Screening Method for Mononitrotoluenes in Natural Waters Using Magnetic Solvent Bar Liquid-Phase Micro-extraction Followed by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection

A simple andefficient hollow fiber-based method,viz magnetic solvent bar liquid-phasemicroextraction (MSB-LPME) combined with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GCFID)has been successfully developed for the trace determination of mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) innatural water samples. The analytes were extracted from sample solution to the organic solventimmobilized in a fiber. Following the extraction, the analyte-adsorbed magnetic solvent bar can beeasily isolated from the sample solution by a magnet which could significantlyfacilitate theoperation as well asreducing the total pretreatment time. The bar was mainly eluted withacetonitrile, evaporated to dryness while the residue was dissolved in toluene and finally injectedinto GC-FID. At first, a series of parameters influencing microextraction performance weresystematically investigated and optimized. The values of the detection limit were in the range of0.05-0.08 μg L-1 and the RSD% for the analysis of 50.0μg L-1 of the analytes was below than 5.8%(n = 6). An acceptable linearity (0.996 ≥ r2 ≥ 0.995) and a broad linear range (0.2-200 μg L-1) wereachieved. The method was eventually employed for the preconcentration and determination of theMNTs in environmental water samples and acceptable results were reached.