Comparison between magnetic and non magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes-dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of sulfonamide antibiotics in water samples

In this manuscript, a new method based on the use of off-line dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection was developed to determine 11 sulfonamide antibiotics (sulfanilamide, sulfacetamide, sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole, sulfamerazine, sulfadimidin, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole and sulfadimethoxine) in mineral waters with different mineral content. For this purpose, pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and magnetic-MWCNTs (m-MWCNTs) were used as sorbents. Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by means of a solvothermal process, assembled onto CNTs through an “aggregation wrap” mechanism and characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Parameters affecting the extraction such as volume and pH of the sample, amount of sorbent and type and volume of eluent were optimized. Once optimum extraction conditions (250mL of water at pH 6.0 and elution with 25mL of MeOH) were obtained, the extraction efficiency of the different carbon nanomaterials was compared. Results demonstrated the higher extraction capacity of pristine MWCNTs with recoveries between 61 and 110% (except for sulfacetamide which ranged between 40 and 53%) and between 22 and 77% for m-MWCNTs. Limits of detection lower than 32ng/L were achieved for all of the analyzed samples. •A dSPE–UHPLC-DAD method was developed to determine 11 sulfonamides in water.•Pristine and magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were tested as sorbents.•Magnetic MWCNTs were synthetized by means of a solvothermal process.•Pristine MWCNTs showed the higher extraction capacity.•The procedure is simple, fast and reliable to determine the selected sulfonamides.