Solvent-based de-emulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for determination of trace organochlorine pesticides in environmental water samples

In this work, we propose solvent-based de-emulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (SD-DLLME) as a simple, rapid and efficient sample pretreatment technique for the extraction and pre-concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from environmental water samples. Separation and analysis of fifteen OCPs was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were systematically investigated. The detection limits were in the range of 2-50 ng L-1 using selective ion monitoring (SIM). The precision of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 3.5 and 10.2% (n = 5). Results from the analysis of spiked environmental water samples at the low-ppb level met the acceptance criteria set by the EPA. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.