Journal of separation science最新文献

In the present work, nickel sulfide (Ni₃S₂) was modified on the surface of Ni foams (NiF) by in-situ growth, and the prepared rambutan-like Ni₃S₂/NiF materials were further decorated with carbon nanospheres. Subsequently, the prepared C/Ni₃S₂/NiF was loaded into a syringe filter and used for syringe membrane filter-based solid-phase microextraction (SMF-SPME) of five nitroimidazoles (NDZs), followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. The metal affinity of divalent Ni (II) and the imidazole group could contribute to the selective adsorption to NDZs, and the structural porous support of Ni foams, the in-situ modified Ni₃S₂, and carbon nanospheres facilitated the improvement of SMF-SPME efficiency. The main experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were studied, including sample flow rate, adsorption cycle, salt concentration, pH of sample solution, the type and volume of desorption solvent. The selectivity of the adsorbent membrane C/Ni₃S₂/NiF to NDZs was evaluated, and the interactions existing between the modified materials on Ni foam and NDZs were examined to probe the possible adsorption mechanism. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed method showed good linearity from 0.05 to 200 µg L⁻¹ and possessed low limits of detection within 0.01–0.05 µg L⁻¹. The reproducibility and reusability of the C/Ni₃S₂/NiF adsorbent were investigated, and the effective enrichment and determination of NDZs in water, milk, and honey samples were also carried out with recoveries of 79.3%–114.5%. This study provides a new strategy for the enrichment and determination of some NDZs in different samples.

A graphene-based material for the selective adsorption of gallium ions has been prepared by combining ion-imprinting technology with adsorption. This material is capable of separating and extracting gallium ions from the acid leachate of fly ash. Morphological and structural characterization of the material was performed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which confirmed that the material possesses a three-dimensional structure and that functional monomers have successfully complexed with graphene oxide substrates. The maximum adsorption capacity of the material reaches 86.29 mg/g at a solution pH of 3. In the selective adsorption tests, the selective separation factors of gallium ions relative to aluminum, magnesium, iron, and calcium ions were 16.50, 49.50, 9.90, and 99.00, respectively. Meanwhile, the material maintained excellent adsorption capacity and structural stability in cyclic regeneration experiments, with no obvious dissolution loss observed. The adsorption mechanism of the material was analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the results indicated that it primarily involves cation exchange between carboxyl groups and gallium ions. This work demonstrates that the three-dimensional ion-imprinted hydrogel adsorbent plays a significant role in the selective adsorption of gallium ions and the subsequent solid-liquid separation.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) imposes a substantial health burden, particularly among pediatric and elderly populations. The RSV fusion (F) protein, a critical mediator of viral entry and syncytium formation, represents a promising and rational target for antiviral drug development. Forsythia suspensa (Lianqiao in Chinese), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been empirically employed for decades in the prevention of viral infections; however, its pharmacologically active constituents remain poorly characterized. The present investigation developed a high-expression F protein cell membrane chromatography system, and integrated with UHPLC-MS, to screen pharmacological substances from FS and verified the anti-viral potential against RSV in vivo. Our study pinpointed Forsythoside A, Forsythoside B, Phillygenin, and Phillyrin as potential anti-RSV compounds in FS. The research findings suggest that Forsythoside A, Forsythoside B, and Phillygenin exhibit considerable suppressive effects on cell fusion induced by RSV, concurrently effectively diminishing the expression level of the F protein gene. In contrast, the inhibitory impact of Phillyrin seems relatively less potent. In conclusion, our findings provide a convenient, fast, and accurate method to screen potential anti-RSV ingredients in natural herbal medicines. These results may facilitate the development of RSV treatment.

In a context where environmental concerns and circular economy drive innovation, co-products from the flax industry emerge as valuable lignocellulosic feedstocks. Pyrolysis of these biomasses generates bio-oils with complex and highly oxygenated composition, which requires in-depth molecular characterization to optimize valorization processes. This study focuses on the molecular-level characterization of bio-oil derived from flax shives, a local co-product in Normandy. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to fractionate the bio-oil into five distinct fractions based on apparent molecular size. The complete bio-oil and each SEC fraction were then analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance [FT-ICR MS] and Orbitrap MS) to identify and compare thousands of molecular formulae. A custom Python-based workflow was developed to align and annotate Orbitrap MS data using the FT-ICR MS dataset as a reference, allowing for rapid molecular formula assignment. Chemical class distribution, oxygen content, and Van Krevelen analysis revealed specific trends across fractions, indicating that SEC separation was influenced not only by molecular size but also by polarity and structural interactions. This approach offers a refined strategy for exploring the chemical complexity of lignocellulosic bio-oils and supports future efforts in their upgrading and application.

1-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylidene)-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-benz[e]indene (short as FMB) as one of second-generation light-driven molecular motors contains a chiral carbon atom, and has attracted considerable attentions due to macroscopic chiral structures and light-driven behaviors through supramolecular assembly and cooperative effects. Herein, chiral analysis and semi-preparative separation of FMB enantiomers have been studied by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Effects of factors on chiral separation of FMB enantiomers, including type of CSP, composition and ratio of mobile phase, temperature, and flow rate, have been discussed in detail. Best separation of racemic FMB was achieved on cellulose tri(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-coated CSP with the resolution of 2.50 using the hexane–ethanol mixture (99:1, v/v). Then, each FMB enantiomer was obtained through semi-preparative separation with enantiomeric purity over 99%, and their absolute configurations as well as elution order were determined by electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Surprisingly, elution reversal phenomenon of FMB enantiomers was observed on cellulose- and amylose- tri(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)-coated CSPs, in which (S)-FMB was eluted first on cellulose tri(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-coated CSP, and (R)-enantiomer was eluted first on the other. Moreover, molecular docking simulation has been employed to explain the recognition mechanism and elution reversal of FMB enantiomers on these two CSPs. The docking results revealed that π–π stacks, π–lone pair interactions, π– σ, and π–alkyl interactions between FMB and CSPs were the primary forces driving chiral separation, and the differences between them led to the enantiomer elution reversal on these two CSPs. Briefly, this work would provide valuable information for the separation and elution mechanisms of chiral molecular motors on polysaccharide-based CSPs.