant’s performance, offering a mechanistic framework for optimizing industrial-scale copper recovery processes. The insights gained highlight the importance of solvent selection in tailoring metal extraction systems for specific applications.

Freeform lenses play a critical role in LED packaging due to their beam-shaping capabilities. However, existing packaging designs commonly neglect the Fresnel loss effect at multi-interface boundaries. Addressing this gap, this study establishes a synergistic freeform lens design methodology based on a multi-objective optimization framework, achieving breakthroughs in both high light extraction efficiency and optical quality control. Leveraging the Fresnel equations, a multi-interface energy transmission model is constructed to quantitatively characterize the coupled mechanism of total internal reflection and refraction losses. A triobjective optimization scheme was implemented, targeting flux loss minimization, surface curvature regularization, and illuminance uniformity enhancement. Pareto-optimal solutions were generated via the NSGA-II algorithm, balancing Snell's law compliance, differential geometry constraints, and ray-mapping optimization. Experimental validation demonstrated reduced total flux loss from 8.98 to 4.41 lm, suppressed peak surface curvature from 25.4 to 2.42, and improved illuminance uniformity from 0.84 to 0.91. The proposed methodology provides a systematic approach for designing high-efficiency freeform optics with balanced photometric performance.

Quantification of acrylamide in infant formula via a modified QuEChERS protocol coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Ultrasonic-induced water-oil interface of microdroplets: A selective and rapid green approach for gold recovery from e-waste.

The yield of peaches worldwide is approximately 21 million tons annually, with peach pits representing 10% of the waste generated, and the disposal of this quantity of biowaste into landfill or combustion is a common practice that has the potential to cause a number of adverse environmental impacts. To explore the utilization of peach pit as a biomass source, nano-catalysis and high-efficiency extraction were used for efficient recycling management. The findings of DSC-TG and Py-GC-MS indicate that the though nano catalyst exerts a minimal impact on the weight loss rate throughout the pyrolysis process, it is potentially able to influence the composition of the pyrolysis product. UPLC/Q-TOF MS results suggest that peach pits were rich in bioactive components, which have potential applications in biomedicines, food additives and bioenergy industries. Concurrently, the peach pits could be efficiently pyrolyzed into high quality biochar (approximately 39% recovery) at 400°C. Moreover, the produced biochar exhibits a higher capacity for adsorption of the heavy metal Cd when compared with As and Pb. Therefore, suggesting a potential circular economic model for peach production industry.

Deep eutectic solvent extraction of chlorogenic acid from dandelion with ultrasonic-assisted: Process optimization, purification, and bioactivity

The growing need for environmentally friendly separation processes has motivated the search for alternative solvents to petroleum-derived chemicals for the recovery of biosynthesized products. Although effective, conventional petroleum-based solvents pose major environmental and sustainability concerns, including pollution, ecotoxicity, human health risks, and high costs and energy demands for recycling. Consequently, current research and industrial practice increasingly focus on their replacement with safer and more sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the use of natural oils (i.e., grapeseed, sweet almond, and flaxseed oils) as renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic diluents in reactive extraction systems for the separation of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA). The combination of these oils with tri-n-octylamine (TOA) as extractant enabled high extraction efficiencies, exceeding 50%. The system comprising 120 g/L tri-n-octylamine in grapeseed oil, an aqueous phase pH of 4.5, a contact time of 1 min, and a temperature of 25 °C resulted in a 7-ACA extraction efficiency of 63.4%. Slope analysis suggests that complex formation likely involves approximately one molecule each of tri-n-octylamine and 7-ACA, although the apparent order of the amine is reduced in systems using natural oils. This study highlights the potential of natural oil-based reactive extraction as a scalable and environmentally friendly method for 7-ACA separation, aligning with the principles of green chemistry and environmental biotechnology.

Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco is a unique tree species in China with a long cultivation history and diverse medicinal values. Its dried branches and leaves, called Platycladi Cacumen (PC), contain bioactive compounds. However, conventional extraction methods such as leaching or steam distillation are often associated with high consumption of reagents, time, and energy. This study aims to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for extracting flavonoids from PC by integrating the "oil-polymer-salt" three-liquid-phase system (OPS-TLPS) with coaxial liquid centrifugal technology. The OPs-TLPS was constructed using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (D2EHPA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sodium citrate. During the study, a stable OPs-TLPS was screened by varying the phase-forming substances of the salts and oil-phase reagents, and the effects of three-phase mass fraction and reaction conditions on the extraction of active components from PC were investigated. The D2EHPA-PEG-sodium citrate system demonstrated high stability and efficiency for flavonoid extraction. Key factors, such as D2EHPA concentration, mass fractions of PEG and sodium citrate, pH, and centrifugal time, significantly influenced yield. After 2 h of extraction, over 50% of flavonoids were successfully partitioned into the oil and PEG phases. The integration of OPS-TLPS with coaxial centrifugation notably reduced organic solvent usage and improved extraction efficiency, offering a more automated and greener alternative to conventional techniques for isolating natural products. This method provides a novel, sustainable, and efficient strategy for extracting flavonoids from Platycladi Cacumen, with potential applications in natural product extraction.

A complementary multi-aptamer approach for efficient extraction of steroid hormones and application to their determination in biological samples using Q-TOF LC-MS.

Graphene heralded a new era in optoelectronic research and prospective multifunctional devices. Here, we demonstrate uncooled ultraviolet to mid-infrared multifunctional photodetectors based on monolayer graphene on a Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3]O3 (PMNPT) substrate, with capabilities in photodetection, memory, and signal processing. Using weak broad-spectral light, photoexcited holes in graphene are attracted by the stable spontaneous polarization within the PMNPT, inducing a gate tunable giant photogating effect. This enables multivalued saving and high-performance broad spectral photodetection (365 nm to 11.6 μm). Responsivities of ∼103 A/W in the visible region, ∼102 A/W in the near-infrared (NIR) region, and ∼101 A/W in the MIR region were achieved, respectively. Moreover, we developed neuromorphic hardware based on a proposed optoelectronic synaptic graphene transistor crossbar array and demonstrated exceptional signal processing accuracy of 93% in biological signal detection and image recognition. This neuromorphic hardware can also serve as a foundational functional unit, achieving high efficiency in data compression and feature extraction. Our approach marks a significant advancement toward graphene-based multifunctional devices.