Dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction using octadecyl coated silica magnetite nanoparticles for the extraction of tetracyclines in water samples

Abstract

Magnetite nanoparticles coated with silica and hydrophobic octadecyl layers were successfully synthesized and used in magnetic solid phase extraction of tetracyclines from water samples. The magnetite nanoparticles facilitated a convenient magnetic separation of sorbent from an aqueous sample, the octadecyl layer helped to enhance the adsorption ability and the silica layer helped to prevent the aggregation of the magnetite nanoparticles. The effect of various parameters on the extraction efficiency were optimized including the amount of sorbent, sample pH, stirring rate, extraction time and desorption conditions. Under the optimum conditions, the recoveries were in the range of 82 to 88%, the calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.002 to 1.0 μg/mL for oxytetracycline and 0.01 to 1.0 μg/mL for tetracycline and chlortetracycline, respectively. The developed method had several advantages such as simplicity, convenience, cost-effectiveness and high extraction efficiency.