This study investigated the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in the presence of ordered media (β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)). In addition, we analyzed the effects of four room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) on the fluorescence intensities (FIs) of EE2/β-CD and E2/β-CD inclusion complexes in methanol. Both β-CD and CTAB enhanced the fluorescence of EE2 and E2. The FIs of EE2 and E2 with β-CD or CTAB in methanol were greater than those in water, possibly resulting from decreased oxygen-quenching in H2O molecules. β-CD and CTAB may form inclusion complexes with estrogen in both water and methanol. The inclusion ratio of the complex was 1:1 and the inclusion constant (K) values in water were greater than those in methanol. The fluorescence lifetimes were 2.50 and 4.13 ns for EE2 and 2.58 and 4.03 ns for E2 in aqueous solution and methanol, respectively. The changing trend of fluorescence lifetimes for EE2 and E2 in β-CD or CTAB was similar to the steady-state FIs. The four RTILs had a significant quenching effect on the FIs of EE2/β-CD and E2/β-CD, and the quenching process for EE2/β-CD and E2/β-CD by RTILs was demonstrated to be a dynamic quenching mechanism. Fluorescent data obtained from these complex systems provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the interaction mechanisms between ordered media and RTILs in the analysis of estrogens.

Herein, we developed a novel integrated device to perform phase separation based on ultrasound-assisted, salt-induced, liquid-liquid microextraction for determination of five fluoroquinones in meats by HPLC analysis. The novel integrated device consisted of three simple HDPE (high density polyethylene) parts that were used to separate the solvent from the aqueous solution prior to retrieving the extractant. The extraction parameters were optimized using the response surface method based on central composite design: 589μL of acetone solvent, pH2.1, 4.1min extraction time and 3.5g of Na2SO4. The limits of detection were 0.056-0.64 μgkg(-1) and recoveries were 87.2-110.6% for the five fluoroquinones in muscle tissue from fish, chicken, pork and beef. This method is easily constructed from inexpensive materials, extraction efficiency is high, and the approach is compatible with HPLC analysis. Thus, it has excellent prospects for sample pre-treatment and analysis of fluoroquinones in meat samples.

Herein, we developed a novel integrated device to perform phase separation based on ultrasound-assisted salt-induced liquid-liquid microextraction for determination of five fluoroquinones (FQs) in human body fluids. The integrated device consisted of three simple HDPE components used to separate the extraction solvent from the aqueous phase prior to retrieving the extractant. A series of extraction parameters were optimized using the response surface method based on central composite design. Optimal conditions consisted of 945μL acetone extraction solvent, pH 2.1, 4.1min stir time, 5.9g Na2SO4, and 4.0min centrifugation. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection (at S/N=3) were 0.12-0.66μgL(-1), the linear range was 0.5-500μgL(-1) and recoveries were 92.6-110.9% for the five FQs extracted from plasma and urine. The proposed method has several advantages, such as easy construction from inexpensive materials, high extraction efficiency, short extraction time, and compatibility with HPLC analysis. Thus, this method shows excellent prospects for sample pretreatment and analysis of FQs in human body fluids.

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are emerging as a new class of 'green' solvents for use in a wide range of chemical processes. RTILs can sensitize or quench fluorescence of organic chemicals and their interactions still remain unclear, especially for weakly fluorescent chemicals. Herein, we report the effects of six RTILs on the fluorescence behavior of bisphenol A (BPA). The fluorescence intensities (FIs) of BPA in a RTIL-acetonitrile system were significantly quenched compared to acetonitrile. The quenching effect was stronger for [CnMIM]BF4 than [CnMIM]PF6. A decreasing trend of fluorescence lifetime (FL) of BPA was observed for [C6MIM]PF6 (4.26 to 3.86 ns) and [C14MIM]PF6 (4.15 to 3.78 ns) with increasing RTIL concentrations in the range of 1-10 mM. The quenching mode was consistent with a static quenching mechanism based on the consistency of FL and FI results. The emission bands of BPA and RTILs did not interfere with each other when RTILs were used as the solvent. The investigated RTILs enhanced the FIs of strongly fluorescing chemicals (12.0 ~ 19.0-fold for norfloxacin and 6.1 ~ 8.5-fold for dansyl chloride), but quenched those of weakly fluorescing chemicals (BPA). These results demonstrate that RTILs have different fluorescent effects on organic chemicals with different fluorophores. The interactions between RTILs and BPA result from many factors in addition to viscosity, such as solvent electrostatic dielectric constant, refractive index, density, polarization and molecular interaction. These results provide a theoretical foundation for application of RTILs in the analysis of weakly fluorescing chemical.