Alcohol-based microextraction of Rhodamine 6G from soft drink, food, and cosmetic samples

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Rhodamine 6G is a widely used dye found in various consumer products and environmental samples.
• Accurate quantification of Rhodamine 6G is crucial for quality control and environmental monitoring.
• Existing methods for Rhodamine 6G determination can be complex and solvent-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly liquid-liquid microextraction technique for Rhodamine 6G.
• To optimize experimental parameters for enhanced separation and enrichment of Rhodamine 6G.
• To validate the developed method for analyzing Rhodamine 6G in diverse real-world matrices.

Main Methods:

• Development of an alcohol-based solvent extraction technique, excluding tetrahydrofuran.
• Optimization of parameters such as pH, alcohol volume, ultrasonication time, and sample/eluent volumes.
• Analytical performance assessment using enrichment factor (EF), limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ).
• Validation using the standard addition method and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Main Results:

• The method achieved an enrichment factor (EF) of 14.
• The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 6.92 ng mL⁻¹.
• The limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 23 ng mL⁻¹.
• Successful determination of Rhodamine 6G in soft drinks, food, cosmetics, hygiene products, and natural waters.

Conclusions:

• The developed alcohol-based solvent extraction method provides an efficient and straightforward approach for Rhodamine 6G determination.
• The technique offers reduced solvent consumption and rapid analyte recovery compared to traditional methods.
• This method presents a promising, eco-friendly alternative for trace Rhodamine 6G analysis in complex matrices.