Graphene oxide-functionalized mesoporous silica for online in-tube solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey and detection by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector

In order to develop an online detection method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in honey, graphene oxide-functionalized mesoporous silica was prepared and introduced as the coating in the field of in-tube solidphase microextraction. An extraction tube was coupled to high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector, and the online analytical system was constructed. After the main extraction and desorption conditions were optimized, a sensitive and online method based on matrix-matched calibration was established towards trace PAHs in honey. The method exhibited wide linear range from 0.8 ng g-1 to 250 ng g-1 and low detection limit of 0.25 ng g-1, and the enrichment effect reached 2719. The proposed method was validated and successfully applied to the analysis of six honey samples. The extraction tube showed good durability and acceptable chemical stability during the experiment.

Automated summary

The study developed an online detection method for PAHs in honey using graphene oxide-functionalized mesoporous silica as the coating for in-tube solid phase microextraction, coupled with high performance liquid chromatography. The method exhibited a low detection limit and high enrichment effect for trace PAHs in honey after optimization.