Determination of organochlorine pesticides in water using microwave assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography

A coupled technique, microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (MA-HS-SPME), was investigated for one-step in situ sample pretreatment for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) prior to gas chromatographic determination. The OCPs, aldrin, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, delta-HCH, gamma-HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor and trifluralin were collected by the proposed method and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). To perform the MA-HS-SPME, six types of SPME fibers were examined and compared. The parameters affecting the efficiency in MA-HS-SPME process such as sampling time and temperature, microwave irradiation power, desorption temperature and time were studied to obtain the optimal conditions. The method was developed using spiked water samples such as field water and with 0.05% humic acid in a concentration range of 0.05-2.5 microg/l except endosulfan sulfate in 0.25-2.5 microg/l. The detection was linear over the studied concentration range with r2>0.9978. The detection limits varied from 0.002 to 0.070 microg/l based on S/N=3 and the relative standard deviations for repeatability were <15%. A certified reference sample of OCPs in aqueous solution was analyzed by the proposed method and compared with the conventional liquid-liquid extraction procedure. These results are in good agreement. The results indicate that the proposed method provides a very simple, fast, and solvent-free procedure to achieve sample pretreatment prior to the trace-level screening determination of organochloride pesticides by gas chromatography.     

Dietary intake and residues of organochlorine pesticides in foods from Hsinchu, Taiwan.

The levels of contamination with various organochlorine pesticides (such as total HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan, and total DDT) of different foods from 3 traditional markets were determined to estimate Taiwanese daily intake of organochlorine pesticides. Of the 18 organochlorine pesticides investigated, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, lindane, delta-HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endrin, alpha-endosulfan, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT were detected at concentrations ranging from 0.26 to 10.2 ng/g wet weight. Contamination with organochlorine pesticides followed the order heptachlor > dieldrin > alpha-endosulfan > HCH isomers > heptachlor epoxide > DDT. Frequencies of detection of organochlorine pesticide residues ranged from 2.0 to 52.3%. alpha-Endosulfan was the most frequently detected organochlorine pesticide in the foods analyzed, followed by heptachlor epoxide (47.6%) and alpha-HCH (38.9%). Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of organochlorine pesticides from foods were 1.137 micrograms for total HCH, 2.147 micrograms for heptachlor, 0.702 microgram for heptachlor epoxide, 0.624 microgram for endosulfan, 0.098 microgram for cyclodiene, and 0.541 microgram for total DDT. These EDIs were only 0.075% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for lindane, 47.5% of ADI for heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, 0.045% of ADI for total DDT, and 1.01% of ADI for aldrin and dieldrin. Therefore, consumption of the foods analyzed does not pose a risk to consumer health.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of some chlorinated polycyclodiene pesticides

Carbon-13 NMR spectra have been obtained for aldrin, dieldrin, isodrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor oxide and 24 of their degradation/conversion products. Chemical shifts were assigned on the basis of (1) comparison among the spectra, (2) single frequency, off-resonance decoupling experiments, (3) substituent effects derived for norbornanes and (4) spectra obtained with an added lanthanide shift reagent. The substituent effects previously reported for norbornanes were found to be applicable for establishing trends in the chemical shifts for many of the compounds studied.     

Modified superheated water extraction of pesticides from spiked sediment and soil

In this study a laboratory-made superheated water system was applied in order to extract some pesticides from sand, sediment and soil samples. Extraction efficiencies were investigated at different time intervals with regard to temperature, type and amount of organic modifier. Pesticides were removed from the aqueous extract using dichloromethane as a trapping solvent. The optimal extraction temperature from sand specimens for malathion, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, butachlor, metalaxyl and propiconazole was found to be 160 °C, while those for chlordane and thiobencarb were 120 °C and 180 °C, respectively. The static extraction time for heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, butachlor and metalaxyl was found to be 15 min, whereas for malathion and thiobencarb it was 5 min, and for chlordane and propiconazole it was 10 and 20 min, respectively. Recoveries for the extractions of the pesticides from sand under optimized extraction conditions ranged between 96 and 101%. Those obtained from sediment under such conditions were unsatisfactory, and were consequently improved by adding an organic modifier to the superheated water, and sodium chloride to the extract during liquid-liquid extraction. These procedures were optimized further for the parameters described and recoveries exceeded 91%, with the exception of butachlor. The extraction technique was also applied to soil samples at a reduced water flow rate of 0.5 mL min⁻¹, yielding recoveries of 82–105%, and 76% for dieldrin. The reproducibilities, expressed as relative standard deviations (RSDs), ranged between 2 and 13%.     

Solid phase extraction of halogenated pesticides from ground and surface waters and their determination by capillary gas chromatography

A critical study of a solid phase extraction method using C₁₈ SPE columns for the determination of 23 halogenated pesticides is presented. Type of sorbent, sorbent mass, flow rate in the extraction process, sample concentration of the different compounds, sample volume, pH, ionic strength and type of water were evaluated. Recoveries of pesticides under study yield a linear relationship, except for conazole fungicides and captan. Losses can be expected for heptachlor, aldrin, and captan. Sample volume and flow rate of extraction affect recoveries. Matrix effects from surface and groundwaters were observed. Recoveries for vinelozolin and dieldrin from groundwater were lower than those obtained from nanopure water. In river water losses of these compounds are higher. Captan and penconazole were not present and high losses were obtained for trifluralin, α-BHC, γ-BHC, tri-allate and chlorpyriphos. Impurities arising from the sorbent materials of cartridges have been detected.     

搅拌棒吸附子萃取与GC-MS法测定水中20种有机氯农药

建立了搅拌棒吸附子萃取/气相色谱-质谱法(SBSE/GC-MS)同时检测水中α-六六六、γ-六六六、β-六六六、七氯、δ-六六六、艾氏剂、环氧七氯、γ-氯丹、顺-氯丹、硫丹Ⅰ、p,p-滴滴伊、狄氏剂、异狄氏剂、p,p-滴滴滴、硫丹Ⅱ、p,p-滴滴涕、异狄氏剂醛、硫丹硫酸盐、甲氧滴滴涕、异狄氏剂酮20种有机氯农药含量的方法.样品在室温下经拌棒吸附子搅拌吸附,甲醇解吸附后,以J&W DB-35 MS(30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)石英毛细管色谱柱为分析柱,气相色谱-质谱选择离子流模式检测.考察了萃取时间、氯化钠及甲醇加入量等对萃取的影响.实验结果表明:在2.5 ～20.0 μg/L 范围内,20种有机氯农药呈良好的线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为0.008 ～0.118 μg/L,水样中分别添加2.5、20 μg/L的20种有机氯农药,回收率为 52% ～117%,相对标准偏差小于13%(n= 6).该方法操作简便、快速、灵敏度高,应用于实际样品检测,结果满意.     

Development and validation of a novel method for the analysis of chlorinated pesticides in soils using microwave-assisted extraction–headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A new procedure for determining eleven organochlorine pesticides in soils using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is described. The studied pesticides consisted of mirex, α- and γ-chlordane, p,p′-DDT, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide isomer A, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, dieldrin, endrin, aldrine and hexachlorobenzene. The HS-SPME was optimized for the most important parameters such as extraction time, sample volume and temperature. The present analytical procedure requires a reduced volume of organic solvents and avoids the need for extract clean-up steps. For optimized conditions the limits of detection for the method ranged from 0.02 to 3.6 ng/g, intermediate precision ranged from 14 to 36% (as CV%), and the recovery from 8 up to 51%. The proposed methodology can be used in the rapid screening of soil for the presence of the selected pesticides, and was applied to landfill soil samples.     

Solid-phase microextraction for organochlorine pesticide residues analysis in Chinese herbal formulations

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine pesticide residues in Chinese herbal formulations. Fibers coated with a 100-microm film thickness of poly(dimethylsiloxane) was used to extract 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The pesticides in the study consisted of alpha-, beta-, gamma-and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, endosulfan (I, II and sulfate), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and methoxychlor. The optimal experimental procedures for the adsorption and desorption of pesticides were evaluated. The linearity was obtained with a precision below 11% RSD for the studied pesticides expect endosulfan sulfate (21%) in a wide range from 1 to 200 ng/g. Detection limits were reached at below ng/g levels. Heptachlor epoxide was determined at a calculated limit of 0.03 ng/g. Comparison between SPME and Soxhlet extraction showed that SPME has a less than one order detection limit for residue pesticide determination. The proposed method was tested by analyzing herbal formulations from a local market for OCP multiresidues. Some residues studied were detected in the analyzed samples. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME-GC-MS approach for the analysis of multi-residue OCPs in Chinese herbal formulations.     

Effects of ultrasonic irradiation and direct heating on extraction of priority pesticides from marine sediments

Priority pesticides (alachlor, aldrin, γ-chlordane, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, 4,4′-DDT, 4,4′-DDD, 4,4′-DDE, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, HCB, HCBD, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, isodrin, methoxychlor, mirex, quintozene, terbuthylazine and trifluralin) are a group of toxic substances that are known by their persistency in the aquatic environment. Their screening in marine sediments may provide information on the sources and distribution in the water mass of fresh-transitional and coastal waters. This work proposes a rapid and reliable method to extract multi-residues of priority pesticides by ultrasounds irradiation from marine sediments. Multiple variables have been optimised: ultrasound frequency, sonication intensity, signal operation mode, time of extraction and water bath temperature. After sample clean-up and pre-concentration of the pesticides by stir bar sorptive extraction, the compounds were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using the selective ion monitoring acquisition mode (SIM). Better performance was found for ultrasonic-assisted extractions (UAE) at frequency of 35 kHz and an output intensity of 60% in a sweep mode of operation. An increase of water bath temperature to 80°C had a significant effect on the extraction of pesticides with high octanol-water partitioning coefficients (K_ow). Under optimal conditions, method detection limits (MDLs) and method quantification limits (MQLs) ranged from 0.3 to 4.4 ng g^?1 and from 0.8 to 14 ng g^?1, respectively. Recoveries between 70 and 111%, at high precision levels, were found at different types of marine sediments with a single extraction cycle. Method performance was in good agreement with quality control guidelines.     

Ultrasonic solvent extraction of organochlorine pesticides from soil

Ultrasonic solvent extraction of the organochlorine pesticides (OCP) including α-, β-, γ- and Δ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor, aldrin, o,p′-DDE, dieldrin, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT, methoxychlor, mirex from soil is reported. The extraction procedure was optimized with regard to the solvent type, amount of solvent, duration of sonication and number of extraction steps. Determination of pesticides was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with electron capture detection (ECD). Twice ultrasonic extraction using 25 mL of a mixture of petroleum ether and acetone (1/1 v/v) for 20 min of sonication showed satisfactory extraction efficiency. Recoveries of pesticides from fortified soil samples are over 88% for three different fortification levels between 15 and 200 μg kg⁻¹, and relative standard deviations of the recoveries are generally below 6%. Real soil samples were analyzed for OCP residues by optimized ultrasonic solvent extraction and shake-flask as well as soxhlet extraction technique. Investigated all extraction methods showed comparable extraction efficiencies. Optimized ultrasonic solvent extraction is the most rapid procedure because the use of time in ultrasonic extraction was considerably reduced compared to shake-flask and soxhlet extraction.     

Microwave-assisted solvent extraction and gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry procedure for the determination of persistent organochlorine pesticides (POPs) in marine sediment

Microwave-assisted solvent extraction of persistent organochlorine pesticides (POPs) in marine sediment was developed and optimized by means of two-level factorial designs. Six variables (microwave power, extraction time and temperature, amount of sample, solvent volume, and sample moisture) were considered as factors in the optimization process. The results show that the amount of sample to be extracted and solvent volume are statistically significant for the overall recovery of the studied pesticides, although compromise conditions have to be established with the object of avoiding overpressure in closed vessels. After extraction, a clean up step including the use of a silica cartridge was performed prior to chromatographic determination in order to remove interferences. The optimized procedure was compared to conventional Soxhlet extraction. The MS-MS ion preparation mode was applied to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the chromatographic technique.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in medicinal plants sold in Coimbra, Portugal.

Levels of 14 organochlorine pesticide residues--1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) group (p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE), HCH isomers (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, alpha-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate--were evaluated in 127 samples of medicinal plants collected in pharmacies (78 samples) and herb stores (49 samples) in 1996. Samples were divided between 15 national brands and 7 foreign brands. Most samples sold in pharmacies contained residues of gamma-HCH (51.3%). All residues were detected in analyzed samples, with exception of endrin in herb store samples. Detection frequency varied between 51.3% for gamma-HCH and 1.3% for endrin in pharmacy samples, and between 34.7% for HCB and 4.1% for endosulfan sulfate in herb store samples. Maximum residue levels were exceeded in 38 (48.7%) pharmacy samples and in 26 (53.1%) medicinal herb store samples.     

New method based on combining ultrasonic assisted miniaturized matrix solid-phase dispersion and homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction for the determination of some organochlorinated pesticides in fish

In this study, ultrasonic assisted miniaturized matrix solid-phase dispersion (US-MMSPD) combined with homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) has been developed as a new method for the extraction of organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) in fish prior to gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). In the proposed method, OCPs (heptachlor, aldrin, DDE, DDD, lindane and endrin) were first extracted from fish sample into acetonitrile by US-MMSPD procedure, and the extract was then used as consolute solvent in HLLE process. Optimal condition for US-MMSPD step was as follows: volume of acetonitrile, 1.5 mL; temperature of ultrasound, 40 °C; time of ultrasound, 10 min. For HLLE step, optimal results were obtained at the following conditions: volume of chloroform, 35 μL; volume of aqueous phase, 1.5 mL; volume of double distilled water, 0.5 mL; time of centrifuge, 10 min. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors for the studied compounds were obtained in the range of 185–240, and the overall recoveries were ranged from 39.1% to 81.5%. The limits of detection were 0.4–1.2 ng g⁻¹ and the relative standard deviations for 20 ng g⁻¹ of the OCPs, varied from 3.2% to 8% (n = 4). Finally, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of the OCPs in real fish sample, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

An expeditious method for the determination of organochlorine pesticides residues in estuarine sediments using microwave assisted pre-extraction and automated headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments implicates extraction of these compounds from the matrix, which is difficult owing to strong interaction among OCPs and different constituents of the sediments, particularly organic content. The method here described is a combination of microwave assisted extraction (MAE), headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), acting in selected-ion storage mode, or GC-electron capture detector (ECD, for routine analysis). Methanol was used as extracting solvent and aliquots of the MAE extracts (after inclusion of a step for sulfur elimination when required) were used to prepare aqueous solutions for HS-SPME. A complete automation of the SPME procedure increases the sample throughput, including standard addition for calibration purpose. The procedure has the advantage of exclude additional clean-up steps and pre-concentration before SPME. Application to reference sediments of different characteristics revealed absence of significant interferences from the matrix for alpha-lindane, gamma-lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and good sensitivity. Detection limits ranged from 0.005 to 0.11 ng of OCP per gram of dried sediment using GC-MS and from 0.01 to 0.26 ngg(-1) using GC-ECD. The linear response ranges embraced 5-6 orders of magnitude (up to 1000 ngg(-1)) in GC-MS, being narrower for GC-ECD. The method was successfully applied to sandy and muddy sediments from Portuguese rivers estuaries, enabling quantification of seven OCPs. The method resulted effective, relatively simple and fast, being suitable for routine monitoring of residues of OCPs from sediments of different grain size and organic matter content, which influence concentration, mobility and availability of contaminants.     

Multiresidue analysis of 18 organochlorine pesticides in traditional chinese medicine

A simple and efficient method for simultaneous gas chromatographic (GC) determination of 18 organochlorine pesticides [tecnazene, hexachlorobenzene, alpha-benzenehexachloride (BHC), pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), gamma-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, methyl pentachlorophenyl sulfide, beta-BHC, delta-BHC, heptachlor epoxide, alpha-endosulfan, trans-chlorodane, cis-chlorodane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDT] in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is described. The procedure involves ultrasonic extraction and sulphuric acid treatment as the cleanup method. Detection of the sample is performed by GC-electron capture detection. A series of experiments are conducted to optimize the final pretreatment conditions [acetone-petroleum ether (1:1) as the extract solvent, ultrasonication for 15 min, three steps, concentrated sulphuric acid with 10% water for sulphuric acid treatment]. Recovery studies are performed at 10, 50, and 100 parts-per-billion (ppb) fortification levels of each organochlorine pesticide, except for alpha-endosulfan, which are 20, 100, and 200 ppb. The percentage recoveries range from 77.9% +/- 6.4% to 114.0% +/- 8.1% (average +/- standard deviation). The simple and rapid method may be used to routinely determine organochlorine pesticides in TCM.     

Determination of dieldrin in wool products by gas chromatography with microwave-assisted extraction

Dieldrin is a moth-proofing agent that was banned by the Stockholm Convention in 2001. The amount of dieldrin in wool products was measured by a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction solvent, acetone/n-hexane (1:1 v/v); extraction temperature, 110 degrees C; extraction time, 10 min; solvent volume, 25 mL. When six samples were used, dieldrin contents determined by GC with the proposed MAE agreed closely with those by the Japanese official method using GC with solvent extraction and cleanup by column chromatography. The proposed MAE has two merits. First, the pretreatment of the MAE needs only 4 h for 11 samples, while that using the Japanese official method needs 2 days for six samples. Second, the volume of organic solvents used for the proposed method was only about one-tenth of that used in the Japanese official method. Our proposed method seems to be easy and useful for daily (routine) tests. Dieldrin contents of 28 used wool products, which were obtained from local clothing shops and ordinary homes, were determined by GC with the proposed MAE, and six products contained dieldrin (0.310-175 ppm). The dry cleaning of the woolen yarn containing 175 ppm dieldrin did not remove a significant amount of dieldrin. Therefore, it seems likely that dieldrin is still distributed slightly but widely throughout the world.     

Supercritical fluid extraction and clean-up of organochlorine pesticides in Chinese herbal medicine

A method involving the simultaneous extraction and clean-up of 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) followed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection and mass spectrometric confirmation. The pesticides in the study consisted of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-benzene hexachloride, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I, 4,4'-DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene), dieldrin, endrin, 4,4'-DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), endosulfan II, 4,4'-DDT (2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)1,1,1-trichloroethane), endrin aldehyde, and endosulfan sulfate. A series of experiments was conducted to optimize the final extraction conditions [pure CO2, 250 atm extraction pressure (1 atm = 101,325 Pa), 50 degrees C extraction temperature, 5 min static extraction time, 20 min dynamic extraction time, 2.0-g Florisil sorbent on top of 0.1-g samples, 12-ml n-hexane eluting at 1 ml/min, and a 10-ml extraction vessel]. Florisil sorbent was placed with the sample in the SFE vessel to provide a facile and effective clean-up approach. Mean recoveries of 78-121% with reproducibilities of 5-31% were obtained for the pesticides except for endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate and endrin aldehyde. The simple and rapid method may be used to determine OCPs in CHMs routinely, and in fact, was used to analyze CHMs sold in Taiwan.     

固相萃取-毛细管气相色谱法测定中草药中13种有机氯农药的残留量

建立了中草药中有机氯类农药残留量的固相萃取-毛细管气相色谱(SPE-CGC)分析方法。对丹参、黄芩、射干、白芍、白芷、天南星、牛蒡子、知母、桔梗共9种中草药中六六六的4种异构体、滴滴涕的4种异构体、七氯、艾氏剂、环氧七氯、狄氏剂、异狄氏剂共13种有机氯农药的残留量进行了测定。以丙酮-正己烷混合物作提取剂,采用超声波提取样品,然后用Florisil固相萃取小柱快速净化提取物。采用SPB-5弹性石英毛细管气相色谱柱分离样品,电化学检测器进行检测。13种农药的峰面积与其质量浓度均有良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.998。最小检测量为0.064～0.61 μg/L;样品的加标回收率为87.3%～102.3%(相对标准偏差为1.3%～6.8%)。该法简便快速、灵敏准确,具有广泛的应用前景。     

Rapid determination of α‐tocopherol in cereal grains using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by HPLC

The traditional for the determination of α‐tocopherol in cereal grains includes saponification of a sample followed by liquid–liquid extraction, and it is time‐ and solvent consuming. In this study, a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method was developed to extract α‐tocopherol in situ from the saponified grain sample solution. The DLLME experimental parameters including the type and volume of extractants, the volume of dispersers, the addition of salt and the extraction/centrifuging time were examined and optimized. The recommended analytical procedure showed excellent precision (relative SDs of the α‐tocopherol amount of 3.1% over intraday and 7.2% over interday), high sensitivity (the detection limit of 1.9 ng/mL), and strong recovery values (88.9–102.5%). In addition, statistical analyses showed no significant difference between the detected amounts of α‐tocopherol found by the standardized method and this new procedure. The method was successfully applied to determining the amounts and distribution of α‐tocopherol in 14 cereal grain samples.     

Headspace solvent microextraction A new method applied to the preconcentration of 2-butoxyethanol from aqueous solutions into a single microdrop

A new procedure and experimental setup for the headspace solvent microextraction of volatile organic materials from aqueous sample solutions is described. The extraction occurs by suspending a 3-μl drop of the solvent from the tip of a microsyringe to the headspace of a stirred aqueous sample solution for a preset extraction time. The temperature of the microdrop and the bulk of sample solution should be kept constant at optimized values. The sample analyses were carried out by gas chromatography. The procedure was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of 2-butoxyethanol from content of some color samples used for painting the outer coverage of some machines such as coolers, refrigerator, cloths machine, etc. Parameters such as extraction time, nature of extraction solvent, size of microdrop, sample volume, stirring rate, ionic strength and pH of sample solution were studied and optimized, and the method performance was evaluated.