Acid In Water Samples Research Articles

A fluorescent chemosensor based on nonplanar donor-acceptor structure for highly sensitive and selective detection of picric acid in water

Direct detection of picric acid in water samples is very important for social security and environmental protection. Herein, a novel donor-acceptor type fluorophore 3-(benzyloxy)-2-(4-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one has been designed, and synthesized. Due to its aggregation-induced emission enhancement characteristic, this fluorophore showed a very strong fluorescence in water. This fluorophore was then employed as highly sensitive chemosensor for picric acid, with a limit of detection of 370 nM in water. Moreover, this sensor showed very high selectivity towards picric acid among interfering nitroaromatics. At last, the sensing mechanism was carefully studied by using DFT computation and NMR spectra. This work provided a practical and reliable detection method for picric acid in water samples.

New temperature-assisted ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method for the determination of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in water samples

ABSTRACTA new analytical temperature-assisted ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (TA-IL-DLLME) method was developed for glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid determination in water samples. Extracted analytes were derivatized using 9-fluoroenylmethylchloroformate and quantified by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. For the TA-IL-DLLME method, two strategies for phase solubilization were evaluated; in approach 1, the ionic liquid and aqueous matrix sample were mixed and then heated, while in approach 2, the aqueous sample was first heated and then the ionic liquid was injected. For both approaches, optimization included parameters that significantly affect extraction efficiency: ionic liquid type and volume, solubilization temperature and time, cooling and centrifugation time. Among the evaluated ionic liquids, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate showed the best performance for TA-IL-DLLME and was selected for the two solubilization approaches; with approach 2, slightly better results were obtained. Thus, sample analyses were performed using a procedure based on approach 2. An important matrix effect, attributed to the presence of salts and metals in real water samples was observed. Sample acidification before derivatization allowed this problem to diminish, with recoveries ranging from 75 and 99%, and enrichment factors between 57 and 76 for target analytes.

Determination of 2-chlorovinylarsonous acid and 2-chlorovinylarsonic acid in water by capillary electrophoresis with direct spectrophotometric detection

An approach for determining 2-chlorovinylarsonous acid and 2-chlorovinylarsonic acid (decomposition products of such blister agent as lewisite) in water by capillary zone electrophoresis was proposed. The conditions of determination such as the wavelength and mode of detection, the composition of running buffer solution, the injection volume, and the program for conditioning the capillary were optimized. The developed method is characterized by high accuracy, reproducibility, selectivity, and the absence of interfering effects of the matrix of natural water. The method was used to analyze various water samples, and the accuracy was confirmed by the “added-found” technique. The limits of detection of 2-chlorovinylarsonous acid and 2-chlorovinylarsonic acid in water samples were determined by direct spectrophotometric detection at λ = 195 nm to be 0.3 and 0.5 mg L–1, respectively.

Hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots from ascorbic acid and valine for selective determination of picric acid in water samples

ABSTRACTNitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesised by a hydrothermal method using ascorbic acid and valine as precursors. The as-synthesised N-CQDs were characterised by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV−vis absorption spectra, as well as fluorescence spectrophotometer. The results revealed that the as-prepared N-CQDs were spherical shaped with an average diameter of 4 nm and emitted bright blue photoluminescence with a quantum yield of approximately 4.8 %. Additionally, we found that the fluorescence of the N-CQDs was intensively quenched by the addition of picric acid (PA). The decrease of the fluorescence intensity made it possible to determine PA in the linear range of 0.06–7.81 µg ml–1 based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between PA and N-CQDs. The detection limit was as low as 11.46 ng ml–1. The proposed approach was further successfully applied for the determination of PA in water sample collected from Fenhe river for public safety and security, suggesting its great potential towards water routine analysis.

Determination of haloacetic acids in water using layered double hydroxides as a sorbent in dispersive solid‐phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

In the present study, highly efficient and simple dispersive solid-phase extraction procedure for the determination of haloacetic acids in water samples has been established. Three different types of layered double hydroxides were synthesized and used as a sorbent in dispersive solid-phase extraction. Due to the interesting behavior of layered double hydroxides in an acidic medium (pH˂4), the analyte elution step was not needed; the layered double hydroxides are simply dissolved in acid immediately after extraction to release the analytes which are then directly introduced into a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry system for analysis. Several dispersive solid-phase extraction parameters were optimized to increase the extraction efficiency of haloacetic acids such as temperature, extraction time and pH. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was achieved over the concentration range of 0.05-100 μg/L with detection limits in the range of 0.006-0.05 μg/L. The relative standard deviations were 0.33-3.64% (n = 6). The proposed method was applied to different water samples collected from a drinking water plant to determine the concentrations of haloacetic acids.

The choice of ultrasound assisted extraction coupled with spectrophotometric for rapid determination of gallic acid in water samples: Central composite design for optimization of process variables

A sensitive procedure namely ultrasound-assisted (UA) coupled dispersive nano solid-phase microextraction spectrophotometry (DNSPME-UV-Vis) was designed for preconcentration and subsequent determination of gallic acid (GA) from water samples, while the detailed of composition and morphology and also purity and structure of this new sorbent was identified by techniques like field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. Among conventional parameters viz. pH, amount of sorbent, sonication time and volume of elution solvent based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and central composite design according to statistics based contour the best operational conditions was set at pH of 2.0; 1.5mg sorbent, 4.0min sonication and 150μL ethanol. Under these pre-qualified conditions the method has linear response over wide concentration range of 15–6000ngmL−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996. The good figure of merits like acceptable LOD (S/N=3) and LOQ (S/N=10) with numerical value of 2.923 and 9.744ngmL−1, respectively and relative recovery between 95.54 and 100.02% show the applicability and efficiency of this method for real samples analysis with RSDs below 6.0%. Finally the method with good performance were used for monitoring under study analyte in various real samples like tap, river and mineral waters.

Combined dispersive solid-phase extraction-dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction-derivatization for gas chromatography–mass spectrometric determination of aliphatic amines on atmospheric fine particles

Short-chain aliphatic amines are ubiquitous in the atmospheric environment. They play an important role in the formation and growth of atmospheric particles. As such, there is a pressing need to monitor these particle-bound compounds present at trace quantities. The present work describes an efficient, one-step microextraction technique for the preconcentration and detection of trace levels of 10 aliphatic amines on fine particles (particulate matter of 2.5μm or less (PM2.5)) in the atmosphere. After extraction of amines from particles in acidified water samples, carbon-based sorbents (in dispersive solid-phase extraction mode), and vortex agitation were utilized for simultaneous derivatization-extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. The approach significantly increased the recoveries and enrichment of the amine derivatives. This one-step, combined technique is proposed for the first time. Several influential factors including type and concentration of derivatization reagent (for gas chromatographic separation), type of buffer, sample pH, types and volumes of extraction and disperser solvents, type and amount of sorbent, vortex time and temperature, desorption solvent type and volume, and salt content were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, high enrichment factors (in the range of between 307 and 382) and good reproducibility (relative standard deviations, below 7.0%, n=5) were achieved. The linearity ranged from 0.1μg/L–100μg/L, and from 0.5μg/L–100μg/L, depending on the analytes. The limits of detection were between 0.02μg/L (corresponding to ∼0.01ng/m3 in air) and 0.09μg/L (corresponding to ∼0.04ng/m3 in air). The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of PM2.5 samples collected by air sampling through polytetrafluoroethylene filters. The concentration levels of amines ranged from 1.04 to 4.16ng/m3 in the air sampled.

Rapid Screening of Carboxylic Acids from Waste and Surface Waters by ESI-MS/MS Using Barium Ion Chemistry and On-Line Membrane Sampling.

Negative ion tandem mass spectrometric analysis of aliphatic carboxylic acids often yields only non-diagnostic ([M - H](-)) ions with limited selective fragmentation. However, carboxylates cationized with Ba(2+) have demonstrated efficient dissociation in positive ion mode, providing structurally diagnostic product ions. We report the application of barium adducts followed by collision induced dissociation (CID), to improve selectivity for rapid screening of carboxylic acids in complex aqueous samples. The quantitative MS/MS method presented utilizes common product ions of [M - H + Ba](+) precursor ions. The mechanism of product ion formation is investigated using isotopically labeled standards and a series of structurally related carboxylic acids. The results suggest that hydrogen atoms in the β and γ positions yield common product ions ([BaH](+) and [BaOH](+)). Furthermore, the diagnostic product ion at m/z 196 serves as a qualifying ion for carboxylate species. This methodology has been successfully used in conjunction with condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP-MIMS), with barium acetate added directly to the methanol acceptor phase. The combination enables rapid screening of carboxylic acids directly from acidified water samples (wastewater effluent, spiked natural waters) using a capillary hollow fiber PDMS membrane immersion probe. We have applied this technique for the direct analysis of complex naphthenic acid mixtures spiked into natural surface waters using CP-MIMS. Selectivity at the ionization and tandem mass spectrometry level eliminate isobaric interferences from hydroxylated species present within the samples, which have been observed in negative electrospray ionization.

Beyond Naphthenic Acids: Environmental Screening of Water from Natural Sources and the Athabasca Oil Sands Industry Using Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry.

There is a growing need for environmental screening of natural waters in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada, particularly in the differentiation between anthropogenic and naturally-derived organic compounds associated with weathered bitumen deposits. Previous research has focused primarily upon characterization of naphthenic acids in water samples by negative-ion electrospray ionization methods. Atmospheric pressure photoionization is a much less widely used ionization method, but one that affords the possibility of observing low polarity compounds that cannot be readily observed by electrospray ionization. This study describes the first usage of atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (in both positive-ion and negative-ion modes) to characterize and compare extracts of oil sands process water, river water, and groundwater samples from areas associated with oil sands mining activities. When comparing mass spectra previously obtained by electrospray ionization and data acquired by atmospheric pressure photoionization, there can be a doubling of the number of components detected. In addition to polar compounds that have previously been observed, low-polarity, sulfur-containing compounds and hydrocarbons that do not incorporate a heteroatom were detected. These latter components, which are not amenable to electrospray ionization, have potential for screening efforts within monitoring programs of the oil sands.

Determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids at ultra-trace levels by means of online coupling ion exchange chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with indirect detection via their Pd2+-complexes

A new indirect IC-ICP-MS method for the determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids in water samples is described. It is based on the addition of an excess of Pd(II) to water samples. The analytes are forced into very strong and negatively charged palladium complexes, separated by ion exchange chromatography and detected by their palladium content, utilizing an on-line coupled ICP-MS. This method is suitable to determine the concentration of 8 aminopolycarboxylic acids (nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), (2-carboxyethyl) iminodiacetic acid (β-ADA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), 2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), 1,3-diaminopropane tetraacetic acid (1,3-PDTA) and 1,2-diaminopropane tetraacetic acid (1,2-PDTA) at the ngkg−1 level. The method is faster and easier than the established gas chromatography (GC)-method ISO 16588:2002 [1] and up to two orders of magnitude more sensitive than the ion pair chromatography based method of DIN 38413-8. Analytic performance is superior to ISO 16588:2002 and the comparability is good.

Caffeine in surface and wastewaters in Barbados, West Indies.

Caffeine, a purine alkaloid drug, has been recognized as a contaminant of water bodies in various climatic regions, however, these environmental caffeine concentrations are the first to be reported in the tropical Caribbean. The major objective of this study was to develop an improved method to extract caffeine from surface and wastewaters in the warm Caribbean environment and measure caffeine concentrations in highly populated areas in Barbados. Caffeine was extracted from water via solid phase extraction (SPE); the acidified water samples were loaded onto C-18 cartridges and eluted with pure chloroform. The extracted caffeine was quantified using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy - multiple reaction monitoring (GC-MS/MS-MRM). Method detection limits of 0.2 ng L−1 from 1 L water samples were achieved. Caffeine was detected in all environmental water samples investigated. The concentrations of caffeine in surface waters were detected in the range 0.1 - 6.9 μg L−1. The two wastewater treatment plants, primary and secondary treatment systems, significantly differed in their ability to eliminate caffeine in the raw sewage (38% and 99% caffeine removal efficiencies respectively). Thus, it may be essential to employ secondary treatment to effectively remove caffeine from wastewater systems in Barbados. Caffeine in water bodies are principally attributed to anthropogenic sources as caffeine-producing plants are not commonly grown on the island of Barbados. The study also shows the recalcitrance of caffeine to hydrolytic degradation.

A Sequential Injection Analysis Method for the Determination of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid in Water Samples

A conventional laboratory method for the determination of glyphosate and its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by post column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA). However, AMPA is partly decomposed in the process causing a deviation in the AMPA detection or even making a simultaneous detection of glyphosate and AMPA with the described postcolumn procedure impossible. We used a compact sequential injection analysis system and optimized the process conditions for both analytes independently from each other. The process conditions were adjusted to the different chemical characteristics of AMPA (primary amine) and glyphosate (secondary amine), which needs to be oxidized to a primary amine prior to the derivatization. An ion exchange column was included in the system to eliminate amines interfering with the method. Limits of detection of 16 and 9 µg L -1 for glyphosate and AMPA, respectively are similar to those achieved with HPLC methods reported in literature, but compared to conventional HPLC methods only small amounts of reagents are consumed.

Assessment of Contamination of Underground Water Sources in Enyigba Pb-Zn District, South Eastern Nigeria using Metal Enrichment and Pollution Indices

Samples were collected from four (4) underground water sources in Enyigba Pb-Zn mining district, near Abakaliki in southeastern Nigeria. The samples were acidified to stabilize the metals for periods more than four days without the use of refrigeration. The acidified water samples were analysed by a commercial laboratory at Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The elements determined by this method are lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co). The result and analysis showed that metal enrichment index (MPI) of As, Cd, Pb and Ni are very high in the groundwater samples, indicating high degree of contamination compared to WHO permissible limits. All these metals contributed to high degree of contamination based on metal pollution index (MPI). The calculated metal enrichment and pollution indices show values that indicate that under the prevailing conditions and environmental regulations in Nigeria, the Enyigba mining district would face major and hazardous discharges of these metals to other water sources in the area.

Analysis of aromatic acids by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with ionic-liquid electrolytes.

The separation of six kinds of aromatic acids by CZE with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (EMIMHSO4 ), two kinds of ionic liquids (ILs) as background electrolytes, and acetonitrile as solvent were investigated. The six kinds of aromatic acids can be separated under positive voltage with low IL concentration with either of the two ILs and separation with EMIMHSO4 is better in consideration of peak shapes and separation efficiency. But the migration order is different when the IL is different. Under negative voltage with high IL concentration, the six analytes can be separated with EMIMCl as background electrolytes and the migration order of the analytes is opposite to those with low concentration of EMIMCl as background electrolyte. The separations are based on the combination effects of heteroconjugation between the anions and cations in the ILs and the analytes, of which the heteroconjugation between the anions in the ILs and the analytes plays a dominant role. The heteroconjugation between the anions of the ILs and analytes is proton sensitive and only a very small amount of proticsolvents added into the electrolyte solution can harm the separation. When EMIMCl concentration is high, the heteroconjugation between the IL anions and the proton in the analytes make the effective mobility of the analytes much higher than the EOF and their migration direction reversed. Finally, the six aromatic acids in water samples were analyzed by nonaqueous CE with low concentration of EMIMHSO4 as background electrolytes with satisfactory results.

On-line in-tube solid phase microextraction-capillary liquid chromatography method for monitoring degradation products of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in waters

The main di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) degradation products, (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), have been tested. The proposed cost-effective method combines on-line, in-tube solid-phase micro extraction (IT-SPME) in in-valve configuration and capillary liquid chromatography with UV diode array detection (Cap-LC-DAD). Acidification of the samples at pH 3 improved markedly the estimation of MEHP. Aliquots of 4mL of acidified water samples were directly processed. After sample loading, the analytes were desorbed with the mobile-phase and transferred to the monolithic capillary column. Satisfactory linearity and precision, absence of matrix effect and suitable limits of detection (LODs): 0.005, 0.1, 0.1 and 1.5μg/L for MEHP, DEP, DEHP and DBP, respectively have been achieved. The main advantages are speed and the reduction of background signal by minimizing sample preparation. Real water samples have been analyzed.

Analysis of picric acid and picramic acid in water samples by ultra performance hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

An ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/ MS) method was developed for the determination of picric acid and its reductive transformation product picramic acid in aqueous samples. A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column (Acquity UPLC BEH HILIC; 100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for the separation. Surface water samples could be injected into the UPLC system just after being filtered through a 0.2 microm membrane. The satisfactory recoveries of picric acid and picramic acid were in the range of 89% - 107%. Waste water samples were purified by solid phase extraction (SPE), and then were analyzed. The recoveries of picric acid and picramic acid in waste water were 72%-101%. The reproducibility of the method was good with the RSDs of 4.9% - 14.7%. The limits of detection (LODs) of picric acid and picramic acid were 0.1 microg/L and 0.3 microg/L, respectively. This proposed method is rapid, highly specific and suitable for the confirmation and quantitative determination of picric acid and picramic acid in surface water and waste water.

Development of a flat membrane based device for electromembrane extraction: A new approach for exhaustive extraction of basic drugs from human plasma

In this work, a single-well electromembrane extraction (EME) device was developed based on a thin (100μm) and flat porous membrane of polypropylene supporting a liquid membrane. The new EME device was operated with a relatively large acceptor solution volume to promote a high recovery. Using this EME device, exhaustive extraction of the basic drugs quetiapine, citalopram, amitriptyline, methadone and sertraline was investigated from both acidified water samples and human plasma. The volume of acceptor solution, extraction time, and extraction voltage were found to be important factors for obtaining exhaustive extraction. 2-Nitrophenyl octyl ether was selected as the optimal organic solvent for the supported liquid membrane. From spiked acidified water samples (600μl), EME was carried out with 600μl of 20mM HCOOH as acceptor solution for 15min and with an extraction voltage of 250V. Under these conditions, extraction recoveries were in the range 89–112%. From human plasma samples (600μl), EME was carried out with 600μl of 20mM HCOOH as acceptor solution for 30min and with an extraction voltage of 300V. Under these conditions, extraction recoveries were in the range of 83–105%. When combined with LC–MS, the new EME device provided linearity in the range 10–1000ng/ml for all analytes (R2>0.990). The repeatability at low (10ng/ml), medium (100ng/ml), and high (1000ng/ml) concentration level for all five analytes were less than 10% (RSD). The limits of quantification (S/N=10) were found to be in the range 0.7–6.4ng/ml.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with online preconcentration MEKC for the determination of some phenoxyacetic acids in drinking water

A fast and simple technique composed of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and online preconcentration MEKC with diode array detection was developed for the determination of four phenoxyacetic acids, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,6-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, in drinking water. The four phenoxyacetic acids were separated in reversed-migration MEKC to the baseline. About 145-fold increases in detection sensitivity were observed with online concentration strategy, compared with standard hydrodynamic injection (5 s at 25 mbar pressure). LODs ranged from 0.002 to 0.005 mg/L using only the online preconcentration procedures without any offline concentration of the extract. A DLLME procedure was used in combination with the proposed online preconcentration strategies, which achieved the determination of analytes at limits of quantification ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 μg/kg, which is far lower than the maximum residue limits established by China. The satisfactory recoveries obtained by DLMME spiked at two levels ranged from 67.2 to 99.4% with RSD <15%, making this proposed method suitable for the determination of phenoxyacetic acids in water samples.

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction combined with injection-port derivatization for the determination of some chlorophenoxyacetic acids in water samples

An efficient method based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction followed by injection-port derivatization GC analysis was developed to determine 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in natural water samples. In this procedure, 12.5 μL of 1-undecanol was injected slowly into a 12 mL home-designed centrifuge glass vial containing an aqueous sample of the analytes located inside an ultrasonic water bath. The resulting emulsion was centrifuged, and 1 μL of the separated organic solvent together with 1 μL of the derivatization reagent were injected into a GC equipped with a flame ionization detector. Several factors that influence the derivatization and extraction were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs were 0.33 and 1.7 μg/L for MCPA and 2,4-D, respectively. Preconcentration factors of 670 and 836 were obtained for MCPA and 2,4-D, respectively. The precision of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of repeatability, which was <5.7% (n = 5). The applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of chlorophenoxyacetic acids from some natural waters, which indicated that the matrices of natural waters have no significant effect on the extraction and derivatization efficiency of this method.

Pressure-driven mesofluidic platform integrating automated on-chip renewable micro-solid-phase extraction for ultrasensitive determination of waterborne inorganic mercury

A dedicated pressure-driven mesofluidic platform incorporating on-chip sample clean-up and analyte preconcentration is herein reported for expedient determination of trace level concentrations of waterborne inorganic mercury. Capitalizing upon the Lab-on-a-Valve (LOV) concept, the mesofluidic device integrates on-chip micro-solid phase extraction (μSPE) in automatic disposable mode followed by chemical vapor generation and gas–liquid separation prior to in-line atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection. In contrast to prevailing chelating sorbents for Hg(II), bare poly(divinylbenzene-N-vinylpyrrolidone) copolymer sorptive beads were resorted to efficient uptake of Hg(II) in hydrochloric acid milieu (pH=2.3) without the need for metal derivatization nor pH adjustment of prior acidified water samples for preservation to near-neutral conditions. Experimental variables influencing the sorptive uptake and retrieval of target species and the evolvement of elemental mercury within the miniaturized integrated reaction chamber/gas–liquid separator were investigated in detail.Using merely <10mg of sorbent, the limits of detection and quantification at the 3sblank and 10sblank levels, respectively, for a sample volume of 3mL were 12 and 42ngL−1 Hg(II) with a dynamic range extending up to 5.0μgL−1. The proposed mesofluidic platform copes with the requirements of regulatory bodies (US-EPA, WHO, EU-Commission) for drinking water quality and surface waters that endorse maximum allowed concentrations of mercury spanning from 0.07 to 6.0μgL−1. Demonstrated with the analysis of aqueous samples of varying matrix complexity, the LOV approach afforded reliable results with relative recoveries of 86–107% and intermediate precision down to 9% in the renewable μSPE format.