Analysis of sulfonamides in environmental water samples based on magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC-UV detection

The magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction (MMHSPE), based on the adsorption of cation surfactant octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTMABr) onto magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) to form mixed hemimicelles, was proposed for the preconcentration of several sulfonamides (SAs) compounds including sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamethoxydiazine (SMD), sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) from environmental water samples. This method avoided the time-consuming column-passing process of loading large volume samples in traditional SPE through the rapid isolation of OTMABr-coated Fe3O4 NPs with an adscititious magnet. Mixed hemimicelles formed on the surface of Fe3O4 NPs by OTMABr showed great adsorptive tendency towards analytes. The OTMABr-coated Fe3O4 NPs adsorbents were easy to be prepared, low cost and environmentally friendly. A comprehensive study on the adsorption conditions such as the amount of the surfactant, the solution pH, the desorption condition and the maximum extraction sample volume were optimized. A concentration factor of 1000 was achieved by the extraction of 500 mL of environmental water samples using MMHSPE. Detection limits obtained for SMX, SMD, SDM and SQX were 0.026, 0.024, 0.033 and 0.030 mu g L-1, respectively. Good recoveries (70-102%) with low relative standard deviations (1-6%) were achieved in analyzing spiked water samples. Low concentration of SQX was found in hospital primary and final sewage effluent sample. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.