Application of derivatized magnetic materials to the separation and the preconcentration of pollutants in water samples

Monitoring pollutants in water samples is a challenge to analysts. In recent years, separation technology based on magnetic materials has received considerable attention. This article reviews the literature dealing with the application of magnetic materials, combined with other materials (e.g., silica, octadecylsilane, polymers and surfactants), to the separation and the preconcentration of pollutants in water samples. The magnetic extraction method is not only convenient, economical and highly efficient, but it also overcomes problems with conventional solid-phase extraction, (e.g., packing of sorbent into the column and time-consuming loading of large-volume samples). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.