Hexafluoroisopropanol-based supramolecular solvent for liquid phase microextraction of triazole fungicides in drinking water and beverages

A new supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) was synthesized using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as hydrogen bond donor and undecanol as hydrogen bond acceptor. Then SUPRAS was used as extraction solvent to enrich triazole fungicides in drinking water and beverages by liquid phase microextraction (LPME). Additionally, several variables that influence extraction efficiency were optimized, and the significant factors were investigated by BoxBehnken design. At optimum condition, the method shows desirable precision (RSDs less than 19.4%) and acceptable recovery (63.4%-112.1%). The low limits of detection and limits of quantitation of this method were found to be in the range of 1.0-5.0 mu g/L and 5.0-20 mu g/L, respectively. Compared with other analytical techniques, the method demonstrated comparable sensitivity, consumed less extractant (750 mu L) and a shorter pretreatment time (10 min). The formation mechanism of SUPRAS was investigated by density functional theory. The proposed methodology was green, sensitive, time-saving and successfully applied to determine triazole fungicides in drinking water and beverages, making it an alternative technique for the analysis of trace analytes with satisfactory sensitivity.

Automated summary

A new supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) was synthesized using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as hydrogen bond donor and undecanol as hydrogen bond acceptor. SUPRAS was used as extraction solvent for the enrichment of triazole fungicides in drinking water and beverages by liquid phase microextraction (LPME). The optimized method showed desirable precision and acceptable recovery, with low limits of detection and quantitation. The proposed methodology, which investigated the formation mechanism of SUPRAS, is green, sensitive, time-saving, and successfully applied to trace analysis of triazole fungicides in drinking water and beverages.