Determination of 2,5-hexanedione in urine by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography

2,5-Hexanedione (2,5-HD) is the most important metabolite of n-hexane and methyl ethyl ketone in human urine. Urinary 2,5-HD is used as a biomarker for biological monitoring of workers exposed to n-hexane. A simple method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a flame-ionization detector (FID) was developed. The parameters that affect the HS-SPME-GC-FID process were optimized (i.e., fiber coating, sample volume, adsorption and heating time, salt addition, and extraction temperature). The assay presented linearity in the range of 0.075 to 20.0 mg/L, precision (coefficient of variation < 7.0%), and detection limit of 0.025 mg/L for 2,5-HD in urine. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of 2,5-HD in urine samples from eight workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane in shoemaker's glue.