In-syringe dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using deep eutectic solvent as disperser: Determination of chromium (VI) in beverages

A novel approach for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the use of deep eutectic solvent as a disperser was presented for the first time. The procedure was automated based on an in-syringe flow system coupled with UV-Vis detection and demonstrated by the determination of chromium (VI) in beverages. This analytical task was used as a proof-of-concept example. The automated extraction procedure involved the aspiration of aqueous sample into a syringe pump with homogeneous mixture of extraction solvent (1-oсtanol) and deep eutectic solvent (tetrabutylammonium bromide - formic acid) containing color-forming reagent (1,5-diphenylcarbazide). This led to decomposition of deep eutectic solvent in aqueous phase resulting in dispersion of extraction solvent, oxidation of 1,5-diphenylcarbazide to 1,5- diphenylcarbazone in the presence of chromium (VI), and formation of colored chromium (III) complex with 1,5-diphenylcarbazone and its fast extraction. In this case composition of deep eutectic solvent played a key role for analyte extraction. Tetrabutylammonium bromide promoted mass transfer between aqueous phase and the extraction solvent droplets as a salting out agent, bromide ion acted as an ion-pare agent for analyte complex extraction, formic acid provided required pH value for analyte complex formation. Under the optimal conditions the limit of detection, calculated from a blank test based on 3s, was 0.2 μg L-1. The automated dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using deep eutectic solvent as disperser can be considered as an available, efficient, rapid and environmentally friendly sample pretreatment approach.