Ultrathin-shell boron nitride hollow spheres as sorbent for dispersive solid-phase extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls from environmental water samples

Abstract

Boron nitride hollow spheres with ultrathin-shells were synthesized and used as sorbents for dispersive solid-phase extraction of aromatic pollutants at trace levels from environmental water samples. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were selected as target compounds. Sample quantification and detection were performed by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Extraction parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were optimized through response surface methodology using the Box–Behnken design. The proposed method achieved good linearity within the concentration range of 0.15–250ngL−1 PCBs, low limits of detection (0.04–0.09ngL−1, S/N=3:1), good repeatability of the extractions (relative standard deviation, <12%, n=6), and satisfactory recoveries between 84.9% and 101.0% under optimal conditions. Real environmental samples collected from rivers, local lakes, rain and spring waters were analyzed using the developed method. Results demonstrated that the hexagonal boron nitride-based material has significant potential as a sorbent for organic pollutant extraction from environmental water samples.