Ultrasound-assisted liquid-phase microextraction based on a nanostructured supramolecular solvent

Novel ultrasonically enhanced supramolecular solvent microextraction (USESSM) then high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection have been used for extraction and determination of phthalates in water and cosmetics. Coacervates consisting of decanoic acid-based nano-structured aggregates, specifically reverse micelles, have been used the first time as solvents for ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME). Sonication accelerated mass transfer of the target analytes into the nano-structured solvent from the aqueous sample, thus reducing extraction time. Several conditions affecting extraction efficiency, for example the concentrations of major components of the supramolecular solvent (tetrahydrofuran and decanoic acid), sample solution pH, salt addition, and ultrasonication time, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration of the analytes ranged from 176 to 412-fold and the linear range was 0.5-100 μg L(-1), with correlation coefficients (R(2)) ≥ 0.9984. The detection sensitivity of the method was excellent, with limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) in the range 0.10-0.70 μg L(-1) and precision in the range 4.1-11.7 % (RSD, n = 5). This method was successfully used for analysis of phthalates in water and cosmetics, with good recovery of spiked phthalates (91.0-108.5 %).