Hydroxyfullerene as a novel coating for solid-phase microextraction fiber with sol-gel technology.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a widely used technique for sample preparation.
• Development of novel SPME coatings is crucial for improving extraction efficiency and sensitivity.
• Existing SPME coatings may lack stability at high temperatures or exhibit limited selectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel hydroxyfullerene (fullerol) coating for SPME fibers.
• To evaluate the performance of the fullerol-coated SPME fiber for extracting less volatile organic compounds.
• To compare the new coating with commercial SPME stationary phases.

Main Methods:

• Sol-gel technology was employed to prepare the fullerol coating on fused-silica fibers.
• Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for coating characterization.
• Headspace SPME coupled with Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection (GC-ECD) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) was utilized for compound analysis.

Main Results:

• A stable, porous fullerol polysiloxane coating was successfully prepared and confirmed.
• The coating demonstrated excellent thermal stability (up to 360°C) and solvent resistance.
• The fullerol-coated SPME fiber exhibited higher sensitivity, faster mass transfer, and planar molecular recognition for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) compared to commercial phases.
• High fiber-to-fiber reproducibility was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Hydroxyfullerene (fullerol) is a promising material for developing novel SPME coatings.
• The sol-gel prepared fullerol-coated SPME fiber offers enhanced performance for analyzing organic pollutants.
• This new SPME fiber is firm, inexpensive, durable, and simple to prepare, making it suitable for practical applications.