Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet combined with HPLC-UV for the analysis of antidepressant drugs in biological samples

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction based on the solidification of floating organic droplet combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultra violet (HPLC-UV) detection was applied for the extraction and determination of fluoxetine, citalopram, and venlafaxine as antidepressants drugs in biological samples. In total, 30 μL of undecanol was injected slowly into a glass-centrifuge tube containing 5 mL alkaline sample solution that was located inside the ultrasonic water bath. The formed emulsion was centrifuged and the fine droplets of solvent were floated at the top of the test tube. The test tube was then cooled in an ice bath and the solidified solvent transferred into a conical vial; it melted quickly at room temperature. Then the analysis of the extracts was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography. Under optimal conditions, the preconcentration factors were between 174 and 316. Detection limits (LODs) of 3 μg/L were obtained and the calibration graphs were linear within the range of 10-1000 μg/L. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method was successfully confirmed by extraction and determination of the antidepressant drugs in human urine and plasma samples in the range of microgram per liter and suitable results were obtained.