Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on amine-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the determination of phenolic acids in vegetable oils by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

A novel dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method based on amine-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was developed for the determination of six phenolic acids in vegetable oils by high-performance liquid chromatography. Amine-functionalized Fe3O4 was synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal reaction between Fe3O4 and 1,6-hexanediamine and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry. A trace amount of phosphate buffer solution (extractant) was adsorbed on bare Fe3O4-NH2 nanoparticles by hydrophilic interaction to form the "magnetic extractant". Rapid extraction could be achieved while the "magnetic extractant" on amine-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles was dispersed in the sample solution by vortexing. After extraction, the "magnetic extractant" was collected by application of an external magnet. Some important parameters, such as pH and volume of extraction and desorption solvents, the extraction and desorption time needed were carefully investigated and optimized to achieve the best extraction efficiency. Under the optimal conditions, satisfactory extraction recoveries were obtained for the six phenolic acids in the range of 84.2-106.3%. Relative standard deviations for intra-and inter-day precisions were less than 6.3 and 10.0%, respectively. Finally, the established method was successfully applied for the determination of six phenolic acids in eight kinds of vegetable oils.