Diamond nanoparticles coating for in-tube solid-phase microextraction to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a widely used technique for sample preparation.
• Developing novel extraction materials with enhanced capacity and selectivity is crucial for improving analytical methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate diamond nanoparticle-coated stainless steel wires for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (ITSP)
• To assess the extraction efficiency of the developed material for hydrophobic analytes like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Main Methods:

• Stainless steel wires were coated with diamond nanoparticles and packed into a poly(ether ether ketone) tube for ITSP.
• The method was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for analysis.
• Extraction and desorption parameters were optimized for PAHs.

Main Results:

• Diamond nanoparticle coating demonstrated high extraction capacity for hydrophobic analytes.
• The developed method showed a wide linear range (0.016–20 μg/L) and low limits of detection (0.005–0.020 μg/L).
• High enrichment factors (305–2396) and good reproducibility (RSD < 8.4%) were achieved.

Conclusions:

• Diamond nanoparticle-coated wires are effective for ITSP of hydrophobic compounds.
• The method is sensitive, reproducible, and suitable for analyzing PAHs in real environmental samples.