Evaluation of prepared natural polymers in the extraction of chlorobenzenes from environmental samples: Sol-gel-based cellulose acetate-phenyltriethoxysilane fibers

In this research, three fibers including cellulose acetate (CA), CA-phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES) prepared via sol-gel electrospinning and sol-gel-based CA fibers immersed in PTES solution (dipped-CA-PTES) were prepared. The composition and morphology of the prepared fibers were evaluated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The prepared fibers were implemented in a home-made needle trap device, followed by thermal desorption of the selected chlorobenzenes (CBs) to a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Finally, parameters affecting the extraction methodology such as the amount of sorbent, extraction time and temperature, desorption time and temperature and the ionic strength were investigated. Among the fabricated extractive phases, the hybrid CA-PTES fibers exhibited higher extraction efficiency. Under the optimal condition, the limits of detection were lower than 0.42 μg L−1 and the relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precision for a single needle were in the range of 3-5% and 5-10%, respectively. In addition, the needle-to-needle reproducibility was from 9 to 12% (n = 3). Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of samples from river water, sediment and sludge samples. Relative recoveries were in the range of 94-105%.