Weak anion-exchange mixed-mode materials to selectively extract acidic compounds by stir bar sorptive extraction from environmental waters

Abstract

In this study, the first example of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based magnet coated with weak anion exchange (WAX) monolith as novel support for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) is presented. Firstly, the PTFE magnets were properly modified and vinylized in order to immobilize polymer monoliths onto its surface. Then, a glycidyl methacrylate monolith was prepared and modified with ethylenediamine (EDA) to create weak anion exchanger via ring opening reaction of epoxy groups. The prepared covalently immobilized EDA-modified monoliths onto PTFE magnet exhibited good stability and reusability. Application of resulting material as stir bar for SBSE was investigated for a series of acidic compounds that includes acesulfame, saccharin, diclofenac or ibuprofen, among others as target compounds. Firstly, the SBSE conditions were optimized to promote the WAX interactions with the target compounds achieving recoveries from 37 to 75% and enable the selective extraction of these compounds as it provided values of% matrix effect from 17 to -13% when they were determined by SBSE followed by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. The analytical methodology, was then validated and applied for the determination of the target solutes in environmental water samples, which were found at concentration up to 2500 ng L−1 in river waters.