Graphenized pencil lead fiber: facile preparation and application in solid-phase microextraction.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a widely used technique for sample preparation.
• Developing efficient, low-cost, and robust SPME fibers is crucial for environmental analysis.
• Graphene's unique properties offer potential for advanced extraction materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a novel graphenized pencil lead fiber for SPME.
• To evaluate the extraction performance of this new fiber for bisphenol analogs.
• To demonstrate the fiber's stability, lifespan, and applicability in real-world samples.

Main Methods:

• In situ chemical exfoliation of graphite in pencil lead fiber to few-layered graphene sheets.
• One-pot, one-step pressurized oxidation reaction for fiber preparation.
• Direct SPME mode for the extraction of bisphenol analogs (BPA, BPS, BPAF, TBBPA).

Main Results:

• The graphenized pencil lead fiber exhibited excellent chemical stability in various conditions (saline, acidic, alkaline, organic).
• The fiber demonstrated a long lifespan and high extraction efficiency and selectivity for analytes with a wide polarity range.
• Low detection limits (1.1-25 ng/L) were achieved, with successful application in tap water and wastewater effluent analysis (68.5-105.1% spike recoveries).

Conclusions:

• The graphenized pencil lead fiber is a high-performance, cost-effective, robust, and reliable tool for SPME.
• This novel material offers a promising alternative to commercially available SPME fibers.
• The developed method is suitable for the analysis of environmental water samples.