Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Miniaturized Gas-Liquid Separator for Use in Liquid-Phase Microextraction Procedures: Determination of Mercury in Food

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A method for the preconcentration of mercury using vortex-assisted temperature-controlled dispersive liquid-phase microextraction (VA-TC-DLPME) is proposed. A miniaturized gas-liquid separator (m-GLS) was developed and applied to the determination of mercury after VA-TC-DLPME. The detection was performed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS). Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) reagent was used as a complexing agent for Hg(II). The VA-TC-DLPME method consists in dispersing the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF6]) in the aqueous phase by vigorous vortexing, followed by heating and cooling in an ice bath. The mixture was submitted to centrifugation, and the sedimented rich phase was then dissolved in an acid solution to reduce viscosity. Mercury was quantified in the final solution using m-GLS and CV AAS. Under optimized conditions, the method presents a limit of detection of 4.5 × 10−2 μg L−1, and an enrichment factor of 54. The accuracy was evaluated by the determination of mercury in reference material-certified ERM-CE 278, mussel tissue. The method was applied to the determination of mercury in fish oil samples. The developed m-GLS can be tested for use after other LPME procedures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdulra’uf, L. B., Sirhan, A. Y., & Tan, G. H. (2012). Recent developments and applications of liquid phase microextraction in fruits and vegetables analysis. Journal of Separation Science, 35, 3540–3553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguilera-Herrador, E., Lucena, R., Cardenas, S., & Valcarcel, M. (2010). The roles of ionic liquids in sorptive microextraction techniques. Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 29, 602–616.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andruch, V., Balogh, I. S., Kocurova, L., & Sandrejova, J. (2013). Five years of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 48, 161–259.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aydin, F., Yilmaz, E., & Soylak, M. (2016). Ultrasonic-assisted supramolecular solvent-based liquid phase microextraction of mercury as 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol complexes from water samples. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 96, 1356–1366.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baghdadi, M., & Shemirani, F. (2008). Cold-induced aggregation microextraction: a novel sample preparation technique based on ionic liquids. Analytica Chimica Acta, 613, 56–63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baghdadi, M., & Shemirani, F. (2009). In situ solvent formation microextraction based on ionic liquids: a novel sample preparation technique for determination of inorganic species in saline solutions. Analytica Chimica Acta, 634, 186–191.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bello-Lopez, M. A., Ramos-Payan, M., Ocana-Gonzalez, J. A., Fernandez-Torres, R., & Callejon-Mochon, M. (2012). Analytical applications of hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME): a review. Analytical Letters, 45, 804–830.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de la Calle, I., Pena-Pereira, F., Lavilla, I., & Bendicho, C. (2016). Liquid-phase microextraction combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry: a review. Analytica Chimica Acta, 936, 12–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espino, M., Fernandez, M. D., Gomez, F. J. V., & Silva, M. F. (2016). Natural designer solvents for greening analytical chemistry. Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 76, 126–136.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Z., Dong, L., & Xu, S. (1992). Critical evaluation of the efficiency and synergistic effects of flow injection techniques for sensitivity enhancement in flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 7, 293–299.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, E., Vidal, L., Martin-Yerga, D., Blanco, M. D., Canals, A., & Costa-Garcia, A. (2015). Screen-printed electrode based electrochemical detector coupled with ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and microvolume back-extraction for determination of mercury in water samples. Talanta, 135, 34–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, E., Vidal, L., Costa-Garcia, A., & Canals, A. (2016). Mercury determination in urine samples by gold nanostructured screen-printed carbon electrodes after vortex-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Analytica Chimica Acta, 915, 49–55.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleischer, H., Vorberg, E., & Thurow, K. (2014). Determination of total mercury content in wood materials-part 3: miniaturization using ICP-MS. American Laboratory, 46, 16–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, Z. B., & Ma, X. G. (2011). Speciation analysis of mercury in water samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Analytica Chimica Acta, 702, 50–55.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gharehbaghi, M., Shemirani, F., & Baghdadi, M. (2009). Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on ionic liquid and spectrophotometric determination of mercury in water samples. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 89, 21–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gribble, M. O., Karimi, R., Feingold, B. J., Nyland, J. F., O’Hara, T. M., Gladyshev, M. I., & Chen, C. Y. (2016). Mercury, selenium and fish oils in marine food webs and implications for human health. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 96, 43–59.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, D., Tang, B., Lee, Y. R. & Row, K. H.: 2012, Application of ionic liquid in liquid phase microextraction technology. Journal of Separation Science, Journal of Separation Science 35, 2949–2961.

  • Ho, T. D., Canestraro, A. J., & Anderson, J. L. (2011). Ionic liquids in solid-phase microextraction: a review. Analytica Chimica Acta, 695, 18–43.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, B., He, M., Chen, B. B., & Xia, L. B. (2013). Liquid phase microextraction for the analysis of trace elements and their speciation. Spectrochimica Acta, Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 86, 14–30.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kato, M., Saka-Kato, K., & Toyo’oka, T. (2006). Miniaturization of analytical systems using immobilized biomolecules for high-throughput screening. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 384, 50–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, M., & Soylak, M. (2016). Switchable solvent based liquid phase microextraction of mercury from environmental samples: a green aspect. RSC Advances, 6, 24968–24975.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kutter, J. P. (2002). Special issue - miniaturization in analytical chemistry - preface. Talanta, 56, 221–221.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemos, V. A., & dos Santos, L. O. (2014). A new method for preconcentration and determination of mercury in fish, shellfish and saliva by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, 149, 203–207.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemos, V. A., & Vieira, U. S. (2013). Single-drop microextraction for the determination of manganese in seafood and water samples. Microchimica Acta, 180, 501–507.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemos, V. A., Oliveira, R. V., Lopes dos Santos, W. N., Menezes, R. M., Santos, L. B., & Costa Ferreira, S. L. (2019). Liquid phase microextraction associated with flow injection systems for the spectrometric determination of trace elements. Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 110, 357–366.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J.-f., Jiang, G.-b., Liu, J.-f., & Jönsson, J. Å. (2005). Application of ionic liquids in analytical chemistry. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 24, 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinis, E. M., Berton, P., Olsina, R. A., Altamirano, J. C., & Wuilloud, R. G. (2009). Trace mercury determination in drinking and natural water samples by room temperature ionic liquid based-preconcentration and flow injection-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 167, 475–481.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matysik, F. M. (2003). Miniaturization of electroanalytical systems. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 375, 33–35.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mei, N., Lai, B. H., Liu, J. X., Mao, X. F., & Chen, G. Y. (2018). Speciation of trace mercury impurities in fish oil supplements. Food Control, 84, 221–225.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, S., & Laurell, T. (2004). Miniaturization in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 378, 1676–1677.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, D., Hou, D. Y., Ok, Y. S., Mulder, J., Duan, L., Wu, Q. R., Wang, S. X., Tack, F. M. G., & Rinklebe, J. (2019). Mercury speciation, transformation, and transportation in soils, atmospheric flux, and implications for risk management: a critical review. Environment International, 126, 747–761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen-Bjergaard, S., & Rasmussen, K. E. (2005). Bioanalysis of drugs by liquid-phase microextraction coupled to separation techniques. Journal of Chromatography, B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 817, 3–12.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prosen, H. (2014). Applications of liquid-phase microextraction in the sample preparation of environmental solid samples. Molecules, 19, 6776–6808.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raj, D., & Maiti, S. K. (2019). Sources, toxicity, and remediation of mercury: an essence review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191.

  • Ramos, L., Ramos, J. J., & Brinkman, U. A. T. (2005). Miniaturization in sample treatment for environmental analysis. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 381, 119–140.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Redivo, D. D. B., Jesus, C. H. A., Sotomaior, B. B., Gasparin, A. T., & Cunha, J. M. (2019). Acute antinociceptive effect of fish oil or its major compounds, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on diabetic neuropathic pain depends on opioid system activation. Behavioural Brain Research, 372.

  • Saini, R. K., & Keum, Y. S. (2018). Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: dietary sources, metabolism, and significance - a review. Life Sciences, 203, 255–267.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Šandrejová, J., Campillo, N., Viñas, P., & Andruch, V. (2016). Classification and terminology in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. Microchemical Journal, 127, 184–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, A. P., dos Santos, M. J. S., Korn, A., & M. d. G. & Lemos, V. A. (2019). Determination of cadmium in bread and biscuit samples using ultrasound-assisted temperature-controlled ionic liquid microextraction. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 99, 4609–4614.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sereshti, H., Jamshidi, F., Nouri, N. & Nodeh, H. R. (2020). Hyphenated dispersive solid- and liquid-phase microextraction technique based on a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent: application for trace analysis of pesticides in fruit juices, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

  • Shirkhanloo, H., Khaligh, A., Mousavi, H. Z., Eskandari, M. M., & Miran-Beigi, A. A. (2015). Ultra-trace arsenic and mercury speciation and determination in blood samples by ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with flow injection-hydride generation/cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. Chemical Papers, 69, 779–790.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanisz, E., Werner, J., & Matusiewicz, H. (2013). Mercury species determination by task specific ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with cold vapour generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Microchemical Journal, 110, 28–35.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanisz, E., Werner, J., & Matusiewicz, H. (2014). Task specific ionic liquid-coated PTFE tube for solid-phase microextraction prior to chemical and photo-induced mercury cold vapour generation. Microchemical Journal, 114, 229–237.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trujillo-Rodriguez, M. J., Rocio-Bautista, P., Pino, V., & Afonso, A. M. (2013). Ionic liquids in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 51, 87–106.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzen, M., & Soylak, M. (2005). Mercury contamination in mushroom samples from Tokat, Turkey. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 74, 968.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vickackaite, V., & Padarauskas, A. (2012). Ionic liquids in microextraction techniques. Central European Journal of Chemistry, 10, 652–674.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyttenbach, A., & Bajo, S. (1975). Extractions with metal-dithiocarbamates as reagents. Analytical Chemistry, 47, 1813–1817.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, L., Basheer, C., & Lee, H. K. (2007). Developments in single-drop microextraction. Journal of Chromatography A, 1152, 184–192.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, C. H., Jiang, S. J., Sahayam, A. C., & Huang, Y. L. (2017). Speciation of mercury in fish oils using liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Microchemical Journal, 133, 556–560.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors also acknowledge the financial support of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (311419/2018-6) and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-280, Brazil

    Rebeca Moraes Menezes, Walter Nei Lopes Santos & Valfredo Azevedo Lemos

  2. Laboratório de Química Analítica (LQA), Campus de Jequié, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Bahia, 45208091, Brazil

    Rebeca Moraes Menezes, Uneliton Neves Silva & Valfredo Azevedo Lemos

  3. Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 41195-001, Brazil

    Walter Nei Lopes Santos

Authors
  1. Rebeca Moraes Menezes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Walter Nei Lopes Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Uneliton Neves Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Valfredo Azevedo Lemos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valfredo Azevedo Lemos.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any authors.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Menezes, R.M., Santos, W.N.L., Silva, U.N. et al. A Miniaturized Gas-Liquid Separator for Use in Liquid-Phase Microextraction Procedures: Determination of Mercury in Food. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 473 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04837-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04837-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation