Determination of antioxidants in new and used lubricant oils by headspace-programmed temperature vaporization–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A sensitive method is presented to determine antioxidants (2-, 3-, and 4-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 1-naphthol, and diphenylamine) in new and used lubricant oil samples. Research was carried out on a GC device equipped with a headspace sampler, a programmed temperature vaporizer, and an MS detector unit. The proposed method does not require sample treatment prior to analyses, hence eliminating possible errors occurring in this step. Sample preparation is reduced when placing the oil sample (2.0 g) in the vial and adding propyl acetate (20 μL). Solvent vent injection mode permits a pre-concentration of the compounds of interest in the liner filled with Tenax-TA®, while venting other species present in the headspace. Thereby, both the life of the liner and the capillary column is prolonged, and unnecessary contamination of the detector unit is avoided. Calibration was performed by adding different concentrations of analytes to a new oil which did not contain any of the studied compounds. Limits of detection as low as 0.57 μg/L (2-tert-butylphenol) with a precision lower or equal to 5.3% were achieved. Prediction of the antioxidants in new oil samples of different viscosities (5W40, 10W40, and 15W40) was accomplished with the previous calibration, and the results were highly satisfactory. To determine antioxidants in used engine oils, standard addition method was used due to the matrix effect.     

GC–MS Determination of Antioxidants in Ground Water Contaminated with JP-8

Accidental spills and leaks of kerosene-based fuel require the differentiation of the exact fuel type between kerosene and JP-8. The detection of the antioxidants, 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) and 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol (DMTBP) in ground water can be an important clue to distinguish between the two. We have developed a method to determine trace phenolic antioxidants in ground water without derivatization by a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and then applied it to distinguish JP-8 from kerosene. 25 ground water samples were collected from 25 monitoring wells in an area contaminated with kerosene-based fuel. The antioxidants from ground water were extracted with methylene chloride. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was compared to liquid extraction (LLE), but LLE was selected due to poorer reproducibility and recovery of SPE. Extraction of the compounds from ground water gave recoveries of about 90% and a detection limit of 0.02 μg L^?1. The method was used to analyze groundwater samples contaminated with fuel. DMTBP was detected in concentrations of 0.05–4.65 μg L^?1 in 12 of the samples. Since DMTBP is the only antioxidant used in JP-8 in Korea, this suggests that the fuel in the contaminated samples is JP-8.     

Determination of Natural and Synthetic Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in Sewage Based on SPE and MEKC with Amperometric Detection

An integrated analytical method to monitor five environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs): 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), 4-tert-butylphenol (BP), bisphenol A (BPA), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and 4-n-nonylphenol (NP), was developed for the first time, based on a solid-phase extraction and miniaturized micellar electrokinetic chromatography with amperometric detection. In order to get the optimum conditions of their separation and detection, several parameters including pH and concentration of running buffer, concentration of micelle, separation voltage and injection time were studied and optimized. The five EDCs were well separated under the optimum conditions within 12 min. This method was successfully applied for the determination of these five EDCs in sewage influent sample. Satisfactory extraction performances from sewage sample was obtained by solid-phase extraction, using a C₁₈ cartridge. Quantitative analysis showed that DCP, BP, and BPA existed at μg L^?1 level in the selected sample, while EE2 and NP were not detected.     

GC–MS Determination of Antioxidants in Ground Water Contaminated with JP-8

Accidental spills and leaks of kerosene-based fuel require the differentiation of the exact fuel type between kerosene and JP-8. The detection of the antioxidants, 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) and 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol (DMTBP) in ground water can be an important clue to distinguish between the two. We have developed a method to determine trace phenolic antioxidants in ground water without derivatization by a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and then applied it to distinguish JP-8 from kerosene. 25 ground water samples were collected from 25 monitoring wells in an area contaminated with kerosene-based fuel. The antioxidants from ground water were extracted with methylene chloride. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was compared to liquid extraction (LLE), but LLE was selected due to poorer reproducibility and recovery of SPE. Extraction of the compounds from ground water gave recoveries of about 90% and a detection limit of 0.02 μg L⁻¹. The method was used to analyze groundwater samples contaminated with fuel. DMTBP was detected in concentrations of 0.05–4.65 μg L⁻¹ in 12 of the samples. Since DMTBP is the only antioxidant used in JP-8 in Korea, this suggests that the fuel in the contaminated samples is JP-8.

     

Optimized solid phase extraction based on diethyldithiocarbamate-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles followed by ICP-OES for determination of Cd(II) and Ni(II) in rice and water samples

In the present study, application of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with diethyldithiocarbamate as a solid-phase sorbent for extraction of trace amounts of cadmium (Cd²⁺) and nickel (Ni²⁺) ions by the aid of ultrasound was investigated. The analytes were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Fe₃O₄ MNPs were prepared by solvothermal method and characterized with dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Response surface methodology was used for optimization of the extraction process and modeling the data. The optimal conditions obtained were as follows: chelating agent, 1.2 g L^?1; pH, 6.13; sonication time, 13 min and Fe₃O₄ MNPs, 10.3 mg. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 1–1,000 μg L^?1 for Cd²⁺ and 2.5–1,000 for Ni²⁺ with the determination coefficients (R ²) of 0.9997 and 0.9995, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.27 μg L^?1 for Cd²⁺ and 0.76 μg L^?1 for Ni²⁺. The relative standard deviations (n = 7, C = 200 μg L^?1) for determination of Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were 2.0 and 2.7 %, respectively. The relative recoveries of the analytes from tap, river and lagoon waters and rice samples at the spiking level of 10 μg L^?1 were obtained in the range of 95–105 %.     

About selective methods of synthesis of 6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-2-methylphenol and 6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-2,4-dimethylphenol

Vapor phase catalytic methylation with methanol of 2-tert-butylphenol at the temperature 280–300°C proceeds selectively with formation of 6-tert-butyl-2-methylphenol. Elevating reaction temperature above 300°C leads to formation of 2,6-dimethylphenol. Reaction of 2-tert-butylphenol with methanol in alkaline medium in the presence of zinc oxide is shown to lead initially to formation of a mixture of calixarenes and methylenebisphenols that at elevated temperature exert splitting leading in future to 6-tert-butyl-2,4-dimethylphenol. Obtaining it in this reaction from 2,2′-methylenebis-(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) proceeds selectively. Pathways of the reductive methylation of methylenebisphenols with methanol in alkaline medium is considered.     

Simultaneous monitoring of seven phenolic metabolites of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) in human urine using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of the three well-known endocrine disruptors, bisphenol A, daidzein and genistein, as well as of four human pesticide metabolites which are supposed to have proper endocrine activity or which are metabolites of endocrine-disrupting compounds, viz., 1- and 2-naphthol, 2-isopropoxyphenol and 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol, has been developed and validated. The method involves enzymatic cleavage of the conjugates using β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase followed by solid-phase extraction and derivatisation with N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide. Isotopically labelled internal standards were used for all analytes, to achieve best analytical error correction. The method proved to be both sensitive and reliable in human urine with detection limits ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 μg/L for all analytes. Precision and repeatability was determined to range from 1 to 15 %. Compared with other published analytical procedures, the present method enables the simultaneous determination of a couple of phenolic agents with competitive or improved analytical reliability. Thus, the present method is suitable for a combined monitoring of the exposure to prominent xenobiotics with effects on the human endocrine system (bisphenol A, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, naphthalene, propoxur, triclopyr) and phytoestrogens (daidzein, genistein) in population studies.     

High-throughput simultaneous analysis of buprenorphine, methadone, cocaine, opiates, nicotine, and metabolites in oral fluid by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A method for simultaneous determination of buprenorphine (BUP), norbuprenorphine (NBUP), methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BE), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), morphine, codeine, 6-acetylmorphine (6AM), heroin, 6-acetylcodeine (6AC), nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine (OH-cotinine) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in oral fluid (OF) was developed and extensively validated. Acetonitrile (800 μL) and OF (250 μL) were added to a 96-well Isolute-PPT+protein precipitation plate. Reverse-phase separation was achieved in 16 min and quantification was performed by multiple reaction monitoring. The assay was linear from 0.5 or 1 to 500 μg/L. Intraday, interday, and total imprecision were less than 13% (n?=?20), analytical recovery was 92–114% (n?=?20), extraction efficiencies were more than 77% (n?=?5), and process efficiencies were more than 45% (n?=?5). Although ion suppression was detected for EME, cocaine, morphine, 6AC, and heroin (less than 56%) and enhancement was detected for BE and nicotine (less than 316%), deuterated internal standards compensated for these effects. The method was sensitive (limit of detection 0.2–0.8 μg/L) and specific (no interferences) except that 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyamphetamine interfered with AEME. No carryover was detected, and all analytes were stable for 24 h at 22 °C, for 72 h at 4 °C, and after three freeze–thaw cycles, except cocaine, 6AC, and heroin (22–97% loss). The method was applied to 41 OF specimens collected throughout pregnancy with a Salivette® OF collection device from an opioid-dependent BUP-maintained pregnant woman. BUP ranged from 0 to 7,400 μg/L, NBUP from 0 to 71 μg/L, methadone from 0 to 3 μg/L, nicotine from 32 to 5,020 μg/L, cotinine from 125 to 508 μg/L, OH-cotinine from 11 to 51 μg/L, cocaine from 0 to 419 μg/L, BE from 0 to 351 μg/L, EME from 0 to 286 μg/L, AEME from 0 to 7 μg/L, morphine from 0 to 22 μg/L, codeine from 0 to 1 μg/L, 6AM from 0 to 4 μg/L, and heroin from 0 to 2 μg/L. All specimens tested negative for EDDP and 6AC. This method permits a fast and simultaneous quantification of 16 drugs and metabolites in OF, with good selectivity and sensitivity.     

Optimization of parameters for the alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of estrogens in water

Extraction and determination of estrogens in water samples were performed using alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (AA-DLLME) and high-performance liquid chromatography (UV/Vis detection). A Plackett–Burman design and a central composite design were applied to evaluate the AA-DLLME procedure. The effect of six parameters on extraction efficiency was investigated. The factors studied were volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, pH, amount of salt and agitation rate. According to Plackett–Burman design results, the effective parameters were volume of extraction solvent and pH. Next, a central composite design was applied to obtain optimal condition. The optimized conditions were obtained at 220 μL 1-octanol as extraction solvent, 700 μL ethanol as dispersive solvent, pH 6 and 200 μL sample volume. Linearity was observed in the range of 1–500 μg L^?1 for E2 and 0.1–100 μg L^?1 for E1. Limits of detection were 0.1 μg L^?1 for E2 and 0.01 μg L^?1 for E1. The enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were 42.2, 46.4 and 80.4, 86.7, respectively. The relative standard deviations for determination of estrogens in water were in the range of 3.9–7.2 % (n = 3). The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of estrogens in environmental water samples.     

Ionic liquid-modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles; promising anion-exchange sorbent for extraction of Cr(VI)

In the present study, ionic liquid-modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesised and applied as a new anion-exchange sorbent for extraction and determination of Cr(VI) followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The characterisation of MNPs was carried out by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared and vibrating sample magnetometer. Experimental design and response surface methodology were used for optimisation of different parameters which affect extraction efficiency of Cr(VI). Under the optimised conditions, extraction recoveries within the range of 25–33% with relative standard deviations (RSD%, n = 4) within the range of 3.0–5.0% were obtained. The limit of detection was found to be 0.1 µg L^?1. The linearity was studied in the range of 0.5-200 µg L^?1 with the determination coefficient of 0.9958. Also, calculated Errors% for determination of Cr(VI) in the range of 5-15 depict that the method offers acceptable accuracy for analysis of Cr(VI). The method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of Cr(VI) selectively in some tannery waste water samples.     

Simultaneous Derivatization and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Fatty Acid GC Determination in Water

Simultaneous derivatization and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique for gas chromatographic determination of fatty acids in water samples is presented. One hundred microlitre of ethanol:pyridine (4:1) were added to 4 mL aqueous sample. Then a solution containing 0.960 mL of acetone (disperser solvent), 10 μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) and 30 μL of ethyl chloroformate (derivatization reagent) were rapidly injected into the aqueous sample. After centrifugation, 1 μL sedimented phase with the analytes was analyzed by gas chromatography. The effects of extraction solvent type, derivatization, extraction, and disperser solvents volume, extraction time were investigated. The calibration graphs were linear up to 10 mg L^?1 for azelaic acid (R ² = 0.998) and up to 1 mg L^?1 for palmitic and stearic acids (R ² = 0.997). The detection limits were 14.5, 0.67 and 1.06 μg L^?1 for azelaic, palmitic, and stearic acids, respectively. Repeatabilities of the results were acceptable with relative standard deviations (RSD) up to 13%. A possibility to apply the proposed method for fatty acids determination in tap, lake, sea, and river water was demonstrated.     

LC Determination of Trace Amounts of Phenoxyacetic Acid Herbicides in Water after Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) for extraction and preconcentration of phenoxyacetic acid herbicides in water samples is described. After adjusting the pH to 1.5, the sample was extracted in the presence of 10% w/v sodium chloride by injecting 1 mL acetone as disperser solvent containing 25 μL of chlorobenzene as extraction solvent. The effect of parameters, such as the nature and amount of extraction and disperser solvents, ionic strength of the sample, pH, temperature and extraction time were optimized. DLLME was followed by LC for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 4-chloro-2-methyl phenoxyacetic acid. The method had good linearity and a wide linear dynamic range (0.5–750 μg L^?1) with a detection limit of 0.16 μg L^?1 for both the PAAs, making it suitable for their determination in water samples.     

Solvent extraction of europium trifluoromethanesulfonate into nitrobenzene in the presence of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene and p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene

From extraction experiments and ??-activity measurements, the extraction constants corresponding to the general equilibrium Eu³⁺(aq) + 3A^?(aq) + L(nb) ? EuL³⁺(nb) + 3A^?(nb) taking part in the two-phase water?Cnitrobenzene system (A^? = CF₃SO₃ ^?; L = p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene, p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene; aq = aqueous phase, nb = nitrobenzene phase) were evaluated. Further, the stability constants of the EuL³⁺ complexes in nitrobenzene saturated with water were calculated for a temperature of 25 °C as log ?? _nb(EuL³⁺) = 6.4 ± 0.1 (L = p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene) and log ?? _nb(EuL³⁺) = 11.3 ± 0.1 (L = p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene).     

Determination of manganese (VII), chromium (VI) and nickel (II) in medicinal herb samples by cloud-point extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

A highly sensitive method for the determination of manganese (VII), chromium (VI) and nickel (II) in medicinal herb samples is proposed. The method is based on analytes reacted with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) to give hydrophobic chelates (M–APDC), which were separated and enriched by cloud-point extraction (CPE) with non-ionic surfactant Tergitol TMN-6 as extractant. The surfactant-rich phase containing the chelates is determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography system. To achieve the best CPE method, the Box–Behnken design was used to study the concentration of Tergitol TMN-6, equilibrium temperature, equilibrium time as well as their interaction. What followed was the individual research for the pH of the sample solutions and the concentration of APDC. What is more, in the given optimized experimental conditions, calibration plots were found to be linear in the range of 0.0200–0.500 mg/L for Mn (VII) and Cr (VI), meanwhile 0.0500–1.00 mg/L for Ni (II), the linear correlation coefficients were between 0.996 and 0.999, the recoveries ranged from 91.8 to 97.8 % and the relative standard deviations were between 1.09 and 2.30 % (n = 3). The limits of detection were 0.164 μg/L for Mn (VII), 0.562 μg/L for Cr (VI) and 5.12 μg/L for Ni (II), respectively. The proposed method was applied to determine manganese (VII), chromium (VI) and nickel (II) in medicinal herb samples with satisfactory results.     

Sensitive determination of organic acid preservatives in juices and soft drinks treated by monolith-based stir cake sorptive extraction and liquid chromatography analysis

A simple, efficient, and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of sorbic acid (SA), benzoic acid (BA), and cinnamic acid (CA) in juices and soft drinks was developed by stir cake sorptive extraction (SCSE) coupling to high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The SCSE based on polymeric ionic liquid-based monolith (PILM) as extractive medium was used to concentrate these three organic acid preservatives. Because hydrophobic and ion-exchange interactions co-contributed to the extraction, the PILM-SCSE exhibited a high extractive capability towards analytes. To obtain optimum extraction performance, several SCSE parameters were investigated and discussed, including desorption solvent, pH value, ionic strength in the sample matrix, and the extraction and desorption time. Under the optimized extraction conditions, limits of detection of 0.16, 1.08, and 0.18 μg/L (S/N?=?3) and quantification limits of 0.52, 3.42, and 0.61 (S/N?=?10) were obtained for SA, BA, and CA, respectively. The method also showed good linearity and reproducibility, as well as advantages such as simplicity, low cost, and high feasibility. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of SA, BA, and CA in real juices and soft drinks, and the recoveries ranged from 63.0 to 107 %.     

Determination of Histamine in Rat Plasma and Tissue Extracts by Intramolecular Excimer-Forming Derivatization and LC with Fluorescence Detection

A highly sensitive and selective method for determination of histamine in rat plasma and tissue extracts by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is described. The method is based on precolumn derivatization of amino groups of histamine with two molecules of 4-(1-pyrene)butyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester that allows generation of intramolecular excimer fluorescence. The detection limit for histamine was 0.183 nM. This sensitivity allowed determination of histamine in 10 μL of rat plasma or in the extracts from less than 1 mg of tissue.     

Synthesis of 5-arylisoxazole- and 4,5-dichloroisothiazole-3-carboxylates derived from natural alcohols,thymol, and its synthetic analogs

Esters derived from 5-phenyl-, 5-(4-methylphenyl)-, and 5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-carboxylic and 4,5-dichloro-1,2-thiazole-3-carboxylic acids and some natural alcohols (L-menthol, grosshemin), thymol, and synthetic analogs of the latter (4-tert-butylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) were synthesized by reactions of the corresponding alcohols with acid chlorides.     

Multiresidue analysis of pollutants as their trimethylsilyl derivatives,by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

This paper reports a multiresidue analysis procedure which permits the identification and quantification of sixty-three water-soluble pollutants. Subsequent to their solid-phase extraction (SPE) enrichment, analyses of species have been carried out from one solution, by a single injection, as their trimethylsilyl-oxime ether/ester derivatives, by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, within 31 min. Based on our optimized extraction, derivatization and mass fragmentation studies separation have been performed in the total ion current mode, identification and quantification of compounds have been carried out on the basis of their selective fragment ions. Including various pharmaceuticals, benzoic acid, its substituted species, different aromatic carboxylic acids, cholic acids, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, as well as synthetic pollutants of various origins (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, different phthalates). Standard compounds were added to 500 mL effluent wastewater samples, at three concentrations (1–5 μg/L, 5–10 μg/L and 10–20 μg/L). Recoveries, using the Waters Oasis cartridges performing extractions at pH 2, pH 4 and pH 7 proved to be the optimum at pH 4 (average recoveries (94.5%), except for cholesterol (10%), paracetamol (18%) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (25%). Carbamazepine could be recovered at pH 7, only. Responses, obtained with derivatized standards proved to be linear in the range of 4–80 μg/L levels. Limit of quantitation values varied between 0.92 ng/L (4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and 600 ng/L (dehydrocholic acid) concentrations. One of the most important messages of this work is the confirmation of the origin of blank values. It was shown that contaminants, mainly 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, different phthalates and fatty acids, are sourced both from the reagents and mainly from the SPE procedure, independent on the cartridge applied. Reproducibilities, characterized with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of measurements, varied between 0.71% and 10%, with an average of 4.38% RSD. The practical utility of the method was shown by the identification and quantification of the pollutant contents of Hungarian influent and effluent wastewaters (for six consecutive months and that of the Danube River for 2 months).     

Analysis of Malathion pesticide residues in rice samples using ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction coupled to UV photoionization source ion mobility spectrometry

The present paper describes the validation of ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction method followed by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for determination malathion pesticides. Ultrasound radiation was applied for accelerating the emulsification of microliter organic solvent in aqueous solutions and enhancing the microextraction efficiency. This preconcentration step combined with IMS detection provided a precise and accurate method for determination of trace amounts of malathion pesticides. The effect of parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as sonication time, type of extraction solvent, extraction solvent volume, and salt concentration were investigated and discussed. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors was 270 with corresponding LOD of 4 μg/L. Linearity with a coefficient of estimation (r²) were >0.99 in the concentration level range of 6–750 μg/L for extraction of Malathion in water samples. The applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by determination of the residues of the investigated pesticide in rice paddy water gathered from four stations during 60 days after spraying (June 2014), and in storage rice samples in Mazandaran province, Iran.     

Sensitive Determination of Thiols Using SPE Coupled to LC with Fluorescence Detection

The purpose of the present work is to develop a simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate method for the derivatization and subsequently preconcentration of Hg(II) and the determination of its derivative, diphenylmercury, in natural water samples using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. The method is based on the diphenylation using phenyl boronic acid, subsequent extraction of phenylmercury into a single drop of an organic solvent (toluene), followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection GC-FID analysis of the extract. The pH of the feed solution was kept in pH 5 with acetate buffer solution. Thus, the optimized conditions are: organic solvent, toluene; derivatization time, 10 min; extraction time, 15 min; microdrop volume, 1.6 μL; stirring rate, 600 rpm; sample volume, 5 mL. The limit of detection (LOD), calculated on the basis of five replicates was 0.02 μg mL^?1. The relative standard deviation of the method (RSD%, n = 5) was 3.0. Linear range was between 0.05 and 5 μg mL^?1 and preconcentration factor obtained for phenyl-mercury was 105.