Magnetic nanoparticles of nitrogen enriched carbon (mnNEC) for analysis of pesticides and metabolites in zebrafish by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Nanosized carbon based sorbents have been widely used for separation, enrichment and desalting of biological samples because of their distinguished characteristics. In this work, magnetic nanoparticles of nitrogen enriched carbon (mnNEC) have been developed for enrichment of organochlorine pesticide DDT and metabolite DDE that have been accumulated in zebrafish during the course of environmental exposure. Polymerization of pyrrole was performed in the aqueous suspension of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Resultant core–shell nanoparticules coated with polypyrrole were then subjected to a process of carbonization under high temperature and nitrogen atmospheric condition. The presence of nitrogen atoms in carbon nanoparticles increases the hydrophilicity and dispersability in aqueous samples. It has been experimentally demonstrated that mnNEC can be effectively dispersed in aqueous samples and rapidly isolated by the application of an external magnetic field. Recoveries of DDT and DDE from water range from 90% to 102% and 85–97% respectively. In combination with Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) experiments of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the detection limit can be down to low ng/mL level. By using mnNEC approach, two interesting results have been found for zebrafish with 60 days exposure to DDT (1 μg/l). (1) There is higher concentration of DDT (37–143 ng/g) and DDE (173–1108 ng/g) in male zebrafish body tissues than that of female (7–52 ng/g and 146–362 ng/g for DDT and DDE respectively). (2) There is high ratio of DDE/DDT for both female and male zebrafish, implying high environmental persistence and ongoing bioaccumulation.

► Magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 were coated by in situ polymerization of pyrrole.
► Carbonization of polypyrrole coated magnetic nanoparticles at high temperature and nitrogen atmospheric condition.
► Magnetic nanoparticles of nitrogen enriched carbon (mnNEC) can be readily dispersed in aqueous solutions.
► The mnNEC can be used for enrichment of environmental pollutants such as pesticide residues and metabolites.