Preconcentration of aniline derivatives from aqueous solutions using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration

Abstract

The preconcentration of aniline derivatives present in aqueous solutions containing ionic surfactants was performed using the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration technique. The efficiency of the analyte recovery in the surfactant-rich retentate was significantly improved by exploiting the electrostatic, hydrophobic and specific interactions between the aggregates and the solute molecules. By working at low pH, in the presence of anionic micelles, the quantitative retention of amines having different substituent groups can be achieved. The enriched sample can be analysed directly using high-performance liquid chromatography.