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Quaternary ammonium-functionalized silica materials were synthesized and applied for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of aromatic amines, which are classified as priority pollutants by US Environmental Protection Agency. Hexamethylenetetramine used for silica surface modification for the first time was employed as SPE sorbent under normal phase conditions. Hexaminium-functionalized silica demonstrated excellent extraction efficiencies for o-toluidine, 4-ethylaniline and quinoline (recoveries 101-107%), while for N,N-dimethylaniline and N-isopropylaniline recoveries were from low to moderate (14-46%). In addition, the suitability of 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium-functionalized silica as SPE sorbent was tested under normal phase conditions. The recoveries achieved for the five aromatic amines ranged from 89 to 99%. The stability of the sorbent was evaluated during and after 150 extractions. Coefficients of variation between 4.5 and 10.2% proved a high stability of the synthesized sorbent. Elution was carried out using acetonitrile in the case of hexaminium-functionalized silica and water for 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium-functionalized silica sorbent. After the extraction the analytes were separated and detected by liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). The retention mechanism of the materials was primarily based on polar hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. Comparison made with activated silica proved the quaternary ammonium-functionalized materials to offer different selectivity and better extraction efficiencies for aromatic amines. Finally, 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium-functionalized silica sorbent was successfully tested for the extraction of wastewater and soil samples., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three ionic liquid (IL)-functionalized silica materials, imidazolium, N-methylimidazolium and 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium, were synthesised and applied in solid-phase extraction (SPE) of organic acids, amines and aldehydes, which are important compound families in atmospheric aerosol particles. 1-Alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium-functionalized silica was tested as sorbent for SPE for the first time. The analytes were separated and detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). To confirm the results achieved by LC-MS, the acids were additionally determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The stability of the IL-functionalized silica materials was tested at low and high pH. The effect of the pH on the extraction was also informative of the retention mechanism of the materials. The results showed anion exchange to be the main interaction, but hydrophobic and π interactions and hydrogen bonding also played a role in the extraction. Extraction efficiencies for organic acids ranged from 87 to 110%, except for cis-pinonic acid (19-29%). Lower extraction efficiencies for amines and aldehydes confirmed that anionic exchange was the predominant interaction. Comparisons made with two commercial SPE materials--silica-based strong anion exchange (SAX) and polymer-based mixed-mode anion exchange and reverse-phase (MAX)--showed the IL-functionalized materials to offer different selectivity and better extraction efficiency than SAX for aromatic compounds. Finally, the new materials were successfully tested in the extraction of an atmospheric aerosol sample., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, sample collection and preparation were directly integrated with a chromatographic system by coupling a particle-into-liquid sampler for the first time on-line with solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Several organic acids, such as adipic, hydroxyglutaric, mandelic, vanillic, cis-pinonic, pinic, azelaic and sebacic, were used in the research. For sample pretreatment and concentration, strong anion exchange material was used in the extraction. Sampling, extraction and analysis conditions were optimized to obtain reliable information about aerosol chemical composition. To evaluate the performance of the on-line coupled system, half of each sample was analysed on-line and the other half was derivatized and analysed off-line by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Comparison of the two techniques with use of t-test showed the results to be in an excellent agreement. Limits of detection of studied acids in on-line system were between 0.1 and 0.9 ng. The on-line coupled system is fast and reliable and a promising tool for the real time analysis of organic acids in atmospheric aerosols., (2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by terrestrial vegetation participate in a diversity of natural processes. These compounds impact both on short-range processes, such as on plant protection and communication, and on high-range processes, by e.g. participation on aerosol particle formation and growth. The biodiversity of plant species around the Earth, the vast assortment of emitted BVOCs, and their trace atmospheric concentrations contribute to the high remaining uncertainties about the effects of these compounds on atmospheric chemistry and physics, and call for the development of novel collection devices that can offer portability with improved selectivity and capacity. In this study, a novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) Arrow sampling system was used for the static and dynamic collection of BVOCs from the boreal forest, and samples were subsequently analysed on-site by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This system offers higher sampling capacity and improved robustness than the traditional equilibrium-based SPME techniques, such as SPME fibers. Field measurements were performed in summer 2017 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR II) in Hyytiälä, Finland. Complementary laboratory tests were also performed to compare the SPME-based techniques under controlled experimental conditions and to evaluate the effect of temperature and relative humidity on their extraction performance. The most abundant monoterpenes and aldehydes were successfully collected. A significant improvement on sampling capacity was observed with the new SPME Arrow system when compared to SPME fibers, with collected amounts being approximately 2 times higher for monoterpenes and 7-8 times higher for aldehydes. BVOC species exhibited different affinities for the type of sorbent materials used (PDMS/Carbon WR vs. PDMS/DVB). Higher extraction efficiencies were obtained with dynamic collection prior to equilibrium regime, but this benefit during the field measurements was small probably due to the natural agitation provided by the wind. An increase in temperature and relative humidity caused a decrease in the amounts of analytes extracted under controlled experimental conditions, even though the effect was more significant for PDMS/Carbon WR than for PDMS/DVB. Overall, results demonstrated the benefits and challenges of using SPME Arrow for the sampling of BVOCs in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) participate in many physicochemical processes in the atmosphere. Studies indicate that some of these volatile compounds can be photo-oxidized to non-volatile species that contribute to atmospheric formation and growth of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). In this study, the applicability of dynamic solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the sampling of atmospheric BVOCs and their oxidation products was tested. These compounds were then analysed via portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The measurements were performed in mid-summer 2013 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem–Atmosphere Relations, SMEAR II in Hyytiälä, Finland. Numerous classes of compounds were efficiently sampled on PDMS/DVB coated SPME, thermally desorbed and analysed by GC–MS, including monoterpenes, their oxidation products, and amines. Results were analysed against meteorological conditions observed during the sampling campaign and the total amount of monoterpenes obtained by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). The comparison of the referred data with obtained results demonstrated the capability of the dynamic SPME method for fast in-situ sampling and analysis of organic gaseous compounds in the atmosphere with minimal analytical steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkylamines play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and are of concern for human health. Determining them from the vapor phase is challenging owing to their high polarity and volatility, water solubility, low concentrations, and poor chromatographic properties. We propose on-fiber derivatization solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to increase sensitivity and selectivity for the determination of alkylamines in air samples. SPME fibers coated in head-space with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl chloroformate (PFBCF, 10 min) or 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC) chloride (5 min) were exposed to the sample for 5–120 min, after which the derivatized alkylamines were thermally desorbed in the GC injection port and analyzed by GC-MS. The specific focus of the research was dimethylamine (DMA) but, as well as secondary amines, both coating agents readily react with primary and tertiary amines and with ammonia at ambient temperatures. The fiber coating procedures, sampling times, and analytical conditions were optimized, and methods were tested with natural samples. PFBCF was more selective and almost an order of magnitude more sensitive than FMOC chloride. Both reagents are applicable, however, depending on the requirements. With scan mode and use of molecular ion for quantification, the limit of quantification for DMA was 0.17 μg L −1 when derivatized with PFBCF and 3.4 μg L −1 when derivatized with FMOC chloride. When selected ion monitoring was used with the most abundant ion, the limit of quantification for DMA was 2.8 ng L −1 . Intermediate reproducibility expressed as relative standard deviation was around 30% with PFBCF and less than 20% with FMOC chloride. Fibers coated with PFBCF could be used at least up to 24 h when stored at 4 °C and for 5 to 7 h when stored at room temperature. After sampling/derivatization, storage time before analysis should not exceed 48 h at 4 °C or 24 h at room temperature. At maximum, the PFBCF-coated fiber can be used in 100 coating/sampling/analysis cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atmospheric aerosol particles, collected with the particle-into-liquid sampler at SMEARII station in Finland in mid-August 2007, were analysed for biogenic acids. The sample pretreatment method, comprising solid-phase extraction with anion exchange and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance materials, was optimized. Extraction efficiencies of solid-phase extraction from 10 and 20ml samples were about 100%, with average relative standard deviation of 8.9%, in concentration range from 12.5 to 50ng/ml of the acid. Extraction of aldehydes was less successful, with efficiencies from 69 to 163% and average 10% deviation. Pretreated samples were analysed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with ion trap mass spectrometric detection. Limits of detection achieved for organic acids with the analytical procedure developed ranged from 9 to 27μg/l of extracted sample, while limits of quantitation were from 31 to 90μg/l. Oxidation with ozone was used for the preparation of the acid of β-caryophyllene (β-caryophyllinic acid), which was also studied in aerosol samples. MS2 experiments were used to confirm the identification of trans-pinic, trans-pinonic and β-caryophyllinic acids. Azelaic, hexadecanoic, cis-pinonic, and cis- and trans-pinic acids were quantitated in the samples with use of authentic standards, while the concentrations of trans-pinonic and β-caryophyllinic acids were determined with cis-pinonic acid as surrogate. Also, the contribution of β-caryophyllene oxidation products to aerosol organic carbon was evaluated. Aldehydes could not be analysed in real samples due to the insufficient extraction. The particle-into-liquid sampler proved to be suitable for the collection of aerosol particles for the elucidation of daily and diurnal variation of selected species. The optimized sample pretreatment, together with the analysis method, offer a promising approach for the study of aerosol chemical composition, where artifact formation is minimal and time resolution is good. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new method is introduced for the sampling of volatile low molecular weight alkylamines in ambient air and wastewater by utilizing a novel SPME Arrow system, which contains a larger volume of sorbent compared to a standard SPME fiber. Parameters affecting the extraction, such as coating material, need for preconcentration, sample volume, pH, stirring rate, salt addition, extraction time and temperature were carefully optimized. In addition, analysis conditions, including desorption temperature and time as well as gas chromatographic parameters, were optimized. Compared to conventional SPME fiber, the SPME Arrow had better robustness and sensitivity. Average intermediate reproducibility of the method expressed as relative standard deviation was 12% for dimethylamine and 14% for trimethylamine, and their limit of quantification 10 μg/L and 0.13 μg/L respectively. Working range was from limits of quantification to 500 μg/L for dimethylamine and to 130 μg/L for trimethylamine. Several alkylamines were qualitatively analyzed in real samples, while target compounds dimethyl- and trimethylamines were quantified. The concentrations in influent and effluent wastewater samples were almost the same (∼80 μg/L for dimethylamine, 120 μg/L for trimethylamine) meaning that amines pass the water purification process unchanged or they are produced at the same rate as they are removed. For the air samples, preconcentration with phosphoric acid coated denuder was required and the concentration of trimethylamine was found to be around 1 ng/m 3 . The developed method was compared with optimized method based on conventional SPME and advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New chemical vapor reaction (CVR) and atomic layer deposition (ALD)-conversion methods were utilized for preparation of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) coatings of solid phase microextraction (SPME) Arrow for the first time. With simple, easy and convenient one-step reaction or conversion, four MOF coatings were made by suspend ALD iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) film or aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) film above terephthalic acid (H 2 BDC) or trimesic acid (H 3 BTC) vapor. UIO-66 coating was made by zirconium (Zr)-BDC film in acetic acid vapor. As the first documented instance of all-gas phase synthesis of SPME Arrow coatings, preparation parameters including CVR/conversion time and temperature, acetic acid volume, and metal oxide film/metal-ligand films thickness were investigated. The optimal coatings exhibited crystalline structures, excellent uniformity, satisfactory thickness (2–7.5 μm), and high robustness (>80 times usage). To study the practical usefulness of the coatings for the extraction, several analytes with different chemical properties were tested. The Fe-BDC coating was found to be the most selective and sensitive for the determination of benzene ring contained compounds due to its highly hydrophobic surface and unsaturated metal site. UIO-66 coating was best for small polar, aromatic, and long chain polar compounds owing to its high porosity. The usefulness of new coatings were evaluated for gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) determination of several analytes, present in wastewater samples at three levels of concentration, and satisfactory results were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]