3D printed device coated with solid-phase extraction resin for the on-site extraction of seven sulfonamides from environmental water samples preceding HPLC-DAD analysis

A 3D printed device coated with Oasis MCX resin was developed allowing both the on-site and laboratory extraction and pre-concentration of sulfonamides (SAs) and subsequent determination by HPLC with diode array detection (DAD). The device has been designed and printed by stereolithographic 3D printing and functionalized with a SPE resin by stick and cure immobilization technique. Images of 3D printed coated devices obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed its characterization. Various parameters that affect the extraction efficiency (eluent solution, eluent volume, extraction and elution times) were studied and under optimal con-ditions, seven sulfonamides (Sulfanilamide, SAM; Sulfadiazine, SDZ; Sulfamerazine, SMR; Sulfamethazine, SMZ; Sulfamethoxypyridazine, SMP; Sulfamethoxazole, SMX; and Sulfadimethoxine, SDX) have been satisfactorily quantified after the 3D coated-device extraction. Detection limits of 6, 6, 0.9, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, and 0.6 mu g L-1 were achieved for SAM, SDZ, SMR, SMZ, SMP, SMX, and SDX, respectively. In all cases, a good linearity was observed up to 1000 mu g L-1 with R2 between 0.9987 and 0.9998. The interday precision expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 3) varied between 2.2 and 5.5 % RSD, showing the good precision of the proposed methodology. Finally, the developed method was successfully used for the simultaneous analysis of seven SAs in samples of tap water and wastewater. Therefore, the 3D printed device is an efficient, miniaturized, and simple alternative for monitoring emerging contaminants derived from Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products such as SAs in environmental water samples.

Automated summary

A 3D printed device coated with Oasis MCX resin was developed for the extraction and analysis of sulfonamides. The device showed satisfactory quantification of seven sulfonamides with good linearity and precision. This miniaturized method is an efficient alternative for monitoring emerging contaminants in environmental water samples.