Assessment of graphene aerogel matrix solid-phase dispersion as sample preparation for the determination of chlorophenols in soil

Abstract

Herein, three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogels (GAs) were synthesized successfully by a simple hydrothermal reduction method and introduced as dispersing materials of matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for the determination of six chlorophenols (CPs) in soil samples via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and N₂ adsorption–desorption transmission were applied to characterize the synthesized GAs. The GA-SPE-HPLC-UV method shows low limits of detection (0.02–0.10 μg L⁻¹), wide linear ranges (50–1000 μg L⁻¹), and acceptable reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD < 6.8% for intra-day, RSD < 8.6% for inter-day). Moreover, the method was further applied for the analysis of six CPs in real samples with good recoveries (86.1–111.1%) and satisfactory precision (RSD < 9.8%). The GAs are more effective in CP adsorption than commercial C18 (octadecylsilane) and SWCNTs (single-walled carbon nanotubes). It is confirmed that the proposed method has high sensitivity, outstanding selectivity, and good reproducibility towards the determination of trace CPs in the soil.