Dual-vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled with isotope-dilution ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry for the rapid determination of parabens in indoor dust samples

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A 2019-11, Vol.1605, p.460367, Article 460367
• Main Authors: Chung, Wu-Hsun, Lin, Jia-Sheng, Ding, Wang-Hsien
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dual-vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion; Indoor dust analysis; Isotope-dilution UHPLC-qTOF-MS; Parabens
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.460367

•The first mortar/pestle-free and column-free DVA-MSPD method was developed and employed.•DVA-MSPD is a simple, reliable, and rapid extraction method for dust samples.•Isotope-dilution UHPLC-qTOF-MS provided high selectivity, accuracy and precision to determine target analytes.•The results show that indoor dust may represent a potential source of chronic exposure to various organic pollutants. A reliable and straightforward method was developed for the rapid determination of nine parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isopropyl-, isobutyl-, pentyl-, hexyl-, and benzyl-parabens) in indoor dust by a mortar/pestle-free and column-free dual-vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (DVA-MSPD) technique. After that, they were determined by isotope-dilution ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-qTOF-MS, or called UHPLC-HRMS) and operating in negative electrospray ionization mode. Optimization of the DVA-MSPD was done using Box-Behnken Design along with response surface methodology. Validation was done by measuring and calculating selectivity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQs), precision and trueness (accuracy) of intra- and inter-day analysis. The LOQs of the method ranged from 0.9 to 2.8 ng/g. High precisions for both intra- and inter-day analysis were obtained ranging from 1 to 8%. Excellent trueness (or mean extraction recovery) varied from 93 to 104%. The DVA-MSPD combined with isotope-dilution UHPLC-qTOF-MS was successfully applied to determine parabens in indoor dust samples from office rooms and private houses, and the total concentrations ranged from 55 to 686 ng/g.