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Ionic-liquid-based microextraction method for the determination of silver nanoparticles in consumer products

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Abstract

A simple method to determine hazardous silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on ionic liquid (IL) dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and back-extraction is described. This approach involves AgNP stabilization using a cationic surfactant followed by extraction from the sample matrix by means of an IL as an extraction phase. Certain ILs have high affinity for metals, and preliminary experiments showed that those ILs consisting of imidazolium cation efficiently extracted AgNPs in the presence of a cationic surfactant and a chelating agent. Afterward, histamine was used as a dispersing agent to promote phase transfer of differently coated AgNPs from the IL in aqueous solution to be subsequently analyzed by UV–visible spectrometry. The analytical procedure allows AgNPs to be recovered from the sample matrix in an aqueous medium, the enrichment factor being up to 4, preserving both AgNP size and AgNP shape as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy images and the localized surface plasmon resonance band characteristic of each AgNP. The present method exhibited a linear response for AgNPs in the range from 3 to 20 μg/mL, the limit of detection being 0.15 μg/mL. Method efficiency was assessed in spiked orange juice and face cream, yielding recoveries ranging from 75.7% to 96.6%. The method was evaluated in the presence of other nanointerferents (namely, gold nanoparticles). On the basis of diverse electrophoretic mobilities and surface plasmon resonance bands for metal nanoparticles, capillary electrophoresis was used to prove the lack of interaction of the target AgNPs with gold nanoparticles during the whole protocol; thus, interferents do not affect AgNP determination. As a consequence, the analytical approach described has great potential for the analysis of engineered nanosilver in consumer products.

Simple protocol for the determination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on dispersive liquid–liquid extraction with a specific short alkyl side chain ionic liquid and their quantitative detection with a UV–visible spectrometer. HMIM•PF6 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, NP nanoparticle, SPR surface plasmon resonance

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Abbreviations

AgNP:

Silver nanoparticle

AuNP:

Gold nanoparticle

CAPS:

3-(Cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid

CE:

Capillary electrophoresis

CTAB:

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

CTAC:

Cetyltrimethylammonium chloride

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

HMIM-PF6 :

1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

IL:

Ionic liquid

NP:

Nanoparticle

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

RSD:

Relative standard deviation

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

SPR:

Surface plasmon resonance

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme for the project FP7-NMP-2007-2013-SME5-280550. MLS expresses her gratitude to the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha-FEDER Funds for funding the project SBPLY/17/180501/000333.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Institute for Applied Chemistry Research, 13004, Ciudad Real, Spain

    M. Laura Soriano

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, University of Castilla–La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain

    M. Laura Soriano

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Castilla–La Mancha, 02071, Albacete, Spain

    M. Laura Soriano

  4. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, University of Córdoba, Maria Curie Annex Building, Campus Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Celia Ruiz-Palomero & Miguel Valcárcel

  5. Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, Valverde 24, 28071, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel Valcárcel

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  1. M. Laura Soriano
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  3. Miguel Valcárcel
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Correspondence to M. Laura Soriano.

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Soriano, M.L., Ruiz-Palomero, C. & Valcárcel, M. Ionic-liquid-based microextraction method for the determination of silver nanoparticles in consumer products. Anal Bioanal Chem 411, 5023–5031 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01889-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01889-w

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