Rapid determination of polyhalogenated carbazoles in water chestnut based on vortex assisted solvent extraction coupled with dispersive filter extraction followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), originating from the production and use of halogenated indigo dyes, photoelectric materials, and p-chloraniline structure herbicides, pose a threat to water environments, aquatic products, and consequently human health. Therefore, establishing an accurate detection method for PHCZs in aquatic products is of paramount importance. In this study, trace PHCZs (36-CCZ, 36-BCZ, and 1368-BCZ) in water chestnut were detected for the first time using the prepared polyvinyl alcohol-functionalized graphene aerogel (PGA) as a novel adsorbent for dispersive filter extraction (DFE), coupled with vortex assisted solvent extraction (VASE), followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The extraction process (VASE-DFE) has the advantages of good purification effect, short extraction time (<15 min), and low adsorbent dosage (1.0 mg). This method demonstrated excellent linearity in the range of 0.10/0.50/1.00–200 ng/g for the three PHCZs (R2 ≥ 0.9995), and the recoveries at three spiked levels (2, 20, 100 ng/g) ranged from 82 % to 93 %, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ≤ 7.4 %. Notably, the method outperforms previously reported adsorbents in terms of RSDs, adsorbent dosage, and extraction time. The VASE-DFE-GC–MS/MS method provides a new approach for the detection of trace pollutants in complex samples, introduces a novel technology for environmental and food safety monitoring, and contributes to enhancing food safety supervision.