Ionic liquid foam floatation coupled with solid phase extraction for separation and determination of hormones by high-performance liquid chromatography

[Display omitted] ► The foaming property of ionic liquids (ILs) was found. ► The factors that can influence foamability of the ILs were investigated. ► On foamability of ILs, the foam floatation-solid phase extraction was developed. ► IL-FF-SPE was applied to the extraction and concentration of steroid hormones. ► The extraction and concentration were performed synchronously in 10 min. The foaming property of ionic liquids (ILs) was found and the factors that can influence foamability of the ILs were investigated. Based on the property of the ILs, the foam floatation-solid phase extraction (FF-SPE) was developed. The IL-based FF-SPE was applied to the extraction and concentration of steroid hormones, including corticosterone, 17-β-estadiol, 17-α-estradiol, 19-nortestosterone, estrone, testosterone, 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone, medroxyprogesterone, chloromadinon 17-acetate, norethisterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone-17-acetate, progesterone, 17-β-estradiol 3-benzoate and testosteron 17-propionate in water samples and then the steroid hormones were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The extraction and concentration were performed synchronously in 10 min. Some experimental conditions were examined and optimized. The recoveries ranged from 50.6% to 95.2% for lake water sample and from 53.4% to 98.7% for rain water sample. The precision ranged from 2.43% to 7.43% for the lake water sample and 2.07–7.01% for rain water sample. Based on the foaming property of ILs, the application of foam floatation should be widened.