Magnetic silica nanomaterials for solid-phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of ultra-trace quantities of plasticizers

We are presenting surface modified magnetic silica nanoparticles (m-Si-NPs) for use in solid-phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME). The m-Si-NPs were surface-functionalized with octadecyl groups to give a material for the extraction of the plasticizers dibutyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from water samples. The functionalized m-Si-NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results showed that the m-Si-NPs were well functionalized with octadecyl groups. The effects of various experimental variables on the extraction efficiencies were investigated. The analytes were quantified by GC/FID. Under optimal conditions, the calibration plots are linear in the range from 0.01 to 100 mu ga (TM) LaEuro3/4(1), and very high enrichment factors (mean value similar to 20,000) were obtained. As a result of the high enrichment factors, the detection limits are as low as 2-3 nga (TM) LaEuro3/4(1). The method was successfully employed to the extraction of the plasticizers from (spiked) water samples, and recoveries are in the order of 93.9 to 106.7 %. The method is low cost, fast, and very sensitive.