Application of C18-functional magnetic nanoparticles for extraction of aromatic amines from human urine

• C18-UMS NPs were successfully synthesized.
• Aromatic amines in urine samples were extracted by C18-UMS NPs.
• C18-UMS NPs can be recycled.
• The factors which can influence extraction efficiencies were investigated.

In this paper, a novel method using C18-functional ultrafine magnetic silica nanoparticles (C18-UMS NPs) as adsorbents was developed for rapid extraction and enrichment of aromatic amines from urine. C18-UMS NPs were prepared by chemical coprecipitation, silanization and alkylation. The aromatic amines can be adsorbed on C18-UMS NPs and isolated easily from the matrix with an external magnetic field. After desorption with acetonitrile, the aromatic amines were determined by ultra fast liquid chromatography. The experimental parameters, such as pH value of sample solution, amount of C18-UMS NPs, extraction time, type and volume of desorption solvent, and desorption time were optimized. The analytical performances of the present method were also evaluated. The limits of detection for 1-aminonaphthalene, 4-aminobiphenyl, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane and 4-aminophenylthioether were 1.3, 0.88, 1.1 and 1.1 ng mL−1, respectively. The results showed that the present method was simple, highly efficient and rapid for the extraction and enrichment of aromatic amines from urine.