Analysis of trace amounts of chlorobenzenes in water samples: An approach towards the automation of dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction

We have combined dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction with GC and electron capture detection for the quantitative determination of five chlorobenzenes in water samples. Extraction is based on an automated dynamic extraction device called TT-tube extractor which consists of a polypropylene hollow fiber mounted inside a stainless steel tube. Toluene is used as the extraction solvent that fills the lumen and pores of the hydrophobic fiber and flows through the lumen of the fiber using a programmable syringe pump. The type of organic solvent, ionic strength, diameter of the TT-tube, sample volume, and the times for extraction and dwelling were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the method gives limits of detection as low as 10–100 ng L−1, a linear dynamic range of 0.05–100 μg L−1, and relative standard deviations of <7% (n = 6). The preconcentration factor can be as large as 562–973. In an example for a practical application, the chlorobenzenes were successfully determined in environmental aqueous samples. The hollow fiber membrane can be used at least 20 times without any carry-over or loss in extraction efficiency. The system is inexpensive and convenient, and requires minimal manual handling.