Aniline-silica nanocomposite as a novel solid phase microextraction fiber coating

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is a widely used technique for sample preparation.
• Developing robust and sensitive SPME coatings is crucial for environmental analysis.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant environmental pollutants requiring accurate detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a new, unbreakable SPME fiber coating based on an aniline-silica nanocomposite.
• To develop and optimize a headspace-SPME (HS-SPME) method for the extraction of PAHs from aqueous samples.
• To validate the developed method for the analysis of PAHs in real water samples.

Main Methods:

• Electrodeposition of aniline-silica nanocomposite on stainless steel wire.
• Characterization of the nanocomposite coating using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Optimization of synthesis and extraction parameters for HS-SPME.
• Analysis of extracted PAHs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Main Results:

• The developed nanocomposite coating exhibited a porous surface structure and high durability.
• Optimized HS-SPME method achieved low limits of detection (1-3 ng L⁻¹) for PAHs.
• High linearity (R² > 0.995) was observed in the concentration range of 20-4000 ng L⁻¹.
• Successful application to real water samples (Kalan dam, rain, tap water) with recovery rates of 76-109%.

Conclusions:

• The novel aniline-silica nanocomposite SPME fiber is effective, inexpensive, and durable for PAH analysis.
• The developed HS-SPME-GC-MS method is sensitive, accurate, and suitable for environmental water monitoring.
• This technique offers a convenient and rapid approach for the determination of trace organic pollutants.