Solid-Phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples using CTAB-TIO2 modified nanotubes

[Display omitted] •A modified CTAB-TiO2 was applied for the SPEof PAHs from water samples.•TiO2 nanotubes were elaborated by the alkaline hydrothermal process.•The type of elution solvent, sample pH and volume, and concentrations significantly affect extraction yield.•Maximum extraction efficiency was found for pH values of the CTAB solution between 8 and 9.•Higher extraction efficiencies were obtained for the majority of PAHs when using a sample volume of 100 mL. To extract polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples using the Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) method. Based on hemimicelle/admicelle formation on the oxide surface, the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-titanate nanotube system has been used as an adsorbent for PAHs extraction. Many experiments were conducted to optimize the extraction parameters, and resulting extracts were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection. Results showed that the kind and volume of elution solvent, the pH, volume, and concentrations of the sample, and the pH PAH and concentration of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide significantly affect extraction yields. Under optimal conditions, modified TiO2 nanotubes exhibited their good enrichment capacity for PAHs (∼100%). Furthermore, the method of the analysis showed good linearity (R2 greater than 0.99), satisfactory repeatability (Relative standard deviation RSD between 4.8 and 11.2), and detection limits between 0.08 and 0.3 ng mL-1. The present SPE method showed competitive results with those given using multiwalled carbon nanotubes as adsorbent, and even better than those determined by the usual SPE-C18-silica method and liquid–liquid – extraction. The proposed method was applied to real water samples, and recoveries were between 80 and 99%, showing minimal matrix effect and the robustness of the optimized SPE method.