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.     

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.     

Carbon nanospheres as solid‐phase microextraction coating for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water and soil samples

A solid‐phase microextraction with carbon nanospheres coated fiber coupled with gas chromatographic detection was established for the determination of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, biphenyl, acenaphthene, fluorine, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene) in water and soil samples. The experimental parameters (extraction temperature, extraction time, stirring rate, headspace volume, salt content, and desorption temperature) which affect the extraction efficiency were studied. Under the optimized conditions, good linearity between the peak areas and the concentrations of the analytes was achieved in the concentration range of 0.5‐300 ng/mL for water samples, and in the concentration range of 6.0‐2700 ng/g for soil samples. The detection limits for the analytes were in the range of 0.12‐0.45 ng/mL for water samples, and in the range of 1.53‐2.70 ng/g for soil samples. The method recoveries of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for spiked water samples were 80.10‐120.1% with relative standard deviations less than 13.9%. The method recoveries of the analytes for spiked soil samples were 80.40‐119.6% with relative standard deviations less than 14.4%. The fiber was reused over 100 times without a significant loss of extraction efficiency.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

An in‐needle solid‐phase microextraction device packed with etched steel wires for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons enrichment in water samples

A novel, low‐cost and effective in‐needle solid‐phase microextraction device was developed for the enrichment of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples. The in‐needle solid‐phase microextraction device could be easily assembled by inserting hydrofluoric acid‐etched wires, which were used as adsorbent, into a 22‐gauge needle tube within spring supporters. Compared with the commercial solid‐phase microextraction fiber, the developed device has higher efficiency for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with four to six rings from water samples using the optimized extraction conditions. With gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector, the limits of detection for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with four to six rings ranged from 0.0020 to 0.0067 ng/mL. The relative standard deviations for one needle and needle‐to‐needle extractions were in the range of 5.2–9.9% (n = 5) and 3.4–12.3% (n = 5), respectively. The spiked recoveries of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water samples ranged from 73.2 to 95.4%. This in‐needle solid‐phase microextraction device could be a good field sampler because of the low sample loss over a long storage time.     

Analysis of trace‐level nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples by solid‐phase microextraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

A solid‐phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of ten nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples. Five different kinds of commerical fibers were used to compare the extraction efficiency, including 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene, 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane, 30 μm polydimethylsiloxane, 7 μm polydimethylsiloxane, and 85 μm polyacrylate fibers. Five factors were also selected to optimize conditions, including extraction temperature, time, stirring speed, salt concentration, and headspace volume. Taguchi design was applied to design the experiments and obtain the best parameters. The results show that 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fiber directly immersed into aqueous solution for 35 min at 55°C with a constant stirring rate of 1150 rpm were the optimal conditions. Under these conditions, the limits of quantification were 0.007–0.063 μg/L, and the relative standard deviation based on six replicates ranged from 2.8 to 9.5%. The spiked recoveries ranged from 69.1 to 110.1%. Intra‐ and inter day relative standard deviations at three concentration levels were less than 12%, and the recoveries were 66.4–111.5%. The proposed method is reliable for analyzing nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different water samples.     

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.     

Optimization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced hollow‐fiber solid–liquid‐phase microextraction for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples using experimental design

A novel design of hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a solid sorbent, which is immobilized in the pore and lumen of hollow fiber by the sol–gel technique, was developed for the pre‐concentration and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples. The proposed method utilized both solid‐ and liquid‐phase microextraction media. Parameters that affect the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were optimized in two successive steps as follows. Firstly, a methodology based on a quarter factorial design was used to choose the significant variables. Then, these significant factors were optimized utilizing central composite design. Under the optimized condition (extraction time = 25 min, amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes = 78 mg, sample volume = 8 mL, and desorption time = 5 min), the calibration curves showed high linearity (R ² = 0.99) in the range of 0.01–500 ng/mL and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.007–1.47 ng/mL. The obtained extraction recoveries for 10 ng/mL of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons standard solution were in the range of 85–92%. Replicating the experiment under these conditions five times gave relative standard deviations lower than 6%. Finally, the method was successfully applied for pre‐concentration and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples.     

Quantitative determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil samples using solid‐phase microextraction

A method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples using ultrasonic‐assisted extraction with internal surrogates combined with solid‐phase microextraction and GC‐MS has been developed. Five kinds of commercial solid‐phase microextraction fibers, 100 μm PDMS, 30 μm PDMS, 65 μm PDMS/DVB, 50 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS and 85 μm PA, were compared to choose the optimal SPME fiber for extraction of PAHs. One hundred micrometers of PDMS fiber was found to be more suitable for the determination of PAHs due to its wider linear range, better repeatability, lower detection and more satisfactory efficacy than the other fibers. Under the recommended conditions, 100 μm PDMS fiber could provide low nanogram level detection limits with correlation coefficient greater than 0.98. The method was also applied to determine PAHs in a spiked soil sample, obtaining recoveries higher than 79.3%. A field study with naturally contaminated samples from local contaminated sites was carried out. The proposed method was found to be a reliable, inexpensive and simple preparation method for quantitative determination of 16 PAHs in soil samples.     

Polyimide‐coated magnetic nanoparticles as a sorbent in the solid‐phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater samples

Magnetic polyimide poly(4,4′‐oxydiphenylene‐pyromellitimide) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized and developed for the solid‐phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater samples. The aromatic rings of polyimide coating provided a good adsorption capacity (28.3–42.5 mg/g) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons because of the π–π stacking interaction. The developed method was used as a simple, fast, and efficient extraction and preconcentration technique for the trace analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The high chemical, physical and thermal stability, excellent reusability, and good magnetic properties are the merits of the sorbent. High preconcentration factors (41–63) were obtained. The sorbent was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. After optimizing several appropriate extraction parameters, the results indicated that the extraction recoveries of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were in the range of 61.6–94.7%, with relative standard deviations between 2.9 and 5.4%, the calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 1–100 μg/L (r > 0.9991) with limit of detection in the range of 0.15–0.19 μg/L (n = 3). Seawater samples were analyzed as real samples and good recoveries (68.5–99.5%) were obtained at different spiked values.     

Determination of trace hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine using graphene oxide incorporated monolith solid‐phase extraction coupled with LC‐MS/MS

The biomonitoring of hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine, as a direct way to access multiple exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, has raised great concerns due to their increasing hazardous health effects on humans. Solid‐phase extraction is an effective and useful technique to preconcentrate trace analytes from biological samples. Here, we report a novel solid‐phase extraction method using a graphene oxide incorporated monolithic syringe for the determination of six hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine coupled with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. The effect of graphene oxide amount, washing solvent, eluting solvent, and its volume on the extraction performance were investigated. The fabricated monoliths gave higher adsorption efficiency and capacity than the neat polymer monolith and commercial C₁₈ sorbent. Under the optimum conditions, the developed method provided the detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.02–0.1 ng/mL and the linear ranges of 0.1–1500 ng/mL for six analytes in urine sample. The recoveries at three spiked levels ranged from 77.5 to 97.1%. Besides, the intra column‐to‐column (n = 3) and inter batch‐to‐batch (n = 3) precisions were ≤ 9.8%. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples of coke oven workers.     

Determination of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water by solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Given the potential risks of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the analysis of their presence in water is very urgent. We have developed a novel procedure for determining chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water based on solid‐phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The extraction parameters of solid‐phase extraction were optimized in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed method showed wide linear ranges (1.0–1000 ng/L) with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9952 to 0.9998. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.015–0.591 and 0.045–1.502 ng/L, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 82.5 to 102.6% with relative standard deviations below 9.2%. The obtained method was applied successfully to the determination of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in real water samples. Most of the chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected and 1‐monochloropyrene was predominant in the studied water samples. This is the first report of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples in China. The toxic equivalency quotients of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the studied tap water were 9.95 ng the toxic equivalency quotient m^?3. 9,10‐Dichloroanthracene and 1‐monochloropyrene accounted for the majority of the total toxic equivalency quotients of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water.     

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.     

Improvement of solid‐phase microextraction efficiency by the application of a carbon‐nanotubes‐based ternary microextraction fiber composite

In this study, a novel technique is proposed for preparation of an efficient and unbreakable metal‐wire‐supported solid‐phase microextraction fiber. A sol–gel film was deposited on electrophoretically deposited carbon nanotubes on a stainless‐steel wire. The applicability of the fiber was evaluated through the extraction of some aromatic pollutants as model compounds from the headspace of aqueous samples in combination with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The parameters affecting the structure and extraction efficiency of the fiber (including the type of solvent, time, and potential for electrophoretic deposition) and the parameters affecting the extraction efficiency (such as coating type, salt content, extraction temperature, and time) were investigated. The results showed that the film thickness will be increased by increasing the potential and time duration. Finally, the characterization of the deposited film was accomplished by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. After the optimization of the extraction parameters, the limit of detection of less than 20 pg/mL was achieved, and the calibration curves were all linear (r ² ≥ 0.9737), in the range from 50 to 500 pg/mL. The solid‐phase microextraction fiber has a high mechanical strength; good stability and long service life, making it potentially applicable in the extraction of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous samples.     

Optimization of solid‐phase microextraction using Taguchi design to quantify trace level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

This article introduces a simple, rapid, and reliable solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) method coupled with GC‐MS for the quantitative determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water. In this study, the Taguchi experimental design was used to optimize extraction conditions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using SPME method to obtain highly enriched analytes. Consequently, quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water was achieved by GC‐MS technique. The selected parameters affecting enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were sample extraction time, stirring speed, temperature, ionic strength, and pH. The study revealed that optimal operating conditions were found to be 90‐min extraction time, 1400 rpm stirring speed, and 60°C sample temperature. The effect of ionic strength and pH were shown to be insignificant. Optimized conditions were also reevaluated by placing the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into several subgroups based on their molecular weight. The extraction efficiency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with low molecular weight was shown to be a function of only the extracting temperature. Satisfactory results were obtained for linearity (0.983–0.999), detection limits (2.67–18.02 ng/L), accuracy (71.2–99.3%), and precision (4.3–13.5%). The optimum conditions reported by other design approaches were evaluated and generalized optimum conditions were suggested.     

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%.     

Polythiophene/hexagonally ordered silica nanocomposite coating as a solid‐phase microextraction fiber for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

A highly porous fiber coated with polythiophene/hexagonally ordered silica nanocomposite was prepared for solid‐phase microextraction (SPME). The prepared nanomaterial was immobilized onto a stainless‐steel wire for the fabrication of the SPME fiber. Polythiophene/hexagonally ordered silica nanocomposite fibers were used for the extraction of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples. The extracted analytes were transferred to the injection port of a gas chromatograph using a laboratory‐designed SPME device. The results obtained prove the ability of the polythiophene/hexagonally ordered silica material as a new fiber for the sampling of organic compounds from water samples. This behavior is due most probably to the increased surface area of the polythiophene/hexagonally ordered silica nanocomposite. A one‐at‐a‐time optimization strategy was applied for optimizing the important extraction parameters such as extraction temperature, extraction time, ionic strength, stirring rate, and desorption temperature and time. Under the optimum conditions, the LOD of the proposed method is 0.1–3 pg/mL for analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous samples, and the calibration graphs were linear in a concentration range of 0.001–20 ng/mL (R² > 0.990) for most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The single fiber repeatability and fiber‐to‐fiber reproducibility were less than 8.6 and 19.1% (n = 5), respectively.     

Investigating the robustness and extraction performance of a matrix‐compatible solid‐phase microextraction coating in human urine and its application to assess 2–6‐ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using GC–MS/MS

In this work, a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fiber overcoated with a layer of polydimethylsiloxane was evaluated as analytical sampling tool for the first time in human urine. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with 2–6 aromatic rings were considered as target compounds. The analyte uptake in kinetic and thermodynamic regime was evaluated and compared to the performances of polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene and polydimethylsiloxane fibers. The assessment of the robustness and endurance of the overcoated fiber was carried out by direct immersion solid‐phase microextraction in undiluted urine performing up to 120 consecutive extractions. The overcoated fiber was then used to develop a fast and easy direct immersion solid‐phase microextraction with gas chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry protocol for the quantification of the target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The attained values of accuracy and precision were 75–114% and 2–19%, respectively, while the limits of quantification ranged between 0.05 and 1 ng/L. The proposed protocol was applied to the screening of urine samples collected from smoking and nonsmoking volunteers. The successful results obtained by using the overcoated fiber create not only new alternatives for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure assessment but also new perspectives for the application of direct immersion solid‐phase microextraction to the analysis of bioclinical matrixes.