β-Cyclodextrin Assisted Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Based on Solidification of the Floating Organic Droplets Method for Determination of Neonicotinoid Residues

Abstract

An efficient and environment-friendly microextraction method, namely, β-cyclodextrin assisted liquid–liquid microextraction, based on solidification of the floating organic droplets method coupled with HPLC is investigated for the sensitive determination of trace neonicotinoid pesticide residues. In this method, β-cyclodextrin is used as a disperser solvent, while 1-octanol is selected as an extraction solvent. β-cyclodextrins was found to decrease interfacial tension and increase the contact area between the organic and water phases with the help of centrifugation. A cloudy solution was rapidly formed and then centrifuged to complete phase separation. Various key parameters influencing extraction efficiency were systematically investigated and optimized; they include salt addition, concentration of β-cyclodextrin, and volume of extraction solvent (1-octanol). Under optimum conditions, good linearity was obtained with coefficient for determination (R2) greater than 0.99. A low limit of detection, high enrichment factor, and good recovery (83 – 132) were achieved. This proves that the proposed method can be applied to determine trace neonicotinoid pesticide residues in natural surface water samples.