Fabrication of magnetic activated carbon for ultrasound-enhanced dispersivemagnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueousmedia

In the present investigation novel magnetic nanoparticles of cobalt-ferrite/activated carbon (CoFe2O4/AC) fabricated via the chemical co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles are confirmed by advanced characterization techniques including x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis was shown that it has the desired magnetic susceptibility. The as-prepared magnetic activated carbon was used for ultrasound-enhanced dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous media. The extraction and desorption parameters such as adsorbent quantity, type and volume of the desorption solvent, and sonication time of the target analytes and method validation were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the method showed low detection limits for all analytes (0.1-0.5 pg/mL). Good linearity was observed in the investigated concentration range of 0.05-200 ng/mL. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviations were in the range 5.3-8.1% (for 0.1 ng/mL ; n = 3). Finally, the method was applied for the determination of ultratrace levels of PAHs in wastewater, well and tap water samples, showing quantitative recoveries in the range of 96-101%. Due to the excellent magnetic behavior of nanocomposite, the proposed method was shown to be simple and rapid. Besides these, this method is sensitive, low cost, efficient and environmentally friendly.

Fabrication of magnetic activated carbon for ultrasound-enhanced dispersivemagnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueousmedia Keywords:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , Dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction , Cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles , Magnetic activated carbons