Novel ultrasound assisted extraction and d-SPE clean-up for the analysis of multiple legacy and emerging organic contaminants in edible fish

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), phthalate esters (PAEs) are pervasive environmental pollutants, posing threats to both ecosystems and human health. Although several analytical methods were developed for these compounds, they are not performed simultaneously. This study addresses the need for a sustainable, novel, analytical approach capable of simultaneously determining these diverse chemical classes in edible fish muscles. Employing ultrasound extraction coupled with dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) as a cleanup procedure, the method was compared to conventional techniques, revealing significant improvements. Analytical parameters were thoroughly assessed, and the innovative method demonstrated notable advantages, reducing extraction and purification times by approximately 74–80 % and solvent consumption by around 94–97 %. Applied to Mediterranean Sea fish samples, the results underscore the method's potential as a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional approaches, promising enhanced efficiency and reduced environmental impact.