title: Application of solvent microextraction to the analysis of nitroaromatic explosives in water samples.
abstract: The application of solvent microextraction to the analysis of nitroaromatic explosives is presented. Extraction of 11 nitroaromatics was achieved by suspending 1 microl of organic solvent to the tip of a microsyringe in a stirred aqueous solution. Parameters such as extraction solvent, stirring rate, salt concentration and sampling time were studied and optimized. The limits of detection using bench-top quadrupole mass spectrometry and short extraction times (15 min) were found to be between 0.08 and 1.3 microg/l and the relative standard deviations ranged between 4.3 and 9.8%. Although precision and accuracy of quantification of the method are still needed, solvent microextraction proved to be a fast, simple and inexpensive tool for preconcentration and matrix isolation of nitroaromatics on a microscale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Polytechneioupolis, Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Psillakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalogerakis
mesh_terms: D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005107:Explosions; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012997:Solvents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009574:Nitro Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical