Mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction of chlorophenols in environmental water samples with 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis

In this paper, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C16mimBr)-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) as an adsorbent of mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction was investigated for the preconcentration of two chlorophenols (CPs) in environmental water samples prior to HPLC with UV detection at 285 nm. The high surface area and excellent adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4 NPs after modification with C16mimBr were utilized adequately in the SPE process. By the rapid isolation of Fe3O4 NPs through placing a strong magnet on the bottom of beaker, the time-consuming preconcentration process of loading large volume sample in conventional SPE method with a column can be avoided. A comprehensive study of the adsorption conditions such as the zeta-potential of Fe3O4 NPs, added amounts of C16mimBr, pH value, standing time and maximal extraction volume were also presented. Under optimized conditions, two analytes of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) were quantitatively determined. The method was then used to determine the two CPs in real environmental water samples. The accuracy of method was evaluated by recovery measurements on spiked samples. Good recovery results (74–90%) were achieved. It is important to note that satisfactory preconcentration factors and extraction recoveries for the two CPs were obtained with only a small amount of Fe3O4 NPs (40 mg) and C16mimBr (24 mg).

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► C16mimBr-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles acted as an adsorbent of mixed hemimicelles SPE.
► This SPE method was effective for concentrating chlorophenols prior to HPLC analysis.
► This approach was applied to determine the two chlorophenols in real environmental water samples.