Ultrasensitive determination of highly polar trimethyl phosphate in environmental water by molecularly imprinted polymeric fiber headspace solid-phase microextraction.

A sensitive, accurate, and cost effective method for the quantification of trimethyl phosphate, which is highly polar and volatile, in environmental water is presented. Trimethyl phosphate was headspace solid-phase microextracted on a molecularly imprinted polymeric fiber, and then the fiber was thermally desorbed in the gas chromatograph injector, and the compound was determined. The trimethyl phosphate imprinted polymeric fiber was prepared by copolymerization in a fused silica capillary tube and obtained by removal of the wall of fused silica capillary tube. The monolithic fiber displayed good selectivity toward trimethyl phosphate among its structural analogues. It was thermally stable up to 320°C so that it can withstand the high temperature of the gas chromatograph injector for desorption. The factors influencing the performance of its headspace solid-phase microextraction were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the method for quantification of trimethyl phosphate in environmental water was well developed. It exhibited significant linearity, the lowest limit of quantification to date, and good recoveries. Using this method, trimethyl phosphate was detected in five out of seven environmental water samples at concentration levels from 0.28 to 1.22 µg/L, illustrating the heavy pollution of trimethyl phosphate in environmental water.