Abstract:

Sample preparation is a critical step for target detection. However, the traditional sample preparation techniques usually experience limitations, including time-consuming and tedious workflows and environmentally harmful processes that give rise to secondary pollution. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technology integrates sampling, extraction, concentration, and sample injection into one step. It does not require organic solvents during the extraction process and is considered as a simple, fast, and environment-friendly sample pretreatment technique. In this study, SPME technology was used to extract BTEX from water samples. The SPME conditions were carefully optimized, and a BTEX quantitative detection method was established through coupling the SPME with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that this new SPME method possessed excellent linear ranges of 100–10000 ng·L^-1 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, detection limits of 37.50, 16.67, 45.45 and 10.64 ng·L^-1, respectively and linear correlation coefficients (R²) all higher than 0.99. Finally, the established SPME method was applied to real water samples for BTEX detection, obtaining recoveries of 86.83%–114.8%. The entire SPME workflow is simple and highly efficient, and the detection results are reliable. This work introduces the advanced SPME technology into undergraduate teaching experiments, thus incorporating ideological and political elements to lay the groundwork for green environmental protection for students. Furthermore, this experiment helps students learn advanced sample pretreatment technology and experience how the cutting-edge technology triggers revolutionary innovations within the field of analytical chemistry.

Key words: Solid phase microextraction, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, BTEX, Water