Novel combined stir bar sorptive extraction coupled with ultrasonic assisted extraction for the determination of brominated flame retardants in environmental samples using high performance liquid chromatography

Occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the atmosphere of South Korea: A review

Numerous studies found the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in various environmental compartments, including air, water, and soil. POPs have been discovered in various industrial and agricultural products with severe environmental and human health consequences. According to the data, South Korea is a hotspot for POP pollution in the southern part of Asia; hence, South Korea has implemented the Stockholm Convention's National Implementation Plan (NIP) to address this worldwide issue. The purpose of this review is to assess the distribution pattern of POPs pollution in South Korea's atmosphere. According to findings, PAHs, PCBs, BFRs, and PBDEs significantly polluted the atmosphere of South Korea; however, assessing their exposure nationwide is difficult due to a shortage of data. The POPs temporal trend and meta-analysis disclosed no proof of a decrease in PAHs and BFRs residues in the atmosphere. However, POP pollution in South Korea tends to decrease compared to contamination levels in neighboring countries like Japan and China.

Health toxicity effects of brominated flame retardants: From environmental to human exposure

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) are brominated flame retardants widely used in variety of industrial and consumer products (e.g., automobiles, electronics, furniture, textiles and plastics) to reduce flammability. HBCD and TBBPA can also contaminate the environment, mainly water, dust, air and soil, from which human exposure occurs. This constant exposure has raised some concerns against human health. These compounds can act as endocrine disruptors, a property that gives them the ability to interfere with hormonal function and quantity, when HBCD and TBBPA bind target tissues in the body. Studies in human and animals suggest a correlation between HBCD and TBBPA exposure and adverse health outcomes, namely thyroid disorders, neurobehavior and development disorders, reproductive health, immunological, oncological and cardiovascular diseases. However, in humans these effects are still poorly understood, once only a few data evaluated the human health effects. Thus, the purpose of this review is to present the toxicity effects of HBCD and TBBPA and how these compounds affect the environment and health, resorting to data and knowledge of 255 published papers from 1979 to 2020.

AGREE-Analytical GREEnness Metric Approach and Software

Green analytical chemistry focuses on making analytical procedures more environmentally benign and safer to humans. The amounts and toxicity of reagents, generated waste, energy requirements, the number of procedural steps, miniaturization, and automation are just a few of the multitude of criteria considered when assessing an analytical methodology’s greenness. The use of greenness assessment criteria requires dedicated tools. We propose the Analytical GREEnness calculator, a comprehensive, flexible, and straightforward assessment approach that provides an easily interpretable and informative result. The assessment criteria are taken from the 12 principles of green analytical chemistry (SIGNIFICANCE) and are transformed into a unified 0–1 scale. The final score is calculated based on the SIGNIFICANCE principles. The result is a pictogram indicating the final score, performance of the analytical procedure in each criterion, and weights assigned by the user. Freely available software makes the assessment procedure straightforward. It is open-source and downloadable from https://mostwiedzy.pl/AGREE.

The effects of prosperity indices and land use indicators of an urban conurbation on the occurrence of hexabromocyclododecanes and tetrabromobisphenol A in surface soil in South China

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are legacy brominated flame retardants which are still produced and used in China. In this study, 187 surface soils from the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban conurbation in China were collected, and the effects of urban conurbation development on the concentrations, distributions and human exposure risk of HBCDs and TBBPA were investigated. The concentration ranges of Σ₃HBCD (sum of α-, β-, and γ-HBCD) and TBBPA in soil were below the limit of quantification (<LOQ) to 300 ng g^-1 dry weight (dw) and < LOQ to 53.1 ng g^-1 dw, respectively. Concentration levels of HBCDs and TBBPA in the PRD were affected both by distributions of land-use type and by the location of the city. Soils from residential areas contained the highest concentrations of Σ₃HBCD (median: 1.75 ng g^-1 dw) and TBBPA (1.92 ng g^-1 dw) among all land-use types. In addition, soils from the central PRD had higher Σ₃HBCD and TBBPA levels (0.46 and 0.90 ng g^-1 dw) than those from the surrounding areas (0.17 and 0.07 ng g^-1 dw). The concentrations of Σ₃HBCD and TBBPA were highly correlated with urbanization level, population density, regional GDP and per capita income in all cities studied (p < 0.01), which indicates that the prosperity of the urban conurbation may play an important role in soil contamination of HBCDs and TBBPA in the PRD. Children living in residential areas had the highest estimated daily intakes of Σ₃HBCD (7.09 pg kg^-1 d^-1) and TBBPA (7.76 pg kg^-1 d^-1), suggesting that people living in residential areas have a relatively higher exposure risk of HBCDs and TBBPA. This is a comprehensive study to report the effects of prosperity indices and land use indicators of an urban conurbation on the occurrence of HBCDs and TBBPA in soil in China.

Ion chromatographic determination of total bromine in electronic devices in conjunction with a catalytic reduction debromination pretreatment

A new determination method for total bromine in electronic devices was developed by using ultrasound assisted extraction, copper-catalyzed reductive debromination and ion chromatography (UAE-RD-IC). It was found that all the added brominated flame retardants (polybrominateddiphenyl ethers, polybrominated biphenyls, tetrabromobisphenol A, and hexabromocyclododecane) could be completely debrominated by using copper-based catalysts and reducing agent N₂H₄•H₂O. The complete debromination of brominated flame retardants released all of their bromine in the form of bromide ions, which could be determined by ion chromatography. After the extraction parameters were optimized by achieving the maximum IC signal in the certified reference material GBW(E) 082725, the UAE-RD-IC method was established for the determination of total bromine in solid samples. By analyzing the certified reference material, the Br content was obtained as 695.3 ± 16.0 mg kg^-1, being well consistent with its standard value (694.54 ± 30.63 mg kg^-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) of five parallel determinations was 1.7%, indicating the good repeatability of the developed method. The proposed method was further applied to analyze the samples of cables and computer mouse shells. For all these practical samples, the Br contents obtained by the UAE-RD-IC method were in good agreement with that obtained by the standard oxygen bomb combustion-IC method. It was noted that the new method has a detection limit of Br of about 20 mg kg^-1, being much lower than that (75 mg kg^-1) of the traditional oxygen bomb combustion-IC method for total bromine detection. Therefore, the proposed method was qualified as a practical method to measure total bromine content in actual electronic devices with good analytical performances of accuracy, precision and sensitivity.

Organic Analysis of Environmental Samples Using Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array and Fluorescence Detectors: An Overview

This overview is focused to provide an useful guide of the families of organic pollutants that can be determined by liquid chromatography operating in reverse phase and ultraviolet/fluorescence detection. Eight families have been classified as the main groups to be considered: carbonyls, carboxyls, aromatics, phenols, phthalates, isocyanates, pesticides and emerging. The references have been selected based on analytical methods used in the environmental field, including both the well-established procedures and those more recently developed.

Applications of thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for hydrocarbon fingerprinting of hydraulically fractured shale rocks

Development of shale gas resources through the use of hydraulic fracturing has raised a multitude of environmental concerns and motivated research towards the understanding of shale gas systems. Previous research has demonstrated the potential of utilizing hydrocarbon distributions towards the fingerprinting of a potential environmental contamination event arising from shale gas operations. However, to apply hydrocarbon distributions from shale gas wells towards point-source identification and apportionment, a better understanding of hydrocarbon origins must be achieved. Here we present an efficient and repeatable thermal desorption method, as a sample introduction methodology for GC × GC analysis of shale rock samples that results in comparable chromatograms to those produced by solvent extraction. This novel and robust characterization technique of shale cores from Marcellus and Utica formations by thermal desorption followed by GC × GC enables the understanding of hydrocarbon speciation within the native rock with minimal sample preparation time and solvent use. The detailed shale chemistry gives insight into utilizing hydrocarbon differences towards point-source identification methodologies of environmental contamination events associated with unconventional gas development. Additionally, this analytical technique may provide a more detailed analysis of hydrocarbons than what is currently implemented in the industry to pinpoint the most advantageous areas to exploit by hydraulic fracturing, yet avoiding undesirable areas such as those with a high abundance of sulfur containing compounds.

Occurrence of tetrabromobisphenol a (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in soil and road dust in Chongqing, western China, with emphasis on diastereoisomer profiles, particle size distribution, and human exposure

Currently, the HBCDs were listed in Annex A by the Stockholm Convention, and the knowledge on the contamination of TBBPA and HBCDs in soil and road dust in China is still limited, and it is unclear what role is played by dust particle size distribution. In this study, a total of 81 soil and 43 road dust samples were analyzed with TBBPA and ΣHBCDs concentrations ranging from < LOQ to 33.8 ng/g dw (dry weight) and 0.43-15.2 ng/g dw in soil, and from < LOQ to 74.1 ng/g dw and 7.25-14.0 ng/g dw in road dust, respectively. TBBPA and HBCDs exhibited different spatial distribution patterns in soil, where relatively high levels of HBCDs were found in industrial area and commercial area, while high levels of TBBPA were detceted in residential area. However, no distinct variation in spatial distribution of these two compounds was observed in road dust. Different diastereoisomer profiles of HBCDs were also found with γ-HBCD predominating in soil and α-HBCD occupying a large proportion in road dust. The α-/γ-HBCD values in road dust were significantly greater (T-test, P < 0.05) than those in soil, which suggested that γ-HBCD in road dust were likely to transform into α-HBCD compared with soil. The distribution of dust particle size showed that HBCDs levels were increasing with the decreasing in particle sizes, while the TBBPA showed some "accidental" peak values in specific diameter ranges. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of TBBPA and HBCDs were assessed through dust ingestion, dermal absorption and inhalation via road dust, and all the exposure estimates were well below the reference dose (RfD), but the toddlers were more vulnerable to TBBPA and HBCDs intakes, which should be paid more attention.

NiO and Co3O4 co-doped g-C3N4 nanocomposites with excellent photoelectrochemical properties under visible light for detection of tetrabromobisphenol-A

A NiO/Co₃O₄/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite was prepared by one step thermal decomposition and it exhibited excellent photoelectrochemical activity for sensing TBBP-A.

Fabric phase sorptive extraction: Two practical sample pretreatment techniques for brominated flame retardants in water

Sample pretreatment is the critical section for residue monitoring of hazardous pollutants. In this paper, using the cellulose fabric as host matrix, three extraction sorbents such as poly (tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF), poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly (dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) (PDMDPS), were prepared on the surface of the cellulose fabric. Two practical extraction techniques including stir bar fabric phase sorptive extraction (stir bar-FPSE) and magnetic stir fabric phase sorptive extraction (magnetic stir-FPSE) have been designed, which allow stirring of fabric phase sorbent during the whole extraction process. In the meantime, three brominated flame retardants (BFRs) [tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tetrabromobisphenol A bisallylether (TBBPA-BAE), tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2,3-dibromopropyl)ether (TBBPA-BDBPE)] in the water sample were selected as model analytes for the practical evaluation of the proposed two techniques using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, various experimental conditions affecting extraction process such as the type of fabric phase, extraction time, the amount of salt and elution conditions were also investigated. Due to the large sorbent loading capacity and unique stirring performance, both techniques possessed high extraction capability and fast extraction equilibrium. Under the optimized conditions, high recoveries (90-99%) and low limits of detection (LODs) (0.01-0.05 μg L(-1)) were achieved. In addition, the reproducibility was obtained by evaluating the intraday and interday precisions with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 5.1% and 6.8%, respectively. The results indicated that two pretreatment techniques were promising and practical for monitoring of hazardous pollutants in the water sample. Due to low solvent consumption and high repeated use performance, proposed techniques also could meet green analytical criteria.

Determination and human exposure assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and tetrabromobisphenol A in indoor dust in South Africa

The concentration of TBBPA in dust samples from automobiles (n = 14), computer laboratories (n = 8), homes (n = 7), and offices (n = 7), and, also, PBDE concentrations in the indoor dust of 19 personal and previously owned automobiles in Durban, South Africa, were determined. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was applied for the separation, identification, and quantitation of TBBPA and PBDEs. The median concentrations of TBBPA were 1156, 269, 120, and 492 ng g(-1) in automobiles, computer laboratories, homes, and offices, respectively. The ∑ n = 8 PBDE in 19 automobile samples ranged from 573 to 11,833 ng g(-1). BDE-209 accounted for approximately 42% of ∑ n = 8 PBDE in the samples. Household characteristics influenced the distribution of TBBPA in the various microenvironments. By assuming an average dust ingestion rate, and a median TBBPA concentration, the ∑DED (in ng kg(-1) bw day(-1)) of TBBPA is 0.08, 0.08, and 0.60, for an adult, teenager, and toddler, respectively. These doses are similar to dust ingestion intakes reported for Asian countries where there is a high demand for TBBPA as a flame retardant. Similarly, automobiles provide ample opportunity for human exposure to PBDEs via dust ingestion, particularly for toddlers and occupationally exposed adults.

A review of status of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in China

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a currently intensively used brominated flame retardant (BFR), is employed primarily as a reactive flame retardant in printed circuit boards but also has additive applications in several types of polymers. TBBPA is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that is observed in both abiotic and biotic matrices. This paper summarizes and critically reviews the published scientific data concerning the current pollution status of TBBPA in China. To provide an indication of the seriousness of the pollution levels of TBBPA in China, the data are compared with available existing data from other countries of the world. According to the available data, the sources of TBBPA in China are mainly derived from the primitive e-waste dismantling, TBBPA manufacturing and processing of TBBPA-based materials. The most serious cases of TBBPA pollution in China are in Guiyu, Guangdong (primitive e-waste dismantling site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 66,010-95,040 pg m(-3) in air, Shouguang, Shandong (TBBPA manufacturing site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 1.64-7758 ng g(-1) dry weight in soil, and Chaohu Lake, Anhui (industry concentration site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 850-4870 ng L(-1) in water. In general, China is the most polluted region as affected by TBBPA compared with other countries. The present review preliminarily reveals the research status of TBBPA in China.

Insights into tetrabromobisphenol A adsorption onto soils: Effects of soil components and environmental factors

Concerns regarding tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most widely utilized brominated flame retardant in the world, are growing because of the wide application and endocrine-disrupting potential of this compound. To properly assess its environmental impacts, it is important to understand the mobility and fate of TBBPA in soil environments. In this study, the effects of soil components, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and heavy metal cations on TBBPA adsorption onto two Chinese soils (red soil and black soil) were investigated using batch sorption experiments. The desorption behavior of TBBPA when the two soils are irrigated with eutrophicated river water was also investigated. The results showed that pH greatly affects the adsorptive behavior of TBBPA in soils. Iron oxide minerals and phyllosilicate minerals are both active surfaces for TBBPA sorption, in addition to soil organic matter (SOM). DOC (50 mg OC L(-1)) exhibited a limited effect on TBBPA sorption only under neutral conditions. TBBPA sorption was only minimally affected by the heavy metals (Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+) in the studied pH range. Eutrophicated river water significantly enhanced the desorption of TBBPA from red soil due to the change in soil solution pH. These findings indicate that mobility of TBBPA in soils is mainly associated with soil pH, organic matter and clay fractions: it will be retained by soils or sediments with high organic matter and clay fractions under acidic conditions but becomes mobile under alkaline conditions.

Stir bar sorptive extraction: recent applications, limitations and future trends

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) has generated growing interest due to its high effectiveness for the extraction of non-polar and medium-polarity compounds from liquid samples or liquid extracts. In particular, in recent years, a large amount of new analytical applications of SBSE has been proposed for the extraction of natural compounds, pollutants and other organic compounds in foods, biological samples, environmental matrices and pharmaceutical products. The present review summarizes and discusses the theory behind SBSE and the most recent developments concerning its effectiveness. In addition, the main results of recent analytical approaches and their applications, published in the last three years, are described. The advantages, limitations and disadvantages of SBSE are described and an overview of future trends and novel extraction sorbents and supports is given.

Solid phase microextraction and related techniques for drugs in biological samples

In drug discovery and development, the quantification of drugs in biological samples is an important task for the determination of the physiological performance of the investigated drugs. After sampling, the next step in the analytical process is sample preparation. Because of the low concentration levels of drug in plasma and the variety of the metabolites, the selected extraction technique should be virtually exhaustive. Recent developments of sample handling techniques are directed, from one side, toward automatization and online coupling of sample preparation units. The primary objective of this review is to present the recent developments in microextraction sample preparation methods for analysis of drugs in biological fluids. Microextraction techniques allow for less consumption of solvent, reagents, and packing materials, and small sample volumes can be used. In this review the use of solid phase microextraction (SPME), microextraction in packed sorbent (MEPS), and stir-bar sorbtive extraction (SBSE) in drug analysis will be discussed. In addition, the use of new sorbents such as monoliths and molecularly imprinted polymers will be presented.

The Simultaneous Determination of Six Flame Retardants in Water Samples Using SPE Pre-concentration and UHPLC-UV Method

Analytical method for the determination of six flame retardants (FRs) from two groups was proposed. These groups included the brominated flame retardants (BFRs) 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA) and triester organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TBPP), ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). Reversed phase ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with a UV detector, different chromatographic columns, different mobile phases and gradient elution programmes were used to obtain the best separations within the shortest possible time. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was examined as a pre-concentration step from distilled water. The column with the highest recoveries (the Bond Elut ENV column gave recoveries over 70 % for all compounds) was then tested on 1-L blank surface water samples. The proposed analytical procedure was applied for the determination of FRs in surface water samples. The concentrations of FRs found in water samples ranged from 0.03 (TPhP) to 3.10 μg L^-1 (HBCD). Method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 0.008 to 0.518 μg L^-1, and method quantification limits (MQLs) ranged from 0.023 to 1.555 μg L^-1 for all compounds.

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for tetrabromobisphenol A

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has been an important brominated flame retardant worldwide and has become a widely concerned environmental pollutant due to its persistence in the environment. In this study, a monoclonal antibody (MAb, designated 3D9G6) against TBBPA was produced, and an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (icELISA) for detecting trace TBBPA was developed. The limit of detection and the half maximum inhibition concentration of TBBPA in phosphate-buffered saline were 0.8 and 3.87 ng·mL(-1), respectively. The assay specificity was studied with TBBPA structural analogs, such as bisphenol A, decabromodiphenyl ether, octabromobisphenol-S, and hexabromocyclododecane, and the results showed that none of these can be recognized by the MAb even at a concentration of up to 4000 ng·mL(-1). The average recoveries of TBBPA in water and soil samples were 96% and 87%, respectively. This icELISA can be applied for the detection of trace levels of TBBPA in water and soil samples.

Decabromodiphenyl ether in indoor dust from different microenvironments in a university in the Philippines

This study was conducted to develop a method for the determination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in indoor dust from different microenvironments in a university in the Philippines. BDE-209 was extracted from dust samples by ultrasonication and determined by HPLC-UV. The determination was performed using external calibration and internal standard calibration. Internal standard calibration was shown to be more precise and sensitive than external calibration. The linearity for the concentration range of 0-300 μg L(-1) BDE-209 was good (R(2)=0.993). The % absolute recovery and the % RSD for n=8 spiked dust analysis based on a 0.2 g dust sample was 57% and 19%, respectively. The method detection limit was 285 ng g(-1). All dust samples showed detectable levels of BDE-209 with some at levels below the quantification limits. The concentrations of BDE-209 in the quantified samples are within the range of 1103-4117 ng g(-1) with an average concentration of 2172 ng g(-1). The levels of BDE-209 found in the dust samples are comparable to those reported in house and workplace dusts from other Asian countries. Although not conclusive, it has been shown empirically that BDE-209 concentrations are higher in sampling sites containing more possible BDE-209 sources like electrical and electronic equipment.

Novel sorption-based methodologies for static microextraction analysis: A review on SBSE and related techniques

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) became a well-established analytical technique in the last years, for which hundreds of applications in almost all types of scientific fields can be found in the literature. In spite of the great enrichment capacity and outstanding performance to operate at the ultra-trace level, this remarkable static sorption-based method is already not quite effective for some complex systems, in particular to monitor the large group of polar organic compounds. This review aims to cover the state-of-the-art in SBSE, as well as supplying a discussion of the analytical potential of the novel adsorptive microextraction techniques, as complementary enrichment approaches, by explaining the main principles and providing technical know-how for the beginners.

Development and validation of an analytical method to determine Fipronil and its degradation products in soil samples

The aim of this study was to develop a methodology for identifying and quantifying Fipronil and its degradation products in soil by gas chromatography-electron capture detector previously extracted using a focused ultrasound probe. This methodology was obtaining a range of recovery between 85% and 120%, decreasing approximately solvent used time and cost, respect to other methodologies such as bath ultrasonic, solid-phase extraction, liquid-liquid extraction and soxhlet. The method was validated in fortified matrix, presented linearity in the range of 25-400 μg kg(-1), and limit of detection for Fipronil and their products desulfinyl, sulfide and sulfone was 14.7, 9.8, 8.9 and 10.7 μg kg(-1), respectively. This process was applied to samples of agricultural soils, where two degradation products desulfinyl and sulfone were found.

A highly sensitive and selective immunoassay for the detection of tetrabromobisphenol A in soil and sediment

Tetrabromobisphenol A is the most widely used brominated flame retardant. A sensitive and selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of tetrabromobisphenol A was developed. The limit of detection and the inhibition half-maximum concentration of tetrabromobisphenol A in phosphate buffered saline with 10% methanol were 0.05 and 0.87 ng mL(-1), respectively. Cross-reactivity values of the ELISA with a set of important brominated flame retardants including tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropylether), 2,2',6,6'-tetrabromobisphenol A diallyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, 1,2-bis(pentabromodiphenyl) ethane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6 tribromophenoxy) ethane, bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate, 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers were <0.05%. Concentrations of tetrabromobisphenol A determined by ELISA in the soils from farmlands, the soils from an e-waste recycling site, and the sediments of a canal were in the range of non-detectable-5.6 ng g(-1), 26-104 ng g(-1) and 0.3-22 ng g(-1)dw, respectively, indicating the ubiquitous pollution of tetrabromobisphenol A. The results of this assay for 16 real world samples agreed well with those of the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, indicating this ELISA is suitable for screening of tetrabromobisphenol A in environmental matrices.

Analysis of emerging organic contaminants in environmental solid samples

Spreading sewage sludge on agricultural lands has been actively promoted by national authorities as an economic way of recycling. However, as by-product of wastewater treatment, sewage sludge may contain toxic substances, which could be incorporated into agricultural products or be distributed in the environment. Moreover, sediments can be contaminated by the discharge of wastewater effluents into rivers. This article reviews the determination of emerging contaminants (surfactants, flame retardants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products) in environmental solid samples (sludge, soil and sediment). Sample preparation, including extraction and clean-up, as well as the subsequent instrumental determination of contaminants are discussed. Recent applications of extraction techniques, such as Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, pressurised liquid extraction, microwave assisted extraction and matrix solid-phase dispersion to the analysis of emerging contaminants in environmental solid samples are reviewed. Determination of these contaminants, generally carried out by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, especially mass spectrometry for the identification and quantification of residues, is also summarised and discussed.

[Advance of stir bar sorptive extraction]

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) is an environmentally-friendly technology of sample preparation which combines extraction, cleanup and enrichment together, and it has been developed rapidly and widely applied to the trace enrichment of various target analytes in environmental, food and biological samples. Based on our research, the advance of SBSE, especially, the development of new coatings, are reviewed. At the same time, the possible development orientations of SBSE are discussed.