Carbon nanotubes functionalized mesoporous silica for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A mesoporous silica was functionalized by carbon nanotubes to enhance the extraction performance. The mesoporous material was coated on stainless steel wires, and three wires were inserted inside of a polyetheretherketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. The tube was coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection to obtain online analytical system, then its extraction performance was evaluated using eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the targets. In order to good sensitivity and accuracy, four conditions were optimized such as sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol content in the sample, and desorption time. Under the optimum conditions, an online analytical method was established and exhibited low limits of detection from 0.005 to 0.050 µg/L, wide linear range of 0.016‐20.00 µg/L with acceptable correlation coefficients in 0.9921‐0.9999, as well as large enrichment factors in the range of 311‐2412. The method was successfully applied to determine trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some real water samples including, two kinds of bottled water, tap water, and river water, a few polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected but none quantified in these samples.     

Triazine‐based organic polymers@SiO2 nanospheres for sensitive solid‐phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Triazine‐based organic polymers@SiO₂ nanospheres were prepared and applied as an extraction coating onto stainless steel wires and the wires were filled into polyetheretherketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. Taking polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as targets, main factors affecting extraction performance of the tube were investigated through coupling to high performance liquid chromatography. Under the optimum conditions, an online analytical method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was established with large linear ranges (0.010‐20 µg/L), low limits of detection (0.003‐0.010 µg/L), high enrichment factors (533‐2954), and good repeatability (relative standard deviations <1.7% for intraday test, <5.0% for interday test). The analysis method was successfully applied to the detection of trace targets in real water samples and the relative recoveries ranged from 82.9 to 119.9%, which demonstrated the applicability of extraction tube in sample preparation.     

Nano‐MoO3 for highly selective enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

Nano‐molybdenum trioxide was prepared from nano‐molybdenum disulfide by simple firing in muffle furnace. Nano‐molybdenum trioxide was used as the extraction coating on the stainless steel wire. Four wires were filled in a polyetheretherketone tube to get an extraction tube. The tube was connected to the six‐port valve of a high performance liquid chromatograph, and the online analysis system was constructed. Extraction selectivity of the tube for different types of compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, estrogens, anilines and neonicotinoids, was studied. Good enrichment ability for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but the extraction efficiency of others was not satisfactory. Using eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the targets, an analytical method was established after optimizing main factors such as sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol content, and desorption time. The established method exhibited wide linear range to 0.016–20.00 μg/L and low limits of detection to 0.005 μg/L, and the enrichment factors can be up to 2443. The method was applied to the detection of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water and river water, and a good recovery was obtained. The tube showed good durability and chemical stability, and it still remained good extraction effect after more than 140 run.     

Mesoporous titanium oxide with high‐specific surface area as a coating for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Stainless‐steel wires coated with mesoporous titanium oxide were placed into a polyether ether ketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction, and the coating sorbent was characterized by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography to build an online system. Using eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the analytes, some conditions including sample flow rate, sample volume, organic solvent content, and desorption time were investigated. Under optimum conditions, an online analysis method was established and provided good linearity (0.03–30 μg/L), low detection limits (0.01–0.10 μg/L), and high enrichment factors (77.6–678). The method was applied to determine target analytes in river water and water sample of coal ash, and the recoveries are in the range of 80.6–106.6 and 80.9–103.5%, respectively. Compared with estrogens and plasticizers, extraction coating shows better extraction efficiency for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Carbonized silk fibers for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples

Silk fibers were carbonized to develop a biomass carbon material as an adsorbent for solid‐phase microextraction. The surface structure of the carbonized silk fibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and the graphitization degree was determined by Raman spectrometry. After carbonization under high temperature, the orderliness and structural regularity of carbon atoms on silk fibers were promoted. Extraction tube packed with carbonized silk fibers was prepared for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. Coupled with high performance liquid chromatography, it exhibited good extraction performance for hydrophobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Main parameters including sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol content in sample, and desorption time were systematically investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the analysis method was established and it exhibited wide linear range (0.016–20 μg/L) with good linearity (correlation coefficient ≥ 0.9947), low limits of detection (0.005–0.050 μg/L), and high enrichment factors (1189–2775). Relative standard deviations (n = 3) for intraday (≤3.3%) and interday (≤9.6%) tests indicated that the extraction material had satisfactory repeatability. Finally, the analytical method was successfully applied to detect trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in real water samples, demonstrating its satisfactory practicability.     

Basalt fibers functionalized with gold nanoparticles for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

Basalt fibers were functionalized with gold nanoparticles and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. An in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction device was developed by packing the functionalized basalt fibers in a polyether ether ketone tube. The device was connected into high performance liquid chromatography equipment with a diode array detector to build online enrichment and analysis system. Eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were used as model analytes, important factors including sampling rate, sampling volume, organic solvent content in sample, and desorption time were investigated. Linear range (0.01–20 μg/L), detection limits (0.003–0.015 μg/L), and enrichment factors (130–1628) were given by the online analysis method. Relative standard deviations (n = 5) of extraction repeatability on one tube and tube‐to‐tube repeatability were less than 5.2 and 14.7%, respectively. The analysis method was applied to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples, and relative recoveries ranged from 87 to 128%.     

Nanostructured‐silver‐coated polyetheretherketone tube for online in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography

Polyetheretherketone tube is a better substrate for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction than fused‐silica capillary and metal tube because of its resistance to high pressure and good flexibility. It was modified with a nanostructured silver coating, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. It was connected into high‐performance liquid chromatography equipment to build the online analysis system by replacing the sample loop of a six‐port injection valve. To get the highest extraction capacity, the preparation conditions of the coating was investigated. Important extraction conditions including length of tube, sample volume, and desorption time were optimized using eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as model analytes. The tube exhibits excellent extraction efficiency toward them, with enrichment factors from 52 to 363. The online analysis method provides good linearity (0.5–100 or 1.0–100 μg/L) and low detection limits (0.15–0.30 μg/L). It has been used to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples, with relative recoveries in the range of 92.3–120%. The tube showed highest extraction ability for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, higher extraction ability for hydrophobic phthalates and anilines, and almost no extraction ability for low hydrophobic phenols, due to the possible extraction mechanism including hydrophobic and electron‐rich element‐metal interactions.     

Resorcinol–formaldehyde aerogel coating for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction of estrogens

Resorcinol–formaldehyde aerogel coating was in situ prepared on the surface of basalt fibers. The aerogel coating is uniformly modified onto basalt fibers, and it is very porous according to the characterization by using scanning electron microscopy. An extraction tube was prepared for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction by placing the aerogel‐coated basalt fibers into a polyetheretherketone tube. To evaluate the extraction performance toward five estrogenic compounds, the tube was connected with high performance liquid chromatography, the important extraction and desorption conditions were investigated. An online analytical method for detection of estrogens was developed and presented low limits of detection (0.005–0.030 µg/L), wide linear ranges (0.017–20, 0.033–20, and 0.099–20 µg/L), good linearity (r > 0.9990), and satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation < 2.7%). The method was successfully applied to detect trace estrogens in real water samples (bottled pure water and bottled mineral water), satisfactory recoveries were ranged from 80 to 125% with two spiking levels of 2 and 6 µg/L.     

Poly(ionic liquids)‐coated stainless‐steel wires packed into a polyether ether ketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

An in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction device was developed by packing poly(ionic liquids)‐coated stainless‐steel wires into a polyether ether ketone tube. An anion‐exchange process was performed to enhance the extraction performance. Surface properties of poly(ionic liquids)‐coated stainless‐steel wires were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry. The extraction device was connected to high‐performance liquid chromatography equipment to build an online enrichment and analysis system. Ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were used as model analytes, and important conditions including extraction time and desorption time were optimized. The enrichment factors from 268 to 2497, linear range of 0.03–20 μg/L, detection limits of 0.010–0.020 μg/L, extraction and preparation repeatability with relative standard deviation less than 1.8 and 19%, respectively were given by the established online analysis method. It has been used to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental samples, with the relative recovery (5, 10 μg/L) in the range of 85.1–118.9%.     

An Ag2S@ZnS‐coated fiber for efficient,long‐life solid‐phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Although an efficient and stable fiber coating is essential for the development of solid‐phase microextraction technique, it remains a challenging prospect. Herein, an inorganic nanocomposite material Ag₂S@ZnS was prepared and used as a coating for fibers to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples in combination with a GC with flame ionization detector. Compared with a single ZnS material, the Ag₂S@ZnS composite shows many uneven nano‐protrusions on the surface of the microspheres. In conjunction with the relatively scattered microstructure of the coating and the effective anion‐π interaction formed between ZnS and the hydrocarbons, it has a large specific surface area, fast diffusion of the target molecule on its surface, and appropriate adsorption of the target molecules; therefore, it exhibits good extraction efficiency for the hydrocarbons. Under optimal conditions, the proposed analytical method exhibits superior performance with good linearity (0.01–500 µg/L) and low limits of detection (0.001–0.200 µg/L). Combined with high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability, the service life of the coating was improved and could be used 200 times without a significant reduction in the extraction performance, and at least 2000 extraction–desorption cycles can be achieved. Satisfactory results were also obtained for the real samples.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water by a novel mesoporous‐coated stainless steel wire microextraction combined with HPLC

A novel mesoporous‐coated stainless steel wire microextraction coupled with the HPLC procedure for quantification of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water has been developed, based on the sorption of target analytes on a selectively adsorptive fiber and subsequent desorption of analytes directly into HPLC. Phenyl‐functionalized mesoporous materials (Ph‐SBA‐15) were synthesized and coated on the surfaces of a stainless steel wire. Due to the high porosity and large surface area of the Ph‐SBA‐15, high extraction efficiency is expected. The influence of various parameters on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extraction efficiency were thoroughly studied and optimized (such as the extraction temperature, the extraction time, the desorption time, the stirring rate and the ionic strength of samples). The results showed that each compound for the analysis of real water samples was tested under optimal conditions with the linearity ranging from 1.02×10^?3 to 200 μg/ L and the detection limits were found from 0.32 to 2.44 ng/ L, respectively. The RSD of the new method was smaller than 4.10%.     

Simultaneous determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reclaimed water using solid‐phase extraction followed by ultra‐performance convergence chromatography with photodiode array detection

A new fast and effective analysis method has been developed to simultaneously determine 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reclaimed water samples by ultra‐performance convergence chromatography with photodiode array detection and solid‐phase extraction. The parameters of ultra‐performance convergence chromatography on the separation behaviors and the crucial condition of solid‐phase extraction were investigated systematically. Under optimal conditions, the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be separated within 4 min. The limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.4–4 and 1–10 μg/L in water, respectively. This approach has been applied to a real industrial wastewater treatment plant successfully. The results showed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were dramatically decreased after chemical treatment procedure, and the oxidation procedure was effective to remove trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

A green extraction material — natural cotton fiber for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

Natural cotton fiber was applied as a green extraction material for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. Cotton fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope. A bundle of cotton fibers (685 mg, 20 cm) was directly packed into a polyetheretherketone tube (i.d. 0.75 mm) to get the extraction device. It was connected into high performance liquid chromatography, building an online extraction and dectection system. Through the online analysis system, several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were used as the targets to evaluate the extraction performace of the device. In order to get high extraction efficiency and sensitivity, the extraction and desorption conditions were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the sensitive analysis method was established, and provided low limits of detection of 0.02 and 0.05 μg/L, good linearity ranges of 0.06–15 and 0.16–15 μg/L, as well as high enrichment factors of 176–1868. The method was applied to the online determination of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in snow water and river water, and the relative recoveries corresponding to 2 and 5 μg/L were in the range of 80–116%. The repeatability of extraction and preparation of the device was investigated and the relative standard deviations (n = 3) were less than 3.6 and 5.2%.     

Gold‐functionalized stainless‐steel wire and tube for fiber‐in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A fiber‐in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction device based on a gold‐functionalized stainless‐steel wire and tube was developed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. In combination with high‐performance liquid chromatography, it was evaluated using six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as model analytes. Important parameters including sampling rate, sample volume, organic solvent content and desorption time were investigated. Under optimized conditions, an online analysis method was established. The linearity was in the range of 0.15–50 μg/L with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9989 to 0.9999, and limits of detection ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 μg/L. The method was applied to determine model analytes in mosquito‐repellent incense ash and river water samples, with recoveries in the range of 85–120%.     

Bare polyprolylene hollow fiber as extractive phase for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction to determine estrogens in water samples

Polypropylene hollow fibers as the adsorbent were directly filled into a polyetheretherketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. The surface properties of hollow fibers were characterized by a scanning electron microscope. Combined with high performance liquid chromatography, the extraction tube showed good extraction performance for five environmental estrogen hormones. To achieve high analytical sensitivity, four important factors containing sampling volume, sampling rate, content of organic solvent in sample, and desorption time were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, an online analysis method was established with wide linear range (0.03–20 µg/L), good correlation coefficients (≥0.9998), low limits of detection (0.01–0.05 µg/L), low limits of quantitation (0.03–0.16 µg/L), and high enrichment factors (1087–2738). Relative standard deviations (n = 3) for intraday (≤3.6%) and interday (≤5.1%) tests proved the stable extraction performance of the material. Durability and chemical stability of the extraction tube were also investigated, relative standard deviations of all analytes were less than 5.8% (n = 3), demonstrating the satisfactory stability. Finally, the method was successfully applied to detect estrogens in real samples.     

Ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon and high‐performance liquid chromatographic determination of 1‐hydroxypyrene in urine samples

In this research, a new ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector for trace measurement of 1‐hydroxypyrene as a metabolite of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was optimized. Herein, the hard template method was used for the preparation of N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent. The prepared sorbent was characterized using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, transmission electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Parameters affecting the extraction of the target metabolite were investigated using the Box–Behnken design method. Considering optimum parameters, the plotted calibration curve for 1‐hydroxypyrene was linearly correlated with the concentration span of 0.1–50 μg/L for urine media. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was examined through the relative recovery tests on the fortified urine specimens. The relative recoveries fell between 95 and 101%. The method detection limit of the proposed procedure was also calculated to be 0.03 μg/L.     

Application of sunflower stalk‐carbon nitride nanosheets as a green sorbent in the solid‐phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A green biocomposite of sunflower stalks and graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets has been applied as a solid‐phase extraction adsorbent for sample preparation of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different solutions using high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Before the modification, sunflower stalks exhibited relatively low adsorption to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extraction. The modified sunflower stalks showed increased adsorption to the analytes extraction due to the increase in surface and existence of a π–π interaction between the analytes and graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets on the surface. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection and quantification for five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds could reach 0.4–32 and 1.2–95 ng/L, respectively. The method accuracy was evaluated using recovery measurements in spiked real samples and good recoveries from 71 to 115% with relative standard deviations of <10% have been achieved. The developed method was successfully applied for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determination in various samples—well water, tap water, soil, vegetable, and barbequed meat (kebab)—with analytes contents ranging from 0.065 to 13.3 μg/L. The prepared green composite as a new sorbent has some advantages including ease of preparation, low cost, and good reusability.     

Carbonized cotton fibers via a facile method for highly sensitive solid‐phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Cotton fiber is an environmentally friendly and natural material with a certain extraction capacity, while its enrichment ability is poor. In order to improve the extraction efficiency of cotton fibers, it was carbonized to form a layer of amorphous carbon as the sorbent by a simple carbonization method. Carbonized cotton fibers were filled into a polyetheretherketone tube for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction. The carbonization time was investigated to obtain high extraction efficiency. Coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography, the extraction tube was evaluated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, estrogens and phthalates, and it exhibited best extraction efficiency for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Under the optimum conditions, an online analysis method for several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was established with large linear ranges (0.016–0.20 μg/L), low limits of detection (0.005–0.020 μg/L), and high enrichment factors (948–2874). Analysis method was successfully applied to the detection of targets in the real samples and shown satisfactory durability and chemical stability. Moreover, the relative recoveries ranged from 82 to 119.2%, which demonstrated the applicability of carbonized cotton fibers in sample preparation. Compared with other reported methods, the proposed method provided shorter extraction time, higher enrichment factors, comparable limits of detection, and recoveries.     

Extraction and enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by ordered mesoporous carbon reinforced hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction

A novel microextraction method, ordered mesoporous carbon reinforced hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection, was developed for the determination of some organic pollutants in water samples. Four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene) were selected to validate this new method. Main parameters that could influence the extraction efficiency such as extraction time, fiber length, stirring rate, the type of the extraction solvent, pH value, the concentration of ordered mesoporous carbon, and salt effect were optimized. Under the optimal extraction conditions, good linearity was observed in the range of 2–1000 ng/L, with the correlation coefficients of 0.9954–0.9986. The recoveries for the spiked samples were in the range of 88.96–100.17%. The limits of detection of the method were 0.4–4 ng/L. The relative standard deviations varied from 4.2–5.9%. The results demonstrated that the newly developed method was an efficient pretreatment and enrichment procedure for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples.     

Loading controlled magnetic carbon dots for microwave‐assisted solid‐phase extraction: Preparation,extraction evaluation and applications in environmental aqueous samples

An adsorbent of carbon dot@poly(glycidyl methacrylate)@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has been developed for the microwave‐assisted magnetic solid‐phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental aqueous samples prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV/visible spectroscopy detection. Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The chain length and amount of carbon dots attached on them can be easily controlled through changing polymerization conditions, which contributes to tunable extraction performance. The successful fabrication of the nano‐adsorbent was confirmed by transmission electronic microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The extraction performance of the adsorbent was evaluated by using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as model analytes. The key factors influencing the extraction, such as microwave power, adsorption time, desorption time and desorption solvents were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the microwave‐assisted method afforded magnetic solid‐phase extraction with short extraction time, wide dynamic linear range (0.02–200 μg/L), good linearity (R² ≥ 98.57%) and low detection limits (20–90 ng/L) for model analytes. The adsorbent was successfully applied for analyzing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental aqueous samples and the recoveries were in the range of 86.0–124.2%. Thus, the proposed method is a promising candidate for fast and reliable preconcentration of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in real water samples.