Developing a SINTACS-based method to map groundwater multi-pollutant vulnerability using evolutionary algorithms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the modified SINTACS method, a rating-based groundwater vulnerability approach, was applied to data from the Campanian Plain, southern...     

The occurrence of microplastic contamination in littoral sediments of the Persian Gulf,Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) in aquatic environments are an emerging contaminant of concern due to their possible ecological and...     

Application of cold-induced aggregation microextraction as a fast,simple, and organic solvent-free method for the separation and preconcentration of Se(IV) in rice and various water samples

The developed method is based on cold-induced aggregation microextraction of Se(IV) using the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid as an extractant followed by spectrophotometry determination. The extraction of Se(IV) was performed in the presence of dithizone as the complexing agent. In this method, a very small amount of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate was added to the sample solution containing Se-dithizone complex. Then, the solution was kept in a thermostated bath at 50 °C for 4 min. Subsequently, the solution was cooled in an ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed. After centrifuging, the extractant phase was analyzed using a spectrophotometric detection method. Some important parameters that might affect the extraction efficiency were optimized (HCl, 0.6 mol L^?1; dithizone, 4.0?×?10^?6 mol L^?1; ionic liquid, 100 μL). Under the optimum conditions, good linear relationship, sensitivity, and reproducibility were obtained. The limit of detection (LOD) (3S_b/m) was 1.5 μg L^?1, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.2 % for 30 μg L^?1 of Se(IV). The linear range was obtained in the range of 5–60 μg L^?1. It was satisfactory to analyze rice and various water samples.