Solidified floating organic drop microextraction (SFODME) for the simultaneous analysis of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aqueous samples by HPLC

Abstract

In this work, a liquid-liquid microextraction methodology using solidified floating organic drop (SFODME) was combined with liquid chromatography and UV/Vis detection to determine non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) naproxen (NPX), diclofenac (DCF), and mefenamic acid (MFN) in tap water, surface water, and seawater samples. Parameters that can influence the efficiency of the process were evaluated, such as the type and volume of the extractor and dispersive solvents, effect of pH, agitation type, and ionic strength. The optimized method showed low detection limits (0.09 to 0.25 μg L-1), satisfactory recovery rates (90 to 116%), and enrichment factors in the range between 149 and 199. SFODME showed simplicity, low cost, speed, and high concentration capacity of the analytes under study. Its use in real samples did not demonstrate a matrix effect that would compromise the effectiveness of the method, being possible to apply it successfully in water samples with different characteristics.