Florida International University

Università Degli Studi "G. D'annunzio" Chieti-Pescara

Kenneth G Furton

Abuzar Kabir

Katylynn Beltz

Ross James Harper

Allison M Curran

Angela Tartaglia

Michelle Cerreta

Marcello Locatelli

Devices and methods for use in extraction procedures of analytes (organic and inorganic, including heavy metals) from matrices (e.g., complex matrices) in various fields (e.g., biological, clinical, chemical, environmental, toxicological, and forensic) are provided. The device can comprise a support structure acting as a rigid and stable support for extraction materials that can be inserted thereinto. The device can comprise a plurality of windows in the support structure through which the extraction materials can be exposed. The device can include two portions that can join together (e.g., using an interlocking system).

Devices and methods for extraction of analytes

The invention provides a sorbent material comprising a PSA that is synthesized via a sol-gel process. The sorbent material enables higher loading of PSA and other functional groups than conventional sorbents. The sorbent material can further encapsulate carbonaceous and/or non-carbonaceous particles that are distributed throughout the sorbent network. The invention also relates to a method of making the sorbent materials.

PSA-functionalized sol-gel sorbent materials and methods of preparation

The subject invention provides materials, devices and methods for detecting, determining, monitoring and/or extracting trace metals such as cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, manganese, mercury, and vanadium in the environmental, biological, pharmaceutical, and potable water samples. The subject invention also provides formulations and method for synthesizing the trace metal-extracting materials.

Materials and methods for extracting metals

Solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents and liquid chromatography (LC) stationary phases are provided, as well as methods of fabricating the same. The SPE sorbents and LC stationary phases can use microcrystalline cellulose particles as the substrate and sol-gel sorbent coating technology as the polymer/sorbent immobilization technology. The SPE sorbents and LC stationary phases are stable in a pH range of 1-13 and at a temperature of up to 350&#xb0; C.

Microcrystalline cellulose particle supported sol-gel sorbents and methods of manufacturing the same

The subject invention provides the materials and methods for synthesizing novel training devices for biological detectors, such as canines, to locate a specific material by recognizing a characteristic scent associated with the material. In an exemplary embodiment, the training devices encapsulate at least one active odorant of certain illicit materials, such as cocaine, within a sol-gel polymer network. By manipulating the process of molecular encapsulation and polymer network synthesis, the novel training devices can reduce the influence of contaminants and dissipate the encapsulated odorant in a controlled fashion, allowing for the added benefit of improved shelf-life as compared to currently available training devices.

Polymer-based training aids and methods of use

The subject invention provides chemical compositions and synthesis strategies to create molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via sol-gel processes. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention utilizes a(n) organic, inorganic, or metallic template analyte to create a hybrid organic-inorganic or inorganic three-dimensional network possessing cavities complementary to the shape, size, and functional orientation of the template molecule or ions. The subject invention further pertains to the use of the novel MIPs as selective solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for pre-concentration and clean-up of trace substances in biological and environmental samples. Synthesis of other molecularly imprinted polymers with environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, clinical, toxicological, and national security implications can be conducted in accordance with the teachings of the subject invention.

Materials and methods for the detection of trace amounts of substances in biological and environmental samples

A microextraction capsule holding a sol-gel coating or monolithic bed with an affinity for one or more target analytes infused in a porous tube that can be placed in a sample matrix containing the target analytes. The microextraction capsule can include a magnetic wire to allow the capsule to be spun in the presence of the matrix to increase the rate of absorption of the target analytes. The microextraction capsule can be formed by infusing a sol solution into the porous tube and forming a metal oxide or hybrid inorganic-organic sorbent comprising gel from the sol within the pores of the porous tube or by forming a gel by sol-gel condensation with water followed by grinding the gel to a particulate gel and infusing the particles into a porous tube.

Microextraction capsules and method of making

A sol-gel sorbent or chromatography stationary phase is a particulate metal oxide gel containing polymeric segments uniformly distributed throughout the metal oxide gel. The metal oxide gel is an oxide from silicone or other metal oxide that can have one of the valence bonds attached to an organic group and the remainder occupied by oxygens that can be provided as an oxide or an alkoxide or aryl oxide of the polymeric segments. The particles are used for an SPE sorbent or as a packing for a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), a normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) column or a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column.

Sol-gel polymeric stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography and solid phase extraction: their method of making

A particulate sorbent includes a carbonaceous and/of non-carbonaceous particulate matter encapsulated in sol-gel sorbent matrix where microparticles of a porous sol-gel metal oxide network display a high surface area with small cross-section pores and a nanoparticle or microparticle filler that is a carbonaceous and/or non-carbonaceous particulate matter. The particulate sorbent is prepared by dispersing carbonaceous and/of non-carbonaceous particulate matter in a mixture of a metal oxide precursor, water, catalyst and optionally a solvent and a polymer functionalized to react with the metal oxide precursor. Catalysis is by acid followed by base to separate hydrolysis in the sol with condensation to a gel to give a highly porous gel. The gel is subsequently fractured into sorbent particles. The sorbent particles can be used for sampling or separating analytes.

Encapsulated particulate matters in a sol-gel silica matrix and method of preparation

A chromatographic stationary phase or solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent are sol-gel metal oxide particles comprising metal oxide network units with organic functionality bonded to the metal of the metal oxide and possess a higher performance or capacity than that of conventional ligand coated silica particles. The organic functionality is distributed throughout the metal oxide particle and wherein the mole percent of metals of the metal oxides with bonded organic functionality is in excess of nine mole percent of the particle. The particles are prepared from sol-gel processing employing an acid catalyst or an acid catalyst followed by a base catalyst to metal oxide precursors, at least nine mole percent of which have organic functionality. The particles are processed from a sol-gel condensation product into a size depending on the intended use.

Alkyl functionalized porous silica liquid chromatographic stationary phases and solid phase extraction sorbents

An in-vial microextraction (IVME) device is a vial with at least a portion of the inner surface having a sol-gel coating that absorbs at least one target analyte. The sol-gel coating is a metal oxide comprising coating that is formed from a tri- and/or tetra-functional metal comprising precursor that condenses to form a gel network. The IVME device can be used to prepare a sample by the contacting of the IVME device with a solution or suspension. An analytical method is enabled where the absorbed analyte from the IVME device is subsequently desorbed with a solvent or solution or thermally desorbed and analyzed using GC-MS or LC-MS or other analytical instrument for separation and detection.

In-vial microextraction (IVME) systems and their method of making

The primary aspect of the Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation System (COMPS) is that it provides a field deployable instant and reproducible source of known amounts of target odors. This technology consists of a permeable polymer container (chosen to suit target odor and release rate required), stored inside a non-permeable package. The design allows for the pre-equilibration of the target odors such that the outer surface of the inner package can saturate with odor during storage. Removal of the inner item then provides an instant and reproducible source of known target vapor flux. We have successfully demonstrated this technology by placing the target odor chemicals within permeable membranes such as low density polyethylene which are then sealed within a non-permeable membranes such as metallized polyester. This design has multiple advantages including preventing cross contamination when storing multiple odor targets (5-10 targets are commonly employed) as well as being light-weight disposable, low unit cost potential, no external power/operating unit/machinery/hardware, simple to use and providing a known reproducible concentration of the target odors to the detector in the field. The applications of these COMPS include the whole range of biological (e.g. detector dog) and electronic (e.g. field sensors) detectors with examples such as explosives (e.g. 2-ethyl-1-hexanol simulating plasticized explosives), drugs (e.g. 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde simulating ecstasy), human remains (including dimethyl disulfide and pentanoic acid) and live human scent (including 5-heptene-2-one and nonanol).

Controlled odor mimic permeation system

A superpolar sorbent network is a sol-gel network of at least one metal oxide precursor condensed and at least one polyhydroxy molecule. The metal oxide precursor is a silicate precursor, aluminate precursor, titanate precursor, zirconate precursor, germinate precursor, or any combinations thereof, and the polyhydroxy molecule has a multiplicity of hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy molecule can be an organic molecule derived from nature. The superpolar sorbent network can be used as a particulate or bulk sorbent for sampling or removal of analytes or contaminants from an environment or can be coated on a tube or particulate substrate for use as a chromatographic stationary phase.

Growing community of inventors

Homestead, FL, United States of America

Kenneth G Furton