Determination of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in carbonated soft drinks with MSPE/GC–MS method

Abstract

In this study, at first were prepared novel multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with catalytic nanoparticles of iron oxide and silver (MWCNTs-Fe₃O₄/Ag) by mixing the magnetic particles. Due to their excellent absorption and desorption capability towards hydrophobic compounds, the magnetic MWCNTs were used as adsorbent of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) to extract phthalate acid esters (PAEs). Our results showed the highest concentration of phthalate esters of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) which is much higher than the standard level in the four samples (6766.6, 9201, 9301.6, and 14,008 ng/L). Finally, the established MSPE-GC/MS method was successfully applied to the determination of PAEs from carbonated soft drinks and the MSPE-GC/MS method developed in current study provides a new option for the detection of PAEs from carbonated soft drinks with complex matrices.

Keywords:

• Magnetic solid-phase extraction
• multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• magnetic with iron oxide
• catalytic nanoparticles of silver
• phthalate esters
• carbonated soft drink

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Public Health Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and Iran nanotechnology initiative council [93-02-27-25826].