A high-throughput semi-automated dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on deep eutectic solvent for the determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in edible oils

In this study, a high-throughput automated pipetting system was innovatively combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME). This application automates the sample and solvent addition steps in DLLME and allows simultaneous batch sample processing, thereby, greatly saving labor and time. The use of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) instead of traditional organic solvents as the extractant makes the whole extraction process environmental-friendly. Under optimized conditions, the method exhibits satisfactory extraction performance for all target analytes. The limits of detection for thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid in the rapeseed oil matrix are 5.8, 2.9, and 2.7 mu g L-1, respectively. It is worth mentioning that this high-throughput automatic pipetting system can be applied to different types of DLLME. Furthermore, the greenness of the established method is evaluated using the AGREE metric and the results show distinct advantages, such as fast operation, automation, and environmental friendliness, compared to previously published works for the detection of neonicotinoids in edible oils.

Automated summary

In this study, a high-throughput automated pipetting system was combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) to automate the sample and solvent addition steps and enable simultaneous batch sample processing. The use of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as the extractant makes the extraction process environmentally friendly. The method exhibits satisfactory extraction performance for target analytes and can be applied to different types of DLLME. The established method shows distinct advantages in terms of fast operation, automation, and environmental friendliness compared to previously published works for the detection of neonicotinoids in edible oils.