Automated hollow fiber microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents for the extraction of two hormonal drugs

Abstract

In this research, a rapid efficient and automated instrument based on hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV–vis detection was applied for the preconcentration and determination of two hormonal drugs (megestrol acetate and levonorgestrel) in water and urinary samples. n-Dodecane was used as the supported liquid membrane (SLM) and methanol was used as the acceptor phase in the hollow fiber lumen. The effects of different parameters such as fiber length, extraction time, stirring rate, and ionic strength on the extraction efficiency were investigated using modified simplex and central composite design as the screening and optimization methods, respectively. The composition effect of SLM and type of acceptor phase were optimized separately. For adjustment of the SLM composition, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was chosen. Under optimized condition, the calibration curves were linear (r2>0.997) in the range of 0.5–200μgL−1. LOD for both of the drugs were 0.25μgL−1. The applicability of this technique was examined by analyzing drugs in water and urine samples. The relative recoveries of the drugs were in the range of 86.2–102.3% that show the capability of the method for the determination of the drugs in various matrices.