Ionic liquids for improving the extraction of NSAIDs in water samples using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array–fluorescence detection

• A new rapid and efficient IL-DLLME method for NSAIDs determination was developed.
• IL [BMIM][BF4] was used to changes the polarity of the aqueous system before IL-DLLME.
• IL [BMIM][PF6] lets extraction and preconcentration of NSAIDs in one step.
• Ultrasound assisted extraction in the proposed method it is not necessary.
• Recoveries for the analytes ranged from 89% to 103% and enrichment factors 49 to 57.

A rapid, sensitive and efficient analytical method based on the use of ionic liquids for determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water samples was developed. High-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array and fluorescence detector was used for quantification of ketoprofen, ibuprofen and diclofenac in tap and river water samples. This new method relies on the use of two ionic liquids with multiple functionalities: one functions as an extraction solvent (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]), and the other changes the polarity in the aqueous medium (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, ([BMIM][BF4]). Factors such as the type and volume of the ILs and dispersive solvent, sample volume, and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized. The optimized method exhibited good precision, with relative standard deviation values between 2% and 3%, for the three NSAIDs. Limits of detection achieved for all of the analytes were between 17 and 95 ng mL−1, and the recoveries ranged from 89% to 103%. Furthermore, the enrichment factors ranged from 49 to 57. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of NSAIDs in tap and river water samples.

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