•[N8881][PF6] was used for the determination of benzoylurea insecticides.•The whole extraction procedure was performed in a syringe.•The extractant could be separated from the aqueous phase without centrifugation.•The collection of the extractant simplified the experimental operation.A novel in-syringe dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the solidification of ionic liquids (in-syringe SIL-DLLME) was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UVD) to detect five benzoylurea insecticides (BUs) in water and tea beverage samples. In this method, the hydrophobic ionic liquid [N8881][PF6] was formed in situ by the metathesis reaction between [N8881]Cl and the anion-exchange reagent KPF6 to extract the target analytes. The whole extraction procedure was performed in a syringe. The solidified extractant could be separated from the aqueous phase by exposing the emulsified extraction solution to an ice bath and then easily collected by squeezing out the aqueous phase through the prepared NWPP-based needle. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as the amount of [N8881]Cl, the molar ratio of [N8881]Cl to KPF6, salt addition, cooling time, solution temperature, sample pH and sample volume, were evaluated. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method was validated with satisfactory results: good linearities with coefficients of determination greater than 0.99 were obtained in the range of 2–500 µg L−1; the limits of detection varied between 0.29 and 0.59 µg L−1; the recoveries of the five benzoylurea insecticides ranged from 85.93% to 90.52%; and the intra-day (n=3) and inter-day (n=3) relative standard deviations were less than 5.36%. Finally, the proposed method was successfully used for the determination of BUs in real water and tea beverage samples.

Highly fluorescent bilayer nanocoils assembled from an asymmetric perylene diimide molecule exhibit unprecedented sensitivity to trace amines, that is, three orders of magnitude greater than our previously reported solid nanofibers. The coiled nanostructure design for new sensing materials offers a novel option for optimizing the sensitivities of fluorescence sensors based on organic nanomaterials.

Cyanogen chloride (CNCl) and trichloramine (NCl3) are important disinfection byproducts in chlorinated swimming pools. However, some unknowns exist regarding the precursors of their formation. In this study, uric acid is shown to be an efficient precursor to formation of CNCl and NCl3. The molar yields of CNCl and NCl3 were observed to be as high as 44% (pH = 6.0, chlorine/precursor molar ratio [Cl/P] = 6.4) and 108% (pH = 7.0, Cl/P = 30), respectively, both being strong functions of Cl/P, pH, and temperature. Analysis of swimming pool water samples, combined with the results of experiments involving chlorination of uric acid, and chlorination of body fluid analog mixtures, indicated that uric acid chlorination may account for a large fraction of CNCl formation in swimming pools. Moreover, given that uric acid introduction to pools is attributable to urination, a voluntary action for most swimmers, these findings indicate important benefits to pool water and air chemistry that could result from improved hygiene habits on the part of swimmers.

Pt/TiO2 derived from complete decomposition of the surface-anchored Pt(dcbpy)Cl2 (dcbpy = 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine) precursor (denoted as C-Pt/TiO2) was prepared to serve as photocatalyst in visible light region. For dye-sensitized hydrogen production experiments, the photocatalyst was sensitized by Ru(2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic)2(NCS)2 (the N3 dye) and Ru(2,2′bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic) (4,4′- dinonyl-2,2′bipyridine) (NCS)2 (the Z907 dye) to induce hydrogen evolution in the presence of sacrificial electron donor, triethanolamine (TEA). The hydrogen generation results showed that C-Pt/TiO2 was found to be a much more active photocatalyst when compared to P-Pt/TiO2, prepared by conventional method of photochemical deposition of H2PtCl6 (denoted as P-Pt/TiO2). For further investigation, the photodegradation experiments in visible region were also confirmed the better photocatalytic activity of C-Pt/TiO2. The enhanced catalytic activity is due to efficient interparticle electron transfer with the small-size and high-disperse platinum particles generated from photodeposition of Pt(dcbpy)Cl2, which was verified by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement.Highlights► C-Pt/TiO2 is found to be a high active photocatalyst in visible region. ► For H2 production, the photocatalytic activity is enhanced more than 3 times. ► Small-size and well-disperse platinum particles is verified by TEM measurement. ► Surface-anchored Pt complex reduction is confirmed to be a promising technique.

Highly fluorescent bilayer nanocoils assembled from an asymmetric perylene diimide molecule exhibit unprecedented sensitivity to trace amines, that is, three orders of magnitude greater than our previously reported solid nanofibers. The coiled nanostructure design for new sensing materials offers a novel option for optimizing the sensitivities of fluorescence sensors based on organic nanomaterials.