Preparation and evaluation of molecularly imprinted solid-phase micro-extraction fibers for selective extraction of phthalates in an aqueous sample

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta 2010-07, Vol.674 (1), p.53-58
• Main Authors: He, Juan, Lv, Ruihe, Zhan, Haijun, Wang, Huizhi, Cheng, Jie, Lu, Kui, Wang, Fengcheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Dibutyl phthalate; Dibutyl Phthalate - chemical synthesis; Dibutyl Phthalate - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Extraction; Fiber; Fibers; Gas chromatographic methods; Mass spectrometers; Mathematical analysis; Membranes, Artificial; Molecular Imprinting; Molecularly imprinted polymer; Nickel; Phthalates; Phthalic Acids - isolation & purification; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; Porosity; Solid Phase Microextraction - methods; Solid-phase micro-extraction; Solutions; Spectrometric and optical methods; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.06.018

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) that was applied to a solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) device, which could be coupled directly to gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer (GC/MS), was prepared using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as the template molecule. The characteristics and application of this fiber were investigated. Electron microscope images indicated that the MIP-coated solid-phase micro-extraction (MI-SPME) fibers were homogeneous and porous. The extraction yield of DBP with the MI-SPME fibers was higher than that of the non-imprinted polymer (NIP)-coated SPME (NI-SPME) fibers. The MI-SPME fibers had a higher selectivity to other phthalates that had similar structures as DBP. A method was developed for the determination of phthalates using MI-SPME fibers coupled with GC/MS. The extraction conditions were optimized. Detection limits for the phthalate samples were within the range of 2.17–20.84 ng L −1. The method was applied to five kinds of phthalates dissolved in spiked aqueous samples and resulted in recoveries of up to 94.54–105.34%, respectively. Thus, the MI-SPME fibers are suitable for the extraction of trace phthalates in complicated samples.