Determination of aqueous fullerene aggregates in water by ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Hsin Chang Chen, Wang Hsien Ding

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43 Scopus citations

Abstract

A simple and solvent-minimized method for the determination of three aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC 60, nC 70, and aqueous [6,6]-phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (nPCBM)) in water samples is described. The method involves the use of ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) coupled liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure photoionization (LC-APPI-MS/MS). The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the analytes from water samples were systematically investigated and the conditions optimized. The best extraction conditions involved the rapid injection of a mixture of 1.0mL of 2-propanol (as a disperser solvent) and 10μL of benzyl bromide (as an extraction solvent) into 10mL of an aqueous solution (pH 10.0) containing 1% sodium chloride in a conical bottom glass tube. After ultrasonication for 1.0min and centrifugation at 5000rpm (10min), the sedimented phase 5.0μL was directly injected into the LC-APPI-MS/MS system. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 150, 60 and 8ngL -1 for nPCBM, nC 60 and nC 70, respectively. The precision for these analytes, as indicated by relative standard deviations (RSDs), were less than 12% for both intra- and inter-day analysis. Accuracy, expressed as the mean extraction recovery, was between 70 and 86%. A standard addition method was used to quantitate three aqueous fullerene aggregates, and the concentrations of these aqueous fullerene aggregates were determined to be in the range from n.d. to 130ngL -1 in various environmental samples including municipal influent and effluent samples, industrial wastewater samples, and surface water samples.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15-23
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Chromatography A
Volume1223
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Feb 2012

Keywords

  • APPI
  • Aqueous fullerene aggregates
  • LC-MS
  • Ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction
  • Water analysis

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