Ligand-assisted extraction for separation and preconcentration of gold nanoparticles from waters

A new two-step extraction procedure is proposed for separation and preconcentration of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) from aqueous samples. First, Au-NPs are loaded onto a reversed phase C-18 (RP-C18) column, and then ligand-assisted extraction into chloroform is performed. 1-Dodecanethiol (1-DDT, 5 mM) was used as selective ligand for quantitative extraction under ultrasonic condition. Parameters of the extraction procedure, such as sample volume, organic solvent, concentration and nature of the ligand, ultrasonication time, pH of the sample, and different coating as well as sizes of Au-NPs were investigated in regard to the extraction efficiency of Au-NPs. The optimized procedure allows separation and preconcentration of the Au-NPs with an enrichment factor of up to 250 assuring no changes in size and/or shape of the NPs. This was proved by investigation of the particles by UV-vis spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the presence of potentially interfering other metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was studied. Observed minor recoveries of Au-NPs in DOM model solutions were overcome by hydrogen peroxide pretreatment up to a DOM concentration of about 4 mg/L. Feasibility of the proposed method was proved by application of the optimized procedure to 5 real water samples. Recoveries of Au-NPs in the real waters spiked in a concentration range from 0.15 to 5100 μg/L obtained by this method varied from 68.4% to 99.4%. Consequently, the proposed approach has great potential for the analysis of M-NPs in environmental waters.