Facilitating inorganic arsenic speciation and quantification in waters: Polymer inclusion membrane preconcentration and X-ray fluorescence detection.

Background: Arsenic, classified as a priority pollutant and human carcinogen by the IARC, is subject to stringent regulatory limits in food and water. Among various arsenic species found in water samples, arsenite (As(III)) is identified as the most toxic form. Given the limitations of conventional spectroscopic techniques in speciation analysis, there is a crucial need for innovative and sustainable methodologies that enable arsenic speciation.

Deep eutectic solvents incorporated in a polymeric film for organophosphorus pesticide microextraction from water samples.

Background: Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were extensively used in agriculture. Due to their adverse effect, there is a need for sensitive and reliable methods to determine these agrochemicals. Microextraction techniques (ME) afford the opportunity to substantially reduce the amount of organic solvent used in classical extraction methods for pesticide analysis.

Sexual hormones monitoring in surface waters and wastewaters from Northern Italy by thin film microextraction coupled with HPLC-MS/MS.

The occurrence of sex steroid hormones, viz. oestrogens and progestins, in aquatic ecosystems is of global concern due to their role as endocrine disrupting chemicals, even at low concentration (μg L or less). Thus, it is essential to monitor these organic pollutants to get a realistic picture of their presence and to control their contamination levels in environmental water bodies.

Biochar-based polymeric film as sustainable and efficient sorptive phase for preconcentration of steroid hormones in environmental waters and wastewaters.

Background: The environmental impact of sample preparation should be minimized through simplification of the procedures and the use of natural, renewable and/or reusable materials. In such scenario, thin-film microextraction fulfils the former criteria, as it enables few steps and miniaturization, thus small amount of extraction phase. At the same time, the use of sorbents such as biochars obtained from biomass waste is even more promoted due to their availability at low cost and increased life-cycle in a circular economy vision.

A Comprehensive Study on the Effect of Plasticizers on the Characteristics of Polymer Inclusion Membranes (PIMs): Exploring Butyl Stearate as a Promising Alternative.

This study investigated the influence of various plasticizers commonly used in the manufacture of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), such as 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE), phthalates, adipates, and sebacates on the mechanical, thermal, and transport properties of membranes. Additionally, butyl stearate (BTS), chosen for its non-toxic nature compared to phthalates and its cost-effectiveness relative to adipates and sebacates, was evaluated as a plasticizer in PIMs for the first time. All plasticizers were incorporated in PIMs made of either cellulose triacetate (CTA) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as the base polymers and the task-specific ionic liquid trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) as the carrier.