Derivatization and deep eutectic solvent-based air–assisted liquid–liquid microextraction of salbutamol in exhaled breath condensate samples followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract

A microwave-induced air–assisted liquid–liquid microextraction method has been proposed for the pretreatment/quantization of salbutamol in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In this procedure, 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and N,N-diethylethanolammonium chloride: dichloroacetic acid: octanoic acid deep eutectic solvent were exploited as derivatization reagent and extraction solvent, respectively. A mixture of the sample solution and pyridine was transferred into a test tube. Then, a mixture of extraction solvent and derivatization agent was placed at the bottom of the tube. After performing the predetermined extraction cycles in the microextraction method, the mixture was exposed to microwave irradiations to enhance derivatization and extraction efficiencies. The obtained turbid solution was centrifuged and a portion of the sedimented phase was used for quantification of salbutamol. The validated method showed low limits of detection (0.074 and 0.370 μg/L in deionized water and EBC, respectively), quantification (0.246 in deionized water and 1.23 μg/L in EBC), and lower limit of quantification (0.123 and 0.615 μg/L in deionized water and EBC, respectively). The method had appropriate repeatability, accuracy, and stability (expressed as relative standard deviation less than 9%). The developed method was used in quantification of salbutamol in the real samples collected from donors receiving salbutamol spray.