Zeolite imidazolate framework-8 as sorbent for on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of tetracyclines in water and milk samples

Zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was used as the novel sorbent for on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC) and chlorotetracycline (CTC) in water and milk samples. 390 mg of ZIF-8 was packed into a stainless steel column (3 cm long x 4.6 mm i.d.) which was mounted on the HPLC injector valve to replace the sample loop. On-line solid-phase extraction of OTC, TC and CTC was achieved by loading sample solution at a flow rate of 3.0 mL min(-1) for 10 min with the aid of a flow-injection system. The extracted analytes were subsequently eluted into a C-18 analytical column (25 cm long x 4.6 mm i.d.) for HPLC separation under isocratic condition with a mobile phase (10% MeOH-20%ACN-70% 0.02 mol L-1 oxalic acid solution) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). Under optimized conditions, the developed method gave the enhancement factors of 35-61, the linearity range of 5-1000 mu g L-1, the detection limits of 1.5-8.0 mu g L-1, quantification limits of 5.0-26.7 mu g L-1, uncertainties of 0.9-1.1 mu g L-1, and the sample throughput of 4 samples h(-1). The recoveries of OTC, TC and CTC at 50 mu g L-1 in water and milk samples ranged from 70.3% to 107.4%. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.