Activated Carbon Fiber Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography for Determination of Phthalate Esters in Seawater

The performance of activated carbon fiber(ACF) used as extraction fiber for solid phase microextraction(SPME) and the application of ACF for the analysis of phthalate esters (PAEs) in seawater were studied and discussed. The parameters affecting the SPME adsorption process were optimized. Under the optimal conditions(extraction temperature was 60 degrees C, salt concentration was 15%, extraction time was 60 min), the method had an acceptable linearity between 0.1 mu g/L and 1000 mu g/L, and the limits of the detection were 0.01 - 10 mu g/L, with RSD values < 10% for each compound. The four PAEs compounds were not detected in seawater sample using the ACF-SPME-GC method.