Microextraction flotamicroextraction flotation concentration and determination of chloroacetic acids in watertion concentration and determination of chloroacetic acids in water

The flotation-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction method of mono-, di -, and trichloroacetic acids (CAAs) has been developed. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was used as an extractant. The emulsification was performed by the ultrasonic irradiation. The microextraction procedure was carried out in a 27 ml special tube. It was equipped with the capillaries for sampling the extract and an air outlet. A salting-out additive (Na2SO4) was used to reduce the solubility of MTBE in water and to increase the extraction efficiency of CAAs. The air passage through the emulsion of the extractant was carried out using the eight-channel capillary bubbler. The organic matrix replacement was applied for ion chromatographic determination of CAAs with the conductivity detection. Current study showed the advantages of the flotation-assisted demulsification over the centrifugal one. The concentration factors of chlorinated acetic acids were 2-3 times higher. The detection limits of CAAs in water were reduced to (5·10-4 - 4·10-3 mg/l). The extraction time was reduced by more than three times. The trueness of the determination of HUC impurities was confirmed by the addition method. The statistical insignificance of the systematic error in comparison with the random error was shown. The developed method of preconcentration in combination with ion chromatography made it possible to determine the concentrations of CAAs 40-1250 times lower than the normalized SanPiN and WHO. This allowed conducting a highly sensitive determination of CAAs in water long before the onset of the critical ecological state.