Inorganic/organic mesoporous silica as a novel fiber coating of solid-phase microextraction

Mesoporous materials were employed as fast, sensitive and efficient fiber coatings of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the first time. Three micrometer as-synthesized C(16)-MCM-41 particles were immobilized onto stainless steel wire with 100mum coating thickness. In combination with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), extraction efficiency and selectivity of C(16)-MCM-41 were investigated using aromatic hydrocarbons. Effect of extraction and desorption time, extraction temperature, stirring rate and ionic strength on extraction efficiency were examined. Aanalytical merits of SPME with C(16)-MCM-41 coating were evaluated. The chromatographic peak area is proportional to the concentration of anthracene in the range 0.5-150mugl(-1). The limit of detection was 0.05mugl(-1) (S/N=3) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 0.033%.