Evaluation of GC-EI&CI-TOFMS for Nontarget Analysis of Industrial Wastewater Using Hydrophilic-Lipophilic-Balanced SPME.

The evaluation of nontarget analysis (NTA) techniques for the monitoring of wastewater is important as wastewater is an anthropogenic pollution source for aquatic ecosystems and a threat to human and environmental health. This study presents the proof-of-concept NTA of industrial wastewater samples. A prototype hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced (HLB) SPME and gas chromatography interfaced with time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) with electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) in parallel are employed.

Enhanced efficiency of MS/MS all-ion fragmentation for non-targeted analysis of trace contaminants in surface water using multivariate curve resolution and data fusion.

Data-independent acquisition-all-ion fragmentation (DIA-AIF) mode of mass spectrometry can facilitate wide-scope non-target analysis of contaminants in surface water due to comprehensive spectral identification. However, because of the complexity of the resulting MS AIF spectra, identifying unknown pollutants remains a significant challenge, with a significant bottleneck in translating non-targeted chemical signatures into environmental impacts. The present study proposes to process fused MS and MS data sets obtained from LC-HRMS/MS measurements in non-targeted AIF workflows on surface water samples using multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS).

Improving greenness and sustainability of standard analytical methods by microextraction techniques: A critical review.

Since environmental awareness has increased in analytical chemistry, the demand for green sample preparation methods continues to grow. Microextractions such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) miniaturize the pre-concentration step and are a more sustainable alternative to conventional large-scale extractions. However, the integration of microextractions in standard and routine analysis methods is rare, although these applications are used most frequently and have a role model function.

The Relationship of Latent Toxoplasmosis and Cigarette Smoking: Seroprevalence, Risk Factor, and Case-Control Study in Fars Province, Southern Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease with worldwide prevalence. Despite the relatively similar effects of toxoplasmosis and smoking on alteration in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, little is known about the relation of infection and addiction to cigarette smoking. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and smoking.

Prevalence and Predictors of Infection in Psychiatric Inpatients in Fars Province, Southern Iran.

Background: Psychiatric patients are at increased risk of exposure to infection, which may be linked to their living facilities and behaviors. Limited knowledge on the prevalence of infection and its associated risk factors in psychiatric patients are available to the international medical communities. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess seroprevalence of and its associated risk factors in psychiatric inpatients in Fars Province, southern Iran.

Indirect immunofluorescence assay using embryonated eggs of Toxocara in human toxocariasis diagnosis is unreliable due to autofluorescence nature.

Toxocariasis is caused by infection with the nematode species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Serological methods using eggs, larvae and adult worms of Toxocara spp. as antigen have been used for the diagnosis of human toxocariasis.

Seroprevalence of Infection among Asthmatic Children in Shiraz City, Southern Iran.

Background: Human toxocariasis is caused by and , the nematodes in the intestine of dogs and cats, respectively. Since the association between asthma and toxocariasis is controversial, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of infection among asthmatic children in comparison with healthy children.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 92 asthmatic and 91 healthy children aged 1-16 years old in Shiraz City, Southern Iran in 2019-2020.

Dermal microfilariae of dogs, jackals and cats in different regions of Iran.

Background: Due to the complexity of retrieving skin-dwelling microfilariae, filarioids of dogs presenting dermal microfilariae (e.g. Cercopithifilaria spp.

Global prevalence and associated risk factors of diarrheagenic Giardia duodenalis in HIV/AIDS patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Giardia duodenalis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea, mostly in underdeveloped nations of Africa and Asia. The present review provides insights into the prevalence, odds ratios (ORs) and associated risk factors of giardiasis in HIV/AIDS patients. Four major English databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were excavated for relevant literature without time limitation until 20 November 2020.

Introduction of protocols for mass production of tachyzoites of the genotype II PRU strain.

Background: Few investigations of genotype II of the most prevalent form of the parasite in humans, have been carried out on due to the rapid conversion of tachyzoites to bradyzoites in its life cycle. The current study aimed to create animal and in vitro models for production of the tachyzoites of the Prugniaud (PRU) genotype II strain.

Methods: To develop an immunocompromised model and obtain tachyzoites of the PRU strain, BALB/c mice were orally treated with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (36 mg/kg), and cyclosporine (18 mg/kg) from 5 days prior to inoculation.

Photocatalytic Perfomance of ZnO-Graphene Oxide Composites towards the Degradation of Vanillic Acid under Solar Radiation and Visible-LED.

Graphene oxide (GO) is used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles for the degradation of vanillic acid (VA) under simulated solar light and visible-LED ( > 430 nm). ZnO-GO composites are prepared by a mixing and sonication process with different GO loadings (i.e.

Investigation of simultaneous multiple UV filters degradation efficiency of plasmonic AgAgCl photocatalyst in the aquatic environment under sunlight irradiation.

UV filters as an important class of emerging organic pollutants are continuously released into and transported between the aquatic environments. So, the removal of these compounds from aquatic environments is of great importance. This study was conducted to evaluate the simultaneous photodegradation of three widely used UV filter compounds (4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino) benzoate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), in an aqueous environment under sunlight and Ag@AgCl photocatalyst integrated with plasmonic effect.

Optimization and validation of automated solid-phase microextraction arrow technique for determination of phosphorus flame retardants in water.

In the present work, a very sensitive and fully automated direct immersion PAL SPME Arrow procedure, coupled with GC-MS, has been developed and validated for determination of nine phosphorus flame retardants in different types of water samples (river, drinking and rainwater). PDMS/DVB was selected among three commercially available SPME Arrows (PDMS/DVB, DVB/PDMS/CWR and PDMS/CWR), since it resulted in the best sensitivity. The important experimental parameters were optimized via a central composite design response surface methodology and as result, extraction time of 65 min, extraction temperature of 80 °C and added salt concentration of 19% (w/v), were selected as the optimum values.

Automated determination of picogram-per-liter level of water taste and odor compounds using solid-phase microextraction arrow coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Taste and odor compounds are organic chemicals produced via biochemical processes, and their presence, even at low nanogram-per-liter concentrations, can make water useless for drinking purposes. In this work, a very sensitive and completely automated analytical procedure, based on solid-phase microextraction, has been developed and optimized for determination of seven taste and odor compounds in water media, well below their odor threshold. The selected analytes were isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, 2,4,6-bromoanisole, and beta-ionone.

Determination of ultraviolet filter compounds in environmental water samples using membrane-protected micro-solid-phase extraction.

A method based on membrane-protected micro-solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of six ultraviolet filter compounds in various aqueous media. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as the sorbent were encapsulated in a sealed polypropylene membrane packet and immersed in the sample to extract the analytes, and then dichloromethane was used for desorption purpose. The method was sensitive enough for quantitative analysis of the target analytes, with limits of quantification between 0.

Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Based on Carbon Nanotube Coupled with Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides in Soil.

The presented article describes the methodology and results of investigating the capability of multi-walled carbon nanotube as sorbent in an efficient extraction method for determination of organochlorine pesticides, α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, heptachlor, endrin, aldrin, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE and 4,4'-DDT, in soil media. Matrix solid-phase dispersion was optimized for extraction from small amounts of soil samples and the resulting extracts were pre-concentrated using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. The most important experimental parameters of both extraction procedures were studied and the optimum conditions for simultaneous analysis of the target analytes were determined.

Chemometrics-Assisted Fast-Elution HPLC-DAD for the Quantification of Selected UV Filters and Parabens in Suncare Formulations.

In the present study, a fast LC method coupled with multivariate curve resolution (MCR) alternating least-squares (ALS) and alternating trilinear decomposition (ATLD) was developed for the determination of the resolution of and quantitation of benzophenone-3, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octocrylene, ethylhexyl dimethyl para-aminobenzoic acid, butyl methoxydibenzoilmethane, and methyl and propyl parabens in suncare products. Chromatographic separation was optimized using full factorial and Box-Behnken designs. MCR-ALS and ATLD performance in quantitating the analytes in synthetic mixtures (which were randomly prepared in ultra-pure water) and blank sunscreen products was studied, and satisfying results were obtained.

Direct analysis of six antibiotics in wastewater samples using rapid high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector: a chemometric study towards green analytical chemistry.

In this work, a rapid HPLC-DAD method has been developed for the analysis of six antibiotics (amoxicillin, metronidazole, sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacine, sulfadiazine and sulfamerazine) in the sewage treatment plant influent and effluent samples. Decreasing the chromatographic run time to less than 4 min as well as lowering the cost per analysis, were achieved through direct injection of the samples into the HPLC system followed by chemometric analysis. The problem of the complete separation of the analytes from each other and/or from the matrix ingredients was resolved as a posteriori.

Multivariate curve resolution-assisted determination of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine by HPLC-DAD in water samples.

In the present study, a simple strategy based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a cation exchange sorbent (Finisterre SCX) followed by fast high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection coupled with chemometrics tools has been proposed for the determination of methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine in ground water and river water. At first, the HPLC and SPE conditions were optimized and the analytical performance of the method was determined. In the case of ground water, determination of analytes was successfully performed through univariate calibration curves.

Ultrasonic assisted headspace single drop micro-extraction and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detector for determination of organophosphorus pesticides in soil.

This work describes optimization of headspace single drop micro-extraction for extraction of five organophosphorus pesticides; thionazin, sulfotep, dimethoate, disulfoton and parathion in soil. Ultrasound has also been used successfully to improve and accelerate the extraction of the analytes from the sample. The optimized extraction performance was obtained when the experimental parameters were set as follows; 3.

Chemometrics assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for quantification of seven UV filters in urine samples by HPLC-DAD.

In the present study, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection has been developed as simple, rapid, accurate, and efficient sample preparation method for simultaneous determination of seven organic UV filters in urine samples. The influence of the main effects as well as their interactions was studied through a 2((6-2)) fractional factorial design. The candidate parameters were: type and volume of dispersant and extraction solvents, sample pH, and salt concentration.

Optimization of matrix solid phase dispersion coupled with gas chromatography electron capture detection for determination of chlorinated pesticides in soil.

A fast, simple and efficient technique based on matrix solid phase dispersion has been presented for extraction and clean-up of some chlorinated pesticides and derivative products; α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan 1, endosulfan 2, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDD, heptachlor epoxide, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan sulfate. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was employed for optimization of the extraction efficiency. As the optimized procedure, 0.

Exploiting second-order advantage using PARAFAC2 for fast HPLC-DAD quantification of mixture of aflatoxins in pistachio nuts.

A new methodology using second-order calibration based on PARAllel FACtor analysis 2 (PARAFAC2) is developed for fast quantification of aflatoxins B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2) in pistachio samples by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD). Solvent and solid phase extractions were used for sample preparation steps. In this work, a gradient elution programme was optimised to make co-elutions between analytes and also to shorten the analysis time.