β-Cyclodextrin modified filter paper based solid phase extraction–room temperature phosphorimetry for preconcentration and determination of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds in water samples

A highly selective method for the preconcentration and the determination of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (NHCs) by solid phase extraction–room temperature phosphorimetry (SPE–RTP) was described. The β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) coated filter paper was synthesized and used as the SPE membrane and the substrate for the measurement of RTP emission of NHCs in water samples. The RTP characteristics of NHCs on the coated filter paper were studied. The conditions for the measurement of RTP intensities of NPAHs were discussed and optimized in detail. Several experimental parameters related to the preconcentration of NHCs on the coated filter paper were also examined. The experimental results showed that the β-CD coated filter paper could selectively extract NHCs containing three benzene rings with a high enrichment efficiency. The limit of detections of carbazole, 7,8-benzoquinoline and phenanthridine were found to be 9.1 × 10−14, 8.3 × 10−13 and 7.8 × 10−13 mol mL−1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of NHCs in water samples. The recoveries of carbazole, 7,8-benzoquinoline and phenanthridine in water samples was in the range of 86.1–109.3%.