Water-Induced Coacervation of Alkyl Carboxylic Acid Reverse Micelles:  Phenomenon Description and Potential for the Extraction of Organic Compounds

Coacervates made up of alkanoic (C8−C16) and alkenoic (C18) acid reverse micelles were described for the first time, and their potential for the extraction of organic compounds prior to liquid chromatography was examined. The coacervation process occurred in miscible binary mixtures of water and a variety of protic and aprotic solvents. The phase behavior of alkyl carboxylic acids was found to be a function of both the Hildebrand solubility parameter, δ, and the hydrogen-bonding capability of the solvent. The best solvents for analytical extractions were those featuring the lowest δ values. The phase behavior of alkyl carboxylic acid/water/tetrahydrofuran (THF) ternary systems as a function of component concentration, pH, ionic strength, and temperature was investigated. The efficiency and the time required for phase separation depended on the experimental procedure used (i.e., standing, centrifugation, stirring, and sonication). The formation of alkyl carboxylic acid reverse micelles in THF was proven using both hydrophilic fluorescent probes and scattered light measurements. The structure of the coacervates consisted of spherical droplets dispersed in a continuous phase. Phase volume ratios were a function of both alkyl carboxylic acid and THF concentration. The low volume obtained (e.g., 1.5 μL per mg of decanoic) compared to that obtained by other coacervates (e.g., 5.1 μL per mg of dodecane sulfonic acid and 11.3 μL per mg of Triton X-114) greatly improved the concentration factors reached by coacervation-based extractions. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were assessed. Analytes in a wide range of polarity were efficiently extracted on the basis of the hydrophobic (e.g., PAHs) and hydrogen bond (e.g., chlorophenols, bisphenols, pesticides, phthalates, nonionic surfactants, dyes, and photographic developers) interactions that reverse micelles can establish. The coacervates were compatible with the chromatographic determination of analytes following UV or MS detection. They were successfully applied to the extraction of alkylphenol ethoxylates (octyl and nonyl) and alcohol ethoxylates (C12−C16) from influent and effluent wastewater and river water samples. Nonionic surfactants in the coacervate were directly separated and quantified by liquid chromatography−ion trap mass spectrometry. Concentration factors were around 160. The recovery of nonionics in the environmental water samples ranged from 90 to 104%.