Ultrasound-assisted Low Density Solvent Based Dispersive Liquid-liquid Microextraction for Determination of Phthalate Esters in Bottled Water Samples

A technique of ultrasound-assisted low density solvent based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was developed for the determination of four phthalate esters, including dimethyl phthalate(DMP), diethyl phthalate(DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate(DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) in bottled water samples. A low density solvent, toluene, was selected as extraction solvent. In the extraction process, a mixture of 15 μL of toluene(extraction solvent) and 100 μL of methanol(disperser solvent) was rapidly injected into 1.0 mL of water samples. A cloudy solution was formed after ultrasounded for 5 min, and then centrifuged at 5000 r/min for 5 min. The enriched analytes in the floating phase were determined by means of gas chromatograph. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors were found to be in a range of 29-67, and the recoveries were ranged from 81.2% to 103.9%. The limits of the detection were in a range of 3.8-5.6 μg/L. The proposed method was applied to the extraction and determination of phthalate esters in bottled water samples, and the concentrations of phthalate esters found in the water samples were below the allowable levels.     

Determination of phthalate esters in water samples by ionic liquid cold-induced aggregation dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel method, termed ionic liquid cold-induced aggregation dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL-CIA-DLLME), combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the determination of three phthalate esters in water samples. Several important parameters influencing the IL-CIA-DLLME extraction efficiency, such as the type of extraction and disperser solvent, the volume of extraction and disperser solvent, temperature, extraction time and salt effect, were investigated. Under optimal extraction conditions, the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries ranged from 174 to 212 and 69.9 to 84.8%, respectively. Excellent linearity with coefficients of correlation from 0.9968 to 0.9994 was observed in the concentration range of 2–100 ng mL⁻¹. The repeatability of the proposed method expressed as relative standard deviations ranged from 2.2 to 3.7% (n = 5). Limits of detection were between 0.68 and 1.36 ng mL⁻¹. Good relative recoveries for phthalate esters in tap, bottled mineral and river water samples were obtained in the ranges of 91.5–98.1%, 92.4–99.2% and 90.1–96.8%, respectively. Thus, the proposed method has excellent potential for the determination of phthalate esters in the environmental field.     

LC Determination of Phthalate Esters in Water Samples Using Continuous-Flow Microextraction

A novel method, continuous-flow microextraction (CFME) combined with liquid chromatography (LC) with variable-wavelength detector (VWD), has been developed for the determination of three phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP)) in water samples. Experimental parameters including extraction solvent, solvent drop volume, flow rate of sample solution, extraction time and ionic strength, which affected the extraction efficiency, were studied and optimized. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method yields a linear calibration curve in the concentration range of 10–10,000 ng mL^?1 for target analytes. The enrichment factors of this method for DMP, DEP and DnBP reached at 27, 44 and 20, respectively, and the detection limits were 2, 1 and 5 ng mL^?1, respectively. Good repeatability of extraction was obtained with relative standard deviations below 8.6%. The results demonstrated that CFME followed by LC-VWD is a simple and reliable technique for the determination of phthalate esters in water samples.     

Screening method for phthalate esters in water using liquid-phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic microdrop combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) technique was developed using directly suspended organic microdrop coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), for the extraction and the determination of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) in water samples. Microextraction efficiency factors, such as nature and volume of the organic solvent, temperature, salt effect, stirring rate and the extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions (extraction solvent: 1-dodecanol; extraction temperature: 60 °C; microdrop volume: 7 μL; stirring rate: 750 rpm, without salt addition and extraction time: 25 min), figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated. The values of the detection limit were in the range of 0.02–0.05 μg L⁻¹, while the R.S.D.% value for the analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ of the analytes was below 7.7% (n = 4). A good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9940) and a broad linear range (0.05–100 μg L⁻¹) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factor values ranging from 307 to 412. Finally, the designed method was successfully applied for the preconcentration and determination of the studied phthalate esters in different real water samples and satisfactory results were attained.     

Solid‐based disperser liquid–liquid microextraction for the preconcentration of phthalate esters and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) adipate followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry

A new approach for the development of a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by GC with flame ionization detection was proposed for the determination of phthalate esters and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) adipate in aqueous samples. In the proposed method, solid and liquid phases were used as the disperser and extractant, respectively, providing a simple and fast mode for the extraction of the analytes into a small volume of an organic solvent. In this method, microliter levels of an extraction solvent was added onto a sugar cube and it was transferred into the aqueous phase containing the analytes. By manual shaking, the sugar was dissolved and the extractant was released into the aqueous phase as very tiny droplets to provide a cloudy solution. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good precision (RSD less than 5.2%), high enrichment factors (266–556), and low LODs (0.09–0.25 μg/L). The method was successfully applied for the determination of the target analytes in different samples, and good recoveries (71–103%) were achieved for the spiked samples. No need for a disperser solvent and higher enrichment factors compared with conventional dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and low cost and short sample preparation time are other advantages of the method.     

Application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of three phthalate esters in water samples

A novel method, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-variable wavelength detector (HPLC-VWD), has been developed for the determination of three phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP)) in water samples. A mixture of extraction solvent (41 μL carbon tetrachloride) and dispersive solvent (0.75 mL acetonitrile) were rapidly injected into 5.0 mL aqueous sample for the formation of cloudy solution, the analytes in the sample were extracted into the fine droplets of CCl₄. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and the enriched analytes in the sedimented phase were determined by HPLC-VWD. Some important parameters, such as the kind and volume of extraction solvent and dispersive solvent, extraction time and salt effect were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum extraction condition, the method yields a linear calibration curve in the concentration range from 5 to 5000 ng mL⁻¹ for target analytes. The enrichment factors for DMP, DEP and DnBP were 45, 92 and 196, respectively, and the limits of detection were 1.8, 0.88 and 0.64 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for the extraction of 10 ng mL⁻¹ of phthalate esters were in the range of 4.3-5.9% (n = 7). Lake water, tap water and bottled mineral water samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method.     

Utilization of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction followed by HPLC-UV as a sensitive method for the extraction and determination of phthalate esters in environmental water samples

A simple and sensitive method for the extraction of four phthalate esters including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as well as their determination in water samples was developed using homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) and HPLC-UV. The extraction method is based on the phase separation phenomenon by the salt addition to the ternary solvent system. The extraction parameters such as type and volume of extracting and consolute solvent, concentration of salt, pH of sample and extraction time were optimized. Under the optimal conditions (extraction solvent: 100?µL CHCl₃; consolute solvent: 2.0?mL methanol; NaCl 15% (w/v) and pH of sample: 6.5) extraction recovery was in the range of 92–102%. Linearity was observed in the range of 0.5–300?µg?L^?1 for DEP and 0.6–300?µg?L^?1 for DMP, BBP and DBP. Correlation coefficients (r ²), limits of detection (LODs) and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the ranges of 0.9976–0.9993, 0.18–0.25 and 1.5–4.8%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the preconcentration and determination of these phthalate esters in the several environmental water samples.     

Evaluation of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the simultaneous determination of chlorophenols and haloanisoles in wines and cork stoppers using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was evaluated for the simultaneous determination of five chlorophenols and seven haloanisoles in wines and cork stoppers. Parameters, such as the nature and volume of the extracting and disperser solvents, extraction time, salt addition, centrifugation time and sample volume or mass, affecting the DLLME were carefully optimized to extract and preconcentrate chlorophenols, in the form of their acetylated derivatives, and haloanisoles. In this extraction method, 1mL of acetone (disperser solvent) containing 30μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) was rapidly injected by a syringe into 5mL of sample solution containing 200μL of acetic anhydride (derivatizing reagent) and 0.5mL of phosphate buffer solution, thereby forming a cloudy solution. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation, and a volume of 4μL of the sedimented phase was analyzed by GC-MS. The wine samples were directly used for the DLLME extraction (red wines required a 1:1 dilution with water). For cork samples, the target analytes were first extracted with pentane, the solvent was evaporated and the residue reconstituted with acetone before DLLME. The use of an internal standard (2,4-dibromoanisole) notably improved the repeatability of the procedure. Under the optimized conditions, detection limits ranged from 0.004 to 0.108ngmL(-1) in wine samples (24-220pgg(-1) in corks), depending on the compound and the sample analyzed. The enrichment factors for haloanisoles were in the 380-700-fold range.     

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by reversed phase HPLC for the determination of decabrominated diphenyl ether in natural water

A simple, rapid, and efficient method, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), has been developed for the extraction and preconcentration of decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) in environmental water samples. The factors relevant to the microextraction efficiency, such as the kind and volume of extraction and dispersive solvent, the extraction time, and the salt effect, were optimized. Under the optimum conditions (extraction solvent: tetrachloroethane, volume, 22.0 microL; dispersive solvent: THF, volume, 1.00 mL; extraction time: below 5 s and without salt addition), the most time-consuming step is the centrifugation of the sample solution in the extraction procedure, which is about 2 min. In this method, the enrichment factor could be as high as 153 in 5.00 mL water sample, and the linear range, correlation coefficient (r(2)), detection limit (S/N = 3), and precision (RSD, n = 6) were 0.001-0.5 microg/mL, 0.9999, 0.2 ng/mL, and 2.1%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the extraction of BDE-209 from tap, East Lake, and Yangtse River water samples; the relative recoveries were 95.8, 92.9, and 89.9% and the RSD% (n = 3) were 1.9, 2.7, and 3.5%, respectively. Comparison of this method with other methods, such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and single-drop microextraction (SDME), indicates that DLLME is a simple, fast, and low-cost method for the determination of BDE-209, and thus has tremendous potential in polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) residual analysis in environmental water samples.     

Optimization of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and improvement of detection limit of methyl tert-butyl ether in water with the aid of chemometrics

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selective ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM) was applied to the determination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water samples. The effect of main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency was studied simultaneously. From selected parameters, volume of extraction solvent, volume of dispersive solvent, and salt concentration were optimized by means of experimental design. The statistical parameters of the derived model were R(2)=0.9987 and F=17.83. The optimal conditions were 42.0 μL for extraction solvent, 0.30 mL for disperser solvent and 5% (w/v) for sodium chloride. The calibration linear range was 0.001-370 μg L(-1). The improved detection limit with the aid of chemometrics was 0.3 ng L(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) with n=9 for 0.1 mg L(-1) MTBE in water with and without internal standard was 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the relative recoveries of spiked MTBE in different water samples were in the range of 100-105%.     

Comparison of two ultrasound‐enhanced microextractions combined with HPLC for determining acaricides in water

An ultrasound‐enhanced in situ solvent formation microextraction has been developed first time and compared with ultrasound‐enhanced ionic‐liquid‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the HPLC analysis of acaricides in environmental water samples. A ionic liquid ([C₈MIM][PF₆]) was used as the green extraction solvent through two pathways. The experimental parameters, such as the type and volume of both of the extraction solvent disperser solvent, ultrasonication time, and salt addition, were investigated and optimized. The analytical performance using the optimized conditions proved the feasibility of the developed methods for the quantitation of trace levels of acaricides by obtaining limits of detection that range from 0.54 to 3.68 μg/L. The in situ solvent formation microextraction method possesses more positive characteristics than the ionic‐liquid‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method (except for spirodiclofen determination) when comparing the validation parameters. Both methods were successfully applied to determining acaricides in real water samples.     

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of nitro musks in surface water and wastewater samples

A new, simple, fast and high sensitive analytical method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the simultaneous determination of nitro musks in surface water and wastewater samples is presented. Different parameters, such as the nature and volume of both the extraction and disperser solvents and the ionic strength and pH of the aqueous donor phase, were optimized. Under the selected conditions (injection of a mixture of 1 mL of acetone as disperser solvent and 50 μL of chloroform as extraction solvent, no salt addition and no pH adjustment) the figures of merit of the proposed DLLME-GC-MS method were evaluated. High enrichment factors, ranging between 230 and 314 depending on the target analyte, were achieved, which redound to limits of detection in the ng L⁻¹ range (i.e., 4-33 ng L⁻¹). The relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 5% for all the target analytes. Finally, the recoveries obtained for different water samples of diverse origin (sea, river, irrigation channel and water treatment plant) ranged between 87 and 116%, thus showing no matrix effects.     

Multivariate optimization of a solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of phthalate esters in environmental waters

A solid-phase microextraction method (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed for the determination of the six phthalate esters included in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Priority Pollutants list in water samples. These compounds are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP). Detailed discussion of the different parameters, which could affect the extraction process, is presented. Main factors have been studied and optimized by means of a multifactor categorical design. Different commercial fibers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB), polyacrylate (PA), Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (CAR-PDMS) and Carbowax-divinylbenzene (CW-DVB), have been investigated, as well as the extraction mode, exposing the fiber directly into the sample (DSPME) or into the headspace over the sample (HS-SPME), and different extraction temperatures. The use of this experimental design allowed for the evaluation of interactions between factors. Extraction kinetics has also been studied. The optimized microextraction method showed linear response and good precision for all target analytes. Detection limits were estimated considering the contamination problems associated to phthalate analysis. They were in the low pg mL(-1), excluding DEHP (100 pg mL(-1)). The applicability of the developed SPME method was demonstrated for several real water samples including mineral, river, industrial port and sewage water samples. All the target analytes were found in real samples. Levels of DEP and DEHP were over 1 ng mL(-1) in some of the samples.     

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction with solidification of floating organic droplet followed by high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of phthalate esters in cosmetic and environmental water samples

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction with solidification of floating organic droplet (USAEME-SFO) followed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), was applied for preconcentration and determination of phthalate esters in cosmetic and water samples. The effects of different variables on the extraction efficiency were studied simultaneously using an experimental design. The variables of interest in the USAEME-SFO were extraction solvent volume, salt effect, extraction time and centrifugation time. A factorial experimental design was employed for screening to determine the variables significantly affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were optimized by using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) and the response surface equations were derived. The optimum experimental conditions were extraction solvent volume, 30 μL; sodium chloride concentration, 20% (w/v); extraction time, 12 min and centrifugation time, 5 min. Under optimal conditions, the preconcentration factors were between 355 and 409. The limit of detections (LODs) ranged from 0.005 μg L⁻¹ (for Diethylphthalate) to 0.01 μg L⁻¹ (for Dimethylphthalate). Dynamic linear ranges; (DLRs) of 0.05-800 and 0.05-1000 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for Diisobutyl- and Dimethylphthalate, respectively. The performance of the method was evaluated for extraction and determination of phthalate esters in cosmetic and environmental water samples in micrograms per liter and satisfactory results were obtained (RSDs < 12.6%).     

Ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and derivatization of sulfonamides in river water, honey, milk, and animal plasma

The ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-based MADLLME) and derivatization was applied for the pretreatment of six sulfonamides (SAs) prior to the determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By adding methanol (disperser), fluorescamine solution (derivatization reagent) and ionic liquid (extraction solvent) into sample, extraction, derivatization, and preconcentration were continuously performed. Several experimental parameters, such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, the type and volume of disperser, amount of derivatization reagent, microwave power, microwave irradiation time, pH of sample solution, and ionic strength were investigated and optimized. When the microwave power was 240 W, the analytes could be derivatized and extracted simultaneously within 90 s. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of river water, honey, milk, and pig plasma samples, and the recoveries of analytes obtained were in the range of 95.0-110.8, 95.4-106.3, 95.0-108.3, and 95.7-107.7, respectively. The relative standard deviations varied between 1.5% and 7.3% (n=5). The results showed that the proposed method was a rapid, convenient and feasible method for the determination of SAs in liquid samples.     

Determination of cadmium and copper in water and food samples by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with UV–vis spectrophotometry

In this work, a new method based on dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) preconcentration using tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) as extraction solvent was proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of cadmium and copper in water and food samples. The influence factors relevant to DLLME, such as type and volume of extractant and disperser solvent, concentration of chelating reagents, pH, salt effect, were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection for cadmium and copper were 0.01 ng/L and 0.5 μg/L, with enhancement factors (EFs) of 3458 and 10, respectively. The tremendous contrast of EFs could come from the different maximum absorption wavelength caused by the different extraction acidity compared with some conventional works and the enhancement effect of acetone used as dilution solvent during the spectrophotometric determination. The proposed method was applied to the determination of water and food samples with satisfactory analytical results. The proposed method was simple, rapid, cost-efficient and sensitive, especially for the detection of cadmium.     

Application of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with alcoholic solvents followed by HPLC–UV as a sensitive and efficient method for the extraction and determination of citalopram in biological samples using an experimental design

A sensitive and rapid method based on alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of citalopram in human plasma and urine samples was developed. The effects of six parameters (extraction time, stirring speed, pH, volume of extraction and disperser solvents, and ionic strength) on the extraction recovery were investigated and optimized utilizing Plackett–Burman design and Box–Behnken design, respectively. According to Plackett–Burman design results, the volume of disperser solvent, stirring speed, and extraction time had no effect on the recovery of citalopram. The optimized condition was a mixture of 172 µL of 1-octanol as extraction solvent and 400 µL of methanol as disperser solvent, pH of 10.3 and 1% w/v of salt in the sample solution. Replicating the experiment in optimized condition for five times, gave the average extraction recoveries equal to 89.42%. The detection limit of citalopram in human plasma was obtained 4 ng/mL, and the linearity was in the range of 10–1200 ng/mL. The corresponding values for human urine were 5.4 ng/mL with the linearity in the range of 10–2000 ng/mL. Relative standard deviations for inter- and intraday extraction of citalopram were less than 7% for five measurements. The proposed method was successfully implemented for the determination of citalopram in human plasma and urine samples.     

Air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction method as a novel microextraction technique; Application in extraction and preconcentration of phthalate esters in aqueous sample followed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection

A novel microextraction technique, air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (AALLME), which is a new version of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method has been developed for extraction and preconcentration of phthalate esters, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), from aqueous samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID) analysis. In this method, much less volume of an organic solvent is used as extraction solvent in the absence of a disperser solvent. Fine organic droplets were formed by sucking and injecting of the mixture of aqueous sample solution and extraction solvent with a syringe for several times in a conical test tube. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and the enriched analytes in the sedimented phase were determined by GC–FID. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method showed low limits of detection and quantification between 0.12–1.15 and 0.85–4 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Enrichment factors (EFs) and extraction recoveries (ERs) were in the ranges of 889–1022 and 89–102%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the extraction of 100 ng mL⁻¹ and 500 ng mL⁻¹ of each phthalate ester were less than 4% for intra-day (n = 6) and inter-days (n = 4) precision. Finally some aqueous samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method and three analytes, DIBP, DNBP and DEHP, were determined in them at ng mL⁻¹ level.     

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction using a low‐toxicity solvent for the determination of five organophosphorus pesticides in water samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography

Vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was applied to determine Isocarbophos, Parathion‐methyl, Triazophos, Phoxim and Chlorpyrifos‐methyl in water samples. 1‐Bromobutane was used as the extraction solvent, which has a higher density than water and low toxicity. Centrifugation and disperser solvent were not required in this microextraction procedure. The optimum extraction conditions for 15 mL water sample were: pH of the sample solution, 5; volume of the extraction solvent, 80 μL; vortex time, 2 min; salt addition, 0.5 g. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors ranging from 196 to 237 and limits of detection below 0.38 μg/L were obtained for the determination of target pesticides in water. Good linearities (r > 0.9992) were obtained within the range of 1–500 μg/L for all the compounds. The relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.62–2.86% and the recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 89.80 to 104.20%. The whole proposed methodology is simple, rapid, sensitive and environmentally friendly for determining traces of organophosphorus pesticides in the water samples.     

Rapid determination of lead in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The need for highly reliable methods for the determination of trace and ultratrace elements has been recognized in analytical chemistry and environmental science. A simple and powerful microextraction technique was used for the detection of the lead ultratrace amounts in water samples using the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), followed by the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS). In this microextraction technique, a mixture of 0.50 mL acetone (disperser solvent), containing 35 microL carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) and 5 microL diethyldithiophosphoric acid (chelating agent), was rapidly injected by syringe into the 5.00 mL water sample, spiked with lead. In this process, the lead ions reacted with the chelating agent and were extracted into the fine droplets of CCl(4). After centrifugation (2 min at 5000 rpm), the fine CCl4 droplets were sedimented at the bottom of the conical test tube (25+/-1 microL). Then, 20 microL from the sedimented phase, containing the enriched analyte, was determined by ET AAS. The next step was the optimization of various experimental conditions, affecting DLLME, such as the type and the volume of the extraction solvent, the type and the volume of the disperser solvent, the extraction time, the salt effect, pH and the chelating agent amount. Moreover, the effect of the interfering ions on the analytes recovery was also investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factor of 150 was obtained from only a 5.00 mL water sample. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.05-1 microg L(-1) with the detection limit of 0.02 microg L(-1). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for seven replicate measurements of 0.50 microg L(-1) of lead was 2.5%. The relative lead recoveries in mineral, tap, well and sea water samples at the spiking level of 0.20 and 0.40 microg L(-1) varied from 93.5 to 105.0. The characteristics of the proposed method were compared with the cloud point extraction (CPE), the liquid-liquid extraction, the solid phase extraction (SPE), the on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) and the co-precipitation, based on bibliographic data. The main DLLME advantages combined with ET AAS were simplicity of operation, rapidity, low cost, high-enrichment factor, good repeatability, low consumption of extraction solvent, requiring a low sample volume (5.00 mL).