Headspace Microextraction of Sulfonamides from Honey by Hollow Fibers Coupled with Ultrasonic Nebulization

A new method for the rapid simultaneous determination of five sulfonamides in honey was developed using ultrasonic nebulization-assisted extraction coupled with hollow fiber liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction prior to liquid chromatography. In the present method, the sample solution was nebulized by ultrasonication. Sulfonamides in the aerosol particles were extracted by 1-octanol impregnated in the pores of a hollow fiber and further into the acceptor phase (acid solution, pH 2.0) contained in the lumen of the hollow fiber. Several experimental parameters that affect the extraction efficiency were optimized. The present method provides good recoveries (88.9-114.2%) and acceptable precision (<10.7%), indicating the effective extraction. The detection limits were 4.6-6.8 μg/kg, lower than the maximum residue limits of sulfonamides in honeys. Compared to the traditional extraction methods, the present method requires less organic solvent and operation time, demonstrating excellent cleanup ability and good enrichment efficiency.